Early Adoption Incentives That Make Clients Embrace New Payment Platforms

When you’re trying to move clients away from clunky payment platforms or vulnerable methods (like paper checks), communication alone doesn’t always cut it. Yes, certain digital payments are faster, more secure, and better for everyone involved, but if clients have been posting payments in one specific way for ten years, that habit (and trust) runs deep. 

Simply letting news like that fall in the laps of well-established clients is likely to ruffle feathers and make problems for your customer support teams. That’s why when successful MSPs are adopting a new platform, they incentivize their clients instead of just announcing it. 

Even a small, short-term incentive can dramatically accelerate adoption. Naturally, clients respond better when they feel they’re gaining something, not losing control or being forced to change. By rewarding early action, you make any transition overall collaborative and effective.

Moving to a new payment platform is a big decision for MSPs. But changing how you receive payments is not just another back-office upgrade; it directly affects how clients interact with you. And that kind of shift can naturally invite hesitation or friction, even from loyal clients.

But the good news is that when clients understand that a change saves them time, money, or effort, they’re far more open to it. Early adoption incentives send a clear message that this isn’t just a change for change’s sake. It’s an upgrade that benefits everyone. 

Incentive Strategies That Actually Work

Incentives that don’t work, ultimately, are the kind that simply don’t resonate with your customers or that cost you too much. 

Below are a few different kinds of successful incentives that you could launch separately or bundle together to make adoption more pleasant for everyone involved. 

Offer a One-Time Account Credit

One of the most effective adoption strategies is also one of the simplest: reward clients monetarily for taking action early. 

Announce your new payment platform to your clients in a clear and positive way, emphasizing the convenience and security it provides. Let them know that once they set up ACH or another approved secure digital payment method, they’ll receive a special one-time credit (for example, $50-$100) as a thank-you for adopting the new process early. 

You can either automatically credit it toward their next billing cycle or provide them with a discount code they can redeem later. The approach you choose depends on how you’d like clients to experience the reward. Some may appreciate seeing the immediate savings on their next invoice, while others may prefer the flexibility of a discount code for future use on potentially larger projects.

This way, your business benefits from reduced administrative work. And at the same time, your clients will enjoy an immediate financial benefit and a more convenient, secure way to post payments. They save money and you save time and operational costs, which is a win-win. 

For MSPs, this tends to work especially well with clients who have a history of delayed payments or who tend to “get to it later.” Because once those clients experience the convenience of automated billing, they will not want to revert to paper checks. 

And from there, the incentive pays for itself in faster collections and fewer follow-ups.

Waive Credit Card Fees for the First Billing Cycle

If your MSP currently passes along credit card fees via surcharging (typically 2–3% per transaction), consider temporarily waiving them for clients who try your payment portal during the first billing cycle after launch. This is similar to the above incentive in that it ultimately saves your client money.  

This simple “trial period” lowers the perceived barrier to entry because it feels less expensive than continuing to use whichever platform they’re currently using. It also gives clients a no-risk reason to experience the improved payment experience firsthand. For example, with FlexPoint, that means immediate benefits like instant payment confirmations, automatic receipts, and real-time transaction visibility all of which make the process more professional.

The reality is, once clients see how effortless and transparent the new platform is, the reintroduction of surcharging on card payments will feel justified. 

And if your new platform supports ACH payments, you’re giving them even more opportunities to save money if they’d rather forgo submitting payments via credit card altogether.

Highlight ACH as the “Preferred, No-Fee” Option

You don’t have to credit their account directly or waive surcharges to show clients the value in the changes you’re making. Sometimes all it takes is clear positioning.

On your invoices, inside the FlexPoint portal, and client communications, mention ACH as the “preferred” or “recommended” payment method and emphasize that it’s the no-fee option. People naturally gravitate toward the simplest, most cost-effective path when it’s presented as the default, especially when the benefit is framed as both secure and convenient. 

By positioning ACH this way, you’re not just promoting a payment method, you’re also reinforcing your company’s commitment to transparency and improvement. Here are some easy metrics to consider:

By guiding clients toward ACH, you’re both improving your own cash flow consistency while also giving your clients an easier, cheaper, and more secure way to post payments. If you have any clients who are die-hard devotees to paying with checks, it may be important to let them know that check fraud is up 385% since the pandemic and it’s their information on the line (signature, address, routing numbers) when they pay that way. On the other hand, ACH transactions move directly between banks through the secure NACHA network, meaning account details stay encrypted, validated, and traceable. 

For clients who are especially sensitive to security issues, communicating that ACH through FlexPoint offers enterprise-grade encryption and automated reconciliation tools can go a long way in building trust. 

If your team needs help explaining these benefits or standardizing client messaging, check out the Moving Away from Paper Checks Toolkit which includes ready-to-send templates, internal checklists, and FAQs to make the transition simple for you and your clients.

Bundle With Other Client Perks

Another powerful incentive outside of the financial is the personal. Sometimes the most powerful incentives are the ones that strengthen relationships. 

If this is something you feel would resonate with your client base, maybe consider offering them added privileges like:

• Priority scheduling or expedited support for ACH-enrolled accounts
  
  
• A free quarterly account review or optimization call
  
  
• Early renewal pricing or small service credits
  
  
• A complimentary add-on, like extended remote monitoring for the first month
  ‍

These bundles reframe any shift as a full-package value upgrade, not a billing policy change. Clients will naturally start to associate your new process with improved service and partnership instead of homework they have to do in relearning the portal or payment method they’ve grown accustomed to. 

This approach is especially effective with long-term or high-revenue clients who may resist procedural change. Because it can be a heavy lift for them to make the changes in their operations as well. By tying incentives to outcomes they care about like speed, support, and trust, you make adopting your payment preference part of a positive client experience instead of a chore.

You may even spark a ripple effect. Clients who feel the difference in responsiveness, convenience, or partnership will talk about it. When others hear that ACH-enrolled clients get faster turnaround times or early renewal perks, they’ll want the same treatment too. That means that what started as a simple payment transition quickly becomes about improved loyalty. 

How to Roll Out Incentives Effectively

These small gestures do more than offset setup time, they also signal that you have respect for your client’s time and partnership. It essentially reframes the change as collaborative (“we appreciate you making this switch with us”) rather than administrative (“we need you to do this”). You are acknowledging the fact that change is difficult and offering a way to make it more pleasant for them.

However, the key to any incentive program isn’t the reward itself, but how you roll it out. Ways to ensure this program is actually successful is to offer clarity, consistency, and a clear reason to act promptly. The more organized and transparent your communication, the faster your adoption curve will be. 

Otherwise, it may be irrelevant to offer these incentives. 

Here’s how to do it right:

Announce the change clearly: Tell clients exactly what’s happening, why it matters, and what’s in it for them. Frame it around value (faster payments, fewer hassles, and a smoother billing experience) not just your internal efficiency. Like a good sales person, don’t tell them about the features of the new portal or billing experience but explain that you saw the pain points they may have been experiencing either with checks or an outdated payment platform. 

Use multiple channels: Don’t rely on a single email. Reinforce the message everywhere: in invoice footers, portal banners, newsletters, and even in direct calls from your team. Repetition builds trust and familiarity. By the time any cut-off comes around, they will have heard of this change multiple times and will have no way to guilt you into continuing with the less effective method.

Make it time-bound: Incentives work best when they have a clear expiration date. “Sign up within 30 days to receive a $50 account credit” creates natural urgency without feeling pushy. 

Celebrate early adopters: Once a few clients make the switch, highlight them. You could mention them in your newsletter (“We’re thrilled to see 40% of clients already using our new secure payment system!”) or give a quick shoutout on a client call. Social proof matters when change is expected. If others see that change is possible and easy, then they are more likely to take it on themselves.

Guide them visually: Provide screenshots, quick videos, or a step-by-step PDF showing how to pay through the new portal.

Make it easy: Embed your payment portal link in every invoice, footer, and follow-up email. Remove any barriers to taking action. And when it comes up, gently direct them to one of the many places you have it plainly listed.

‍

Once your incentive program is live, make sure you know what’s working and what’s not. A ew key metrics to watch: ACH adoption rate (%): How many clients switched to ACH or other digital payments over time? Reduction in manual payments: Track how many paper checks or phone-in payments you’ve eliminated. Days to payment (DSO) improvement: Are you getting paid faster? Even a 10–20% improvement has a measurable cash flow impact. Fee savings: Estimate how much you’re saving in card processing fees or check handling costs each month.

Incentives Build Trust, Not Just Adoption

This isn’t about pushing clients into digital payments or to another platform just because you want to, it’s about making a change that adds real value for your MSP and for your clients, so make sure you communicate it that way. Because any process that involves the client should be treated as an opportunity to reinforce trust and strengthen the relationship, even though big changes can feel risky. 

When clients clearly see that the change benefits them, through convenience, security, or even a small credit, they’ll engage willingly. And those early incentives don’t just drive adoption; they help reinforce your MSP’s reliability, modernity, and genuine care for the client experience.

If you’re ready to make payments easier for both your team and your clients, start by rewarding progress instead of chasing it. Download the Moving Away from Paper Checks Toolkit to get everything you need, from announcement templates to a 90-day rollout plan and checklists, to make the transition successful. 

Ultimately, incentives don’t just help your clients, they also protect your margins, automate your billing, and build predictability into your operations. Once clients adopt digital payments on a secure platform you feel confident in, you spend less time chasing invoices and more time focused on delivering great service.

‍