Manage Finances
How to send and receive money in other currencies, what you lose to fees and exchange rates, and the paperwork each country asks for.
Guide · Cross-border payments
If Stripe doesn't serve your country, you either form a US company and open a US Stripe account, or sell through a merchant of record such as Paddle, Lemon Squeezy or Stripe Managed Payments, which charge around 5% or more but take on sales tax and VAT. Here's how the three routes compare.
· 7 min read
Guide · Cross-border payments
On a $10,000 invoice, Wise's US account details cost $186.97 in fees including GST, Payoneer's published rates come to between about $219 and $496, and PayPal comes to about $727. Services exported under an LUT carry no GST, but you still need the paperwork. Here's how to choose.
· 7 min read
Guide · Contractors
To pay a contractor abroad, collect a Form W-8BEN, sign a contract that covers scope and IP, and pay through a low-cost rail like Wise, Airwallex or a contractor platform rather than a bank wire. For work done outside the US, there's no US withholding and no 1099. Here's the full process.
· 7 min read
Comparison · Cross-border payments
Wise charges a one-time $31 and conversion fees from 0.23%. Airwallex is free to open with a 0.5% markup on major currencies. Payoneer suits marketplace sellers and freelancers, but charges 1% to receive many payments and an annual fee on low volumes. Here's how to choose.
· 7 min read