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Last reviewed October 2, 2026.
ACH is a bank-to-bank transfer. You can use it to pay a vendor or collect from a customer online, with nothing to print or mail. An ACH transfer typically settles in one to two business days, and Nacha estimates that about 80% of ACH payments settle in one business day or less.
If you are tired of printing checks for suppliers, or waiting on customers who say the check is in the mail, start small. Pick one bill that repeats, like a monthly supply invoice, and pay that one by ACH first.
What Do You Need Before You Send an ACH Payment?
- Your business bank account, connected to Zil Money.
- The vendor’s routing number and account number, in writing. Ask the vendor for the ones to use for ACH payments.
- The invoice number, so the payment matches the bill.
- One person who approves the payment, especially if it repeats.
Watch for fake emails that say a vendor changed bank accounts. Before you use new bank details, call the vendor on a number you already have, not the one in the email, and ask them to read the details back. Do this every time a vendor changes their details.
How Do You Pay a Vendor by ACH?
- Add the vendor and their bank details.
- Enter the amount, the date, and the invoice number, then send the payment.
- Check the payment in your ACH reports. Zil Money says it provides detailed reports on ACH payments.
If you pay the same supplier $1,200 every month, set it up once as a repeat payment instead of typing it in each time. Zil Money says ACH payments can be set up as recurring transactions, and lists QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Zoho Books and Xero among its integrations, so payments can match your books. Here is a walkthrough to set up a recurring ACH payment.
If a payment is returned, for example because the account number does not exist, you will need the right details to send it again. ACH does not check the name. A wrong but valid account number may not be returned at all, so check every detail before you send. Ask Zil Money support how returned payments show up in your account.
How Long Does an ACH Payment Take?
Typically one to two business days. ACH only moves on business days, so weekends and Federal Reserve holidays add delay, and bank cutoff times can too. Send routine bills a few days early.
If a payment has to arrive today, look at Same Day ACH. Nacha says Same Day ACH payments are delivered within hours on the same business day. Ask Zil Money support whether same-day ACH is available on your account, and what the cutoff time, fee and limit are, before you count on it.
How Do You Get Paid by ACH?
Send a payment request. Your customer gets a link by email or SMS and can choose ACH bank transfer or credit or debit card. They do not need to sign up or log in.
When the customer pays, you get a notice by email and in the app, and the money goes into your Zil Money Wallet, where you can use it, transfer it, or hold it. Fees depend on your plan and the payment type. ACH payments to your Wallet have fees based on your plan, and card payments have standard card processing fees. Ask Zil Money support for the current fee schedule before you send a request. Here is how a payment request works.
One Catch With Getting Paid by ACH
Paying a vendor pushes money out of your account. Getting paid from a customer pulls money from theirs. Nacha’s guide calls these credits (push) and debits (pull). A pulled payment can be returned. Nacha’s rules describe a normal two-day return timeframe. A customer who says they did not authorize a payment can dispute it for longer. For consumer accounts, that window is 60 days. Return windows differ by account type.
A customer who pays by ACH is authorizing a debit from their account, so keep a record of that approval. See Nacha’s guidance on ACH authorizations.
Do not mark an invoice paid when the customer clicks pay. Wait until the funds show in your Wallet. Even then, funds from a pulled payment are not final until the return window ends. For a large invoice, ask Zil Money support whether funds are held, and for how long, before you ship goods or release work.
Customers who pay on paper may need a reason to switch. Try a short note like this:
“Starting next month, you can pay our invoice from a link instead of mailing a check. The invoice stays the same. If you would rather keep paying by check, just tell us.”
Some customers will say no. That is fine. Move the ones who say yes.
Pay Your First Bill by ACH
Add one repeat supplier or send one payment request.
When Should You Stick With a Check?
- The vendor only takes checks.
- You have not confirmed the vendor’s bank details yet.
Once an ACH payment is sent, you may not be able to cancel it. Ask Zil Money support whether a pending payment can be canceled, and until when.
More reading: our ACH transfers overview and 6 reasons to accept ACH payments online.
Quick Answers About ACH Payments Online
What are ACH payments online?
They are electronic payments that move money from one bank account to another with no paper involved. Zil Money offers ACH for sending and collecting.
What are the risks of sending money by ACH?
No payment method removes all risk. Zil Money says it uses encryption and authentication protocols, and your own habits matter too. Confirm new account details by calling a number you already have, and check every detail before you approve, because a sent ACH payment may not be possible to cancel.
Zil Money is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking and money movement services are provided through partner financial institutions and licensed service providers. FDIC insurance coverage applies only to eligible deposit products and accounts, and is subject to applicable terms, conditions, limitations, and requirements. Additional information regarding partner institutions, products, and services is available in the applicable terms and agreements.