Make business transfers with: XE
- Send money to 130+ countries
- Competitive exchange rates that are often better than banks'
- XE doesn’t charge any transaction fees, commissions or ongoing fees
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Compare international money transfers for your business
Discover some of the best ways for your business to send and receive money internationally.
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Using an international money transfer service instead of your bank when paying international employees or invoices can save you both time and money. We break down the best ways for your business to make international payments to help you get back to work quicker.
Compare international money transfer services for businesses
Use our comparison calculator to assess transfer fees, exchange rates, transfer speeds and more for your business transfer.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
What's in this guide?
Does your business need to move money internationally?
Take a look at the ways you can make and request payments across borders to figure out which is best for your business. Many options are at your disposal, each with their own benefits.
International money transfers for business
Money transfer providers are specialists that can get your funds from A to B at a low cost. And they’ll likely hit your account — or the account of your supplier, contractor or employee — sooner than other options.
Many specialists also offer forward contracts, limit orders and recurring transfers to save you time and money.
- Best for: Businesses looking to send quick, cost-effective payments and benefit from additional money-saving features.
Business payments for online sellers
For a service that goes beyond directly sending and receiving payments, a business payment account with a money transfer provider may better suit your business’s needs.
One such provider is TransferWise. Its Borderless program allows you to set up local bank accounts in up to 15 countries so you can pay and get paid as though you were local.
- Best for: Businesses looking to work with multiple currencies and accounts in multiple countries, all in one place.
Cost-effective international transfer services for online sellers
International payroll services
When you’re looking to pay your employees, you can potentially get everything handled by an international payroll service. It processes the entirety of your payroll and stays up to date on regulation changes so you don’t have to.
- Best for: Paying your borderless employees without dealing with local tax laws and payroll regulations.
Read our international payroll guide to compare your options
Bank wire transfer
A bank-to-bank wire transfer may be the most familiar and well-tread path, but it may not be what’s best for your business. International wire transfers often come with steep transfer fees and poor exchange rates. Bank of America, for example, could cost up to $45, while some money transfer services don’t charge a fee at all.
- Best for: Paying vendors that only accept wire transfers.
Send wire transfers through money transfer companies to save money
Mail a check
Failing all other methods, you can mail a check. Doing so comes with quite a few drawbacks, including comparatively lackluster security and slow delivery times.
You may also run into low maximum amounts for international money orders if you decide to use USPS.
- Best for: Times when no other option is available.
Explore business resources
Why should I compare my options beyond my bank?
For business owners, time can sometimes be more valuable than money. You may think that because it handles your other finances, your local bank is the simplest option when sending money overseas. In truth, international money transfers are no longer a game for only tried-and-true players like banks. Newer companies promise to undercut the competition to earn your business.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending a $10,000 business transfer to France
Let’s say you need to send $10,000 to a supplier in France. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of July 23, 2020.
| Money transfer service | Major US bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $25 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 0.859 EUR | 1 USD = 0.821 EUR |
| Transfer speed | Same day | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | EUR€8,593 | EUR€8,189 |
| Verdict |
|
|
The bank option is both slower and more expensive when paying your supplier in France. If you went with the money transfer service, not only would your recipient get the money faster, you’d also save more than €400 thanks to stronger exchange rates and lower fees.
Banks may seem like the more convenient option, but once you get an account setup with a money transfer company you can send money with a few clicks.
How can I receive international payments?
How you set up to receive funds is going to depend on what type of service you go with. Banks are likely to give you the option to open the account and get started in-person, while a dedicated money transfer service will probably have less physical locations. You’ll likely also have the options of opening an account over the phone or online.
The process is a bit more involved for business accounts, so set aside at least a half-hour in most cases to get through the entire application. Make sure you have your personal details, business information and any relevant financial information you may need.
We know you are busy, but don’t worry. We did a lot of the work for you and compared some of the best payment processors.
Do I pay taxes on international business transactions?
Income from abroad is still taxable in the US. On top of the US IRS, be aware of any international tax laws that might apply — especially if you have an international bank account. While there are many treaties around the world to avoid double taxation, you may still be subject to additional taxes.
Because tax law is so involved, you’ll likely want to seek out a certified advisor to make sure everything is above board. Some international business payment solutions like FlyWire can also help you manage your business taxes.
Bottom line
While there’s no one perfect product for making international business payments, knowing how to evaluate solutions and find the best one for your business goes a long way. Compare international money transfer providers to get more details on the services they provide, how to better measure them against one another and what to do once you choose one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I monitor the progress of my funds?
Nearly all money transfer services provide a unique transaction ID that you can use to check the status of your funds. In most cases, you can do this online or by phone.
How safe is a money transfer?
When processed through a reputable bank or company, your funds are safely tracked until in the hands of your recipient. And if you’re sending money internationally, federal protections are in place that require banks, credit unions and money transfer companies to, for example, disclose all fees upfront and give you 30 minutes to cancel a transfer, assuming it hasn’t yet been picked up or deposited.
Can I set up regular payments?
Yes, many banks and transfer companies offer the convenience of recurring transfers.
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