To get paid through Mellow, you send your client either a secure deal or an invoice. They aren’t two steps in one process but two separate routes to the same result: money in your Mellow balance. Which one you pick comes down to timing – whether the work is already done.
How they differ
| Secure Deal | Invoice |
What it is | A prepaid bill with a payment guarantee | A bill for work you’ve already delivered |
When it fits | The work hasn’t started yet | The work is finished |
Money | The client pays upfront, and Mellow holds the funds until you both confirm the result | The client pays by bank transfer or card, using the link you send |
Client registration | Not required – just a quick company check before the first payment | Not required – just a quick company check before the first payment |
The real difference is escrow. With a secure deal, your client pays before the work starts, and Mellow holds that money until they accept the result – then releases it to you. An invoice has no such hold: your client simply pays for work you’ve already delivered, and the money goes straight to your balance.
Choose a secure deal when:
You’re working with a client for the first time
You want the scope and terms settled before you start
You want your payment guaranteed upfront
An invoice is a better fit when:
You’ve already delivered the work
Your client just needs a quick way to pay
Either way, the fee is the same: 5% for a bank transfer, 8% for a card payment. You choose who covers it – you or your client – when you create the document.
Once your client pays, the money reaches your Mellow balance within one to four business days, depending on how quickly the banks handle the transfer.
Important! Card payment isn't available for every deal or invoice. If the amount is over 3000 EUR or USD, it has to go through bank transfer instead. The same applies to any invoice or deal created before September 14, 2026 — card payment isn't an option there. And right now, clients based in Cyprus, Turkey or Indonesia can only pay by bank transfer, not by card.
Mellow reserves the right to restrict card payments for specific freelancers, invoices, or secure deals at its own discretion.
How to send a secure deal to a client
Your client doesn’t need a Mellow account: they can do everything from the secure deal page, or sign in if their company is already registered with us.
1. Create a secure deal in your account: choose the service, describe the work, add your client’s details, set the amount and choose who covers the Mellow fee. You can start from scratch, or copy an existing deal and adjust it for the new task.
2. Send your client the link to the deal.
3. Your client pays before the work starts, and Mellow holds the money until they accept the result.
4. To pay, the client either completes verification on the deal page or signs in to Mellow, then pays for the deal and accepts it — the status changes to In progress.
5. When the work is finished, open the deal, select Finish, and attach your files if your client needs them.
6. Your client reviews the work and accepts it. The money is released to your balance immediately, ready to withdraw.
A separate article explains how payment under a secure deal works.
How to send an invoice to a client
1. Create an invoice in your account: choose the service, describe the work, add your client’s details, and set the amount, currency, and who pays the fee – you or your client. You can start from scratch, or copy an existing invoice and adjust it for the new task.
2. Send your client the link. Before their first payment, they’ll complete a quick company check.
3. Your client either downloads the invoice with payment details and pays by bank transfer, or pays directly by card.
Questions and answers
Is there a charge for creating secure deals and invoices?
Creating them is free. Mellow charges a fee only when your client transfers the money, and it’s up to you whether you cover that fee or pass it on to them.
The fee is 5% for a bank transfer and 8% for a card payment.
If your client covers the fee, it’s added on top of your price: to send you $1000, they transfer $1050. If you cover it, Mellow deducts the fee from your payout — though for card payments, only 5% of the 8% comes out of your side; the remaining 3% is a card processing charge your client always pays.
What information does the client see in a secure deal or invoice?
Everything you’ve entered: the task names, the amounts, the deadlines, and who’s doing the work.
How long is the link to a secure deal or invoice valid?
The link stays active until your client accepts the deal or the invoice.
Who can act as a client?
Only businesses: legal entities and, in some countries, sole proprietors. Private individuals and self-employed people can’t pay you through Mellow.
What currencies can I use for a secure deal or invoice?
Dollars or euros. You can withdraw the money in any currency your payment method supports, at Mellow’s conversion rate. To learn more, see our article on payouts and currencies.
The client isn’t accepting the secure deal – what should I do?
Adjust the deal to match your client’s feedback: change the amount, the deadlines, or the scope of the work.
What documents will the client and I receive?
Both sides get a full set of closing documents: work completion certificates and invoices.
To see the whole process end to end, watch our short video on secure deals and invoices in Mellow.
If you still have questions, message us through the chat in your Mellow account or at [email protected].