Paying suppliers with a credit card
B2Bpay lets you pay any Australian supplier with your credit card, even if they do not accept cards. You pay B2Bpay by card, B2Bpay pays the supplier by EFT or BPAY, and you keep your full card points plus B2B Points.
How can you pay a supplier who doesn't accept credit cards?
Short answer: Pay them through B2Bpay. You charge your card, B2Bpay receives the funds and pays your supplier by bank transfer or BPAY with your reference. The supplier does not need to accept cards, sign up, or change anything.
If you run a business or work as a sole trader you will have noticed that many suppliers do not take credit cards, and those that do may charge extra or you earn reduced points. B2Bpay removes that limitation for most business payments.
Getting started takes a few minutes:
- Create a B2Bpay account and add your card to your wallet.
- Search for your supplier, or add a new payee with their bank or BPAY details.
- Pay. Your supplier receives the funds in their usual way, normally within 3 business days.
Suppliers are paid as they always have been and do not need to know B2Bpay is involved.
How does paying suppliers by card improve cash flow?
Your supplier is paid now and your card statement is due later, so you can hold cash for up to 55 days interest-free depending on your card and statement cycle.
Using your card for a broader range of expenses, rather than business cash, gives you more flexibility when cash is tight. Funds stay in your account longer and you have more control over when money goes out, which helps with seasonal revenue, long debtor days, or taking early payment discounts.
When the statement is due you can pay the card from your bank account or PayTo through B2Bpay and earn B2B Points on that payment too. See 55 days interest-free cash flow.
What points do you earn on supplier payments?
You earn your card's full points at its everyday rate, plus B2B Points on the Earn plans.
Because you are paying B2Bpay rather than the supplier, government body or utility directly, card issuer category restrictions on points do not come into play. The ATO, insurers, telcos and councils earn like any other purchase.
- Essential - keep your full card points, no B2B Points. Lowest platform fee.
- Earn Plus - full card points plus 1 B2B Point per $2 paid.
- Earn Max - full card points plus 1 B2B Point per $1 paid.
B2B Points convert 1:1 to Qantas Points through Qantas Business Rewards or to Velocity Points, 2:1 to Avios and 1:2.5 to Luxury Escapes Société Points. Points credit 5 days after payment. See B2B Points.
What does it cost?
You pay a platform fee per payment and nothing else is stated: no joining fee, no monthly fee. Fees are ex GST and shown before you confirm.
| Payment method | Essential No B2B Points | Earn Plus 1 B2B Point per $2 | Earn Max 1 B2B Point per $1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa / Mastercard | 1.10% | 2.10% | 2.50% |
| American Express | 2.10% | 3.40% | 3.85% |
| Bank account | 0.50% | 1.00% | 1.87% |
| PayTo | 0.60% | 1.10% | 1.97% |
Platform fees ex GST, as published at b2bpay.com.au. The exact fee is shown before you confirm each payment.
Two illustrations using these rates. Sophie runs a logistics business paying around $15,000 a month to suppliers on a Visa on Earn Max. Her fee is $375 a month and she earns 15,000 B2B Points, enough for regular domestic flights to visit sites, plus her card's own points and up to 55 days interest-free. David owns a recruitment agency paying $25,000 a month in contractor invoices on Earn Plus. His fee is $525 a month and he earns 12,500 B2B Points, about 150,000 a year.
Whether it is worth it depends on your card, your volumes and how much you value points and cash flow. The fee is a business expense (confirm deductibility with your accountant). See pricing and the points calculator.
Three ways businesses use it
Jenny, start-up owner. Cash flow is tight and most suppliers do not accept her American Express. She adds her Amex to B2Bpay, pays suppliers who do not take Amex, earns Membership Rewards points and B2B Points, then pays her Amex bill from her bank account through B2Bpay and earns B2B Points again.
Anthony, established business. His premium Qantas Mastercard earns well on everyday spend but less on ATO payments made directly. Through B2Bpay his large ATO bills earn full card points, and on Earn Max he adds 1 B2B Point per $1.
Johan and Vanessa, electrical contractors. Vanessa manages hundreds of bills in Xero. She connects Xero to B2Bpay, pays approved bills from one screen at month end, and payments and fees are recorded back in Xero automatically. She later adds a payment link to their invoices so clients can pay by card. See Xero integration FAQs.
Is B2Bpay right for your business?
B2Bpay suits any Australian business with regular supplier, tax or property payments that wants points, cash flow flexibility or less admin. More than 40,000 Australian businesses use it, from manufacturing to recruitment.
Setup is quick: create your account in under five minutes, add suppliers, and start paying. The Australian-based team runs one-on-one onboarding and can be reached on 1300 205 575. Read real stories from The Shower Man Melbourne, WebEagles and Billy and Paula.
Ready? Sign up or get started with the team.
Frequently asked questions
Does my supplier need a B2Bpay account?
No. Your supplier receives a normal EFT or BPAY payment with the reference you enter. They do not register, pay anything or change their process. B2Bpay verifies the bank account details you provide before the first payment. Nothing about their invoicing or banking changes.
How long does the supplier take to receive payment?
B2Bpay passes your payment to your supplier within 3 business days. Your payment history shows the settlement date for each payment, so you can tell the supplier when to expect it, or schedule payments to land on the due date.
Can I pay international suppliers?
B2Bpay pays payees by Australian bank transfer or BPAY, so payees need an Australian bank account or BPAY biller code. Speak to the team on 1300 205 575 about any payee you are unsure of. Payments are made in Australian dollars to Australian accounts, so an overseas supplier with a local account or BPAY code can still be paid.
Can I pay suppliers in bulk or on a schedule?
Yes. Make one-off, bulk, future-dated or recurring payments. With Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks connected, approved bills load automatically and you can select and pay many at once, with each payment and fee recorded back to your software. This suits month-end payment runs.
Are there payments I cannot make?
Card scheme rules exclude some payments, such as paying yourself or a related entity, repaying finance or credit, and anything unlawful. Most trade, service, property, tax and utility payments are fine. See payroll, super and what you cannot pay.
Which card is best for paying suppliers?
Any Visa, Mastercard or Amex works. The best card depends on your points program, credit limit and annual fee. Amex has a higher platform fee but often a higher points rate. See choosing a card for business bills. Consider your credit limit as well, since large supplier runs need headroom.
Start earning on the bills you already pay
Set up takes minutes. Pay your BAS, suppliers and rent by card and keep the cash for up to 55 days.