In today’s digital-first world, the shift away from paper is no longer an isolated trend. From federal agencies to local utilities, organizations are embracing digital solutions to streamline operations, cut costs, and meet evolving customer expectations.

One of the most impactful changes? The growing popularity of paperless billing.

Paperless Billing Definition

Paperless billing is the process of delivering bills and invoices digitally — typically via email, text, or a secure online portal — instead of through traditional mail. Once customers have opted into paperless billing, they can view, manage, and pay their bills online, often with added features like AutoPay, payment reminders, and mobile access.

What are Paperless Statements?

Just as paperless bills are digital invoices for specific goods or services, paperless statements are digital summaries of account activity over a specific period of time. Delivering these account updates digitally is a quick, cost-effective way to keep customers in-the-know about their finances.

Are There Other Types of Paperless Communications?

Payment reminders are a great example of another traditionally paper-based communication that can be improved through digitally delivery. Billing organizations can send several reminders about upcoming payments per billing cycle, which can take significant time and paper to accomplish.

If a payment is late, that’s an entirely different type of communication. Late payment notices can be delivered digitally too, and are often more effective at collecting the delinquent payment.

Benefits of Paperless Billing

Paperless billing is more than just a convenience — it’s a strategic move with far-reaching benefits. Here are just a few ways billers (and their customers!) can benefit from shifting to paperless billing.

1. Cut Costs

Printing and mailing paper bills costs, at minimum, about $1 an invoice. In some areas, bills can cost between $6 and $9 each.

With rising paper and postage prices, these costs are only increasing. For example, an organization with 750,000 customers could face an additional $450,000 per year from a mere $0.05 increase per bill.

Making the switch to paperless billing has saved real billing organizations thousands of dollars a year.

American Farmers & Ranchers Insurance has saved $95k in print and mail expenses after a 10x increase in paperless billing enrollment.

2. Save Time

Manual billing processes — printing, stuffing, mailing, and processing checks — consume valuable staff hours. Going paperless frees up time for customer service teams to focus on higher-value work.

Sacramento Suburban Water District in California has saved 32 hours per month in manual payment processing by making a push among their customer base to opt into paperless billing.

3. Prevent Delinquent Payments

Mail delays can lead to late payments, customer confusion, and service disruptions. Even something as simple as misplacing a paper bill at home can lead to accidentally delinquent payments. Paperless billing ensures real-time delivery and faster payments.

The Town of Elizabeth in Colorado saw a 20% decrease in late payments after a 150% increase in paperless billing enrollment among its residents.

4. Enhance Security

Paper checks are vulnerable to theft and fraud. In 2023 alone, mail theft-related check fraud accounted for over $688 million in suspicious activity. Digital billing reduces these risks with encrypted, secure communications and transactions.

5. Conserve Resources

Paperless billing isn’t just good for business — it’s good for the planet. Between April 2024 and April 2025, InvoiceCloud customers saved:

• 22,653 trees
• 66 million gallons of water
• 3.5 million pounds of CO₂

Over nine years, they’ve collectively saved $60.7 million and 73,567 trees.

6. Meet Customer Expectations

Today’s consumers expect digital convenience. Only 4% of Americans prefer writing checks, while nearly 30% are enrolled in paperless billing for at least half of their bills.

In fact, research shows that many customers even prefer to be automatically enrolled by their biller.

How Much Can You Save with Paperless Billing?

To see how much your organization could potentially save by making the switch to paperless billing? Use our Paperless Savings Calculator to get a free estimate.