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What if your monthly rent, contractor bills, and supplier invoices could fund your next vacation? For most business owners, vendor payments—often the largest expenses on the books—earn zero rewards because vendors only accept ACH, checks, or wire payments.
Melio changes that. This B2B payments platform lets you pay any vendor with your credit card, even if they don’t accept cards. You pay Melio with your card, and Melio sends payment to your vendor in their preferred format (ACH, check, or wire). They never know the difference.
But Melio charges 2.9% for card payments. Is it worth it?
The break-even point: Your card needs to deliver close to a 2.9% return for the math to work purely on rewards.
A 2% cashback card means you’re paying an effective 0.9% premium. But consider what you’re getting:
- Non-taxable rewards that upgrade your lifestyle
- Up to 45 days of float to manage cash flow
- Simplified accounting with QuickBooks/Xero sync
- The ability to pay vendors on time even when cash is tight
For many business owners, those benefits are worth far more than 0.9%.
Real-world example:
Jordan runs an online store with $15,000/month in vendor payments. Using a premium travel card earning 2x points (valued at 2 cents each = 4% return):
- Rewards value: $7,200/year
- Melio fees: $5,220/year
- Net gain: $1,980/year in travel rewards, plus extended float
Important note: For high-volume businesses, Melio offers tiered pricing where the percentage decreases as payment volume increases. The more you pay, the less you pay per transaction.
Here’s what many people miss: You don’t need to use credit cards for every payment. Melio offers:
- Free ACH transfers (5 free per month even on the free plan, then $0.50 each)
- Checks and wire payments
- International payments in local currencies
This means you can:
- Use ACH for vendors offering early-pay discounts
- Use credit cards for vendors without discounts
- Keep all payments in one organized platform
The platform value—simplified accounting, scheduled payments, approval workflows—applies regardless of how you pay.
Choose the right card: If your card earns 2% or more, using Melio is a no-brainer. If it’s less, strongly consider it anyway—the lifestyle benefits from rewards and cash flow breathing room often justify a small premium.
Be strategic: Use cards for high-value bills where float matters (rent, large supplier invoices). Use free ACH for everything else.
Time it right: Make payments right after your credit card statement closes to maximize float—up to 51 days before payment is due.
Bonus for Mastercard users: World Mastercard for Business, World Elite Mastercard for Business, or World Legend Business Mastercard cardholders get $100 toward credit card processing fees on their first payment through Melio.
Use Melio if you want to turn necessary vendor payments into rewards, extend cash flow, or simplify accounting. Even if the pure ROI shows a small cost, most business owners find the combination of benefits worth it.
Skip it if your card earns less than 1.5% and you’re purely focused on the math, or if vendors offer early-pay discounts exceeding 3%.
Special offer: Through March 31st, 2026, get a $500 gift card when you pay an international vendor in their local currency with a credit card (minimum $1,000 first payment).
Try Melio free and see how much more rewarding your bills can be.
Don’t forget to add Karma to your desktop, or take it on the go using our app. Either way, your online shopping is about to get way better.
