Over the years, freelancing is replacing the majority of Kenya’s labour. Freelancing allows professionals and students to develop their talents and skills. The majority of freelancers are under 30 years old, with those over 50 years old being the minority. One of the most difficult issues for African freelancers is figuring out how to get paid.
While it has its own set of advantages, such as the opportunity to work on your own timetable, most freelancers in these nations struggle to get international transactions from clients. This is primarily due to the fact that many popular internet platforms, such as PayPal, do not provide adequate support for their services in these regions.
This post will discuss some of the various ways you can send a payment for freelancers in Kenya and other surrounding countries. However, before we do, let's discuss some important things you need to keep in mind before sending and receiving international payments. We’ll also be discussing why you should use a payment gateway for freelancing!
Why Should You Use A Payment Gateway?
Online payment processing allows for instant payments. Customers, on the other hand, benefit from it. It makes buying and service payment easier. Additionally, it is a more secure means of payment than other possibilities.
The following are some advantages to adopting online payment software for your business:
Scalability
Every organization goes through a profound shift. The payment processing software's flexibility and scalability allow the business to grow and react to structural changes at all levels.
Security
Cybercrime is one of today's most concerning security issues. Online payment software, which also safeguards cardholders' sensitive financial information, enables secure online transactions.
More Methods Of Payment
Almost all payment processing software provides a diverse selection of payment options. Giving your consumers a variety of payment alternatives is usually a smart idea because it boosts customer loyalty and, subsequently, sales!
How To Choose The Right Payment Gateway
As the demand for payment gateways increased, so did the competition. So, how can you pick one that's a suitable fit for your company? Here are some helpful tips and tricks.
Check The Fees
Payment gateway pricing is determined by a variety of factors. Your business model, the kinds of transactions you receive, the monthly/annual amounts you receive, and more play a huge part. Before deciding on a payment gateway, evaluate how much revenue you receive on a regular basis and conduct your research before requesting a quote.
In addition to these taxes, new enterprises must pay establishment fees. Because they are fixed, there isn't much you can even save here, but it's a decent starting point for evaluating alternative providers.
Ensure Device Compatibility
Some payment options work perfectly on all devices, while others are buggy on specific platforms. Find out how the payment method works on various platforms and operating systems before making a commitment. It's also helpful to know the demographics of your website visitors ahead of time.
Consider A Recurring Billing Option
Payment gateways are increasingly being employed in software-as-a-service businesses. The SaaS model is excellent, but it is dependent on one critical characteristic of transactions: recurring billing. Simply said, for a subscription service, your clients are charged the same amount each month.
A solid payment system not only makes it simple to collect payments on autopilot every month but also resolves a number of other concerns. It can, for example, assist you in dealing with missed credit card payments.
Easy Fund Management and Success Rate
One of the reasons companies have been cautious in picking a payment gateway is because of user dropouts and unsuccessful transactions. Any business owner must examine the transaction's success as well as its smooth and straightforward processing.
They should select a payment gateway that provides simple payment management choices, such as refunds, payouts, and disbursements.
Top Methods Of Payment For Freelancers
Freelancing is becoming more popular in Kenya, necessitating the search for the best method of payment for freelancers in Kenya. In such times, the most pressing question is which technique remains the easiest and most dependable when it comes to receiving payment online.
However, various freelancers require different functionalities from their payment solutions. That is why we have listed the main freelancer payment choices, along with their benefits and drawbacks, so you may select the platform that best suits your needs.
Below, we will look at some of the most popular payment options for freelancers both inside and outside of the country. With the list below, you figure out how to get paid as a freelancer.
TransferWise
TransferWise is one of the greatest PayPal alternatives in all of Kenya if you don't mind getting your money in 3-7 working days but at a considerably lesser cost.
TransferWise South Africa enables freelancers to receive money into their bank without incurring currency conversion fees. Your payment is translated to Rands using the mid-market rate of exchange (the one found on Google) when you use the borderless account. That means you'll have more money even before we consider fees and charges.
With fees and exchange rates, the payment processor is completely upfront and transparent, so you know precisely how much you're getting. When you open a TransferWise international account, you can also register for a MasterCard and withdraw money from any ATM. They incur processing costs of roughly US$1 and 0.5% of the transfer amount, which is far less than practically all other options.
Features of TransferWise:
- Money transfers from one bank account to another Extensive money transfers with this freelancer accounting software
- Foreign currency transfers
- A multi-currency account accepts, saves, and holds money in multiple currencies.
PayPal
PayPal was a pioneer in internet payments. It is the most popular method of payment for freelancers in over 200 countries. People in Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, on the other hand, can only transfer money and conduct online payments through PayPal.
PayPal transactions, like Payoneer, are instant. Withdrawals, on the other hand, may take 3-6 banking days to appear in your bank account.
Features of PayPal:
- Accept Payments Online
- Barcode Scanning
- Bill Me Later
- Credit Card Reader
- Express Checkout
- Inventory Tracking
- Mobile Card Reader
- Online Invoicing
Although PayPal has a good coverage, it Africans still have problems of getting paid. There is no guarantee that your payment will be released or the account not blocked. Read more here about PayPal challenges for Africa merchants.
Skrill
Skrill is a different supplier that allows you to open an online bank account and receive international transfers of money to a national currency account. You can then deposit the funds into your own bank account.
Skrill enables you to deposit money into your account for free, but if you have to convert it, they will charge a 3.99% markup on the mid-market conversion rate. This means that if a conversion is required, you will most likely forfeit your funds.
Features of Skrill:
- Credit Card Transactions
- Email transactions
- Free account
- Fast access
- One place data
M-Pesa
M-Pesa is well-known in Kenya as being one of the best payment alternatives for Kenyan freelancers, as it ensures that you are paid online. Some freelancing websites have begun to accept M-Pesa as a payment mechanism. M-Pesa charges customers for money paid to individuals as well as money taken from their accounts.
It is not the cheapest technique among the finest money transfer for Kenyan freelancers, but it is dependable.
Payoneer
Payoneer allows you to send payments to freelancers in over 200 countries and 150 currencies worldwide. Furthermore, you can do so without creating a Payoneer account. When your freelancer submits an invoice through this portal, you will receive an email with a payment link; simply click on this and proceed to pay with your credit card or bank account. On the other hand, you are charged 3% of the amount as transaction costs, and your freelancers must pay roughly $25 annually to keep their Payoneer account active.
Money Orders
Though individuals more often use money order servicesorder services are more often used by individuals, companies can also use them to pay contractors in countries where banks impose high withdrawal fees, such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Because of the low amount you may send - only $1,000 for a single transaction - these may not be the best solution for larger projects. However, the lower transaction and conversion fees may make the extra work needed in acquiring and mailing worthwhile. Based on the currency and the size of the order, you should expect to pay between $5 and $25 to send a money order.
To pay a foreign contractor with money orders, you'll need to find a MoneyGram or Western Union representative. You can use your company debit or credit card to buy an order in the quantity you want, and you'll get a receipt. Fill out the order with your contractor's full legal name as it appears on a valid form of government ID to ensure fast payment.
Your Bank Account
The traditional route is to stay with your bank.
Of course, you may just put your usual bank information on an international invoice for your freelancing work and hope for the best. Some banks charge consumers for receiving overseas payments, so check with your bank to see if they do.
The charges that your client may need to pay in the end could be even more of a concern. Which, of course, is an issue for you if it is deducted from your price. Then there's the issue of the currency rate: very few banks will charge close to the mid-market rate, which could simply mean that less of your payment reaches you.
If you opt to use a standard bank-to-bank transfer, keep the following fees in mind:
- Sender fee charged by the sender's bank or transfer service provider
- The markup on exchange rates
- Getting a fee from your bank
Xoom
Xoom is an online payment gateway that has to make the list of the best freelancer withdrawal options. The software allows the sender to transmit money while also changing the money to Kenyan currency before it is sent. This feature makes it among the most suitable method of freelance payment.
Transfers to bank accounts cost $2.99, while transfers to credit and debit cards cost $3.99. Xoom is one of the best 20 payment method for Kenyan freelancers since it provides instant money transfers to your PayPal, bank, and M-Pesa accounts.
IntaSend
IntaSend, a newer competitor to PayPal, grew swiftly by allowing the processing of payments by Africa merchants. IntaSend is friendly and has been built with local merchants in mind. IntaSend’s API is always being updated in order to preserve its encryption and security protocols
Pros:
- Many ways to get paid i.e card, Bitcoin, Bank, and mobile money
- Accepts payments in a variety of digital currencies (USD, EUR, GBP and KES).
- There are custom libraries available.
- Get paid without owning a website - leverage our payment links and invoicing services.
Which Option To Choose?
The final decision is yours. Take the time to analyze what you require and investigate the provider that can save you the most money.
Obtaining virtual bank details in foreign currencies is beneficial and may save you money by enabling you to accept income like a local while avoiding high international fees. IntaSend’s borderless account is one online alternative for receiving international payments.
Signup on IntaSend today to get started.
Cover Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
