Melio

Melio is a business payments platform for small and mid-sized US businesses, allowing companies to pay vendors by bank transfer or card even where the vendor accepts only cheques — the platform converts the payment and mails a cheque on the payer’s behalf.

How accounting firms use it

Firms use it to move small clients off paper without requiring anything of the client’s vendors. That asymmetry is the point: a business can pay digitally, schedule payments, and keep a clean audit trail, while vendors continue receiving payment in whatever form they already accept.

An accountant dashboard covers payments across multiple clients, and because standard bank transfers are free, the cost objection that usually blocks AP software at the small end largely disappears.

Key features

Payments run by ACH, card, or mailed cheque, with scheduling so bills are paid on due date rather than early. Paying by card while the vendor receives a bank transfer or cheque lets a client extend working capital, at the cost of the card fee.

Basic approval workflow routes payments for authorisation before release, giving small businesses a separation between whoever prepares a payment and whoever approves it — a control most clients of this size otherwise lack entirely.

Two-way sync with QuickBooks and Xero keeps bills and payment status aligned with the ledger.

Who it’s best for

Small US businesses still paying by cheque that want digital AP without vendor disruption, and firms wanting to modernise client payment processes without imposing a subscription cost.

Clients with complex multi-level approvals, multiple entities, or international vendors need BILL. Plooto is a common alternative with stronger approval workflow and Canadian coverage, and Ramp suits clients wanting AP consolidated with corporate cards.