Example
A QR code on the invoice that opens a payment page for $2,450 with reference INV-2026-0041.
Also called a payment page, a hosted checkout, or a pay-now link.
What it means in practice
A portal turns paying from a task into a tap. The invoice carries a link or a QR code, the client opens it, the amount and the reference are already filled in, and the payment reaches you with the invoice number attached.
The reference is the part people skip. A payment that arrives with no invoice number attached still has to be matched by hand.
Covered in full in the guide to payment links and qr codes.
Where it shows up on the paperwork
On the document it is a link, a button, or a QR code, with the amount and the invoice number already carried in it.
What goes wrong
- Sending a bare link with no amount, so the client types it and types it wrong.
- Leaving the reference off, so the payment arrives unmatched.
- Putting the link only in the email body, where it is lost when the PDF is forwarded to accounts.
Common questions
What is a payment portal?
A payment portal is the page a client lands on to pay an invoice by card or bank transfer without contacting you. It is run by whoever processes the payment: you put the link or QR code on the invoice and the processor handles the money.
Payment portal vs payment link: what is the difference?
A payment link is for one invoice and one amount. A portal is a place a client can return to and see everything outstanding. For a single job the link is enough.
How do clients pay an invoice online?
Through a link or QR code on the invoice that opens a payment page with the amount already filled in. The less a client has to type, the sooner it gets paid.
Does a payment link have to be in the email?
It is better on the document itself. The PDF is what gets forwarded to the person who pays, and a link in your email never reaches them.
Will a QR code survive a printed invoice?
Yes, if it is drawn into the document rather than pasted as an image. Test yours once by exporting the PDF and scanning it with your own phone.