Top 5 challenges freelancers face when they get paid internationally

One of the best things most people love about freelancing is the freedom to work with clients from all over the world. Something you don’t consider when you get started is how complicated it’ll be to get paid from anywhere. High fees, slow transfers, and unpredictable exchange rates can turn a positive thing like sending out an invoice, into a painful headache.

It doesn’t get any easier if you’ve been freelancing for a while either because once you get set up in a system and you’re used to its hurdles, you become complacent. You imagine you’ll have the same issues with any other bank or financial entity, so why bother changing now? Right?

Wrong. Here’s a list of the five top challenges you face when getting paid internationally and how to turn them into opportunities.  

1. Transaction fees that eat into your earnings

You worked hard, you sent your invoice, and then… Bam! A part of your money disappears before it even reaches your account. We feel your frustration…

Between platform fees, bank charges, and currency conversion costs, freelancers like you lose 5-10% per international transaction. Services like PayPal charge around 4-5%, and if you withdraw funds to a bank, you get charged extra processing fees. It all adds up, leaving you with less than you expected. And less than you deserve. 

What can you do? Look for payment platforms that charge lower fees or offer fixed-rate transfers like CAJEROPAY, which helps freelancers keep more of their earnings by cutting unnecessary charges and offering better exchange rates. Fees shouldn’t be something you need to budget for.

2. Slow payment processing times that mess up your cash flow

Did you ever get the feeling that waiting for an international payment feels like waiting for a postcard from your best friend who’s away on summer holidays? Depending on the payment method, a transfer can take 3 to 10 business days to arrive in your account so it’s actually very similar to that. Some bank transfers take even longer due to compliance checks, holidays, or processing delays between different banking systems.

For freelancers who rely on steady cash flow, waiting this long can create serious financial stress.

What can you do? You can take the leap, leave your bank behind, and move to a payment platform that supports real-time transactions like CAJEROPAY. We integrate with many instant payout solutions, so you’ll be able to access your money much faster than through traditional banking or any type of financial entity.

3. Limited payout options for freelancers in certain regions

Not all freelancers have access to global banking. Many payment platforms don’t support local banks in certain countries, forcing freelancers to use expensive third-party services to withdraw their money. Some have to open foreign accounts just to get paid, adding extra costs and complications.

Not to toot our own horn but that’s one of our strong points. CAJEROPAY connects with multiple banking systems, digital wallets, and payment networks like Pix, ensuring that freelancers like you can access their earnings easily, no matter where they are in the world.

4. Currency exchange losses and the volatility that comes with working in different currencies

We’re all about the “sky is the limit” mentality. So, when we saw creators and freelancers struggle with bureaucratic things like exchange rates fees when all they should have been doing is celebrating the fact that they built an international business where people from all over the world are willing to pay for their content, we knew things had to change.

So, what was the main issue? Exchange rates fluctuate daily, and most payment platforms don’t offer market rates. Instead, they add a markup (a fee), which means that whatever exchange rate you found on Google or Perplexity and was counting on isn’t what you actually get. Over time, these small fees add up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars you lose. 

The solution? Work with payment solutions that offer fair exchange rates with transparent pricing. Another option is getting paid in stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies that hold a fixed value, so you don’t lose money due to rate fluctuations. CAJEROPAY offers both, giving freelancers more control over their earnings.

5. How Cajeropay makes (international) payments easier for freelancers

If you’ve experienced any of these challenges, you’ll know how frustrating payments can get. The good news? You don’t have to settle for slow payments, high fees, and bad exchange rates anymore.

We built CAJEROPAY precisely for freelancers like you, as a solution to problems that you face and that works in your favor (not some banks’):

• Lower transaction fees so you get to keep more of what you earn instead of paying unnecessary charges.

• Faster payouts so you don’t have to wait days (or weeks) for your money to arrive.

• Fair exchange rates so you don't get any surprise markups.

• Flexible payout options so you can withdraw your money to your bank, digital wallet, or stablecoin instantly.

So, if you’ve had enough of slow, expensive, and unreliable payment systems, you’re not the only one. Many of our clients experienced the same issues and frustrations… All of them annoyed by the slow payment processing and high fees... All of them looking for a better solution… 

Until they found us. 

It’s time to switch to a platform that actually works for you. Learn more about how CAJEROPAY simplifies international payments here [https://cajeropay.com/ ]