If you’re receiving payments from clients abroad, you need a platform that’s fast, compliant, and cost-efficient.
Remitly is one of the most trusted names for cross-border transfers, known for its smooth user experience and reliability in personal remittances.
But when it comes to commercial or business payments, the requirements are slightly different.

This guide breaks down how Remitly works, where its use cases differ for businesses, and what alternatives you can consider if you regularly receive international payments for services or exports.

Remitly is an American fintech company that enables individuals to send money internationally with speed and transparency.
It operates in 30+ sending countries and supports 170+ receiving destinations,&nbsp; including India, processing over $18.5 billion in annual volume.

Here’s what users consistently appreciate about Remitly

For personal transfers, these features make Remitly an excellent choice.

Where Remitly’s Model Differs for Business Payments

While Remitly is built on strong technology and trust, its framework and regulatory positioning are optimised for individual remittances, not commercial inflows.

Here are the key factors to know before using it for business payments:

Remitly is built for personal money transfers, things like family support or individual remittances.
If you’re receiving client or export payments through it, that technically falls outside its permitted use.

Such transfers aren’t treated as business receipts under Indian regulations, which means you won’t get a valid<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-firc-a-complete-guide"> FIRA for them</a>.
Without that, reconciling income during audits or export filings can turn into a hassle later.

For every foreign payment received, Indian businesses require certain documents for compliance,&nbsp; namely, the Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA) and, for goods and software exporters coming under <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/softex-form-guide-indian-exporters">SOFTEX</a>,&nbsp; an <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/what-is-e-brc">eBRC (Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate</a>) is also needed

Remitly does not automatically issue these documents since it isn’t designed for export-linked commercial flows.
Businesses or freelancers receiving such payments may need to approach their bank separately to obtain them,&nbsp; a process that can take 7–15 days and often involves additional fees.

3. Remitly Business: Limited to U.S. Senders

Remitly also offers <a href="https://www.remitly.com/us/en/landing/business">Remitly Business</a>, a dedicated account for U.S.-based companies (LLCs, corporations, and sole proprietors) sending money abroad.
However, this service focuses on the sending side of the transaction.
For Indian freelancers or exporters receiving payments, compliance and reconciliation responsibilities still rest locally.

So while Remitly Business adds convenience for senders, it doesn’t yet extend a full commercial payments framework for receivers in India.

What to Look for in a Business-Grade Remitly Alternative

If you often receive client payments for exports or services, look for platforms that specifically support B2B inward remittances.
Here’s a tactical checklist:

Top Remitly Alternatives for Indian Freelancers &amp; Businesses

Below are platforms better suited for business transactions and exports, each with distinct strengths.

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/transferwise-india-features-benefits-pros-cons">Wise offers </a>multi-currency accounts and transparent conversion at the mid-market rate.
It supports 50+ currencies and issues digital FIRA for inward remittances to India (charged per transaction).

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/payoneer-payment-gateway-features-fees">Payoneer</a> remains one of the most established names for Indian service exporters and marketplace sellers.

A solid option for those who receive payments from established platforms or recurring global clients.

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/paypal-in-india-charges-review-alternatives">PayPal</a> is still among the most widely accepted payment methods globally.
For Indian users, it supports only cross-border transactions — no domestic INR payments.

PayPal’s universal recognition helps with client trust, though its pricing is on the higher side for frequent transactions.

<a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/stripe-india-charges-review-alternatives">Stripe’s infrastructure </a>is exceptional for global SaaS and developer-focused businesses.
However, in India, it remains invite-only and supports international card payments only.

An Indian platform that now supports inward and outward remittance.

Best suited for startups or SMEs with frequent USD payments.

A Bangalore-based platform focused on affordable cross-border collections.

Also offers treasury management options for idle cash, a rare bonus.

7. Skydo: Best Remitly Alternative for Indian Businesses

Skydo is an India-first platform designed specifically for exporters, agencies, and freelancers receiving global payments.
It brings together compliance, speed, and transparency in one dashboard.

Skydo functions as a business-grade receiver, simplifying every step from payment to compliance.

Skydo vs Remitly: Business Readiness at a Glance

Final Take: How to Pick the Right Platform

When choosing a Remitly alternative, focus on your actual needs — not just fees.

With Skydo, you get both,&nbsp; the transparency of a fintech and the compliance of a regulated Indian platform.
You can sign up in under 5 minutes and start receiving payments globally with automatic FIRA, no paperwork, no follow-ups.

👉 <a href="https://www.skydo.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Get started with Skydo</a> and simplify your international business payments today.

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The United States has taken a big step in the world of digital finance with the passage of the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-signs-genius-act-into-law/">GENIUS Act</a>, a law that finally provides clear rules for stablecoins. This matters because, for years, stablecoins existed in a regulatory grey zone. Companies weren’t sure whether they could use them legally, banks didn’t know how to treat them, and freelancers worried about being caught in a compliance mess.

Now, with regulatory clarity, stablecoins are moving closer to the financial mainstream. And for Indian freelancers and small businesses that depend on international payments, this shift could mean a world of difference: faster, cheaper, and more reliable payments compared to PayPal, wire transfers, or traditional banks.

But the key question remains: can stablecoins truly deliver on their promise, or are they another overhyped technology that sounds better in theory than in practice?

Stablecoins are digital currencies designed to maintain a stable value. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, which can fluctuate dramatically, stablecoins are pegged to traditional money. For example:

This stability gives users the trust of fiat currency combined with the speed and accessibility of blockchain technology. With stablecoins, money moves like data, instantly, globally, and without waiting for banks to reopen after weekends or holidays.

Stablecoins currently account for only about<a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/currencies/stablecoins"> 7% of the global cryptocurrency market,</a> roughly $264 billion in value. That’s a small share compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum, but their real potential lies in utility, not speculation.

While Bitcoin makes headlines for price swings, stablecoins quietly solve everyday problems like remittances, cross-border business payments, and freelancer payouts, something we will. And as global adoption increases, this segment is positioned for substantial growth.

Why Traditional Cross-Border Payments Need a Closer Look

The current system relies on SWIFT, a decades-old messaging network that connects banks worldwide. A single transaction can pass through multiple intermediaries before reaching the recipient—each taking a cut and causing delays.

The impact on freelancers and small businesses

For large corporations with treasury teams, these inefficiencies are manageable. But for individuals and smaller businesses, they’re crippling.

India received<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/data/india-got-143-of-global-remittances-in-2024-its-highest-ever/article69039825.ece"> $129 billion in remittances in 2024</a>, the highest in the world. Yet billions are lost each year in fees and currency markups. For freelancers supporting families or reinvesting in their businesses, losing 5–10% on every payment isn’t just inconvenient, it’s devastating.

Stablecoins bypass the traditional network of intermediaries. Payments move directly from sender to receiver on the blockchain, settling in minutes instead of days, at a fraction of the cost.

Imagine this: A freelancer in Mumbai receives $1,000 in USDC from a client in San Francisco. Instead of waiting three days and losing 7% to bank fees, they have the money in their wallet within minutes, ready to use or convert.

Stablecoins are no longer just an experiment. Adoption is accelerating across three key areas:

When major financial institutions start using stablecoins in real-world systems, it’s a clear signal: this is not just hype, it’s finance evolving.

Of course, stablecoins are not without challenges.

To get paid in stablecoins today, users usually go through three steps:

Each step involves fees, verification, and delays. For a freelancer receiving $1,000 in USDC, this might still mean $20–30 in costs and hours spent navigating exchanges.

Stablecoins settle instantly on blockchain, but the final step (getting local currency in your bank) can still take days. For example, a Bangalore freelancer might receive USDC in minutes on a Friday, but not see usable INR in their bank until Tuesday.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is watching stablecoins carefully. While recognising their potential, it prioritises monetary sovereignty and economic stability.

This reflects a broader philosophy: embrace efficiency, but not at the cost of losing control over the rupee.

For stablecoins to go mainstream, three things must improve:

The real “killer app,” however, may be programmability. Imagine payments that release automatically when project milestones are met, or dynamic settlements tied to real-time data. This is something traditional banks simply can’t offer.

Conclusion: The Dawn of a Parallel Financial System

Stablecoins won’t replace banks, but they are creating a parallel financial layer—one that is faster, cheaper, and increasingly trusted.

The transformation is still in its early stages, but it’s clear: stablecoins aren’t just hype. They represent the start of a future where sending money across borders is as simple and affordable as sending an email.

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Stable Coins

Imagine: A skilled artisan in Jaipur selling beautiful, handcrafted goods on Amazon Global to a New York resident. For years, this business model has been working fine due to the de minimis. De minimis was an umbrella exemption for low-value goods, worth under $800, to enter the US duty-free. It was simple and profitable for Indian exporters, thanks to the low entry costs.&nbsp;

But that stability is now on shaky grounds. On August 29th, 2025, the United States officially removed the de minimis exemption for India..&nbsp;

Lifting the exemption rule means low-value parcels will face a high amount of tariffs and paperwork. The move has been so sudden that India Post, the government-run postal service, and a lifeline for many small Indian exporters, has suspended most parcels to the US. Reason? They were not prepared to handle the new compliance requirements.

This blog will explore the deeper nuances of the de minimis exemption, why its removal has rocked Indian exporters, and provide a roadmap for adapting to this rule and surviving in the new trade environment.

What Was the 'De Minimis' Exemption? (And Why It Was a Game-Changer)

The term de minimis is Latin for “too small to matter”

In the U.S., small-value imports are cleared under the de minimis exemption (<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48380">Section 321 of the Tariff Act</a>). This allows goods below a certain value to enter without duties or full customs paperwork, often processed under Entry Type 86.

The exemption was introduced in 1938 with a limit of just $1. For many years, the value stayed low until it was raised to $200 in the early 1990s. In 2016, the threshold was increased again to $800 per person per day, making it easier for exporters and e-commerce sellers to ship low-value parcels into the U.S.

By comparison, most other countries set much lower limits.&nbsp; Canada at about C$40, the European Union at €150, and many others, including China, even lower. The U.S. threshold has therefore been on the higher side internationally.

How This Fueled Indian E-commerce Exports

The jump in the U.S. de minimis limit to $800 in 2016 opened new doors for Indian exporters, especially small and medium businesses.

The U.S. government withdrew the de minimis exemption to tighten import controls, boost tariff revenue, and address security concerns.

Package volumes under the rule surged from 1<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48380?">39 million in FY2015 to nearly 1.36 billion in FY2024</a>, overwhelming customs systems. Officials argued that the loophole made it easier for high-risk items,&nbsp; including fentanyl precursors, to enter the country in untracked parcels. Fentanyl has been a major driver of the opioid crisis, linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S.

A Reuters investigation (“<a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/drugs-fentanyl-shipping/?">Fentanyl Express</a>”) showed how simple it was to buy precursor chemicals online. Reporters spent about $3,600 to acquire enough raw material to manufacture at least 3 million fentanyl pills — often disguised in shipments labelled innocuously as “Adapter” or “Pigment Ink.”

While most of the problem traces back to Chinese suppliers, the blanket policy change has affected exporters worldwide, including those in India.

The removal of the $800 de minimis exemption, coupled with steep new U.S. tariffs, has sent shockwaves through India’s export community. The brunt of the impact is falling on small and micro exporters, the very businesses that had relied on low-value, duty-free shipments to build direct-to-consumer sales in the U.S.

Industry analysts warn that India’s shipment volumes to the U.S. could fall by 15–25%, while landed costs are expected to rise by 8–15%. Exporters now face two tough choices: absorb these costs and see margins shrink, or pass them on to U.S. buyers and risk losing competitiveness.

On top of losing duty-free entry, Indian goods are also being hit with an additional 50% tariff across several categories. That has turned <a href="https://laex.in/daily-issue/which-sectors-are-worst-hit-by-tariffs/">sectors once thriving under U.S. demand into some of the hardest hit:</a>

For many of these sectors,&nbsp; especially garments, jewellery, and shrimp, the U.S. has long been the single largest market. Now, Indian exporters are being forced to rethink pricing, margins, and in some cases, the very viability of their U.S. business.

With the suspension of India Post’s de minimis channel, exporters are now facing a compliance gap. Shipping companies must collect tariffs upfront, itemize duties against each product, and remit payments to U.S. authorities. This shift demands significant tech and infrastructure upgrades — but the rollout has been rushed, with limited clarity from U.S. regulators.

Previously, most small parcels entered under Entry Type 86, a simplified process for low-value shipments. That system has now been replaced by Entry Type 11, which requires:

Errors carry higher risks: misclassifying a shipment,&nbsp; once treated leniently, is now considered a punishable compliance offence.

The impact is sharpest on small and mid-sized exporters dealing in India’s hallmark: high-variety, low-volume goods. These businesses dominate categories like textiles, handicrafts, jewellery, and niche components, which together form a significant share of India’s exports to the U.S.

Export hubs in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which power much of India’s U.S.-bound trade, now face slower orders, tighter compliance costs, and the risk of losing competitiveness in their most important market.

A Roadmap for Resilience: How Exporters Can Adapt

The removal of the $800 de minimis exemption is a major disruption for Indian exporters. But it’s also forcing businesses to rethink strategy and build resilience. Here’s how exporters can adapt in practical, actionable ways:

For years, the U.S. was the most attractive destination for Indian SMEs — large, profitable, and easy to access. Now, exporters must reduce over-dependence by expanding into other markets:

Higher tariffs demand tighter operations. Exporters can preserve margins by:

With Entry Type 86 gone, compliance is heavier. Exporters should:

The loss of de minimis is a clear setback, but it could make India’s exporters stronger in the long run:

At Skydo, we’re here to stand with exporters through this transition. By simplifying global payments with live forex rates (no hidden markups), instant FIRA and (eBRC generation for Amazon exporters), 24-48 hours settlement and India-based support, we’re helping Indian businesses stay compliant, protect margins, and continue scaling globally.

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Last year, India exported <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/india/exports/united-states">$79.44 billion</a> of goods and services to the US. Behind these big trade numbers are exporters and freelancers like you. But here’s something you might not know: US businesses run on credit cards. They like cards for the speed, rewards, and ease.

In that case, if you start accepting card payments, you make it convenient for your clients to pay you. You can attract more clients and retain the present ones for a longer term. But how do you start accepting card payments from US clients? 	

Stripe is a popular platform; it has long been a favourite for SaaS businesses for its ability to handle recurring payments in 135+ currencies. Also worth mentioning is its plug-and-play checkout feature. But Stripe operates on an invite-only model in India. Plus, its total fees are on the higher side.

You do have an option: Skydo. A homegrown brand	with services tailored for Indian exporters. Is Skydo the right choice? Or Stripe sounds like a better match? Find out for yourself in this Stripe vs Skydo comparative blog. 

Stripe Credit Card Processing Fees in India

Stripe lets you accept credit card payments from 195+ countries (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.), a big plus for global reach. However, as we have mentioned before, it is currently invite-only in India, with no guaranteed approval timeline.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Here’s how Stripe charges you on international card transactions:

So, in total, Stripe charges around 6.2% in fees, including transaction fees and forex markup.&nbsp;

Skydo is built specifically for Indian exporters and freelancers. With InstaLinks, you can share a payment link with your US client—no account setup needed.

Compared to Stripe, you save about ₹1,000 more per $1,000 invoice with Skydo, plus instant&nbsp; FIRA to simplify your compliance requirements.&nbsp;

Stripe is a powerful global platform, but it comes with high costs, forex markups, and compliance hurdles in India. For most freelancers and exporters, Skydo helps you keep more of your money, with flat pricing, live exchange rates, and instant FIRA.

If you’re ready to cut down on Stripe credit card fees and simplify compliance, try <a href="https://www.skydo.com/features/instalinks?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=inbound_blog&amp;utm_campaign=Stripe_credit_card">Skydo InstaLinks today.</a>

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The Indian freelance and export market to the US is experiencing significant growth. From software development to digital marketing, Indian professionals are increasingly serving American clients who prefer the convenience of credit card payments, the standard payment method in the US market.

For Indian freelancers and exporters, accepting credit cards has always posed challenges due to limited platform options and complex fee structures. <a href="https://www.skydo.com/blog/paypal-in-india-charges-review-alternatives">PayPal</a> emerged as one of the few reliable solutions, offering global reach, client trust, and straightforward setup. Most US clients are familiar with PayPal, making it an easy choice for international transactions.

However, PayPal's convenience comes at a significant cost. Between its 4.4% transaction fee, fixed charges, and a 3-4% forex markup, you can lose over 8% of every payment. On a $5,000 invoice, that's ₹34,000 in fees.

This is where alternatives like Skydo become relevant, offering transparent pricing and live exchange rates designed specifically for Indian businesses receiving international payments.

What Are PayPal’s Credit Card Processing Fees in India?

PayPal operates in over 200 countries and supports more than 25 currencies, making it one of the most widely accepted payment platforms globally. Indian businesses can receive payments through various methods, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal balance transfers, and bank account payments from international clients.

When your international client pays you via credit card through PayPal, you're looking at a three-layer fee structure that can seriously impact your earnings.

PayPal fees for credit card processing work like this:&nbsp;

But here's where it gets expensive: PayPal applies a currency conversion markup of around 3-4% when converting your payment from dollars to rupees.

Let's break this down with a real example. Say your US client sends you $1,000 via credit card through PayPal:

Now comes the currency conversion. If the actual market rate is ₹85 per dollar, PayPal might apply its rate at around ₹81.6 (about 4% less). Your $955.70 converts to approximately ₹78,005.

The math is simple: from your original $1,000 (worth ₹85,000 at market rate), you actually receive ₹78,005. That's a total loss of ₹6,995, or about 8.2% of your payment.&nbsp;

These credit card processing fees PayPal charges can add up quickly, especially for freelancers and exporters handling multiple transactions each month.

How Skydo Compares on Credit Card Payments

For Indian businesses serving US clients specifically, Skydo InstaLinks offers a streamlined solution. Your US clients can pay via credit card through a simple payment link—no account creation required on their end, no complex setup for you.

When comparing PayPal credit card processing fees vs Skydo for US-based transactions, the differences are hard to ignore. Skydo charges a flat 5% fee for US credit card payments, but here's the main fact: you get the live market exchange rate with zero forex markup. While 5% might sound comparable to PayPal's base fee, the real savings come from that currency conversion.

Let's run the same $1,000 example from a US client through Skydo:

Transaction fee: $1,000 × 5% = $50. Amount after fees: $950 Currency conversion: $950 × ₹85 (live rate) = ₹80,750

Compare this to PayPal's ₹78,005, and you're keeping ₹2,745 more with Skydo. That's nearly three times better than PayPal when you factor in the real exchange rate.

But the benefits go beyond just pricing:&nbsp;

The transparency factor is huge here. With Skydo, you know exactly what you're paying upfront. No hidden forex markups, no surprise deductions, no wondering why your final INR amount doesn't match your calculations.

Sometimes the best way to see the fundamental differences is to put everything side by side. Here's how PayPal and Skydo stack up across the factors that actually matter to your bottom line:

The choice between PayPal and Skydo often comes down to your specific situation and client preferences.

You're dealing with clients from various countries outside the US, or if your clients specifically prefer PayPal and are willing to handle the higher costs.&nbsp;

Some international clients are more comfortable with PayPal's familiar interface, especially for smaller one-off payments or when they're already using PayPal for other transactions.

You're a freelancer, agency, or exporter regularly receiving credit card payments from US clients.&nbsp;Skydo's transparent pricing and live exchange rates make it particularly attractive for businesses that process multiple payments monthly and want to keep more of their earnings.&nbsp;

The instant FIRA generation also helps if you need quick compliance documentation for your accounting or export processes.

The cost difference is significant. PayPal's credit card processing fees can reach 8-9% of your international payments when you account for transaction fees, fixed charges, and currency conversion markup. For Indian exporters and freelancers managing tight margins, these fees represent a considerable portion of earnings that could otherwise be reinvested in business growth.

Skydo's transparent model with live forex rates helps you save roughly three times more compared to PayPal on the same transactions. When you're building a business or freelancing career, those savings add up fast, whether it's ₹2,745 on a $1,000 payment or ₹27,450 on a $10,000 project.

Ready to see the difference for yourself? <a href="https://www.skydo.com/features/instalinks?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=inbound_blog&amp;utm_campaign=Paypal_credit_card">Try Skydo InstaLinks</a> and start receiving international card payments in just 5 minutes. Your clients get a simple payment experience, and you get to keep more of what you've earned.

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If you're an Indian exporter or freelancer working with U.S. clients, get ready for a change: cards are becoming a preferred way for businesses to pay. We often think of credit and debit cards as consumer payment tools, but businesses use them too. In fact, about 8 out of 10 small businesses in the US use at least one business credit card to manage payments. Why are cards on the rise for B2B? Because they offer speed, rewards, and simpler internal approvals for the payer. This trend impacts you directly – your next invoice could be paid via a card.&nbsp;

In this blog, we’ll dive into why U.S. clients prefer card payments, what that means for your cash flow and compliance as an Indian exporter, and how you can adapt. We’ll also cover how Skydo can help you accept U.S.-issued Visa/Mastercard payments through InstaLinks, as well as ACH payments through virtual accounts, with funds delivered in less than 48 hours.

Your U.S. clients might insist on paying by card for several practical reasons. Understanding their perspective can help you cater to their needs better. Here are the top reasons U.S. businesses favour card payments:

What This Means for Indian Exporters and Freelancers

Cards sound great for your client, but how do they affect you as the person receiving the payment in India? Here are the key implications:

Convenient First Payments (A Sweet Spot to Get Started)

Card payments shine for first-time invoices and smaller amounts. When you’re kicking off a new client relationship or handling an urgent project, cards help avoid delays. As mentioned, a new wire transfer setup can slow down an initial payment. With cards, your client can pay immediately without bureaucratic hurdles. For smaller invoice values, many clients are even willing to absorb the card processing fee for the sake of speed and convenience.

Reduced DSO (Less Waiting and Fewer Failed Payments)

DSO stands for Days Sales Outstanding – essentially, how long it takes to collect payment after you issue an invoice. Lower DSO is better for your cash flow. Using cards can reduce your DSO because traditional methods like wire transfers are slower and often come with hiccups. In fact, international wires sometimes fail or get delayed due to errors or compliance checks. According to SWIFT, roughly 10% of international payments get held up along the way for compliance reviews. 

When a wire fails, you might only find out after 3–5 days (when the money bounces back to the sender), putting you back at square one. Card payments can also fail or be declined, but the big advantage is that you know the result instantly. If a client's card is declined (due to insufficient limit, an expired card, suspected fraud, etc.), they can resolve it or use another payment method right away, rather than you both waiting in limbo. The immediacy of card authorisation means fewer payments are stuck in processing. Overall, this translates to quicker resolution of payment issues and a lower chance of invoices getting “stuck” for days or weeks.

Higher Completion Rate (Fewer "Stuck" Invoices)

A "stuck invoice" is a payment that gets trapped in processing due to additional approvals needed, missing paperwork, or technical glitches. With wire transfers, an invoice can get stuck if, say, the client’s bank needs extra compliance documents or if there was a typo in your bank details (like a SWIFT code). Such issues can hold up a payment for many days while everyone scrambles to fix the problem. Card payments, on the other hand, tend to be binary – they either go through or they don’t. When a client attempts a card payment, you get one of three immediate outcomes: approved, declined, or requires verification. If it’s approved, great – you're getting paid. If it’s declined or needs additional verification, you know right away and can ask the client to investigate or use an alternate method. There’s much less chance of a payment disappearing into a “processing black hole.” This higher completion rate means you spend less time chasing down payments that are stuck in limbo.

Compliance Impact (FIRA/eBRC Requirements Still Apply)

One important thing to remember: even if you receive money via a card payment or ACH, from the government and banking regulatory perspective in India it’s still a foreign inward remittance. Accepting card payments doesn’t exempt you from the usual export documentation. You will still need a Foreign Inward Remittance Advice (FIRA), as proof that foreign currency funds arrived in your Indian bank account. If you’re exporting goods or certain services, you also need an Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC) mapped to that payment to satisfy RBI and FEMA regulations. In short, card or no card, the paperwork remains. The good news is that some modern payment platforms (like Skydo) automatically generate the necessary FIRA for you on each payment, which saves you the headache of chasing the bank for it. Just be mindful that you must account for every dollar coming in and tie it back to an export invoice for compliance purposes, the same way you would with a wire transfer.

Card payments are becoming a default choice for U.S. companies, and they can help you get paid quickly. To make the most of this trend (and to avoid potential pitfalls), you’ll want to adapt your processes. Here are several strategies to smoothly accommodate both card and ACH payments from U.S. clients:

Don’t force your client into a single payment method. On every invoice, present card and bank transfer as standard payment options. This way, the client immediately sees they have a choice. They’ll appreciate the flexibility to pay how they prefer. Often, just knowing that you can accept a card can make a client more comfortable – it signals that you’re easy to do business with.&nbsp;

Not all payments are equal. It can be smart to steer clients toward one method or another based on the situation:

By segmenting payments this way, you optimise for both speed and cost-efficiency depending on the scenario.

When you start accepting multiple payment methods, you’ll face the question of how to handle the different fees. How do you charge clients in a way that’s fair and also nudges them toward the most efficient option? Here are a few pricing approaches you can consider:

No matter which model you choose, communicate clearly with your client. If you’re offering an ACH discount or charging extra for card, mention it upfront in the quote or invoice. Transparency builds trust, and many clients will understand that different methods have different costs.

Skydo’s Card + Net Banking Solution for Indian Exporters

When you work with U.S. clients, you don’t want to lock them into just one way of paying. That’s why Skydo supports both ACH transfers (via virtual accounts) and InstaLinks (card + ACH debit) — so you can cover every client scenario without extra setup.

ACH Credit via Virtual USD Accounts (Bank Transfer)

Skydo issues you a virtual U.S. bank account with unique account and routing numbers. Your client simply makes an ACH Credit (push payment) from their U.S. bank as if they were paying any domestic vendor.

For first-time clients, urgent projects, or those who prefer flexibility, Skydo provides InstaLinks — a secure payment link that lets your client choose between paying by card (Visa/Mastercard) or ACH debit (pull from their account).

Now, go ahead and embrace the card payment trend – and happy earning!

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US card payments in India

When it comes to receiving payments from US clients, choosing the right method can save you time and money. The main options are ACH payments vs wire transfers, with credit card payments as an alternative. In a nutshell, wire transfers are secure but often expensive, while ACH transfers are slower but much cheaper. Card payments offer convenience at a higher fee. Understanding ACH vs wire vs card trade-offs, especially in 2025’s evolving payments landscape, will help you get paid quickly, affordably, and with minimal hassle.

For a fast decision, use the table below to pick the best payment rail (method) based on your scenario:

ACH payment types reminder: “ACH” actually comes in two flavours:

Both are bank-to-bank transfers through the Automated Clearing House network, but credit is initiated by the payer, while debit is initiated by you with permission.

Six-Step Decision Flow for Choosing a Payment Rail

To choose the right payment method for each invoice, follow this step-by-step logic:

By considering these factors, you’ll select the payment method that best fits each scenario.

Why Payment Rail Selection Matters in 2025

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