Getting an advance from clients abroad: UPI vs payment links
UPI is easiest for Indian clients, but most clients abroad cannot use it. What to offer each kind of client, and what to keep for your records.
Asking for an advance is normal for fixed-price work: it shows the client is committed and covers your first days. How the client pays depends on where they are.
Clients in India paying in rupees: UPI
For a rupee quote to an Indian client, a UPI link or ID is usually the fastest option: no card fees for the client and money in your account within seconds. Share your own UPI ID, and tell the client the exact amount and what it is for.
Clients outside India: a payment link
Most clients abroad cannot pay by UPI; it needs an Indian bank account or a UPI app they are unlikely to have. Give them a payment link instead. Payment links from services such as PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay or Wise let the client pay by card or bank transfer in their own currency.
- Compare the fees and currency conversion each service charges before choosing one
- Quote in the client’s currency if that is what they expect, and state that no conversion is included
- Check how long money takes to reach your bank
Keep records for export income
Money from clients abroad is export of services. Keep the invoice, the payment confirmation and whatever proof of inward remittance your bank or payment service provides. What exactly you need depends on your situation, so confirm with your bank and a chartered accountant rather than relying on a blog post.
Ask for the advance at the right moment
The best moment is right after the client accepts the scope, while the decision is fresh. In FirmQuote, the advance appears on the client’s page as soon as they accept: a UPI button for rupee quotes from India-based freelancers, and your payment link for everyone else.