Accept International Payments Without Losing 5%

So I landed my first big international client. A design agency in London. $2,000 for a project. I was thrilled.

I sent the invoice. They paid via PayPal.

Then I looked at my balance.

$1,912.

Wait. Where did the other $88 go?

PayPal took a cut. Then they gave me a terrible exchange rate on the Pounds to Dollars conversion.

I basically paid for a fancy dinner just to touch my own money.

That was the last time I did that.

If you're freelancing globally, you are bleeding money right now. Banks, PayPal, and old-school wire transfers are taking 3-5% of your income.

You don't have to let them.

Here is how you actually get paid, keep your money, and stop donating your hard-earned cash to financial institutions.

The "Hidden Tax" on Your Work

Here is the dirty secret: "No Fee" is a lie.

When a bank says "0% Commission" on currency exchange, they are lying to you. They just hide the fee in the exchange rate.

Google says 1 USD = 0.92 EUR.
Your bank gives you 1 USD = 0.88 EUR.

That 4% difference? That's the fee. They just didn't put it on a receipt.

If you make $50,000 a year from international clients, you could be losing $2,000 to $3,000 just on bad exchange rates. That's a vacation. That's a new MacBook. Track this using good accounting software.

Stop doing it.

The 3 Best Ways to Get Paid (Ranked)

1. Wise (Formerly TransferWise)

This is the one I use. It is the only one I actually recommend to friends.

Why? Because they don't lie about the exchange rate.

If you Google "USD to GBP", that is the rate Wise gives you. They charge a small, transparent fee (usually around 0.5%) and that's it.

How it works:

• You open a Wise account.
• You click "Open a balance" in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, etc.
• Wise gives you REAL bank details for those countries.
• You put those details on your invoice.
• The client pays you like you are a local. It's free for them.
• You get the money. You convert it when you want.

It is fast, cheap, and honest.

2. Payoneer

If you live on Upwork, Fiverr, or Amazon, you probably need Payoneer.

It is built for platforms. It integrates with everything.

The good: It is easy to get a debit card and spend your money.
The bad: The fees are higher than Wise. They usually take about 2% on transfers.

It is a solid "Plan B" or a necessity if your platform forces you to use it.

3. PayPal

The dinosaur.

Everyone has it. That is the only reason it is still on this list.

If a client says "I only use PayPal," you use PayPal. You don't lose a client over a payment method.

But be aware: You are paying for the privilege. Between the transaction fee (4%+) and the bad exchange rate, it is expensive.

Pro tip: If a client insists on PayPal, add 5% to your invoice to cover the fees. Call it a "processing fee." See if they suddenly become open to using Wise.

The Money Test: What You Actually Keep

Let's say a client in Europe owes you €1,000. You want it in your US bank account (USD).

Look at the difference between Wise and PayPal. $65.

Do that once a month, and you are losing $780 a year.

Other Options (The Niche Stuff)

Stripe

Great if you want to look professional and accept credit cards directly on your invoices.

But you pay for it. 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. Plus a 1% conversion fee.

Use it if you sell digital products or need a "Buy Now" button. Don't use it for large freelance invoices.

Crypto (USDC / Bitcoin)

I have a few tech clients who pay in USDC (a stablecoin pegged to the dollar). Check our crypto-friendly banks guide if you go this route.

Fees are near zero. Speed is instant.

But good luck explaining it to a non-tech client. "So I need to open a wallet..." No. They won't do it.

Only use this if the client suggests it.

FAQ: The Stuff You Actually Ask

Final Verdict

Stop overcomplicating it.

1. Open a Wise account.
2. Get your local bank details for USD, EUR, and GBP.
3. Put those details on your invoices.

You will save thousands of dollars over your career. It takes 10 minutes to set up. Do it.