Relay’s new Payment Request feature is designed to make it easier for businesses to collect payments securely and efficiently. In this article, we’ll dive into the key details regarding processing fees, payment limits, and the timelines involved when using the Payment Request feature. Knowing how these work will help you manage your payments more effectively, avoid surprises, and ensure that your business is getting paid as quickly as possible.
Processing Fees
Fees will be deducted from each card payment, by Relay, before it settles in your account. The fee will be apparent within each payment’s transaction details once it settles in Relay. For Relay Starter accounts, fees will not be waived by Relay and cannot be passed along to a customer to cover. We recommend offsetting fees by predetermining the fee and adding it to the amount you ask each customer to pay.
Relay Grow and Relay Scale subscribers can offset card payment fees via a surcharge of up to 2.9% (some restrictions apply). See Credit Card Surcharging and Overview of Relay Subscription Plans for more details.
| Item | Starter | Grow | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Card Payments | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30* | 2.9% + $0.30* |
| ACH Pull (Pay-by-Bank)** |
1.00% (Capped at a maximum fee of $10.) |
0.75% (Capped at a maximum fee of $10.) |
0.50% (Capped at a maximum fee of $10.) |
| ACH Payments | Free | Free | Free |
| Wires (Incoming Only via Payment Requests) | $5 | $5 | $5 |
| Settlement Timeframe (ACH Pulls) | 2–3 business days | 2–3 business days | 2–3 business days |
| Settlement Timeframe (Card Payments) | 2–3 business days | 2–3 business days | 2–3 business days |
| Cost to Your Customer | $0 | $0 | $0 |
*Relay Grow and Relay Scale subscribers can offset card payment fees via a surcharge of up to 2.9% (some restrictions apply). See Credit Card Surcharging for more details.
**Pay by bank payments are based on your account limits for ACH Add Funds
Settlement Timelines
Credit/Debit Card (Payment Requests & Invoices)
Card payments typically take 2–3 business days to settle in your Relay account.
What you’ll see in Relay
- Processing: Once the payer initiates the payment, the transaction will appear as Processing in your Relay account.
- Payout received (2–3 business days later): After 2–3 business days, the funds are typically received into your account as a payout (usually between 4:00am and 9:00am ET).
- Payout details (same day): The payout is typically reconciled later that evening (around 8:00pm–9:00pm ET), which is when you’ll see the breakdown (which payments were included, and what fees were applied).
Cutoff time (midnight ET)
The cutoff time is midnight ET. A card payment captured before the cutoff counts toward that day’s settlement batch and will typically be paid out T+2 business days later. A payment captured after midnight rolls into the next sales day’s batch, which can effectively add a business day to the payout timeline.
When a payment takes longer (manual review)
When you first use this feature, a transaction may trigger a manual review, which could extend the settlement time slightly. In this case, you may be asked to provide supporting documentation (such as the related invoice or customer communication). This typically won’t be a recurring process unless the activity appears suspicious or fraudulent.
ACH/Domestic Wire
ACH/Domestic Wire payments will have a destination timeline based on the sending bank.
Pay by bank (ACH Debit)
Pay by bank (ACH Debit) will have settlement times of 2-3 business days to reach the destination account. When the payer authenticates their bank and confirms the payment, the funds are withdrawn from the payer's account the same day. If there are not enough funds at the time of authentication, the payment will fail.
Limits
Pay by bank (ACH Debit) limits are directly tied to your account limits for ACH Add Funds which can be found in your account by following the steps in this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do card payments take to settle?
Card payments (from Payment Requests or Invoices) typically take 2–3 business days to settle in your Relay account.
Why does my payment say “Processing”?
“Processing” means the payment is still in progress and hasn’t settled yet. Once it settles, it will appear as part of a payout.
When will I see the fee breakdown and which payments were included?
Payouts typically appear between 4:00am and 9:00am ET. The detailed breakdown (including fees and which payments were included) is typically available later that evening around 8:00pm–9:00pm ET.
What’s the cutoff time for settlement batches?
The cutoff time is midnight ET. Payments captured before midnight ET count toward that day’s settlement batch; payments captured after midnight ET roll into the next sales day’s batch.
Can settlement take longer than 2–3 business days?
Occasionally, yes—especially if a payment is selected for a manual review (most commonly when you’re using the feature for the first time). If additional information is needed, you may be asked to provide supporting documentation.
*Card payments are not available in all countries. If any business owner of your business is a citizen or resident of a restricted country, your organization may not be eligible for card payment processing.
Please review the full list of restricted countries here: Countries Not Eligible for Card Payment Requests