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Updated October 1, 2026. Fees and eligibility checked October 2026.
A supplier calls to ask where the money is. You pressed send, and you are not sure it landed. This guide fixes that.
Quick answer: To send payments online with Zil Money, add the payee, pick a method, fund it from a connected bank account or your wallet, and send. Use ACH for routine bills. Use Same Day ACH or a wire for urgent ones. Use your credit card when a vendor does not accept cards. Cutoff times affect speed, so track each payment until it settles.
This guide follows Dale, a made-up commercial roofing and sheet-metal subcontractor in Tallahassee, Florida, as he pays suppliers, crew and vendors. Names and amounts are illustrative. Zil Money’s send money online page lists ACH, wire and vendor card payments in one place.
Key Takeaways
What Does It Mean to Send Payments Online?
It means you pay a person or company from a screen instead of with paper or a trip to the supply house. The money moves over a payment rail, which is the network that carries it. ACH is a widely used rail for business bills. The Nacha overview of how ACH payments work explains the basics, and the Federal Reserve describes its own role in the system.
The payee’s setup narrows the method, and then you pick the best fit. Zil Money offers ACH, wire and credit card payments for vendors, funded from a connected bank account or your wallet balance.
Which Payment Method Fits Which Payee?
Dale runs a six-person roofing and sheet-metal crew out of Tallahassee. He pays the same kinds of people every week.
| Who Dale pays | Method | Why it fits | Verify first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal coil supplier on net-30 terms | ACH | A routine bill with a known due date. ACH payments fit repeat invoices. | Routing and account numbers confirmed by phone |
| Subcontract crew (1099, W-9 on file) | ACH | Predictable and repeatable. Employees belong in payroll, not in a vendor payment. | Contractor or employee status. Ask your accountant. |
| Equipment rental yard with an urgent payment | Same Day ACH | Same Day ACH may be available for eligible payments sent before the cutoff, and fees may apply | Cutoff time and a wallet balance that is already loaded |
| Large supplier balance that must be final | Wire | Domestic wires can be same-day when sent before the cutoff. Wires generally cannot be cancelled or reversed once sent. | Exact recipient name and wire details. Wire fees apply. |
| Vendor that does not accept cards, when you want to pay by card | Credit card payment for vendors | With Zil Money you can pay vendors with a credit card even if they do not take cards | Fee and rewards terms for your card |
Payment timing depends on the method, the cutoff time and the receiving institution. Plan for the slow case.
How Do I Send a Payment Online, Step by Step?
Sending a payment with Zil Money takes six steps.
- Sign up and verify your business. Have your business details and a bank account ready. Verification comes before you can send, so start before a bill is due.
- Connect a bank account or load your wallet. Leave time to load the wallet before you send.
- Add the payee. Enter the name and payment details. For a new supplier, call a number you already have on file to confirm the account details. Do not rely on an emailed “we changed accounts” notice.
- Pick the method. Match it to the payee: ACH for routine bills, Same Day ACH or a wire for urgent ones. Do not pay for a wire when ACH or Same Day ACH will do.
- Match the amount to the invoice. Compare it with the purchase order or invoice before you approve.
- Send, then track. Zil Money shows each payment’s status. Keep your own log too, with one status per payment: sent, settled or returned.
If a payment comes back, it shows as returned. Reopen the bill, contact the payee, and ask Zil Money support before you resend.
What Does a Weekly Pay Run Look Like?
On Thursday, Dale sends one batch of four payments.
| Payee | Amount | Method | Funded from | Status Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil supplier | $18,400 | ACH | Connected bank account | Sent |
| Crew | $6,250 | ACH | Wallet | Sent |
| Equipment rental yard | $1,900 | Same Day ACH | Wallet | Settled |
| Fastener supplier | $780 | Card to vendor | Business card | Settled |
| Total | $27,330 | Wallet: $8,150 |
Two things keep this run clean. Dale checks the wallet balance against the wallet-funded part of the batch before he sends, because a short wallet can hold up a payment. And he starts the ACH items Thursday, so a cutoff or a weekend leaves room before the due date.
What Does It Cost?
What you pay depends on your account and the method. Zero fees apply only to qualifying accounts and eligible transactions. The send money online page sets the bar: a minimum average wallet balance of $10,000. If Dale’s wallet sits below that, he should plan for fees. Check current pricing before you pick a method.
| Method | What you pay | Condition to check |
|---|---|---|
| ACH | Zero fees only if you qualify | See the cost note above |
| Same Day ACH | Processing fees may apply | Eligible payments sent before the cutoff |
| Wire | A per-wire fee applies, shown before you send | Generally cannot be cancelled or reversed once sent, and recovery is not guaranteed |
| Card to vendor | The vendor payment page lists 2.90% as of October 2026 | Card issuer rewards terms vary |
Run Your Own Pay Run
Add your suppliers, pick ACH, Same Day ACH, wire or card for each, and track every payment. Fees, speed and eligibility depend on your account.
What Mistakes Should a Contractor Avoid?
- Paying a changed account from an email. Dale dials the number on the signed contract or W-9, never the one in the new email, and asks the contact to read the details back. A wire generally cannot be pulled back, so if you send one in error, contact your provider at once.
- Paying twice. Record the payment against the bill when you send it, and flag it as in process until it settles. If it comes back, reopen the bill.
- Sending on the due date. ACH settles on business days, so weekends and Federal Reserve holidays add delay.
- Letting the wallet run short. Compare the balance with the batch before you send.
- Treating sent as settled. Wait for settled, then allow a couple of business days for returns to show up.
Paying a crew member or a contractor can carry payroll and tax obligations. This guide covers moving money, not payroll compliance, so ask your accountant. Florida’s construction lien law (Chapter 713) can affect when you pay and when a supplier signs a lien waiver. Ask your attorney. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sending Payments Online
What is the easiest way to send payments online for a small contractor?
For routine supplier and crew bills, ACH is usually the simplest. Connect a bank account or load your wallet, add the payee, and send. Use a wire when you need a payment that is final, since a wire can often arrive the same business day when sent before the cutoff. Same Day ACH may cover many urgent bills, and fees may apply.
Can I pay a vendor who does not take credit cards?
With Zil Money you can pay a vendor with a credit card even when the vendor does not accept cards. Zil Money pays the vendor in a method the vendor accepts. A fee applies, and card rewards depend on your card issuer.
How long does an online payment take?
It varies by method, cutoff time and the receiving institution. Same Day ACH may be available for eligible payments sent before the cutoff, and fees may apply. ACH does not settle on weekends or Federal Reserve holidays.
Is a payment paid when I click send?
Not yet. Sent is not settled. Wait for settled status, keep a record that marks each payment sent, settled or returned, and allow for returns, which can still arrive after settlement.
What does it cost to send a payment?
It depends on the account and method. Zero fees apply only to qualifying accounts and eligible transactions, which requires a minimum average wallet balance of $10,000. Wires and card-funded vendor payments carry fees, so read current pricing.
What is the difference between ACH and a wire?
ACH is a batch payment network used for routine bills, and Same Day ACH may be available for eligible payments sent before the cutoff. A wire is a one-off transfer that generally cannot be cancelled or reversed once sent, and wire fees apply.
How do I check a supplier’s new bank details?
Call a number from the signed contract or W-9, not the one in the email that announced the change. Ask the contact to read the account details back, and refuse any change you cannot confirm that way.
What should I do if a payment comes back?
Reopen the bill in your records, find out why it returned, and contact the payee. Fix the account details before you resend, and ask Zil Money support if the cause is unclear.
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.