Your recurring customers should be your most predictable revenue source. Instead, you’re spending hours every month chasing the same clients for payments that could happen automatically.
You already know which customers will pay late this month. You know exactly how much time you’ll waste sending payment reminders instead of focusing on growth. Your business expenses don’t wait for your customers to remember their invoices – your rent, payroll, and software subscriptions all process automatically.
Your recurring revenue should work the same way. When payments happen automatically, on time, every month, you can focus on what actually grows your business: serving customers, developing new services, and building relationships that drive real value.
Finli eliminates every headache in this process. No complex integrations, no customer confusion, no technical setup nightmares. Just automated recurring payments that actually work.
Why Traditional Recurring Payment Setups Fail (And How Finli Fixes Each Problem)
Before diving into Finli’s solution, let’s address why so many businesses struggle with recurring payments:
Authorization problems plague many failed setups. Customers don’t understand what they’re signing up for, leading to disputes and chargebacks. Finli solves this by generating clear, professional recurring invoices that specify exact amounts, dates, and services – no confusion, no surprises.
Technical complexity overwhelms customers. Traditional payment setups require customers to navigate multiple systems, remember different login credentials, and deal with confusing verification processes. Finli handles everything through one seamless experience – customers authenticate once through Plaid and can immediately set up payments without juggling between different platforms or waiting for verification codes.
Manual follow-up becomes overwhelming. Sending payment reminders, tracking who’s paid, and chasing overdue accounts consumes hours every month. Finli automates the entire follow-up process – from initial payment reminders to past-due notifications – so you never have to send another “friendly reminder” email.
Setting Up Finli’s Recurring Invoice System
Finli makes recurring payment setup straightforward through our automated invoice system. Here’s exactly how to implement it for maximum payment success:
Start with Finli’s recurring invoice creation. Navigate to your Finli dashboard and select “Create Recurring Invoice.” You’ll set up the invoice once in just seconds, then Finli automatically generates and sends professional invoices based on your schedule. No more manual invoice creation every month.
Choose your optimal schedule. Select your preferred frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly) and billing dates through Finli’s recurring invoice setup. For monthly billing, consider choosing dates earlier in the month to avoid potential issues with shorter months like February. Most businesses find success with dates like the 1st, 15th, or mid-month timing.
Customize your invoice template with brand consistency. Add your logo, business information, and payment terms. Finli saves these details so every recurring invoice maintains professional consistency. Your customers receive branded communication that reinforces your business credibility.
Set automatic notification preferences. Finli automatically sends payment reminders on the issue date, due date, 2 days post due date, and 5 days post due date via email or SMS. This automated system ensures your customers receive consistent communication and payment reminders without any manual effort from you.
Finli’s Options: Choose What Works Best
Finli gives you two powerful ways to set up recurring ACH payments, depending on how your business operates:
Recurring Invoices for Structured Billing
Perfect for businesses with consistent monthly services, retainers, or subscription-based offerings. Finli’s recurring invoice system automatically handles the entire billing cycle.
Set it up once, run it forever. Create your recurring invoice template with specific amounts, dates, and service descriptions. Finli automatically generates and sends professional invoices based on your schedule – weekly, monthly, quarterly, or any custom frequency that fits your business.
Automatic notifications keep customers informed. Finli sends payment reminders before invoices are due and follows up automatically if payments become past due. No more awkward “just checking if you got my invoice” emails from you.
Complete visibility into your recurring revenue. Track all your recurring invoices and payment status from one dashboard. You’ll know exactly when payments are coming in and which customers need attention.
Pay-By Link for Customer-Controlled Payments
Think of this like creating a Venmo profile for your business. Customers can visit your unique payment link anytime to send payments and set up their own recurring schedules.
Customers control their payment schedule. Some clients prefer managing their own payment timing while still automating the process. Your Pay-By Link lets them set up recurring payments on their preferred dates and frequencies.
Perfect for variable billing situations. If your service amounts change monthly or you have customers with different billing preferences, Pay-By Links give flexibility while maintaining automation.
Zero ongoing management required. Once you share your Pay-By Link, customers handle their own payment setup and management. They can adjust amounts, change frequencies, or pause payments without involving your team.
Setting Up Recurring Invoices: Step-by-Step
Here’s exactly how to implement Finli’s recurring invoice system for maximum payment success:
Create your recurring invoice template. In your Finli dashboard, navigate to “Create Recurring Invoice.” Set up your invoice details once – customer information, service description, amount, and payment terms. This template becomes your automated billing engine.
Choose your optimal schedule. Select your preferred frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly) and billing dates through Finli’s recurring invoice setup. For monthly billing, consider choosing dates earlier in the month to avoid potential issues with shorter months like February. Most businesses find success with dates like the 1st, 15th, or mid-month timing.
Configure automatic notifications. Finli sends payment reminders on the issue date, due date, 2 days post due date, and 5 days post due date via email or SMS. This automated system ensures your customers receive consistent communication and payment reminders without any manual effort from you.
Test with a small group first. Start with 3-5 reliable customers to refine your process. Monitor payment success rates and customer feedback before expanding to your entire client base.
Leveraging Pay-By Links for Maximum Flexibility
Your Finli Pay-By Link creates a professional payment portal that customers can access anytime:
Share your link strategically. Include your Pay-By Link in email signatures, on invoices, and in customer onboarding materials. Make it easy for customers to find and use whenever they’re ready to set up recurring payments.
Let customers set their own terms. Through your Pay-By Link, customers can choose their payment amounts, frequencies, and start dates. This flexibility often leads to faster adoption since customers feel in control of the process.
Monitor customer-initiated recurring payments. Track which customers have set up recurring payments through your Pay-By Link and when their next payments are scheduled. This visibility helps with cash flow forecasting.
The Plaid Advantage: Instant Bank Account Verification
One of Finli’s biggest advantages over traditional payment processors is how customers connect their bank accounts:
No verification codes or waiting periods. Customers authenticate through their existing online banking credentials via Plaid. The connection happens instantly – no micro-deposits to verify, no calling banks, no multi-day setup processes.
Bank-level security without the friction. Plaid uses the same security protocols as major banks while providing a seamless user experience. Customers trust the process because they’re logging into their familiar banking interface.
Immediate payment capability. Once connected through Plaid, customers can make payments right away. No “wait 2-3 business days for account verification” delays that kill momentum and create setup abandonment.
Managing Failed Payments and Customer Communication
Even with the best setup, some payments will fail. Finli’s automated systems handle these situations professionally:
Professional past-due communication. Finli sends past-due notices that maintain your professional image while clearly communicating next steps. No more awkward phone calls or generic collection emails.
Customer self-service options. Through their payment portal, customers can update payment methods, view payment history, and resolve issues without contacting your support team. This reduces your administrative burden while improving customer satisfaction.
Professional failed payment handling. When ACH payments fail, Finli notifies both you and your customers immediately so issues can be resolved quickly. Customers can easily retry payments or update their payment information through their payment portal without needing to contact your support team.
Implementation Timeline
Tips for getting your recurring ACH payments running smoothly with Finli:
Step 1: Platform setup and testing. Create your recurring invoice templates or set up your Pay-By Link. Test the entire workflow with small amounts to ensure everything works correctly.
Step 2: Customer migration strategy. Start with your most reliable customers who are already comfortable with electronic payments. Use this group to refine your communication and identify any process improvements needed.
Step 3: Full rollout to existing customers. Expand to your complete customer base. Send clear communication about the new payment process and emphasize the convenience benefits. Provide your Pay-By Link as an option for customers who prefer self-service setup.
Step 4: Optimization and monitoring. Track payment success rates, customer feedback, and time savings. Adjust messaging, timing, or processes based on real performance data. Document your results to measure ongoing improvement.
Your Next Steps: Getting Started with Finli
The businesses winning in today make it effortless for customers to pay them. Finli’s recurring ACH system transforms your cash flow from unpredictable to reliable while eliminating administrative headaches.
Choose your approach based on your business model. If you have consistent monthly services or retainers, start with recurring invoices for structured automation. If your billing varies or customers prefer flexibility, begin with Pay-By Links for customer-controlled recurring payments.
Start small and scale fast. Begin with your most reliable customers to test and refine your process. Once you see the results – higher payment rates, reduced administrative time, and improved cash flow – expanding to your entire customer base becomes an obvious decision.
Take advantage of Finli’s integration. The power isn’t just in the recurring payments – it’s in how everything works together. Professional invoicing, instant bank verification through Plaid, automated payment reminders, and seamless customer communication create a complete solution that transforms how your business handles payments.
Your recurring revenue should work for you, not against you. With Finli’s system handling the entire process automatically, you’ll wonder why you spent so much time chasing payments when you could have been growing your business instead.
