Cash flow is the heart of every business. It must be constantly monitored and optimized. That also applies to incoming payments. Because if you get your money quickly, you increase your company’s entrepreneurial freedom.
Invoice and receive money – the process is simple. However, everyone who sends invoices abroad knows that there are differences when it comes to receiving payments. For example, some banks charge a fee for credit. Or, debtors want to pay in a currency that is to your disadvantage. This shows that many obstacles can arise in practice.
Optimize the timing and cost of your incoming payments by heeding these tips.
For many companies, it is essential that invoices are paid on time. Chasing after receivables costs time, money and nerves. That’s why you should digitize your invoicing process. This will save you valuable resources.
Once the invoicing process is digitized, a few clicks are all it takes to create an invoice. Two options are available. Send QR-bills via e-mail to request outstanding amounts. Or use eBill to place the invoice directly in your customers' e-banking. Both these methods take only a few seconds. It couldn’t be more efficient. Short payment deadlines contribute to the further optimization of payment transactions.
At PostFinance, the length of time between debit and credit is between 0 and a maximum of 2 working days. Once the invoice has been issued, you will generally receive your money within a few hours. The whole company benefits: you pay outstanding receivables and the wages of your employees on time and you can make investments more flexibly.
Low costs and simple processes – that’s what all companies want. That’s why two aspects in particular are of paramount importance to companies when it comes to incoming payments:
Receive cross-border payments and save costs at the same time. This is not possible with many banks. Often, charges are applied on credit from abroad, meaning that you never get the full invoice amount on your account. Things are different for PostFinance customers. They always receive the full amount. There are no deductions or hidden fees.
The following details are sufficient for a payment to reach your account directly:
That’s all it takes for you to receive payments. Your customers and business partners also appreciate the simplicity of it all. You immediately receive the credit free of charge. This also applies to foreign currencies.
Those who do business abroad are often paid in foreign currencies. This makes it all the more important to get to grips with foreign exchange. Managing currency risks increases planning certainty and gives you the competitive edge.
It is worth opening a foreign currency account for your incoming payments from abroad. Why is that? With PostFinance foreign exchange transactions, you can change currencies quickly and easily. You decide on the best time. The advantage: you are protected against currency risks and can use exchange rate fluctuations to your benefit.
For more information on currency risks, see our article “Foreign trade: how to minimize your foreign currency risks”.
