If you run a small business in the UK, you know the sinking feeling of sending an invoice and waiting. And waiting.

Chasing payments is one of the biggest drains on time for British SMEs. Whether you’re a builder waiting for a deposit, a freelancer chasing a final bill, or a restaurant trying to secure a Christmas booking, the "cheque is in the post" era is over—but the delays aren't.

But what if you could get paid as easily as sending a text message?

Payment links (often called "Pay by Link") are a simple tool that removes the friction from getting paid. Instead of waiting for a bank transfer or taking risky card details over the phone, you send a secure link, and your customer pays instantly on their phone.

Here is how using payment links can stop the chase and actually help you grow your sales.

What Actually Is a Payment Link?

A payment link is a secure URL that you generate and send to a customer via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or social media.

When the customer clicks the link, they are taken to a secure checkout page hosted by your payment provider (like Teya). They enter their card details or use Apple Pay/Google Pay, and the money is sent to you.

It turns every conversation into a potential point of sale. No card machine needed. No website required.

The Cost of "I'll Pay You Later"

The agitation is real. Recent data suggests that UK small businesses spend millions of hours every year chasing late payments.

• Cash Flow Gaps: Every day an invoice sits unpaid, your working capital is tied up. You can't buy stock or pay staff with "accounts receivable."

• Security Risks: Taking card numbers over the phone (MOTO payments) is risky. Writing down a card number on a scrap of paper is a violation of security standards and leaves you liable for fraud.

• Lost Sales: If a customer wants to buy from you on Instagram but has to "call the shop" to pay, they will likely scroll past. Friction kills sales.

5 Ways Payment Links Boost Your Revenue

Payment links aren't just about getting paid faster; they are about capturing revenue you might otherwise lose.

1. Securing Deposits and Reducing No-Shows

For pubs and restaurants, no-shows are devastating. By sending a payment link for a deposit at the moment of booking, you secure the commitment. If they don't show, you at least cover your costs.

• The Teya benefit: You can send the link via SMS while you have them on the phone.

2. Selling Directly on Social Media

If you run a boutique or retail shop, you likely showcase products on Instagram or Facebook. When a customer DMs you asking, "Do you have this in size 10?", don't send them to a complex website. Reply with "Yes! Here is a secure payment link." They click, pay, and you ship it. You’ve just closed a sale in seconds.

3. Safer Telephone Orders (MOTO)

Taking orders over the phone is common for takeaways and florists. However, reading card numbers aloud is awkward and insecure. Instead, tell the customer: "I've just texted you a secure link. You can pay with Apple Pay right now." It’s professional, secure, and speeds up the call.

4. Instant Invoice Settlement

For tradespeople or B2B services, stop sending PDFs with bank details and hoping for the best. Include a payment link directly in your email or invoice.

• Why it works: It allows the client to pay immediately on their credit card to manage their own cash flow, while you get the funds next day.

5. Recovering "Abandoned" Inquiries

Ever had a customer email about a service and then go quiet? A polite follow-up with a payment link removes the barrier to entry. "Hi, we’re ready to start. Click here to sort the deposit and we’ll book you in."

Security Without the Headache

One of the biggest advantages of payment links is that you don't handle the sensitive data.

When you use Teya’s payment links, the transaction happens on our secure, PCI DSS-compliant servers. You never see or store the full card number. This drastically reduces your compliance burden and protects your customers' data from fraud.

How Teya Makes It Simple

We built our payment links to be as flexible as your business.

• Next-Day Settlements: We don't hold your money. Payments taken via link settle the next business day, just like your card machine transactions.

• Fair Pricing: No hidden "virtual terminal" fees. You pay clear rates for the transactions you process.

• Real Support: If a link isn't working or a payment fails, you can call our UK-based support team. We answer in seconds, not hours.

Getting Set Up

You don't need a degree in IT to start. If you have the Teya Business app, you can generate a link in three taps: enter the amount, add a reference, and share.

For a more detailed walkthrough on setting up online payments, check out our dedicated guide for small businesses.

Measuring Your Success

Once you start using payment links, you'll want to see which channels are working best. Are you getting more payments via WhatsApp or Email? Is your deposit policy reducing lost revenue?

By tracking payment performance through the Teya dashboard, you can see exactly where your money is coming from. This data helps you decide where to focus your efforts.

Speeding Up the Checkout

Ultimately, payment links are about speed. They remove the "admin" from the transaction. Whether you are in a shop or working remotely, a faster checkout flow means happier customers and more money in your bank account.

Ready to stop chasing invoices? Payment links are included with your Teya account. Download the app today and send your first link in minutes.