Sending money across borders should be straightforward. You’ve agreed on a price, you know who to pay, and you just want the funds to arrive on time. But for many small business owners, international payments end up being more stressful—and more expensive—than expected.
More small businesses are working with global contractors and suppliers than ever before. Whether you’re paying a freelance designer in Brazil, a manufacturer in Vietnam, or a consultant in Germany, cross-border payments are quickly becoming a regular part of running a business. And yet, even experienced owners consistently run into the same avoidable problems: unexpected fees, payment delays, data entry errors, and strained vendor relationships.
The good news is that most of these mistakes are preventable. Understanding where things go wrong is the first step toward building a payment process that’s reliable, cost-effective, and low-stress.
Here are the seven most common mistakes small businesses make when sending international payments—and what you can do to avoid each one.
Mistake #1 — Not Understanding the True Cost of a Payment
The wire transfer fee is just one part of what you’ll actually pay. Many small business owners focus on that flat fee—often $15 to $50 per transaction—without accounting for the foreign exchange (FX) markup applied to the conversion rate, or the intermediary bank fees that can be deducted before funds reach the recipient.
The result? You send $1,000 expecting your contractor to receive $1,000 in equivalent local currency, and they receive noticeably less. That gap compounds over time, especially with recurring payments.
How to avoid it: Before confirming any international transfer, ask for the full cost breakdown—transaction fee plus exchange rate. Choose payment tools that show total cost upfront, so there are no surprises after the money has left your account.
Remitly Business displays the exchange rate and total fees before you confirm a payment, so you always know what you’re sending and what your recipient will receive.
Mistake #2 — Relying on Manual Data Entry for Recipient Details
Copying and pasting a recipient’s bank account number from an email might seem harmless. But even a single incorrect digit can cause a payment to fail, get delayed, or—in a worst-case scenario—be sent to the wrong account entirely.
This risk increases when you’re managing multiple international vendors or paying the same contractor month after month by re-entering their details each time. Manual data entry is one of the most common sources of avoidable payment errors.
How to avoid it: Remember verified recipients for repeat payments.
Mistake #3 — Using Bank Wires for Everyday Operational Payments
Bank wires are familiar, which is why so many small businesses default to them. But familiarity doesn’t always mean fit for purpose. Wire transfers often carry flat fees regardless of transfer size, making them inefficient for smaller recurring payments. Delivery times can vary, and the lack of real-time tracking makes it difficult to confirm when a payment has actually arrived.
For a one-off large transfer, a bank wire might make sense. For payments to a contractor $500 every two weeks, it’s often an expensive and slow option.
How to avoid it: Evaluate payment tools designed specifically for recurring operational payments. Look for transparent pricing and faster, more predictable delivery windows.
Remitly Business is built for exactly this use case—recurring contractor and vendor payments—with lower costs than traditional bank wires and clearer delivery timelines.
Mistake #4 — Choosing Tools That Require Complex Setup or New Accounts
Some payment platforms seem straightforward until you realize they require you to open a new business account, pre-fund a wallet, or move money into a separate system before you can send anything. That’s extra financial infrastructure, additional reconciliation work, and more time spent before you’ve even made your first payment.
For a small business already managing multiple accounts and tools, this kind of friction creates real delays—especially when you need to pay a new vendor quickly.
How to avoid it: Choose solutions that connect directly to your existing bank account or card. The simpler the setup, the faster you can get started.
Remitly Business lets you send payments using your existing bank account, debit card, or credit card. No wallet to fund, no new account to open, no long onboarding process before your first payment goes out.
Mistake #5 — Not Confirming Delivery Timing With Recipients
Payment delays cause real problems. A contractor waiting on funds may pause work. A supplier might hold an order. And when the timeline isn’t communicated upfront, even a minor delay can create unnecessary back-and-forth and erode trust.
Different countries, currencies, and payout methods all have different delivery speeds. What takes one day to one destination might take three to five days to another—and without visibility into that, both sender and recipient are left guessing.
How to avoid it: Before sending a payment, confirm the expected delivery window with your recipient so they know when to expect funds. Use payment tools that provide estimated delivery timelines at the point of transfer, along with tracking after the fact.
Remitly Business shows expected delivery timing before you confirm a payment and provides real-time tracking once it’s on its way. Payments also come with an on-time delivery guarantee—if a payment arrives late, Remitly refunds the transfer fee.
Mistake #6 — Overlooking Fraud and Scam Risks
Invoice fraud and payment redirection scams are a growing problem for small businesses. In a typical scenario, an attacker intercepts email communications with a vendor and swaps out legitimate bank details for their own. The business sends the payment in good faith—and recovering those funds is difficult, sometimes impossible.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they often don’t have formal verification processes in place before sending money to a new recipient.
How to avoid it: Verify recipient identity and bank details before making a first payment, especially for larger amounts. Avoid sharing or receiving sensitive banking information through unsecured channels like standard email or messaging apps. Use platforms with built-in fraud protections.
Remitly Business includes fraud controls and secure recipient detail entry within the payment flow, adding a layer of protection that purely manual processes simply don’t offer.
Mistake #7 — Not Knowing Where to Get Help When Something Goes Wrong
Even with the best tools and processes, payments occasionally require review or hit unexpected delays. When that happens, most small business owners aren’t sure who to contact—or how quickly they’ll get a useful response. That uncertainty adds stress and wastes time that could be spent on more important work.
Accessible, responsive support matters. It matters even more when a payment is time-sensitive or a contractor is waiting.
How to avoid it: Before committing to a payment platform, confirm what support looks like when things go wrong. Is there a phone number or live chat? Are they available outside business hours? Do they support your language?
Remitly Business provides 24/7 dedicated business support in 17 languages—so help is available whenever you need it, regardless of time zone.
How to Build a Safer, Simpler International Payment Process
Avoiding these mistakes doesn’t require a complete overhaul of how your business operates. A few practical steps can make a meaningful difference:
- Choose a payment tool built for small business workflows — not enterprise finance teams or personal remittances
- Confirm total cost (fees + FX) before every transfer — so your budget projections stay accurate
- Reduce manual data entry — by using platforms where recipients self-enter their details
- Set clear delivery expectations with recipients — before the payment goes out, not after
- Keep records and tracking for every payment — for reconciliation, dispute resolution, and peace of mind
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The right payment platform brings these elements together in a single, low-friction workflow. Remitly Business is designed to do exactly that—connecting to your existing bank account, showing pricing upfront, and providing tracking and support throughout.
Small Changes Can Prevent Costly Payment Mistakes
International payments don’t have to feel risky or complicated. Most of the mistakes covered here stem from a lack of visibility—into fees, delivery timing, or recipient details. Once you have that visibility, payments become much easier to manage.
The right tool won’t just save you money on fees. It will save you the time and stress of chasing delayed payments, correcting data entry errors, and navigating support queues that go nowhere.
If you’re looking for a simpler way to send international payments while avoiding these common mistakes, Remitly Business lets you pay contractors and vendors using the bank account you already rely on—with clear pricing, built-in safeguards, and support available whenever you need it.
Explore how Remitly Business can help you send international payments with more confidence and less admin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What countries can I send payments to with Remitly Business?
Remitly Business allows you to send payments to a wide range of countries across the globe. Currently, Remitly Business is available for small businesses based out of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, subject to certain terms and conditions. Check back as we expand to more countries.
How long does it take for a payment to be delivered?
Delivery times vary depending on the destination country and payment method. However, we strive to provide fast and reliable transfers, with many payments arriving within one to three business days.
Are there any hidden fees?
No, Remitly Business offers clear and transparent pricing. You’ll know the exact cost of your transfer upfront, with no surprises or hidden charges.
What safeguards are in place to protect my payments?
We employ advanced security measures, including encryption and fraud prevention systems, to ensure your transactions are safe and secure.
How can I contact customer support?
Our support team is available 24/7 to assist you. You can reach us via chat, email, or phone, depending on your preference. Visit our help center for further details.