Sequence integrates GoCardless for Direct Debit billing
Sequence now supports GoCardless as a native payment method, bringing bank-to-bank Direct Debit collection to the UK, Europe, and the US. You can enable it on one-time invoices or billing schedules. Customers authorize a mandate through the Sequence customer portal, and invoice payment status updates in Sequence automatically when a payment completes.
Why Direct Debit for B2B
Customer cards can expire. When they do on a B2B contract, someone has to chase the update before the next invoice can go out and in some cases they don't even realize. At any meaningful contract volume, that becomes a regular task. Direct Debit sidesteps it - the mandate ties to a bank account, not a card, so there's nothing to renew.
The cost difference is also a value-add. Card processing fees are percentage-based, so on large B2B invoices they add up fast. Direct Debit fees are fixed per transaction regardless of the invoice amount.
How it works in Sequence
Go to Integrations, connect your GoCardless account, then enable GoCardless on any invoice or billing schedule. On billing schedules, Sequence needs a customer selected and a product added before it can check eligibility - once both are set, the toggle becomes available. When you start the schedule, draft invoices inherit GoCardless as a payment method automatically.
Customers pay through the Sequence customer portal. When they click Pay invoice, they're taken through the GoCardless hosted flow to authorize the payment - a UK Direct Debit, US ACH debit, or whichever scheme applies. Sequence prefills their details where supported to reduce manual entry. Once done, they're returned to the portal and the invoice status updates in Sequence.
After the first payment, the customer's mandate appears on their page in Sequence. You can view its status and cancel it from there if needed. If you already have customers in GoCardless, you can link them to Sequence customers so existing mandates carry over without asking them to authorize again.
Coverage
GoCardless covers Direct Debit in 30+ countries: UK (Bacs), Eurozone (SEPA), US (ACH Pull), Australia and New Zealand (BECS), Canada (PAD), Sweden (Autogiro), and Denmark (Betalingsservice). Sequence checks country and currency eligibility automatically - if GoCardless isn't available for a given customer or currency, the toggle is disabled and explains why.
Getting started
GoCardless is available in Sequence now and existing customers have already enabling the integration in their Sequence workspace. If you're not on Sequence yet, book a demo.
FAQ
Does GoCardless work with usage-based billing?
Yes. GoCardless supports variable payment amounts, so it works for contracts where the invoice value changes each month. The mandate authorizes collection up to a maximum amount, and each variable draw is notified to the customer before it goes out. Sequence computes the invoice from actual usage and GoCardless collects it.
Why is the GoCardless toggle disabled?
GoCardless is only available when the customer's country and the invoice currency are both supported. On billing schedules, you also need to select a customer and add a product first so Sequence can check eligibility.
Why is the invoice currency locked after I enable GoCardless?
Once GoCardless is enabled on an invoice, Sequence locks the currency so it can't be changed to one GoCardless doesn't support.
Where do customers pay?
Customers pay in the Sequence customer portal. Pay invoice opens the GoCardless hosted flow, then returns them to the portal once done.
How do mandates work?
After a customer pays, their mandate appears on the customer page in Sequence with a status: Active (ready for future payments), Pending (still being set up, common in some ACH flows), or Consumed (used for a one-off instant payment). You can cancel an active mandate from the customer page.
Can I link existing GoCardless customers?
Yes. From the customers table, open the menu for a customer and choose Link to GoCardless. This connects the Sequence customer to an existing GoCardless customer and brings across any existing mandates, so you can keep collecting without asking them to authorize again.
Which countries and currencies are supported?
GoCardless covers 30+ countries including the UK (Bacs), Eurozone (SEPA), US (ACH Pull), Australia and New Zealand (BECS), Canada (PAD), Sweden (Autogiro), and Denmark (Betalingsservice). Sequence checks eligibility automatically when you enable it.
