How freelancers receive recurring payments from US clients

Freelancing income can be pretty unstable. One month is fully booked with steady client work. The next, you seem to be in a financial mess. This is exactly why many freelancers prefer ongoing gigs over one-time projects. Recurring payments are predictable, invoicing is routine, and you spend less energy taking up new gigs. If you work with US clients, these payments should be the most reliable part of your setup. properly

While managing recurring payments might seem easy on the surface, without the right payment process, you might struggle to chase payments and deal with payment delays. It is even more complicated if you are working with US clients while outside the United States. International transaction fees and currency conversion problems come into play. This article covers the main methods for receiving recurring payments from US clients.

Why do you need a recurring payment setup?

A one-off project payment is just a transaction, and that is all. When transactions are repeated, it becomes a payment system that requires a setup to guarantee efficiency. Here are some scenarios to help you see why you need to structure how you receive recurring payments:

• If a client sends money to the wrong account once, they are likely to do that again if your payment setup is never corrected.
• If you use a platform with high conversion fees, the costs pile up with every payment cycle and become significant.
• If a payment method requires your client to initiate a transfer each month manually, the risk of errors increases with each payment.
• If the payment terms are not clear enough, you might keep chasing your payment at the end of each payment cycle.

Getting the recurring payment setup right once and for all will save you the stress of running around trying to fix a faulty payment system.

Method 1: ACH direct deposit to a virtual USD account

For most freelancers receiving regular payments from US clients, an ACH payment to a virtual USD account is the most cost-efficient option. Since non-US freelancers don’t have a US address, don’t have a Social Security Number, and cannot visit a bank in person, fintechs offering virtual USD accounts provide a functional alternative.

The Automated Clearing House is a closed-loop network that operates entirely within the US banking system. Money moves directly from the client’s bank to your bank without going through correspondent banks, just like a local transaction. This means no intermediary fees are deducted during payment processing.

• Open a virtual US account (Grey, Wise, or similar platforms designed for freelancers).
• Share your routing and account details with the client.
• Ask them to schedule a monthly ACH transfer in their banking app.
• Money lands in 1–3 business days with a minimal fee
• Convert to your local currency and withdraw to your account.

Let’s take Grey as an example. If you earn $2,000 monthly in recurring ACH payments to a Grey USD account, the deposit fee is 0.8% (capped at $10), the conversion is 1% (capped at $6), and withdrawals incur a flat fee depending on the currency.

Also read: How ACH payments work for freelancers outside the US

Method 2: ACH pull via a payment platform

When a client initiates a transaction via an ACH direct deposit, that is a push payment. But there is also an ACH pull that works the other way round. You or your platform initiates the transfer and pulls the money from the client’s account on a scheduled date.

This is just like how Netflix and other subscription services charge directly to your account. Here is the typical flow:

• A US client agrees to a recurring payment arrangement via a platform such as Stripe or HoneyBook.
• The platform collects the client’s US bank details once.
• It automatically initiates an ACH debit on the agreed date each month, without the client taking any action.
• The funds flow to the platform before being paid out to the freelancer.

Stripe is available in a limited number of countries. If Stripe isn’t available in your country, consider alternatives like HoneyBook, Dubsado, and Bonsai.

Method 3: Automated invoicing with payment links

Several invoicing platforms, including Wave, FreshBooks, QuickBooks, and Grey’s built-in invoicing tool, allow freelancers to send recurring invoices automatically and include a payment link that allows US clients to pay directly from the invoice.

• Set up a recurring invoice template.
• Link it to your virtual US account or Stripe.
• Clients receive the invoice by email on a fixed date each month.
• They click the payment link and choose their preferred method.
• The payment processes without a phone call, bank transfer instruction, or any additional communication.

Method 4: Payroll platforms

If the recurring payment is structured as a genuine contractor relationship, platforms like Deel, Remote, and Ripple handle the payment chain on both sides.

• The client adds you to their Deel or Remote account and schedules recurring payments.
• The client pays the platform in USD.
• The platform handles currency conversion and compliance documentation.
• The freelancer receives funds through local payout methods available in their country, including direct bank transfers in local currency.

Payroll platforms are best suited to single-employer arrangements on a fixed monthly schedule. For freelancers managing multiple clients simultaneously, the added overhead outweighs the benefits.

How the options compare

Let’s have a look at the options and how they compare:

Best practices when managing recurring payments

The goal is to set up a payment system that operates without errors, delays, failed payments, or excessive fees. Here is how to ensure that:

• Provide complete payment details upfront, in the contract.
• Ask explicitly whether the client can set up a standing ACH payment.
• Invoice on a fixed date each month.
• Follow up on the first late payment immediately.
• Confirm the payment method is working before the second billing cycle.

Receive recurring payments from US clients with Grey

When it is a one-off payment, you might worry less about inefficiencies. But if you are managing recurring payments with an inefficient payment setup, inefficiencies tend to pile up and clog your cash flow pipeline.

Grey gives freelancers outside the US virtual USD accounts to receive recurring payments. You hold the balance in USD, convert at competitive exchange rates, and withdraw to your local bank account at a flat fee. Grey’s built-in invoicing tool also allows you to send recurring invoices and receive payment directly into your account without a separate platform.

Grey cards offer a unique way to manage international payments by letting you pay directly from your balance, without top-ups, in any currency. The cards also integrate with Apple Pay and Google Pay for fast, contactless payments.

Sign up on Grey and download the app to start managing your recurring payments without troubles.

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