A payment link is a secure, shareable URL that sends a customer straight to a checkout page - no website, shopping cart or code required.
What a payment link is
Generated by a payment provider, the link carries the amount, a short description, a customer field and a secure checkout form. One-time links suit a single invoice - a designer billing for a logo - while reusable links fit fixed-price offers, like a yoga instructor selling $15 class passes on Instagram.
How they work
You create the link in a platform like Stripe, PayPal or Square, share it by email, text or social media, and the customer clicks, enters their card details and confirms. Both sides get a receipt. It is a mini checkout that lives in a URL.
Why entrepreneurs use them
- Quick setup with no coding
- No website needed - works over Instagram, WhatsApp or email
- Low friction: click, pay, done
- Secure, powered by PCI-compliant processors
- Versatile for remote sales, invoicing and subscriptions
The catch, and the fix
Fees are the downside. Stripe and Square typically run about 2.9% + $0.30 or 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction - 3%+ effective rates that cost a busy business thousands a year. Cashswipe's Cash Discount Program, plus online gateways for e-commerce, legally passes that fee to the customer as a small non-cash adjustment, so the merchant keeps more revenue. The agent who provides the software earns 1 percent of processing volume as a monthly residual.