Business International Money Transfers

If you’re an Australian business owner who needs to pay overseas suppliers on a regular basis or make a one off international purchase for equipment or stock, you’ll want to make sure you get a decent exchange rate and an efficient transfer of your funds. 

Foreign exchange (FX) specialists typically offer the lowest exchange rates and fees, and for business purposes, can offer specialised advice to help your company manage its foreign exchange needs.

However, if you’re after speed and convenience, using your business bank account to directly transfer funds over could be a good option. Just remember, banks are often more expensive than foreign exchange specialists, as they come with poor exchange rates and higher fees, so you’ll likely receive less cash for the same amount of dollars transferred.

Ultimately, it pays to have a good system in place when sending money overseas for your business. Just by picking the right foreign exchange option for you, you could potentially save time and money on your transfer. 

That’s why you need to understand all the ins and outs of international money transfers so that you can choose an IMT provider with confidence. The money experts at Mozo have pulled together all the info you'll need here in one place.

Key factors to consider when choosing an international money transfer provider for your business

Just as you have plenty of choice when it comes to your day-to-day business banking, you’ll also have options when transferring money overseas to another business, such as a supplier or contractor. As mentioned above, you can use a bank or you can opt for an online FX specialist. Here are some of the things you should factor in when shopping around: 

Exchange rates

Generally speaking, the higher the exchange rate, the more money you’ll receive from your Australian dollars. For larger money transfers, a small difference in the exchange rate could potentially save your business hundreds of dollars, so it pays to compare quotes online rather than just stick with your existing bank. 

Fees

Besides the exchange rate, fees also contribute to the final transfer price. Some IMT services will charge a flat fee for business transfers, while others will charge a fee based on a percentage of the transfer amount. Many may even waive their transfer fee if you send above a certain amount, although it’s important to note that even if the provider themselves don’t directly charge a fee, third-party fees could still apply. Fine print about those additional costs and charges can be found in the provider’s product disclosure statement (PDS), which should be available on their website. 

Currency

Most banks and IMT providers will offer business transfers for major currencies and many offer services to more exotic destinations as well. But don’t assume that because Bank A has a great rate for USD, it means that it will have the best rate for JPY. Be sure to compare rates and providers based on your choice of currency so that you get the most competitive rate for the currency you need to transfer to.

Transfer speed

If you’re converting your Australian dollars into another standard major currency, it usually takes between 1-3 business days for the international money transfer to process and reach your recipient’s bank account. Be sure to factor this in when timing any overseas payments, so you can minimise delays when paying your suppliers or freelancers. 

Transfer limits

Some IMT providers will have minimum and maximum transfer limits, depending on the type of business payment you’re making. For instance, they may restrict how much you can send over 24 hours, a week, or a month. 

Pickup method

It’s also important to note how you or your recipient will receive any money transferred. The standard method is electronic funds transfer, although some services also give recipients the option to pick up cash from a bank branch or remittance centre. 

Customer service & reputation

Besides price, look for a provider that offers quality assistance to its customers. Reputable IMT services will generally equip you with a personal account manager or a customer service team who can guide you through the money transfer process, answering any queries and addressing any concerns you may have. In addition, make sure that your IMT provider is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), as this means they’re properly regulated and that you have an official body - the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) - to turn to, should something go wrong and you end up in a dispute.

How can I make sure I’m getting the cheapest international money transfer?

Running a business is expensive, and you want to make sure you’re maximising your profits by cutting out unnecessary costs wherever possible.

Fees on international money transfers can vary from $0 to $32 per transaction, and if you’re making multiple transfers a month, your costs could really add up. Not to mention, the difference between foreign exchange rates offered by banks and IMT specialists can vary substantially, so keeping an eye out to see where the lowest rate is could save your business a pretty penny.

There is nothing stopping you from setting up a business account with multiple IMT specialists so that you have the option to choose which provider has the best exchange rates at the time you need to make your business money transfer. But don’t leave this to the last minute. While the account set up process is generally very easy with online IMT providers, you will still need to allow time to link up your business bank account and get your business details and Australian Business Number (ABN) verified.

What is the best money transfer company for businesses? 

The Mozo Experts Choice Awards for International Money Transfers is a great place to find your answer. Every year, Mozo’s money experts run these awards to help Australian consumers and businesses discover the best value IMT providers in the market. 

As part of the awards, our expert judges pour hours into assessing a wide range of money transfer providers, including both banks and non-bank foreign exchange specialists, in order to determine which ones offer the most competitive exchange rates and fees around. 

Curious to see which providers have received our judges’ stamp of approval? View the full list of the latest winners over at our Mozo Experts Choice International Money Transfer Awards page.

Bank or foreign exchange specialist, which will be better for my business?

The short answer is: it depends. For instance, if you’re only going to be transferring small amounts or if you need to send money overseas urgently, you may find that your existing bank offers you convenience. 

But if you prioritise getting the biggest bang for your buck, typically the most cost-effective solution for overseas business transfers is using a FX specialist, especially if you are dealing with large amounts of money or frequent overseas payments. They often have lower fees and more competitive exchange rates than the banks. In fact, all of the winners of our long-standing Mozo Experts Choice Awards for best value International Money Transfer are FX specialists like WorldFirst, SendFX and InstaReM. You can also use our comparison tool above to see for yourself the differences in cost between providers for transferring the same amount of money.

Another benefit of using a FX specialist is that many come with handy IMT features, including:

• Forward contracts: This feature allows you to fix a current exchange rate for a future transfer. That means you won’t miss out on a great deal even if you aren’t sending money overseas right now. Depending on the provider, you could potentially lock in a rate, three months up to two years in advance. Remember there’s always a risk of rates becoming even more favourable later on, so be sure to go with a deal you’re happy with.

• Limit orders: This option lets you nominate an exchange rate that you’d prefer for your transfer. Your provider will then monitor the currency market for you and perform the transaction only once your desired rate has been hit. Just bear in mind that once the rate has been triggered, it’s legally binding so you’ll have to commit to your transfer. 

• Rate alerts: Like limit orders, rate alerts are a tool to help you make money transfers at your desired rate. The difference is, instead of your provider automatically sending money for you once that rate has been hit, you’ll receive a notification via email or SMS to complete the transaction. Usually, you won’t even need to register with an FX specialist to subscribe to their rate alerts, although you may not have access to certain features if you don’t sign up.

How do business international money transfers work?

If this is your first time making an international money transfer as a business, chances are you may have trouble wading through all the jargon and figuring out how the whole IMT process works. While the specifics will vary from provider to provider, you can generally expect the following few steps when transferring funds with a FX specialist: 

Step 1: Open an account with your IMT provider. 

This is usually quite straightforward, as most providers have an online application process. Many FX specialists promise this step should only take minutes. You’ll just need to fill in a few details to verify your identity, and your provider may contact you to help you complete the set-up. To ensure your experience is as seamless as possible, have your business identification documents ready before signing up.

Step 2: Book your deal online or via the provider’s app. 

The next step is entering the details of your actual transfer. This includes sharing information such as how much you want to transfer, to which country/currency you’re making the transfer, and when you want your money transferred. 

Your provider will then quote you on that trade. Once you’re happy with the exchange rate and fees associated with the transfer, you can confirm and lock in the deal.

After that, you’ll need to enter your sender and recipient details including: 

• Full name and address

• Business bank account details or IBAN (International Bank Account Number) 

• The bank’s full name and address

• The bank’s BIC/SWIFT code - their unique identification code, which can be found on their website 

Step 3: Transfer funds to your provider.

Once you’ve sent the agreed amount to your provider, they will then transfer it electronically to your recipient. The time it takes for the funds to enter your supplier or contractor’s bank account will depend on the currency, but it should take 1-3 days for major currencies like the USD, GBP and EUR. 

Step 4: Set up regular payments.

If you’re expecting to make monthly or quarterly payments to your supplier or overseas employees, then it could be worth signing up to a recurring transfer plan. Speak with your personal account manager or customer service team to get a quote for the plan, and make sure you’re aware of all the fees and exchange rate fluctuations that could affect your transfer price each time. For more information, head over to our guide on making regular business payments overseas.