Are you tired of writing checks or making last-minute payments to your wine and spirits distributor? If you’re an Empire Merchants customer in New York, their online bill pay system might be just what you need. I’ve been using their payment platform for my business, and I want to share everything I’ve learned about making payments easier and more efficient.
What Is Empire Merchants Bill Pay?
Empire Merchants Bill Pay is an online payment system that allows customers to view and pay invoices electronically. This service is now fully integrated with Empire360, their comprehensive online platform where you can browse products, place orders, and manage your account.
As of October 2025, Empire Merchants has streamlined their payment process to make it more user-friendly for businesses across New York State The system allows customers to
- View outstanding invoices
- Pay multiple invoices at once
- Schedule future payments
- Apply credits to invoices
- Make on-account payments
- Manage multiple bank accounts
- Track payment history
How to Access Empire Merchants Bill Pay
There are two main ways to access the bill pay system
1. Through Empire360
If you’re already an Empire360 user, you’re in luck! Simply:
- Log in to your Empire360 account
- Click on “Payments, Invoices & Orders” in the top menu
- Select “View & Pay Invoices” or other payment options
2. For New Users
Not signed up yet? Here’s how to get started:
- Visit Empire360.com
- Click the “Log In/Sign Up” button
- Select “I am a Customer” and fill in your information
- Enter your liquor license (including all numbers and dashes)
- Enter your account number (same as your existing Empire account)
- Agree to the terms and privacy policy
- Check your email for confirmation and verify your address
Once registered, you’ll have immediate access to the bill pay features!
Key Features of Empire Merchants Bill Pay
Let’s dive into some of the most useful features that make this payment system worth using:
View & Pay Invoices
The primary function allows you to see all your outstanding invoices in one place You can select multiple invoices to pay at once, which saves time if you typically pay several invoices together.
Schedule Future Payments
Don’t want to pay right away? You can set up future payment dates for your invoices. This is perfect for managing cash flow and ensuring you never miss a payment deadline.
Apply Credits
If you have credits on your account, the system will automatically show which invoice they’re associated with. You can apply these credits to reduce the amount owed when making a payment.
Pay On Account
Need to make a prepayment? The system allows you to add funds to your account balance before invoices are even generated. This is helpful for maintaining a positive account balance.
Manage Bank Accounts
You can add multiple bank accounts to your profile and choose which one to use for each payment. The system remembers your preferred accounts, making future payments even faster.
Benefits of Using Empire Merchants Bill Pay
Why should you consider switching to online payments? Here are some compelling reasons:
- Saves Time: No more writing and mailing checks or visiting offices to make payments
- Better Organization: All your invoices and payment history in one place
- Reduced Errors: The system ensures payments are applied to the correct invoices
- Flexible Payment Options: Pay immediately or schedule for later
- 24/7 Access: Make payments whenever it’s convenient, even outside business hours
- Environmentally Friendly: Reduce paper usage with electronic invoicing and payments
Common Questions About Empire Merchants Bill Pay
“How can I make an on-account payment?”
All on-account pre-payments must now be made on Empire360. There’s a specific link for this under the “Payments, Invoices & Orders” menu labeled “Pay On Account.”
“Why did my payment come out of a different bank account?”
If you have multiple bank accounts saved, double-check which one is marked as the default before submitting a payment. You can manage your banking information under the billing section in the payments menu.
“Why did my bank not authorize my payment?”
Empire Merchants recently changed payment providers to Adyen. If your bank blocks the transaction, you’ll need to instruct your bank to add Adyen’s ACH company ID (8263863381) to your approved list of entities allowed to debit your account.
“Why did my invoice pay twice?”
This typically happens when you had previously scheduled payments in the old system while also making a payment in the new one. Be aware of any scheduled payments to avoid duplicates.
“How do I apply credits to my invoice?”
Credits associated with an invoice will automatically be selected when choosing that invoice for payment. If the original invoice has been paid, you can select the credit along with another invoice before clicking “Pay.”
“How do I see which invoice a credit is associated with?”
Simply click on a credit in the system, and it will show you which invoice it relates to.
“How do I schedule an invoice to be paid in the future?”
When paying invoices, the default is to pay immediately. You can change this on the “Pay” screen before submission to schedule your payment for a future date.
Important Contact Information
If you’re having trouble with Empire Merchants Bill Pay, don’t worry! Customer service is readily available:
For Empire Metro (NYC, Long Island, and Westchester):
- Phone: (800) 338-3880
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: 16 Bridgewater St, Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA
For Empire North:
- Phone: (800) 724-2960
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: 16 Houghtaling Road, West Coxsackie, NY 12192
Tips for Using Empire Merchants Bill Pay Effectively
After using this system for a while, I’ve discovered some helpful strategies:
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Set up email alerts: Make sure your account is configured to receive payment confirmation emails.
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Check your bank account settings: If you have multiple accounts, clearly label each one in the system to avoid confusion.
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Schedule recurring payments: If you typically pay on the same day each month, use the scheduling feature to automate this process.
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Reconcile regularly: Take time each month to match your payments in the system with your bank statements.
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Keep your contact info updated: Ensure Empire has your current email and phone number for payment notifications.
Recent Updates to the Bill Pay System
Empire Merchants has made several improvements to their bill pay system in recent months. The most significant change was fully integrating bill pay with the Empire360 platform, creating a seamless experience for customers.
If you previously used the old online payment system, you’ll be happy to know that your banking information should have automatically transferred to Empire360. This makes the transition much smoother!
Holiday Payment Planning
It’s worth noting that Empire Merchants observes various holidays throughout the year. According to their website, they’ll be closed on Monday, October 13th, 2025, for Columbus Day, reopening on Tuesday, October 14th. They also recently closed on Thursday, October 2nd for Yom Kippur.
When planning your payments around holidays, it’s always good practice to schedule them a few days early to ensure they’re processed before any closures.
My Personal Experience with Empire Merchants Bill Pay
I’ve been using Empire Merchants for my small wine shop in NYC for about three years now, and the transition to their integrated bill pay system has been mostly positive. There were a couple hiccups at first – I accidentally paid one invoice twice because I didn’t realize a payment was already scheduled in the old system!
But now that I’m familiar with it, I’m saving about 2-3 hours each month on payment processing. I especially like the ability to schedule payments in advance, which helps me manage my cash flow better.
The customer service team has been super helpful whenever I’ve had questions. Last month when I couldn’t figure out how to apply a credit to a different invoice, they walked me through the process in just a few minutes.
Comparing Empire Merchants Bill Pay to Other Distributors
If you work with multiple distributors, you might be wondering how Empire’s payment system compares. From my experience:
| Feature | Empire Merchants | Most Other Distributors |
|---|---|---|
| Online Invoice Viewing | Yes | Often limited |
| Multiple Payment Methods | Yes | Sometimes |
| Payment Scheduling | Yes | Rarely |
| Credit Application | Automated | Often manual |
| User Interface | Modern, integrated | Typically separate portals |
| Mobile Accessibility | Fully responsive | Limited functionality |
Final Thoughts on Empire Merchants Bill Pay
The Empire Merchants Bill Pay system has truly made managing my business finances easier. While there was a learning curve at first, the time savings and convenience have been worth it. The integration with their ordering system means I can handle everything in one place – from browsing new products to paying for them.
If you’re still writing checks or making phone payments to Empire Merchants, I strongly recommend giving their online bill pay system a try. The initial setup takes just a few minutes, and you’ll likely wonder why you didn’t switch sooner!
For those already using the system, explore some of the advanced features like scheduled payments and on-account prepayments – they might help you streamline your operations even further.
Have you tried Empire Merchants Bill Pay? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
Important Reminders
- Empire Merchants will be closed on Monday, October 13th, 2025 for Columbus Day
- If you have any payment issues, contact customer service at (800) 338-3880 for Metro or (800) 724-2960 for North
- Banking information from previous payment systems should be automatically available in Empire360
- Remember to whitelist the Adyen ACH company ID (8263863381) with your bank
Don’t wait until the last minute – set up your Empire Merchants Bill Pay today and enjoy more streamlined, efficient invoice management!
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Visit us on Empire360.com to browse products, place orders, check inventory, view invoices, place and release bill & store, and so much more!
Visit our pay online portal to view and pay invoices.
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