Alibaba.com taps Balance for flexible B2B ‘Pay Later’ for US SMEs

By Vriti Gothi

Alibaba.com has partnered with Balance to offer flexible payment options to SMEs in the United States.

The collaboration aims to help businesses manage cash flow and access instant credit at checkout. Under the new arrangement, Alibaba.com’s US business customers can now select Balance’s ‘Pay Later for Business’ solution when placing orders. The embedded financing option provides eligible buyers with instant credit approval, allowing them to finance purchases and manage cash flow more effectively.

The initiative responds to the longstanding challenge many SMEs face in securing timely access to working capital. By embedding Balance’s technology directly into the Alibaba.com checkout process, business customers can spread payments and manage large orders without being restricted by immediate budget constraints.

Balance’s B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution uses AI-based risk assessment to offer real-time credit decisions and high approval rates. The technology is specifically designed to serve businesses that may struggle to access traditional credit facilities, especially during periods of economic uncertainty and trade pressures such as tariffs.

Yiran Li, Head of Customer Retention Strategy at Alibaba.com US, said, “Flexible B2B payments are essential for business customers who want to grow. By embedding Balance directly into our checkout, we’re making it easy for customers to buy on their terms, without being limited by cash flow constraints.”

Bar Geron, CEO and Co-founder of Balance, said, “In tight economic conditions, and especially with the added strain of tariffs, access to financing can make the difference between surviving and thriving. We’re proud to partner with Alibaba.com and power a solution that helps its US users grow their businesses with confidence.”

The launch follows Balance’s recent collaboration with Instacart Business, where it provides embedded invoicing and net terms to streamline B2B payments. The Alibaba.com partnership is the latest step in Balance’s strategy to expand its network of enterprise clients and marketplaces, offering digital tools that help sellers boost conversion rates, increase average order value and build long-term customer relationships, all while removing the operational complexity and risk of managing credit in-house.