The most important payment is no longer the one microbusinesses expect
A new PYMNTS Intelligence report — in collaboration with Ingo Payments — lays out the shift clearly:
- 73% of microbusinesses (under $100K/year) adopt instant payments primarily to improve cash flow — up 18% in just seven months
- 32% of SMBs now receive ad hoc payments via instant methods, up from 20% in 2023
- Yet 1 in 3 still decline instant payment options due to fees — and nearly half rely on manual systems that slow everything down
Ad hoc payments now represent over half of SMB accounts receivable and nearly 70 cents of every dollar received. Speed of settlement is no longer a nice-to-have — it determines whether a business makes payroll or takes on new work.
Instant payments are becoming infrastructure. The challenge for providers: cut the friction, lower the cost, meet businesses where they are.
Has faster payment settlement changed the way you run your business — or your clients’ businesses? Drop your experience below ↓
