How to grow your payments app with clearing and forwarding agents
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
Clearing and forwarding agents help importers, traders and small businesses get goods off ships, through borders and out of customs. They prepare paperwork, pay port and handling charges on their clients' behalf, arrange transport and charge a fee for their work. Many ask for a deposit before they start, then send a final bill once the goods are released. Chasing payments from dozens of small importers takes time, and money often changes hands in cash. A payments app that takes deposits by link, sends clear final bills and keeps a record for each shipment can win these agents, and every importer who pays sees your app.
Talk to clearing agents
Ask local clearing and forwarding agents:
- Do you take a deposit before you start clearing a shipment?
- How do clients pay your fees and the charges you pay for them?
- How long do you wait to be paid once goods are released?
- How do you keep track of what each client owes for each shipment?
Take deposits by link
Sending a deposit link when a shipment is booked means the agent is not paying charges out of their own pocket while they wait for the client.
Send clear final bills
A final link that lists the fee and each charge paid for the client makes the bill easy to understand and quick to settle.
Grow through importers
Importers and traders often use the same agent shipment after shipment. When they pay through your app, they see how it could help them get paid by their own customers.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
What about wholesalers and distributors?
The wholesalers and distributors guide covers selling to hundreds of small shops and collecting cash on delivery.
Wholesalers and distributors →What about haulage firms?
The haulage firms and truck owners guide covers getting paid per load and sending drivers money on the road.
Haulage firms and truck owners →Can I call it a bank?
In most countries "bank" is a protected word you can only use with a banking licence. Call it an account, a wallet, an app or a platform. The accounts and payments behind a SendPay Business platform are powered by licensed partners.
Is there a step-by-step plan I can follow?
Yes. The free launch checklist takes you from picking your people and naming your app to setting fees, going live and winning your first ten customers.
Digital bank app launch checklist →How do I start?
Pick a template, name it and preview every page before you pay. Your platform can be live on your own domain within 24 hours of confirmation.
Build my platform →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.