Mega Feature

Kantivo PayFlow

A complete payment request, approval, and processing workflow system built directly into your accounting software. Your team submits requests. You review, approve, and pay -- all in one place. No extra subscriptions. No separate tools.

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Replaces tools like Bill.com ($45-79/user/mo) and Tipalti ($$$). Included with Pro, Accountant Pro, and Enterprise plans.

From Request to Payment in Five Steps

A streamlined workflow that eliminates scattered emails, lost receipts, and manual tracking.

📤

Submit

Team member submits request via cloud portal

🔎

Review

Request syncs to your desktop app queue

Approve

Multi-level approval chain processes it

💰

Pay

Execute payment through your bank

📖

Record

One-click converts to a journal entry

5x

Faster than email-based payment processing

$0

Extra cost on Pro plans and above

100%

Audit trail on every request and action

Scales from 5 people to 5,000

Everything You Need to Manage Payment Requests

Kantivo PayFlow replaces scattered emails, shared spreadsheets, and expensive third-party approval tools with a single, integrated workflow.

🌐 Cloud Submission Portal

Give your team, clients, and vendors a dedicated web portal to submit payment and reimbursement requests. They log in, fill out the form, attach receipts, and submit. No software installation required on their end.

  • Invite-only access controlled by you
  • Upload receipts, invoices, and supporting documents
  • Set amount, category, priority, and due date
  • Mobile-responsive -- works from any device

📑 Organized Request Dashboard

Every request lands in your PayFlow dashboard inside the desktop app, organized by status and priority. Filter by date range, amount, category, or search by keyword. No more digging through email threads.

  • Status filters: Pending, Approved, Rejected, Paid
  • Priority indicators with color-coded urgency
  • Spend-by-category visual breakdown
  • Quick-action buttons for fast processing

🔗 Configurable Approval Chains

Build approval workflows that match your organization's structure. A simple one-person sign-off for small teams, or multi-level sequential approvals for larger operations where requests need sign-off from a manager, then an owner, then accounting.

  • Single approver for simple workflows
  • Multi-step sequential approval chains
  • Drag-and-drop step builder
  • Assign different chains to different request types

💬 Built-In Message Thread

Every request has its own communication thread. Ask for clarification, request additional documentation, or provide instructions -- all tied to the specific request. No more context-switching between email and your accounting software.

  • Threaded conversations per request
  • Messages visible to submitter on portal
  • Email notifications on new messages
  • Complete conversation history preserved

📎 Document Attachments

Receipts, invoices, contracts, screenshots -- submitters attach everything the approver needs to make a decision. Files sync to your local machine so nothing lives in the cloud permanently.

  • Multiple file uploads per request
  • Preview and download from the detail view
  • Stored locally after sync for data sovereignty
  • Cloud copies auto-purge after 30 days

📈 One-Click Transaction Conversion

When a request is approved and paid, convert it to a proper double-entry journal entry with one click. Select debit and credit accounts, add a memo, and the transaction is recorded with full audit trail and balances updated automatically.

  • Debit and credit account selection
  • Automatic balance updates
  • Full double-entry bookkeeping compliance
  • Request linked to resulting transaction

⚡ Batch Processing

Process multiple requests at once. Select all pending requests that meet your criteria and approve or reject them in bulk. Ideal for organizations that process dozens of requests weekly.

  • Select-all checkbox for batch operations
  • Bulk approve or reject with one click
  • Filter first, then batch -- precise control
  • Activity log records every batch action

📧 Automatic Email Notifications

Keep everyone informed without manual follow-up. Portal users receive branded email notifications when their request status changes, when more information is needed, or when payment is complete.

  • Invite emails with one-click account setup
  • Status change alerts (approved, rejected, paid)
  • Approver alerts when new requests arrive
  • Professional branded email templates

🔗 Programmable Quick-Action Buttons

Add custom shortcut buttons directly on your PayFlow dashboard that open external tools in one click. Open your bank's payment portal, launch your payroll system, jump to a vendor's billing page, or link to your expense policy. No more hunting through bookmarks or switching tabs mid-workflow.

  • One-click access to your bank's online payment portal
  • Direct links to payroll, vendor sites, or internal tools
  • Customizable labels and icons for each button
  • Stays visible on the dashboard for instant access

📈 Dashboard Integration

PayFlow stats appear directly on your main accounting dashboard -- pending requests, awaiting approval, ready to pay, and items needing attention. Click any stat to jump straight into the PayFlow queue. You never miss a request because it is always visible from the moment you open the app.

  • Live summary widget on the main Business Dashboard
  • Clickable stats jump directly to PayFlow
  • Auto-generated request numbers (PF-00001, PF-00002...)
  • Complete activity log on every request action

Built for Real Organizations, Real Problems

Nonprofits & Volunteer Organizations

The Cub Scout Pack Treasurer

Parents and volunteers constantly email reimbursement requests with receipts attached -- camping supplies, badge materials, event expenses. The treasurer spends hours each month sorting through email threads, matching receipts to requests, and tracking who has been paid.

❌ Without PayFlow

  • Receipts scattered across 20+ email threads
  • No visibility into what has been approved vs. pending
  • Manual spreadsheet tracking prone to errors
  • Parents asking "Did you get my receipt?"

✅ With PayFlow

  • Parents submit through the portal with receipt attached
  • Treasurer sees organized queue with status filters
  • One-click approve, then convert to transaction
  • Parents check their own request status anytime
Construction & Contracting

The General Contractor with Multiple Project Managers

Three project managers run different job sites, each with subcontractors and material purchases. Payment requests need approval from both the PM and the company owner before the accountant processes them. With dozens of requests per week, things fall through the cracks constantly.

❌ Without PayFlow

  • PMs text, email, and call about payments
  • No clear approval chain -- owner misses requests
  • Accountant processes unapproved payments by mistake
  • No audit trail when disputes arise

✅ With PayFlow

  • PM submits request through portal with invoice attached
  • Multi-step chain: PM approval, then owner approval
  • Accountant only sees fully approved requests in queue
  • Every action logged with timestamps and names
Professional Services & Agencies

The Marketing Agency with Freelancer Invoices

A growing agency works with 15+ freelancers who submit invoices on different schedules. The operations manager needs to verify hours, the creative director needs to confirm deliverables, and the CFO needs to authorize anything over $2,000.

❌ Without PayFlow

  • Freelancer invoices arrive in different formats via email
  • Three people need to see each invoice -- forwarding chains
  • Large invoices slip through without CFO review
  • No centralized record of what was approved and when

✅ With PayFlow

  • Freelancers submit invoices through the portal
  • Approval chain: Ops Manager, Creative Director, then CFO
  • High-value requests flagged as urgent automatically
  • Complete audit trail satisfies tax and compliance needs
Global Enterprise

The International Organization with Offices on Three Continents

A company with operations in the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore processes hundreds of payment requests per month across departments -- procurement, HR, facilities, marketing, and field operations. Regional directors authorize spending within their territory, but anything above a threshold requires executive sign-off from headquarters. The finance team needs a single system of record across all locations, currencies, and time zones.

❌ Without PayFlow

  • Each country uses a different email chain or spreadsheet
  • Finance team spends days consolidating requests from 4 regions
  • No visibility into total global spend until month-end close
  • Unauthorized payments slip through due to inconsistent processes
  • Audit preparation requires assembling paper trails across time zones

✅ With PayFlow

  • Every office worldwide submits through the same portal
  • Multi-level approval chains: Regional Director, then VP, then CFO
  • Real-time dashboard shows global spend by region and category
  • Batch processing handles end-of-month volume across all locations
  • Complete audit trail satisfies compliance requirements in every jurisdiction
Property Management

The Property Manager Handling Maintenance Requests

Maintenance staff, tenants, and repair vendors all need to submit expense and reimbursement requests tied to specific properties. The property manager approves, the accounting firm records the transactions, and the building owner needs visibility into total spend.

❌ Without PayFlow

  • Vendors email invoices to three different people
  • No way to track which property the expense belongs to
  • Owner asks for a breakdown and it takes hours to compile
  • Maintenance staff lose receipts between job site and office

✅ With PayFlow

  • Vendors and staff submit with photos of receipts on-site
  • Requests categorized by property and expense type
  • Owner-level visibility through category charts
  • Every receipt preserved digitally, linked to the transaction

How Kantivo PayFlow Compares

Other tools charge per user, per month, as a separate subscription. Kantivo PayFlow is included with Pro plans and above at no additional cost.

Capability Bill.com (BILL) Expensify QuickBooks Online Kantivo PayFlow
Payment request submission ✓ Included
Multi-level approval chains Limited Advanced tier only ✓ Included
Cloud portal for submitters ✓ Included
Document attachments Basic ✓ Included
Message thread per request ✓ Included
Convert to journal entry Export required Partial ✓ One-click
Batch processing ✓ Included
Full audit trail Limited Limited ✓ Included
Email notifications Basic ✓ Included
Built into accounting software ✗ Separate product ✗ Separate product $235/mo tier only ✓ Built-in
Price $45-79/user/month $5-18/user/month $235/mo (Advanced tier) Included (Pro+)

A business with 10 users on Bill.com spends $450-790/month just for payment request and approval workflows.

With Kantivo Pro, that same capability is included at no extra cost.

More Built-In Capabilities

PayFlow is deeply integrated into the Kantivo accounting experience. These features work together seamlessly.

🔗 Custom Quick Links

Add shortcut buttons to your PayFlow dashboard for common actions -- open your bank portal, launch your payroll system, or jump to a vendor's website. Customize your workflow to match how you actually work.

📊 Category Spend Charts

Visualize where the money is going with automatic spend-by-category bar charts. See at a glance which categories are consuming the most budget and spot trends before they become problems.

🔒 Desktop-First Security

Your financial data never lives in the cloud permanently. The cloud portal is a temporary relay -- requests sync to your local machine and cloud copies are automatically purged after 30 days. Your data, your hardware, your control.

🛠 Portal User Management

Invite submitters by email, manage their access, activate or deactivate accounts at any time. Each portal user can only see their own requests, keeping information compartmentalized and secure.

Stop Paying Extra for Payment Approvals

Kantivo PayFlow is included with Pro plans and above. Start your free 30-day trial and see how much time and money you save by bringing payment workflows inside your accounting software.

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