How To Pay Vendors Online with Melio

Key takeaways

• Choose the payment method that fits each vendor, whether that’s ACH, card, or a mailed check.
• Set up your first online vendor payment in four quick steps with Melio.
• Protect your money by swapping lost-in-the-mail paper checks for tracked digital payments.
• Check Melio’s pricing first, since the free plan includes up to five free ACH transfers a month.

What does it mean to pay vendors online?

Paying vendors online means sending business payments through a digital tool instead of writing and mailing paper checks. You schedule the payment, choose how it’s sent, and the money reaches your vendor. Checks still hang on in business, but they’re fading fast. The Federal Reserve handled about 2.98 billion commercial checks in 2024, down 5.4% from the year before. Online payments give you a faster, clearer way to pay the people you work with.

Payment methods for paying vendors online

Melio gives you a few ways to pay, so you can match the method to each vendor.

• ACH bank transfer: Move money straight from your bank account to your vendor’s account.
• Credit or debit card: Pay by card even when your vendor doesn’t accept cards.
• Paper check: Prefer paper? Melio mails the check for you, so you skip the trip to the mailbox.

How to pay vendors online with Melio

Getting started takes just a few minutes. Here’s how it works.

1. Sign up and add your business details. Create your account and tell us a bit about your business.
2. Add your vendor and payment info. Enter who you’re paying and where the money should go.
3. Enter the invoice and choose a method. Add the amount, then pick ACH, card, or check.
4. Schedule the payment and let Melio deliver it. Set the date and we’ll handle the rest.

Why pay your vendors online?

Switching from checks can feel like a big change. Here’s why it’s worth it.

Your vendors don’t need to sign up. Nothing changes on their end. They get paid the way they always have, with no account to create.

You can still send a check. Prefer paper for some vendors? Pay by ACH, credit card, or debit, and we’ll mail a check on your behalf.

It saves you time. Online payments cut out printing, signing, and mailing. That’s time back for your business and the people you care about.

It’s easy to use. If you can send a text, you can send a payment. There’s no special training and no steep learning curve.

It fits your budget. Melio’s free plan has no sign-up or subscription fees and includes up to five free ACH bank transfers a month, with paid plans for higher volumes. We charge for card payments, international payments, and some faster options.

Is it safe to pay vendors online?

Yes. Online payments are often safer than mailing a check. Digital payments don’t get lost or stolen in transit, and you keep a clear record of every one. You can check a payment’s status anytime by logging in to your account. Melio also uses strict security protocols and encryption, so your money reaches your vendors safely. Our partners include major banks and credit card companies.

Start paying vendors online

Ready to leave paper checks behind? Paying vendors online takes just a few minutes to set up. Add your invoice and payment details, schedule your first payment, and we’ll do the rest. Sign up for Melio to get started.

Paying vendors online FAQs