You do not need a GST number to be paid online as a counsellor. You may need one later, depending on your turnover, and that is covered in the GST and income tax guide. This article is about the practical question first: how do you collect a session fee online when you have no GST registration and no company?
There are three routes that suit a practice, one for each stage. Fees and terms change, so check the provider's own page before you sign up. First, a note on one route to avoid.
Why a personal UPI ID is a poor fit
Asking clients to pay your personal UPI ID or QR code looks like the simplest start, but we do not recommend it. It mixes practice money with personal money, and every payment is matched to a booking by hand.
There is no receipt, and you cannot easily hold a slot until the money arrives. Banks and UPI apps also set limits on how much one personal account can receive, and a large number of payments from different people can draw questions. Use one of the routes below instead.
Option 1: Razorpay
Razorpay is a payment gateway many Indian businesses use. It has a page for freelancers at razorpay.com/freelancer, and on that page, seen on 20 October 2026, it lists accounts for freelancers without a GST number. It also lists a fee of 2% per payment plus GST, with no setup fee.
That 2% plus GST is paid by you on each payment. On a Rs 1,500 session, the fee is around Rs 30 plus the GST on that fee. You would also need a way to put a payment link in front of clients, and to match the payment to a booking. Eligibility, documents and fees can change, and Razorpay decides whether to approve an account, so read the current terms before you plan around it.
Option 2: Instamojo and similar payment link tools
Instamojo and other tools let you create a payment link or a simple page and share it with a client. They suit someone who wants a link without building anything.
We have not verified Instamojo's current fee or its requirements for sellers without GST. Check its pricing page and its sign up requirements yourself. Compare the fee per payment, any monthly charge, how long money takes to reach your bank and whether refunds are free.
Option 3: A booking page that takes payment at booking
The third route joins booking and payment. The client chooses a time, pays, and gets a confirmation. If they abandon the payment, the slot goes back. You do not match screenshots and you do not send a payment link.
You still need to check what the platform charges, how it holds and pays out money, and whether it keeps a record you can use for your accounts. Ask what happens on a refund or cancellation, because that is where tools differ most.
How to choose
With a handful of clients a month, a payment link from a freelancer account can be enough. With a weekly caseload, the time you spend matching payments is worth more than a gateway fee. If you want clients to book at any hour without a message from you, you need payment at booking.
Keep records of every payment from the start, whichever you choose. You will need them for income tax, and for GST if you cross the limit.
Where Leshya fits
On Leshya, a client pays when they book, and Leshya collects the fee. You request a withdrawal from your earnings and it is sent to your saved UPI ID. You set your own rate.
The commission and plan details are on the counsellor page.
Common questions
Yes. Some gateway freelancer accounts and booking platforms that collect payment do not need your own GST number. Check each provider's current terms.
