Partner Spotlight: Getting paid, without the chasing

August 28, 2026

FCA - Pinch

Payment automation can remove a recurring admin task from a bookkeeping practice: chasing invoices. Pinch Pre-Approvals securely store an authorised customer payment method so eligible invoices can be collected automatically and reconciled back into connected accounting software.

Key takeaways:

  • Late payments create both cash flow uncertainty and unpaid administration for a bookkeeping practice
  • Pinch Pre-Approvals let customers authorise a stored payment method so eligible invoices can be collected automatically on the due date
  • Pinch integrates with accounting software including Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB and can automatically reconcile collected payments
  • Automating collection removes repeated reminders from the regular workflow while exceptions can still be monitored when a payment needs attention
  • The Pinch referral program gives accounting professionals another way to support clients and can create an additional revenue line for the practice

When people picture running their own bookkeeping practice, they picture the work. Finding the first clients. Getting the systems right. Building something that lasts.

What they rarely picture is the part that turns up every month afterwards. Chasing money.

It is one of the least enjoyable jobs in a small practice, and it is not really about the money. It is about the awkwardness. Following up someone you have a good relationship with. Sending the third reminder. Wondering whether to say something at the next catch up.

That is why First Class Accounts partners with Pinch, an Australian payment platform built to take invoice chasing off the desk entirely.

Why chasing payment costs more than the money

Late payment does two things to a practice. It makes cash flow unpredictable, and it eats time that nobody is paying for.

For a solo operator or a small team, that time adds up quickly. An hour a week following up invoices is a working week a year spent on something that generates nothing, and it tends to land on the person who can least afford to lose the time.

It is the same problem as the hidden cost of messy business systems. The visible cost is small. The hidden cost is everything it stops you doing.

What is the real cost of spending one hour a week chasing invoices?
One hour a week adds up to roughly 52 hours across a full year before any time spent checking bank transactions, resending invoices or handling payment questions is counted. For a small practice, that is more than a standard working week that could otherwise be spent on client work or growing the business.

How Pinch changes it

Pinch removes the follow up rather than automating it.

With Pinch Pre-Approvals, your client’s payment details are securely saved once. From then on, invoices are paid without anyone needing to chase, and the payment reconciles automatically in your accounting software.

The practical difference is that getting paid stops being a task. It becomes something that has already happened by the time you look.

As Emily Emberson, Partner Success at Pinch Payments, puts it:

“The biggest change Pinch makes is eliminating the stress of wondering when, or even if, you’re going to get paid. With Pinch Pre-Approvals, it just happens. We securely save your clients’ payment information, so every invoice is taken care of, you get paid, and it’s automatically reconciled in your accounting software too.”

What is a Pinch Pre-Approval?
A Pre-Approval is the customer’s authorisation for Pinch to securely store a nominated payment method and use it for eligible automatic payments. Once it is in place, invoices created in the connected accounting system can be collected according to the agreed settings instead of relying on the customer to manually pay each invoice.
Does payment automation remove the need to reconcile invoices?
With a connected accounting platform, Pinch can send reconciliation data back so collected payments are matched without the same manual bank-account work. The practice should still monitor exceptions, failed payments and any transactions that need review rather than assuming every payment will complete successfully.

It can also become a revenue line

Pinch runs a partner referral program for accounting professionals. If you refer a client and they come on board, you earn 10 per cent of the fees back each month.

For a bookkeeper, that turns a recommendation you were already comfortable making into an additional source of monthly revenue, while you stay the person your clients trust for advice.

Does a referral program mean the bookkeeper has to manage the client’s Pinch account?
No. Pinch’s referral program allows accounting professionals to introduce clients or share a referral link, while the Pinch team can handle the payment-platform relationship. That lets the bookkeeper recommend a receivables solution without turning payment processing into another ongoing admin task.

Why this matters when you are starting out

Nobody starts a bookkeeping business because they want to run a collections process. But in the first year, when you are building the client base and doing everything yourself, the admin is exactly what pulls focus away from the work that grows the practice.

Solving it early means it never becomes a habit you have to break later.

Which clients are a good fit for payment pre-approvals?
Pre-approvals are especially useful where invoices are recurring or predictable and the customer is comfortable authorising automatic payment. One-off invoices or larger amounts may call for a different option such as a pay-now link or payment plan, depending on how the client prefers to pay.

Thinking about starting your own bookkeeping business?

When you join First Class Accounts, you get access to the tools, partnerships and support that let you spend your time on clients rather than admin.

From payment automation through partners like Pinch to training, community and ongoing support, you are backed by a network designed to help your business grow.

Explore franchise opportunities: https://www.firstclassaccounts.com/franchise-opportunities/

Get in touch with the team: https://www.firstclassaccounts.com/franchise-opportunities/contact/

Find out more about Pinch

Pinch Partner Hub: https://getpinch.com.au/partner-hub

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Pinch used for?
Pinch is a payment platform for businesses that want to collect invoice payments through options such as direct debit or card, automate recurring collections and reduce manual reconciliation. For bookkeeping practices, the main benefit is making payment collection a repeatable system rather than a monthly chasing task.
2. How do Pinch Pre-Approvals work?
The customer authorises a payment method to be stored securely. Pinch can then automatically collect eligible invoices from the connected accounting system according to the configured rules and due dates, removing the need for the customer to initiate every payment manually.
3. Which accounting platforms can Pinch connect with?
Pinch supports integrations with accounting platforms including Xero, QuickBooks and MYOB. Available features vary by integration, so the practice should check the current Pinch setup guidance for the accounting system it uses.
4. What happens if an automated payment fails?
Pinch can be configured to reattempt failed payments and notify the practice when the retry limit is reached. The team can then decide what follow-up is needed, so automation reduces routine chasing without removing visibility over exceptions.
5. Can customers pay by card or direct debit?
Yes. Pinch supports card and direct debit payment options, along with pre-approvals, one-off payments, payment plans and subscriptions. The options offered should match the practice’s billing model and the way its clients prefer to pay.
6. Can bookkeepers join the Pinch referral program?
Yes. Pinch’s referral program is designed for accountants, bookkeepers and other advisers that support businesses accepting payments. Current referral terms and commissions should be confirmed through the Pinch Partner Hub before making a recommendation to clients.

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