WhatsApp payment reminders for trades: link to pay with Stripe or GoCardless and get cash in fast

Quick answer

• Create a one-off payment link (Stripe Payment Links or GoCardless Instant Bank Pay paylink), then paste it into a WhatsApp message to your customer. They tap and pay on a secure page. Funds settle to your account as usual.
• This is ideal for overdue invoices, deposits, call-out fees and small variations. It reduces back-and-forth and gets you paid faster than bank transfer.
• Keep the message factual to count as a service message. If you add promotions, follow UK PECR rules for marketing DMs. See ICO guidance.

What you need

• A WhatsApp Business or regular WhatsApp account.
• A Stripe account with Payment Links enabled, or a GoCardless account with Instant Bank Pay (GBP, UK customers).
• Optional: Xero or QuickBooks connected to Stripe/GoCardless so invoice status updates automatically.

Set up Stripe Payment Links

Stripe Payment Links give you a hosted checkout page and a shareable URL.

• In Stripe: Payments → Payment Links → New. Choose product/service, set GBP price and create the link. See Stripe’s guide: Create a payment link.
• Share: copy the URL into WhatsApp. Stripe supports sharing across messaging apps. See Share a payment link.
• Customise checkout (logo, colours, fields) and enable methods like Pay by Bank and Bacs DD in Settings → Payment methods. See Payment method support and Customise checkout.
• SCA handled: Stripe links use 3D Secure when required in the UK. See SCA enforcement.

Tip: You can prefill a WhatsApp message using Click-to-Chat, for example:

https://wa.me/447700900123?text=Please%20pay%20here%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fbuy.stripe.com%2Fabc

Reference: Click-to-Chat URL formats explained by Dotdigital.

Set up GoCardless Instant Bank Pay links

Instant Bank Pay lets UK customers pay you instantly from their bank. Create a paylink and share it on WhatsApp.

• Create a paylink in the GoCardless dashboard. See Collecting an instant payment using an Instant Bank Pay paylink.
• Share the link or its QR code in WhatsApp. See Collect an instant payment using Instant Bank Pay and QR codes.
• For new customers, you can also share a Direct Debit authorisation link over WhatsApp. See Link clients directly to your authorisation form.
• Availability: UK, GBP. See Instant Bank Pay overview.

Send compliant WhatsApp reminders

• Service vs marketing: Appointment and payment reminders are usually service messages, which don’t need marketing consent if kept factual. If you add offers or cross-sell, it becomes marketing and PECR rules apply. See ICO guidance on what is electronic mail marketing and rules on electronic mail.
• If your message is marketing: for individuals/sole traders, use consent or the soft opt-in and include an easy opt-out (“Reply STOP to opt out”). See How to comply.
• Identify yourself in the message and keep records of opt-outs. UK GDPR still applies to any personal data you process.

Pro templates you can copy

Short, plain and polite works best. Paste your live link where shown.

• Due today

  • “Hi Sarah, it’s Oakfield Heating. Invoice 1043 is due today. Please pay here: . If you’ve already paid, thanks and ignore this.”

• 7 days overdue

  • “Hi Dan, quick reminder from Redline Electrical: invoice 332 is now 7 days overdue. You can pay securely here: . Any issues, reply here and we’ll sort it.”

• Deposit before booking

  • “Hi Chloe, to secure Friday’s slot we take a £100 deposit. Pay securely here: . As soon as it lands we’ll confirm your booking.”

• Variation agreed on site

  • “Hi James, we’ve added the agreed extra sockets today. The variation is £120. Settle it here: . We’ll include it on the final invoice.”

• Friendly final nudge

  • “Hi Priya, last nudge from Apex Joinery about invoice 587. Please pay today here: or tell us if there’s a problem and we’ll help.”

Optional automations (Xero, QuickBooks, Google Sheets)

• Xero + Stripe: add the Stripe payment service so your online invoices show a Pay now button. Customers can also pay Apple Pay/Google Pay. See Xero + Stripe and Xero Learning: Add online payment options.
• QuickBooks Online + GoCardless: connect the app, request mandates, then set invoices to collect by Direct Debit automatically. See QuickBooks UK: Get started with GoCardless and Set up mandates.
• Google Sheets + WhatsApp: keep a simple “collections sheet” with columns for customer, invoice, amount, link, status. When status = “overdue 7,” send the right template via your preferred tool. See our playbooks for WhatsApp appointment reminders and maintenance contract renewals for messaging timing ideas.

Troubleshooting and tips

• Customer says the link won’t open: ask them to try mobile data or a different browser. For Stripe, links are SCA-ready; for GoCardless, customers authorise via their bank.
• You sent the wrong amount: deactivate the Stripe link and create a fresh one; for GoCardless, cancel and reissue the paylink.
• Big invoices: for higher values where cards may decline, try GoCardless Instant Bank Pay or request a Direct Debit mandate for scheduled collection.
• VAT receipts: Stripe and GoCardless both show payment confirmations; still issue your VAT invoice/receipt from Xero or QuickBooks as normal.
• Reduce disputes: collect a short acceptance in WhatsApp when you share the link, for example “Reply YES to confirm the amount and we’ll mark it as paid when it hits.”

FAQ

Is a WhatsApp payment reminder allowed in the UK?

Yes, if it’s a service message about an existing invoice or appointment and contains no promotional content. If you add marketing content, follow PECR rules for consent/soft opt-in and include an opt-out. See ICO: What is electronic mail marketing and Electronic mail marketing.

Can I pass on card fees?

Xero notes fee pass-through isn’t supported in the UK for Stripe. You can price to include fees, or offer an Instant Bank Pay link as a lower-fee option.

What if the customer doesn’t use WhatsApp?

Send the same link by SMS or email. Both Stripe and GoCardless links work anywhere you can paste a URL. You can also generate a QR code to paste on a PDF.

Is this safe?

Yes. Stripe Payment Links show a secure, hosted checkout with 3D Secure where required. GoCardless Instant Bank Pay authorises the payment within the customer’s banking app.