It's Monday morning. You've just signed your first client. Congratulations. But now, you need to get paid. Your client asks: "How do you want me to pay you?"

You think: "Bank transfer? Stripe? PayPal? What's best?"

That's a good question. And the answer isn't "it depends."

Most freelancers think Stripe will save them. That with card payments and automatic invoices, everything will sort itself out.

Wrong.

The problem isn't Stripe. The problem is that you don't have a invoicing process. You send an invoice randomly. You wait for the client to pay you. You forget to follow up.

Bank transfer can work. Stripe too. The difference? Stripe forces you to be professional.

What bank transfer allows you to do

• Receive money for free: No fees. The money arrives directly in your account.
• No third party: It's between you and your client. No intermediary.
• Easy to set up: You give your IBAN. That's it.
• No limit: You can receive €10 or €100,000. No limit.

What bank transfer doesn't allow you to do

• Card payments: Your client must have a bank account and know how to make a transfer. Not all clients do.
• Easy international payments: If your client is abroad, transfer fees can be high.
• Automation: You have to manually follow up if the client forgets to pay.
• Automatic invoices: You have to send invoices manually.
• Reports: You have to manage your payments manually in a spreadsheet.

The truth? For 1 client, bank transfer is enough.

What Stripe allows you to do

• Card payments: Your client can pay by credit card. Easier than a bank transfer.
• International payments: Stripe handles international payments. Fees are clear.
• Automatic invoices: You can send invoices automatically and Stripe follows up with the client if payment fails.
• Reports: Stripe gives you a dashboard with all your payments.
• Integrations: You can connect Stripe to Zapier, Make, etc., for automation.

What Stripe doesn't allow you to do

• Free payments: Stripe takes 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction. It costs money.
• Small payments: If you receive €10, Stripe takes €0.59. That's 6% in fees.
• No bank account: You must have a French bank account to use Stripe.

The truth? For 1 client, Stripe costs more than it saves.

Let's look at the numbers.

Now, the real question: From what amount does Stripe become worthwhile?

Case 1: You have 1 client and they pay you €1000/month

Bank transfer: €0 in fees. You receive €1000.

Stripe: 2.9% + €0.30 = €29 + €0.30 = €29.30 in fees. You receive €970.70.

Difference: €29.30/month = €351.60/year.

Verdict: Bank transfer. It's much more profitable.

Case 2: You have 10 clients and they pay by card

Bank transfer: €0 in fees. But you have to manually follow up if a client forgets.

Stripe: 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction. But you get automatic invoices and automatic reminders.

Time saved: 30 min/month (no manual follow-ups).

Stripe fees: If you receive €10,000/month, Stripe takes €290 + €3 = €293/month = €3516/year.

ROI: €3516/year for 6h/year = €586/hour saved. This is profitable if you charge >€586/h. (Spoiler: no.)

Verdict: Bank transfer + manual follow-ups. It's more profitable.

Case 3: You have international clients

Bank transfer: International transfer fees can be €20-50 per transaction.

Stripe: 2.9% + €0.30. No additional fees for international payments.

Difference: Stripe can save €20-50 per international payment.

Verdict: Stripe for international payments. Bank transfer for French payments.

No. You don't need Stripe if you have fewer than 5 clients and they can all pay by bank transfer.

Here's why:

1. Stripe costs 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction. For a solo freelancer, that's expensive.

1. Bank transfer is free. No fees. The money arrives directly.

1. French clients know how to make a bank transfer. No need for Stripe for that.

When you should switch to Stripe:

• You have international clients
• You want automatic invoices and automatic reminders
• You want a dashboard with all your payments

Until then, stick to bank transfer. Seriously.

If you've just signed your first client:

1. Ask for a bank transfer. It's free. Give them your IBAN.

1. Send an invoice with your invoice. Include your IBAN and the due date.

1. Follow up after 7 days if payment hasn't arrived. Politely. "Just to confirm you received my invoice?"

1. Use a spreadsheet to track your payments. Google Sheets. Free. Add a "Paid" column for each invoice.

1. Revisit the question in 6 months. If you have 5+ international clients, switch to Stripe.

Stripe costs 2.9% + €0.30 per transaction. For 1 client, you won't earn enough to justify these fees. Bank transfer is sufficient for you. Use that money for something else. Really.

But if you have international clients? Then Stripe pays for itself. That's fair.

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Related articles: Stripe for freelancers: pricing & alternatives | How to invoice as a freelancer