Melio makes it easy to send paper checks to your vendors when they prefer this payment method. This guide walks you through the entire process of creating and sending a check payment from start to finish.
To learn how to send fast or overnight checks, please see the following guide.
Creating your check payment
1- In your Pay dashboard, select + New Payment.
Alternatively, you can create a new bill by selecting the Create a bill button under the Bills tab.
In the Bill details page, enter the bill details. This includes the Vendor business name, Bill amount, Invoice number, Invoice date, Due date, and a Note to self. You can also add line items to your bill. By selecting Continue to pay, you will proceed to the Pay page.
For detailed instructions on creating a new bill, please see the following guide.
2- In the Pay page, you can begin adding your payment information under Payment details.
Adding vendor information
3- Add the Vendor business name. Start typing the vendor's business name in the search field:
- For existing vendors: Select the vendor from the dropdown list that appears as you type.
- For new vendors: Type the full business name and select + Add new vendor to create a new vendor profile.
- You will then be prompted to add vendor details. Once done, select Save.
4- Enter the payment amount.
5- Select the payment frequency. You can choose between a one-time payment or a recurring payment.
Adding invoice details (optional)
6- To include an invoice with your payment, select Add bill details.
This opens the bill details page, where you can:
- Click Select or drop file on the left to upload your invoice image or file from your device. The invoice will be uploaded and scanned for information to add to the payment.
- Review the automatically scanned details and make any necessary edits.
- Select Continue to pay once all details are correct. This will return you to the Pay page.
Melio accepts PDF, JPEG, JPG, and PNG files up to 10MB. Upload one invoice per file. The system will scan your invoice and autofill payment details, but always review for accuracy. Use Replace to upload a different file or Cancel to remove it entirely.
Setting up how you pay
7- Choose how you want to pay. You can pay using a bank account or a card.
Paying using a bank account:
- Check next to Bank account.
- Use the dropdown menu to select the bank account you want to pay with.
- You can add a new bank account by selecting + Add account. When adding a new bank account, you can add it instantly or manually using microdeposits.
Paying using a card:
- Check next to Card.
- Use the dropdown menu to select the card you want to pay with.
- You can add a new card by selecting + Add card. Learn how to connect a new card in this step-by-step guide. Check out this guide to see which cards are supported.
What if I haven't added a payment method yet?
If you haven't added a payment method yet, you won't have any options to choose from. To get started, select Add bank account to connect a bank account or Add card to add a card. Once added, your payment method will be saved for this and future payments.
Setting up check delivery
8- Select paper check as the method the vendor will receive payment:
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For existing vendors:
- Use the dropdown menu to choose Paper Check from saved delivery methods.
- If paper check isn't a listed delivery method, you will need to select Manage delivery methods to add it.
- Under delivery methods, select +Add another.
- Next to Paper check, select +Add details. You will then be prompted to add the check delivery details. Enter the vendor's complete mailing address, including street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
- Select Add when done.
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For new vendors:
- Select the Add delivery method box.
- Select +Add details next to Paper check.
- You will then be prompted to add the check delivery details. Enter the vendor's complete mailing address, including street address, city, state, and ZIP code.
- Select Add when done.
Scheduling and finalizing your check
9- Next, choose when your check will be delivered and when the funds will be debited from your account. You can choose between:
- Standard paper check - 5-7 business days until delivered via USPS.
- Fast check - 3 business days until delivered via FedEx.
- Overnight check - 1 business day until delivered via FedEx.
- Choose a custom date using the calendar icon to pick a delivery date. Federal holiday dates will be blocked in the calendar.
When you schedule a check payment, you choose when the funds are debited from your account. This gives you more control over your cash flow, since you'll know exactly when the money leaves your account rather than waiting for a vendor to deposit a check at an unpredictable time. The check is then physically printed and mailed to your vendor.
For certain payments, you may see a Defer debit toggle when selecting a custom date.
Turning this on delays the debit from your account until closer to the delivery date, while using a faster delivery method to ensure your vendor is paid on time. This gives you more control over your cash flow — your money stays in your account longer. An additional fee applies when defer debit is enabled.
Select Apply to confirm your selection.
To learn more about:
10- Add a memo to your payment (optional). This memo will appear on the printed check and help your vendor understand the purpose of the payment.
11- Review all payment details carefully to ensure accuracy, including the mailing address.
12- Select Confirm and pay to schedule your check payment.
13- Your check payment is now successfully scheduled! From the success screen, you can:
- Download or print your payment summary.
- Select Go to dashboard to return to your main account view.
That's it! You've successfully scheduled a check payment to your vendor. The check will be printed and mailed according to your selected timeline, and you can track its progress in the Payments tab.