It’s the age of the gig economy, and folks across the globe are leaving their full-time jobs for flexible freelance work. Freelancers are building five-figure side-hustles and six-figure careers being their own boss, and many say they’ll never return to a corporate cubicle.

If you’ve recently become a part-time freelancer or full-time solopreneur, the world (AKA the internet) is your oyster— that is IF you have the systems and tools you need to run your business efficiently. 

But what do you do when you’re not well-versed in handling the financial side of running a freelance business?

You could spend weeks Googling and curating a process for invoicing and payments, all to settle on one you’re not exactly thrilled with. Truth be told, that’s what I did. When I started my freelance writing business two years ago, I had no clue where to begin when it came to contracts, proposals, invoices and payments. I wasted countless hours and left money on the table in the process.

Sound familiar? Well, we can put an end to that struggle today. 

Let’s cross “figure out an invoicing app and payment process” off your to-do list. Here is a freelancer’s honest feedback after using both Lumanu and Stripe as a payment platform.

Freelancers Need Simple, No-Frills Invoicing

Early on in my freelancing journey, I was fed up with creating invoices in Canva and sending out Venmo requests. I searched for a streamlined solution and eventually landed on Stripe.

I quickly realized Stripe’s functions were better suited for e-commerce businesses. (Part of the invoicing process even prompts you to enter a “quantity.”) But in an effort to save time, I decided to just make it work. 

There is no monthly user fee for Stripe or Lumanu and both tools make it simple for your client to complete their payments by inputting their bank account or credit card information. However, Lumanu undoubtedly offers a simpler invoice creation process.

Stripe has a dashboard with dozens of tabs and pulldown menus. It’s easy to get lost in there. Lumanu’s invoicing software is straightforward. You open the app and create an invoice by adding the name, date, recipient information and invoice details. Then, Lumnau confirms you’ve sent the invoice by sending a copy to your inbox. It doesn’t get more user-friendly than that.

No More Chasing Clients For Money

Chasing clients to pay you is an uncomfortable reality for most freelance service providers. You’ve likely spent too much time crafting carefully worded email reminders–– and let me tell you, there are only so many ways you can say: “I just wanted to make sure you saw your invoice balance.”

Both Lumanu and Stripe send email reminders that bump the invoice to the top of your client’s inbox, but turning this function on within Stripe takes a few extra steps. You have to ensure you’ve opted-in to email reminders at some point in your account setup.

Meanwhile, Lumanu’s payment reminders are automatic so you never have to wonder if the invoice has been buried in your client’s inbox. Not only will this save you time on pesky admin tasks, but you’ll also elevate your professionalism. (Let’s be real, a “your balance is overdue” message just hits different coming from a credible business tool.)

You Can Get Paid Fast  — and I Mean Really Fast‍

What if I told you you could get paid before your client clicks “Make Payment”?

Nope, this is not a drill. Lumanu empathizes with the fact that when you’re a freelancer, two to three outstanding invoices can affect your ability to pay bills and live the flexible lifestyle you’re aspiring towards in the first place. That’s why Lumanu offers EarlyPay.

The feature does exactly what the name suggests: Lumanu pays you before your client has, guaranteeing that if your client falls behind on their books, it doesn’t have to affect your livelihood.

After you send an invoice, your EarlyPay eligibility is reviewed and usually approved within 24 hours. If you choose to settle the invoice balance with EarlyPay, you’ll pay a 2.9 fee (which is comparable to the majority of payment platforms). In fact, Lumanu only charges this payment fee when you collect a payment using EarlyPay. Meanwhile, Stripe and similar platforms charge a 2.9% + 30¢ fee for EVERY transaction.

This one’s a no-brainer. If you want to make money with fewer fees and an option to get paid no matter how long your client drags their feet, go with Lumanu.

And Then There's Tax Season...

Nothing puts a pit in a freelancer’s stomach quite like tax season. If you find yourself in the dark about how you’re going to claim the money you made and pay your taxes, you’re certainly not alone. 

Stripe provides a 1099-K form at the end of a calendar year when your bank account is based in the United States, you made more than $20,000 USD in total gross volume, and you processed more than 200 charges. (Another clue that this platform leans in the e-commerce direction).
Meanwhile, Lumanu sends a 1099-K to all creators who receive $600 or more in payments via Lumanu during the calendar year. This means you can toss out your income tracking spreadsheet and allow Lumanu to make reporting your annual earnings uncomplicated.

But What's The Industry Saying?

There’s no way around it–– industry credibility matters. Stripe has proven to be a safe and effective platform and is widely used by business owners in a variety of industries. 

Lumanu is a younger tool, but still making quite the splash. It’s well on its way to becoming an industry standard for freelancers, as acknowledged by trusted media outlets. If you want to use Lumanu but your client is wondering about its legitimacy, you can share that Lumnau made Business Insider’s top 14 creator economy startups and Fast Company’s list of top 10 most innovative social media companies of 2022. And Lumanu’s client list of Addison Rae, Snoop Dogg, and Jessica Alba certainly doesn’t hurt, either. 

From one freelancer to another, it’s abundantly clear that Lumanu understands the challenges we face on a daily basis. If you care about the kind of companies you do business with, Lumanu is the values-driven startup that is truly FOR the creator.

So, if you’re ready to spend less time feeling clueless and more time doing work you care about, Lumanu is your invoicing software solution. Download the app, send your first invoice and get paid, as they say, hassle-free.

‍