Taking Payment for Direct Bookings in the US, Canada and UK

When a guest books your vacation rental directly, there's no platform in the middle holding the money. You choose how guests pay, when they pay and what happens if they cancel. For most small hosts a simple setup works best: one instant bank payment method that's normal where you live, plus a card payment link as a backup, a deposit to secure the dates, and the balance before arrival.

This guide covers the options that guests in the US, Canada and the UK actually use (Zelle, Venmo, Interac e-Transfer, UK bank transfer and card links), how to set up deposits, and how to avoid the common scams. If you host in Europe, our guide to direct booking payments in Europe covers SEPA transfers instead.

Fees, limits and terms change. The figures below were correct at the time of writing (October 2026). Check your bank's or provider's current terms before you rely on them.

The options at a glance

Bank-to-bank payments are cheap and final, which suits hosts. Cards are familiar and work for international guests, but cost more and can be disputed.

United States: Zelle, Venmo and card links

Zelle

Zelle is built into most US banks' apps, and money usually arrives within minutes between enrolled users. It's free for most people through their bank. For a host, that's attractive: no fees and no chargebacks.

The catch is on the guest's side. Banks describe Zelle as a way to pay people you know and trust, and they offer no purchase protection for authorised payments. Some banks now delay or block payments to contacts found through social media. A careful first-time guest may hesitate to send a large Zelle payment to a stranger, so:

• offer Zelle for returning guests and smaller amounts, such as a deposit;
• give your name exactly as your bank shows it, so the guest can check it before sending;
• keep a card link ready for guests who prefer it.

Venmo

Venmo's terms say personal accounts are for personal payments, not for selling goods or services. If you take booking payments through Venmo, use a business profile, which charges a fee on each payment you receive (published at 1.9% plus 10 cents at the time of writing). Payments to a business profile can include purchase protection for the guest, which makes some guests more comfortable paying a stranger.

Card payment links

A payment link from a provider such as Stripe, Square or PayPal lets the guest pay by credit or debit card on a secure page. Stripe's standard online rate for US cards is 2.9% + 30¢ per payment at the time of writing, with extra fees for international cards and currency conversion. Card payments are the easiest choice for guests, but they can be disputed for months afterwards, so keep your booking confirmation, terms and messages as evidence.

Canada: Interac e-Transfer and card links

Interac e-Transfer is how most Canadians pay each other. You give the guest the email address or phone number linked to your bank account. With Autodeposit turned on, money lands in your account without a security question, usually within minutes.

Things to know:

• Limits are set by each bank and differ between personal and business accounts. Personal accounts often have per-transfer and daily limits that a large booking can exceed, so the guest may need to split the payment over two days, or pay the balance by card.
• Fees depend on your bank and account plan. Receiving is often free, but check your own bank.
• Business accounts usually come with higher limits and keep rental income separate from your personal money, which makes tax time easier.

For guests from outside Canada, send a card payment link. Stripe's standard rate for Canadian cards is 2.9% + C$0.30 at the time of writing, with extra fees for international cards.

United Kingdom: bank transfer and card links

Bank transfer by sort code and account number

UK guests are used to paying by bank transfer. Send your account name, sort code and account number and a payment reference. Transfers between UK accounts usually go through Faster Payments and arrive within minutes.

Two UK rules are worth knowing:

• Confirmation of Payee. When a guest sets up a new payment, their bank checks the name they type against the name on your account. If they don't match, the guest gets a warning and may not pay. Give your account name exactly as it appears at your bank.
• Scam reimbursement. Since 7 October 2024, banks must reimburse most victims of authorised push payment scams on Faster Payments, up to £85,000 per claim. That protects guests who get tricked by fake listings, and it's one reason UK banks now show strong warnings for payments to new payees. A matching name and a professional booking page help your genuine payment requests get through.

Card payment links

Card links work well for guests from abroad and for those who prefer to pay by card. Stripe's standard rate for UK cards is 1.5% + 20p at the time of writing, with higher rates for European and international cards.

Never take card details by email or message

Some guests offer to send their card number by email, text or chat so you can "just charge it". Don't accept it. The card industry's security standard (PCI DSS) says unprotected card numbers must never be sent through email, chat or text messages. A card number in your inbox can be stolen from your account, and if a charge is later disputed you'll have little to show the guest really authorised it.

Instead:

• send a payment link so the guest enters their card on the provider's secure page;
• if a guest emails you their card number anyway, don't use it. Delete the message, ask them to use the link, and suggest they keep an eye on their card;
• never write card numbers on paper or keep them in a spreadsheet.

The same goes for you: never send your online banking login, one-time passcodes or card details to anyone.

Deposits and balance timing

A deposit turns a request into a firm booking. A common pattern:

• Deposit: 20–30% of the total, due within a few days of confirmation.
• Balance: two to four weeks before arrival, including any occupancy tax.
• Last-minute bookings: the full amount at confirmation.

If the deposit doesn't arrive by the deadline, send one reminder, then release the dates.

Security deposits

For damage, you can either take a refundable deposit with the balance and return it within a set number of days after checkout, or place a hold on the guest's card through your payment provider. Card holds only last a limited time (often around seven days for online card payments), so place them shortly before arrival, not when the guest books.

Avoiding payment scams

• Fake payment emails. Messages saying a Zelle or Venmo payment is "pending" until you upgrade your account or pay a fee are scams. Check your bank app, not the email.
• Overpayment. A "guest" sends more than the total and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment later bounces. Never refund until the full amount has cleared, and only to the account it came from.
• Screenshots. A screenshot of a banking app proves nothing. Confirm the money is in your account.
• Refunds to someone else. Refund only to the person and account that paid.
• Pressure. Real guests rarely need you to skip your own process. If it feels rushed, slow down.

Sample confirmation message (USD)

Adapt this for your own bookings.

Hi Jordan, thanks for your booking request. I'm happy to confirm your stay at Lakeside Cabin from July 12 to 16 for 2 adults. The total is $940.80: 4 nights at $180, a $120 cleaning fee and $100.80 in occupancy tax.

To secure your dates, please pay a $250 deposit by May 5. The balance of $690.80 is due by June 21.

You can pay by Zelle to (555) 123-4567 (Jane Smith), with your booking number in the note, or by card using this secure link: [payment link].

Cancellation: free until June 21, with the deposit refunded in full. After that, the deposit is non-refundable unless the dates are rebooked.

Check-in is from 3 pm and checkout by 10 am. I'll send directions and the door code a few days before you arrive.

For Canada, swap the payment line for "Interac e-Transfer to jane@example.com (Jane Smith), message: your booking number". For the UK, use "Bank transfer to Jane Smith, sort code 12-34-56, account 12345678, reference: your booking number". The occupancy tax in this example comes from our guide to occupancy and lodging taxes on direct bookings.

Getting paid with OpenSty

You choose per property how guests pay, and the money goes straight from the guest to you, with no commission or fee from OpenSty. For card payments, connect your own Stripe account and turn them on: the guest's card is authorised with the request, charged when you confirm and released if you decline, and Stripe charges its usual processing fees. Otherwise, on your property's policies you set the deposit percentage, when it's due, and your payment instructions. Once you set the property's country, OpenSty suggests a local example (Zelle or Venmo in the US, Interac e-Transfer in Canada, sort code and account number in the UK). Your payment details stay private until you confirm a request, and then they're sent to that guest only. Plans start at €14 a month, and checkout shows the price in your local currency where available.

Common questions

What's the best way to accept payment for a vacation rental booked directly?

Offer the instant bank payment that's normal where you live (Zelle in the US, Interac e-Transfer in Canada, a bank transfer in the UK) and a card payment link as a backup for guests who prefer cards or live abroad.

Is Zelle safe for vacation rental payments?

For the host, yes: payments are fast and very hard to reverse. Guests get no purchase protection, so some will prefer a card. Never accept a "pending payment" email as proof; check your bank app.

Can I use a personal Venmo account for rental payments?

Venmo's terms say personal accounts are for personal payments. Use a Venmo business profile for bookings, which charges a fee per payment received.

Should I ask guests for their credit card number by email?

No. Card numbers must never be sent by email, chat or text. Send a secure payment link instead.

How much deposit should I ask for on a direct booking?

Many hosts ask for 20–30% at confirmation and the balance two to four weeks before arrival. For last-minute bookings, ask for the full amount upfront.