A business payment request is a structured request asking a customer or counterparty to pay a specified business obligation. It connects the payer, payee, amount, currency, purpose and supporting record before the payer chooses or uses an available payment method.
What should a payment request contain?
- Payee legal name and approved receiving details
- Payer or customer reference
- Amount, currency and due date
- Invoice, order or contract reference
- Permitted payment methods and fee treatment
- Expiry, status and contact for exceptions
How does the workflow operate?
The business creates the request from an approved obligation, delivers it through a controlled channel and records when the payer opens or acts on it. The payment is then matched using the request reference and provider or bank evidence.
Payment request vs. invoice
An invoice states the seller’s claim for goods or services. A payment request provides an actionable route to pay an obligation and may reference an invoice. Creating or viewing a request does not establish that funds were sent or received.
What statuses should be distinguished?
Separate draft, sent, viewed, expired, cancelled, payment initiated, payment received and reconciled states. A provider’s acceptance of a payment instruction should not be represented as settlement.
