7 Ways Buy Now, Pay Later Options Can Help You Grow Your Business

Running a business often means wearing six different hats at any given time—and that’s before you factor in chasing down late payments or overcoming “sticker shock” objections. Flexible payment options, like Buy Now, Pay Later, can help you save sales, spend less time and energy on collections, and worry less about cash flow.

Key takeaways (TL;DR)

What is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)?

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) is a short-term financing option that you may have seen on e-commerce websites. The concept is the same for services—your clients can pay in smaller installments rather than all at once.

BNPL providers pay you up front, and your client makes payments to them over time. It’s a flexible payment option that helps you grow your business and offer more payment options for your clients.

The best part? FreshBooks is now making BNPL available to you through our partner Affirm, making it easy for clients to pay their invoices over time, without absorbing the financing burden and risk yourself.

How Buy Now, Pay Later can help you grow your business

Ever wondered how you can help you and your clients drive more success? Buy Now Pay Later is a win-win opportunity—making it easy for you to get paid up front and allowing your clients to break payments into smaller chunks.

Here are seven reasons to love Buy Now, Pay Later payment options

1. Overcome pricing objections

Sometimes clients love everything about a proposal…until they see the price tag. Even when they’re gung-ho about getting started, sticker shock can delay their willingness to say “let’s go!” or even lead to pushback on scope.

Buy Now, Pay Later helps by making the upfront costs feel more accessible, making it easier for clients to commit. And because Affirm is a well-known, trusted provider, many clients already feel comfortable using it.

Better yet, you don’t have to wait for clients to ask about payments. By making BNPL part of your sales pitch, mentioning your flexible payment options up front reduces friction even before they see the cost on paper. Instead of “maybe,” BNPL makes it more likely you’ll hear “yes!”

2. Get paid sooner

Cash flow. Cash flow. Cash flow. It’s what keeps your business running. With BNPL, you don’t have to wait for clients to finish paying (or chase down late or missing payments). Just enable BNPL as a payment option when you send your invoice in FreshBooks.

You get your money up front, minus a small transaction fee, as soon as your customer completes an eligibility check and chooses a payment plan. That means you can start projects right away with total peace of mind and confidence. BNPL is subject to eligibility, but if the business is approved to offer BNPL, you’ll receive your payment up front.

3. Win bigger deals

Pricing objections aren’t limited to getting a yes. You can also make premium services more accessible to clients who want to spread payments out beyond your comfort level.

Offering flexible payment options removes the stress of big invoices. Instead of walking away from a large project or negotiating down the scope, clients who qualify for financing through Affirm can split costs into smaller installments. That flexibility means the potential for bigger projects, higher-value services, and more income for you.

4. Modernize your business

Big brands have offered flexible payment options for years, while smaller companies have had to manage any installments themselves. When clients see you offer the same level of professionalism and convenience, it sets you apart from competitors who still exclusively rely on traditional payment methods. That goes a long way to build credibility with customers.

5. Reduce risk

For business owners, there’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for clients to pay. Whether you have an accounting team or wear the finance hats too, it takes time and energy to manage. BNPL takes that job off of your plate (and anyone else’s!). Providers like Affirm handle the heavy lifting, including approvals and collections, and you get paid up front regardless of whether your client completes their installments.

Plus, if clients have questions, FreshBooks has a dedicated resource for your clients to learn how BNPL works and get pre-qualified. As for the added trust and clear, fast, and hassle-free experience? That puts you ahead when it comes to growing your business and serving your clients.

6. Make payments simple for clients

When clients decide to pay with Buy Now, Pay Later, Affirm performs a quick eligibility check before showing simple payment options that allow your clients to decide which options are most accessible to them.

Affirm shows clients the full cost and payment schedule up front, with no hidden fees or surprise charges. They’ll always know what they owe, when it’s due, and when they’ll be done paying.

That clarity gives clients peace of mind and keeps everything transparent—so you can build better relationships.

7. Give clients the power to choose

When you add BNPL from Affirm to your FreshBooks invoices, you’re giving clients the power to choose how they pay. Approved clients can stretch out their payments over time with Affirm without feeling awkward asking for special treatment.

And if they want to pay off their balance early, they can choose to do so…without any penalties. That flexibility and sense of financial stress relief gives them even more confidence in saying yes to your services.

Grow your business with FreshBooks and Buy Now, Pay Later by Affirm

You don’t need to juggle multiple platforms or add extra tools to your workflow. Buy Now, Pay Later with Affirm is built right into FreshBooks Payments. That means you can send invoices, let clients choose flexible payment options, and still get paid up front—all from the same place you already manage your business finances.

By giving clients the option to spread out payments, you remove significant barriers to sales. Clients get flexibility with clear, upfront terms and no penalties for paying early, while you enjoy the benefits of upfront payments, reduced risk, and stronger client relationships. Most importantly of all, you’ll have the power to grow your bottom line with more sales, premium services, and a higher average order value. Win-win-win.

Ready to sell more with Buy Now, Pay Later? Try FreshBooks for free today.

Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. For licenses and disclosures, see affirm.com/licenses.

In Canada, payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. (“Affirm”) are subject to an eligibility check and approval. Options depend on purchase amount and may not be available in all provinces/territories. Minimum purchase and down payment may be required.