Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Compare business money transfer services

Discover some of the best ways for your business to send and receive money internationally.

Promoted

Airwallex

Airwallex logo
  • Open accounts with local bank details in 23+ currencies
  • Make global transfers to 150+ markets at interbank rates
  • Automate domestic and international bill pay workflows
Go to site

Using an international business 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 to make an international business transfer so you can get back to work quicker.

Key takeaways

  • Business money transfer providers often offer cost-effective, quick transfers with better exchange rates than banks and usually include features like forward contracts and recurring transfers.
  • When receiving international payments, your options vary depending on the service, with banks offering in-person setup and transfer services offering online or phone setup.
  • Income from abroad is taxable in the US. Be aware of international tax laws and seek advice from a certified advisor.
  • Look out for poor exchange rates, high fees, delivery speed costs and payment method fees when making international business transfers.

Compare international business money transfer services

Use our comparison calculator to assess transfer fees, exchange rates, transfer speeds and more for your business transfer.

Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.

Name Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
Airwallex
Airwallex
Within minutes
$0
After spending $15k in your first 90 days, receive a one-time $500 bonus that will automatically be credited to your account on any FX conversion.
Airwallex can help you make business payments to 150+ countries in 60+ currencies.
OFX International Money Transfers (Business)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
CurrencyTransfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
Xe Money Transfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
Currencies Direct (business)
24 hours
$0
Minimizes costs of international transactions and offers custom solutions for business clients. Currencies Direct may call you to confirm your transfer, so be prepared for a phone call shortly after initiating a transfer.
loading

Does your business need to transfer money internationally?

There might be a number of reasons why your business needs to transfer money overseas. Here are the most common:

  • Paying a supplier or vendor
  • Paying international contractors or employees
  • Paying commercial bills

How do businesses make international payments?

Take a look at the ways you can make and request payments across borders to figure out which is best for your business. Depending on the reason for your business money transfer, you may have many options at your disposal, some better suited than others.

International money transfers for business

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 such as banks.

Many specialist money transfer 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 that can 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 business money transfer provider may better suit your business’s needs.

One such provider is Wise. 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.

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. Typically, banks like Wells Fargo and Chase can charge upwards of $50 for an outgoing wire transfer.

  • Best for: Paying vendors that only accept wire transfers.

Send wire transfers through money transfer companies to save money

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

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.

How do I find the best money transfer service for my business?

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 and most obvious option when sending money overseas. In truth, international business money transfers are no longer a game for only tried-and-true players such as banks. Newer companies and online money transfer providers can undercut the competition to earn your business and will normally deliver your money to recipients faster than the banks can.

Take a closer look into the following areas to find the most suitable business money transfer service:

  • Exchange rates. You may see a great exchange rate being advertised but you need to make sure that the rate you see is the rate that you receive. The mid-market exchange rate is the best rate you can get – it’s the rate at which banks buy and sell currencies. However, many banks and some money transfer services will have their own exchange rates, which are often worse than the mid-market rate. This can make a huge difference if you are regularly sending large amounts overseas.
  • Fees. Check the fees carefully. While it might seem that there are no fees to pay, it’s more than likely that the exchange rate will have a large margin added to it. Your business transfer might be free but how much more are you having to pay because of a weaker exchange rate?
  • Discounts. Many services might offer discounts on the transfer fees or waive the fees altogether when you send larger amounts regularly.
  • Forward contracts and limit orders. Find out which, if any, tools are on offer from a provider such as forward contracts or limit orders. Forward contracts allow you to lock in an appealing exchange rate for future money transfers while limit orders allow you to wait until you find a better exchange rate and then lock it in for your transfer.
  • Compare. Finally, compare several providers before choosing one. Do your research to find a provider that offers reliable and affordable business transfers.

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 serviceMajor US bank transfer
Fee$0$25 + additional correspondent bank fees
Exchange rate1 USD = 0.859 EUR1 USD = 0.821 EUR
Transfer speedSame day2-5 days
Amount receivedEUR€8,593EUR€8,189
Verdict
  • Better value and faster
  • Slower and more expensive

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 for my business?

Your option for receiving 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 business money transfer service will probably have fewer physical locations. You’ll probably also have 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 half an 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.

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.

What are the hidden costs of an international business transfer?

When making a transfer, you may be quoted a fee on top of the amount you want to send. But if you look closer or ask for a breakdown of this fee, it could relate to a number of hidden fees relating to the following:

  • Poor exchange rates. When dealing with popular currencies, you might get a great exchange rate from a provider. However, that same provider might add higher margins to the exchange rate on exotic currencies resulting in you spending more. Find a business money transfer service that offers the best exchanges for the currencies you use the most.
  • High fees. Is there a flat fee for your business transfer or a percentage of the total amount? And do you have to pay to receive a business transfer from overseas? Depending on the nature of your business and how you operate, you may want to compare flat fees against variable fees to find the most cost-effective option.
  • Transfer delivery speeds. Business transfers can usually be delivered within 1-5 business days. If you want your transfer to arrive sooner, then you’ll pay for a faster turnaround. While instant and same-day transfers are available with some services, you could pay more for these options.
  • Payment method. How you pay for your business transfer can make a difference to the overall cost. A bank transfer tends to be the cheapest option while making a payment with a credit card could mean higher fees.

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 business money transfer?

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.

Can I monitor the progress of my funds?

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 up front 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.

Zak Killermann's headshot
Written by

Publisher

Zak Killermann was a technical publisher at Finder who specialized in currencies and investing. Zak’s expertise was in breaking down technical finance concepts into approachable, digestible nuggets of information. See full bio

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site