> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://requestnetwork-update-banner.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payment Types Overview

> Understanding Invoice-first vs Payment-first workflows and direct payment types

## Overview

Request Network supports two primary payment workflows and multiple payment types to accommodate different business needs.

## Payment Workflows

### Invoice-first Workflow

Create a payment request first, then allow customers to pay at their convenience.

**Use Cases:** Professional invoicing, B2B payments, formal payment collection

### Payment-first Workflow

Send payments directly without creating a request first.

**Use Cases:** Vendor payments, contractor payouts, immediate transfers

## Direct Payment Types

**Direct Payments** include Native, ERC20, and Conversion payments - the foundational payment methods that other features build upon.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Native & ERC20" href="/api-features/standard-payments">
    Simple crypto-to-crypto payments
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conversion" href="/api-features/conversion-payments">
    Fiat-denominated, crypto-settled
  </Card>

  <Card title="Crosschain" href="/api-features/crosschain-payments">
    Multi-network payment routing
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Used In

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Invoicing" href="/use-cases/invoicing">
    Invoice-first workflow with payment requests
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payouts" href="/use-cases/payouts">
    Payment-first workflow for direct transfers
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Implementation Details

See [API Reference - Payment Types](/api-reference/payment-types) for complete technical documentation.