You're ready to sell services or products over the internet, but how will you collect your money?
If you're using the right services, getting paid online is easy. Trust us—you don't have to jump through hoops and write complicated code to accept customer credit cards. Once you're up and running, you can sit back in your pajamas and watch the money come in. You can email invoices to clients around the world and fully expect to get paid.
You do need the infrastructure to make it happen, so consider one of these online payment methods to get set up:
1. Stripe: Let Customers Run their Credit Cards
If you’re new to the intricacies of online billing, the idea of one of your customers typing in credit card numbers so that you can receive payment seems complicated, almost impossible.
Stripe fills that void, charging only 2.9% and 30 cents per each charge. A visit to Stripe.com shows you just how easy it is to upload a form to your website or run a mobile app. In just a quick signup, you’re ready to accept credit cards. Look who’s legitimate all of a sudden!
2. Escrow.com: The Online Shield
If you’re a little on the wary side—either as a buyer or a seller of services—you should check out Escrow.com. This site allows you to put money in escrow so that it doesn’t change hands until you’re both satisfied with the work you’ve done.
If you're contracting freelancers, this helps you ensure you'll get the quality you want. It can be a tad pricey, however, so it’s generally best used for the big invoices.
3. Chargify: A Recurring Solution
If you provide a service on a month to month basis, then a service like Chargify can help you get paid. Your Netflix and gym memberships take funds from your account each month. Wouldn't you like to be on the other end? Chargify can help you do it!
It's easy to set up and you can get started quickly. Then, you can sit back and get paid. And as a bonus? Chargify was started by the founders of Grasshopper.
4. WaveApps: Easy Invoices
If you're a small business or freelance contractor, you know that making invoices and sending them as PDFs can be cumbersome. WaveApps' Invoicing feature can help you out -- and it's free. Simply set up your clients, create invoices, and send them out. WaveApps links to Stripe, so you can easily get paid by credit card.
WaveApps has tons of other services that can help small businesses. They offer payroll, accounting, and more.
5. Squarespace: A Website Plus Payments
If you don't already have a website and are planning on building one that accepts payments, Squarespace is a good option. The company provides an easy-to-use web-building service at affordable prices, plus a great ecommerce option.
Business owners and contractors can easily get paid for their products and services using a website built with Squarespace.
6. Shopify: An Instant Online Store
If you're interested in selling products rather than services, Shopify is an excellent option. Instead of building a website and adding a store, you can do it the other way around. With Shopify, you can build a store that functions as youe website. Not only that, Shopfiy's templates are beautiful and modern. You'll be proud to have your goods displayed on a Shopify site.
Shopify integrates with a ton of other payment services. If you use Stripe or PayPal, you'll be happy selling from Shopify.
7. PayPal: The Standard Bearer of Online Payments
Of course, no list about online payments would be complete without PayPal. It allows invoicing, buying, selling—everything you could possibly need to set up an online business and start moving money. The interface is easy enough to use for newbies, of course, but there’s always the “Help” section if you’re struggling with a customer credit card or need to send a customer a reminder to pay their invoice.
8. Amazon Payments: The Internet Retailer's Option
Amazon is, of course, one of the premier names in Internet business. Heck, it might be the name. Amazon not only sells everything under the sun, but has its fingers in the online payment pie as well. Their system is a little pricey, but the cost is justified if you have a lot of customers used to paying through Amazon checkouts.
Can I use PayPal on Amazon?
Amazon does not officially accept PayPal, and it doesn't accept Google Checkout or some other payment methods either. Amazon has a page detailing what they do accept.
9. Google Checkout: Everyone has Gmail
Speaking of checkouts: who doesn’t trust Google? Setting up a Google Checkout form on your website instantly communicates professionalism and trust-ability. A potential problem: it doesn’t even link to your bank account, which is a definite no-no if you’re trying to run a legitimate business that requires trips to the bank. Google will be releasing a new version this November, which could be way better than the current model. Stay tuned!
If you’re interested in finding out more about the advantages and disadvantages of some of today’s most popular online payment methods, be sure to check out Grasshopper’s very own Google vs. PayPal vs. Amazon showdown.
If you have an online business or sell your services over the internet, then you'll need payment solutions. You might not be able to sit by the pool while the money roles in, but you'll be one step closer to living the dream.
