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Bill every project stage on time

Agencies front the work, pay their freelancers and then wait on the client. Finli turns approved proposals into deposits, milestone invoices and retainers, and settles every payment at your own bank or credit union.

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Professional services dashboard with retainers and client billing
A professional services program in a sample institution’s brand. Sample data.

What gets in the way

Get a deposit before work starts

A deposit on an approved proposal covers early costs and confirms the client is committed.

Bill milestones without the lag

Invoices that go out as each phase is delivered keep cash moving through long projects.

Pay freelancers cleanly

Freelancers want to be paid quickly, and the agency needs W-9s and 1099 records.

A week at A six-person design and marketing agency with a bench of freelancers

  1. Proposal approvedA client approves a website project quote online from the email link.
  2. Deposit invoicedThe quote converts to a deposit invoice that the client pays by ACH.
  3. Retainers billMonthly marketing retainers bill on autopay for ongoing clients.
  4. Milestone deliveredThe design phase wraps, and the next milestone invoice goes out.
  5. Freelancer paidThe agency pays a freelance developer with Payouts, in early access.
  6. Funds settleClient payments settle into the agency's account at its own institution.

Built for agencies

Online proposal approval

Send a quote that the client approves online; it converts to an invoice in a click.

Deposits and milestone invoices

Bill a deposit up front and each project phase as it is delivered.

Retainers on autopay

Bill monthly retainers automatically by bank transfer or card.

Automatic reminders

Email and text reminders follow up on unpaid invoices for you.

Client records and documents

Keep contracts, statements of work and payment history on each client.

Freelancer payoutsIn pilot

Pay freelancers from agency checking, with W-9 collection and 1099 tracking.

For banks and credit unions

Agencies run on a mix of retainers and project revenue, with freelancer costs that often come before client payments. A program that settles client payments into accounts at your institution makes that timing visible and supports lines of credit and business cards that bridge the gap.

Where these businesses grow next

  • Business line of credit
  • Business credit card
  • Treasury management

Payouts collects W-9s and tracks 1099 amounts; the agency decides how each worker is classified.

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Common questions

Can clients approve a proposal and pay a deposit in one step?
Clients approve the quote online, and the agency converts it to a deposit invoice in a click. The client can then pay by bank transfer, card or Apple Pay.
How do freelancers get paid?
With Payouts, now in pilot, the agency pays from its checking account. Each freelancer gets a secure claim link, verifies identity and picks how to be paid. Bank transfer is always free.
Can I pass the card fee to clients?
Yes. Card payments carry a 3.5% processing fee that the agency can absorb or pass on. Bank transfer (ACH) payments are always free.

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Finli is offered through your financial institution

Banks, credit unions and community lenders offer Finli under their own name, so your payments settle with the institution you already use. Tell us where you bank and we’ll ask them for you.

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