For businesses, getting a good foreign exchange rate can make a huge difference in your bottom line.

But how do you get the best exchange rate?

The issue is that there’s no one set global FX rate. Prices change all the time, and different suppliers have different rates. Even small variations can have a big difference in how much money you keep in your pocket or receive.

Here’s how we recommend you go about getting the best FX rate.

Foreign exchange provider research is key

It might take some time, but it all starts with shopping around to find which provider has the best exchange rate. But be careful when looking into foreign exchange services, or what the banks are offering, as these suppliers won’t typically offer the real exchange rate. The rate you see has an added mark-up on the real exchange rate to make the transaction more profitable for them, so they can keep more of your money in their coffers.

Do your due diligence

Forewarned is forearmed, and doing your own research means you know what to expect as an acceptable foreign exchange rate. This doesn’t have to take up much time, either.

Before you start looking around at different foreign exchange options, do a quick internet search to find the current mid-market exchange rate. This is a pretty good indication of what the banks are charging each other, which you can then compare against any offered FX rate and see if you’re getting a fair deal.

Don’t get confused

Smaller businesses and first-time users may get confused by the different rates available when you’re looking to exchange currency.

There are different terms for different exchange rates—such as the spot rate, money rate, or forex rate—and a particular rate on one of these doesn’t necessarily translate into the exchange rate you’re receiving.

The rate to pay attention to is the interbank exchange rate. Also known as the mid-market rate, this is the globally accepted exchange rate, at that moment, which is used by banks when they exchange currency.

Look at the total cost

The exchange rate is just one piece of the puzzle when trying to find the best FX rate.

While the supplier may advertise low rates, other fees can come into it which make their seemingly competitive exchange rate cost you more in the long run. Things like commissions, foreign exchange fees, and card fees may not be advertised as part of the total cost.

Some things to be aware of are:

Commission prices. Be sure to ask around to see what commissions are being charged

Zero fees or commissions. This usually means they’ve marked up the real exchange rate considerably to make up for it

Beware the banks

We said this before, but it’s such an important point that it deserves its own section, just to reiterate.

Banks will usually have the highest foreign exchange rates when compared to other providers. This is because banks are, typically, trustworthy. People use them because they’re a known and respected institution, and we’re likely to just wear higher exchange rates as part of their service.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. For example, check out the difference in foreign exchange rates between Airwallex and the Big 4 banks.

Order online

For some businesses, instead of going through the process of exchanging foreign currency, you can simply order online. Ordering online allows you more chance to purchase and pay via card, or in your suppliers’ currency. This allows you to reduce any extra fees, leaving you only out of pocket for the foreign exchange fee charged by your card’s supplier.

Pay in the local currency

Better than paying online, simply pay your supplier in their local currency. This way you avoid the need to exchange currency and avoid any foreign exchange fees. For example, an Airwallex Global Account allows you to send, receive, and hold money in specific currencies, with no exchange necessary—avoiding the banks altogether.

And finally, lock in rates when they’re favourable

While FX rates change minute by minute, some suppliers allow you to lock in FX rates when they’re favourable.

About Airwallex

Airwallex was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2015 with a simple goal - to push the boundaries of global financial services capabilities in an increasingly borderless world. Airwallex has since secured over $360 million USD in external funding, supported by top-tier investors including Tencent, Sequoia Capital China, DST Global, Hillhouse Capital, Horizons Ventures, ANZi Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Gobi Partners and Salesforce Ventures. The company’s core strength lies in its proprietary tech-driven infrastructure to enable low-cost, high-speed and transparent international collections and payments (accessible via API), its business account and borderless card which helps businesses grow both domestically and internationally. Airwallex has grown to over 420 employees across 10 international offices (Melbourne, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Singapore, London, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Bangalore).

www.airwallex.com