PaySec + Wave: Free Accounting Software Deserves Free Payment Processing
How solopreneurs and micro-businesses using Wave are eliminating the one cost Wave can't remove: credit card processing fees.
Wave won the hearts of freelancers and micro-businesses by making accounting software truly free. No monthly fees, no per-user charges, no feature gates. In a world where SaaS subscriptions add up fast, Wave gave small operators a professional accounting tool at zero cost. But when it comes to getting paid through Wave Payments, the free ride stops — you're paying 2.9% + $0.60 per card transaction (or 1% for ACH with a $1 minimum).
For businesses that chose Wave because every dollar matters, PaySec's integration offers the logical next step: eliminate processing fees entirely with Network Offset Pricing.
How Network Offset Pricing Works with Wave
Network Offset Pricing (NOP) presents your clients with two transparent payment options on every invoice. When a client receives your Wave invoice and clicks to pay, they see both an ACH/bank transfer price and a card price. The card price includes a small offset that covers the cost of card processing.
For example, on a $2,500 consulting invoice:
- ACH/bank transfer: $2,500.00
- Credit/debit card: $2,600.00
The client chooses their preferred method. Either way, you receive the full $2,500. NOP is legal in all 50 states, fully compliant with Visa and Mastercard rules, and PaySec requires no contracts, no monthly fees, and no volume minimums. Approval typically takes 3-5 business days — sometimes as fast as 24 hours.
What Wave Payments Actually Costs
Wave Payments rates:
| Payment Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Credit card (online) | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| Credit card (in-person) | 2.7% + $0.00 |
| ACH bank payment | 1% ($1 min) |
Example: Freelance graphic designer billing $8,000/month
| Payment Mix | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 80% card ($6,400) | $190 | $2,280 |
| 20% ACH ($1,600) | $16 | $192 |
| Total | $206 | $2,472 |
$2,472/year might not sound like enterprise money — but for a solopreneur, that's a new laptop, a conference ticket, or an extra month of runway.
How PaySec Works with Wave
PaySec integrates alongside Wave's accounting, giving you zero-fee payment processing while keeping your books in order:
Invoice Payments
- Create invoices in Wave as normal
- PaySec provides payment links with dual pricing
- Clients see both ACH and card price options before paying
- Payments sync back to Wave as income received
What Your Clients See
For a $1,500 branding project invoice:
| Method | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bank Transfer (ACH) | $1,500.00 |
| Credit/Debit Card | $1,560.00 |
Simple, transparent, professional.
Bookkeeping Sync
- Income recorded automatically when payment completes
- No "processing fees" expense entries to categorize
- Bank deposits match invoice amounts exactly
- Wave reports show full revenue without fee deductions
Who Uses Wave + PaySec
Freelancers
Writers, designers, developers, marketers — anyone billing clients on a project or retainer basis. If you chose Wave to save money, PaySec extends that philosophy to payments.
Side Hustles
Part-time businesses and passion projects where keeping costs at zero is critical to viability.
Micro-Businesses (1-5 employees)
Small shops, consultants, and service providers using Wave for its simplicity. PaySec adds payment power without adding complexity.
New Businesses
Startups in the early stages where every dollar of cash flow matters. Don't donate your thin margins to processors.
The Solopreneur Math
| Annual Revenue | Wave Payments Cost | With PaySec | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,510 | ~$0 | +$1,510 |
| $75,000 | $2,235 | ~$0 | +$2,235 |
| $100,000 | $2,960 | ~$0 | +$2,960 |
| $150,000 | $4,410 | ~$0 | +$4,410 |
Setup (Under 20 Minutes)
- Sign up for a PaySec account (no minimum volume required)
- Connect your Wave account
- Configure payment links on your invoices
- Send your next invoice with zero-fee payment options
- Get paid without losing a percentage
No developer needed. No technical skills required. If you can use Wave, you can use PaySec.
Compared to Wave Payments
| Feature | Wave Payments | PaySec |
|---|---|---|
| Card processing rate | 2.9% + $0.60 | 0% effective |
| ACH rate | 1% ($1 min) | 0% effective |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Invoice integration | Native | Connected |
| Dual pricing | No | Yes |
| Setup time | Minutes | Minutes |
| Contract | None | None |
What Your Clients See
When your client receives a Wave invoice with PaySec, the payment experience is clean and professional. The payment page clearly displays two options side by side — no confusion, no fine print, no surprise fees after the fact.
Clients who want the convenience of card payment simply pay the card price. Clients who prefer to save choose ACH. Either way, the experience feels polished and intentional — not like an extra fee being tacked on. Many PaySec merchants report that a significant percentage of their clients voluntarily switch to ACH when given the option, which benefits both parties.
Getting Started
PaySec is built for businesses of all sizes — including solopreneurs processing just a few thousand per month. No volume minimums, no monthly fees, no contracts. PCI Level 1 compliance is included, so your clients' payment data is protected to the highest industry standard.
Apply in 10 minutes. Approved in 24-48 hours. Start saving on your very next invoice.
Wave made accounting free. PaySec makes payment processing free. Together, they're the zero-cost financial stack for solopreneurs and micro-businesses.