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Payment options

by Tracy411
12 replies
Hi Guys,

I was wondering how you guys who do offline marketing get payments from your clients. I have reservations about routing all my payments through PayPal (they just seem too fickle and whimsical about putting accounts on hold). I was thinking of having clients do a direct transfer into my bank account. This may be a green question, but how would I set that up? Is there a way to set up recurring payments through this method? Also, anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Tracy
#options #payment
  • Profile picture of the author Karen
    Hi Tracy,

    For one-time payments, Square would be handy. It has a little credit card reader you can plug in to an iPhone or Android phone. (I think their url is squareup.com)

    There is a new payment service called wepay that is supposed to be able to setup recurring payments. I haven't figured out exactly how, yet, but the person who told me about it said that the way it works is when your customer's first payment is processed, they can authorize recurring payments.

    Oh, another possibility would be Dwolla. The customer would have to sign up for an account there, and then the payments go direct from their bank to yours.

    Hope these help,
    Karen
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  • Profile picture of the author Kunle Olomofe
    Tracy,

    I get paid by check but if you absolutely must do long distance electronic charges I'd suggest Google checkout see: https://checkout.google.com/support/...n&answer=63440

    Google Checkout's recurring payment feature is still in beta but you can as well set up to manually send email invoices using GC when it comes time to have them pay again, you can automate the set up using any number email automation features available through various providers.

    Cheers,

    Kunle
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    • Profile picture of the author DebbieB
      Honestly, I must be very old fashioned.

      I get paid by check. It just works the best for me.

      Business doesn't need to be complicated. Really.

      Debbie
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      • Profile picture of the author Tracy411
        Originally Posted by DebbieB View Post

        Honestly, I must be very old fashioned.

        I get paid by check. It just works the best for me.

        Business doesn't need to be complicated. Really.

        Debbie

        LOL Debbie

        Nothing wrong with being 'old-fashioned.' As you say, if it works, don't complicate things. It's all a matter of what works for each circumstance. I plan on having clients that I don't collect payments from in person and don't really want to have to wait for checks to come in the mail all the time, or for me to have to go pick them up. Who knows, at least in some cases, I may do what you call 'old-fashioned.'

        Tracy
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  • Profile picture of the author guyd
    I ping them an invoice with my bank details on - goes straight to the business account then for easy reference plus it isnt really that hard for anyone anymore to do a bacs transfer
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    • Profile picture of the author Centurian
      There are better ways to take payments other than PayPal. Offering your client a variety of ways to pay can increase customer satisfaction as well as present a more professional image.

      Also, offering credit card payments or in-house financing options can increase sales and higher profits by leveraging customer or vendor credit lines.

      Monthly billing for services can be done on recurring or simply auto billing services. For regular clients, they can specify how they will pay each month upfront. When service is rendered you can then bill them and then draft payment by predetermined method.

      This is preferred to make it convenient for the client and increase prompt payments for services. Then you don't have to wait for them to take the action to pay you. You can also sell a packaged service financed over six months, predetermine date and payment amounts, and have payments automatically deposited in your bank.

      Another method is to send bill with a link to a payment page. I use this to take payment amounts that vary or for quick payments. Simply email your bill with amount due with a payment link. They can click through to make payment on a payment page or virtual terminal. Here's one example of a payment page: NewCenturyMarkets.com - Payment Page

      You can take credit card payments by phone, fax, email, shopping cart, mobile phone, and a variety of other options. Checks can be taken by all the same methods and direct deposited to your bank account. Also, offering flexible financing as another payment option taps 150 million potential customers who would buy but need other terms.

      If you want to discuss how to set-up any of these options, PM me.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kunle Olomofe
        Originally Posted by Centurian View Post

        Simply email your bill with amount due with a payment link. They can click through to make payment on a payment page or virtual terminal. Here's one example of a payment page: NewCenturyMarkets.com - Payment Page
        Centurian, that's a very helpful post and I really like your payment page and the personal approach concept you use. Does it convert well?

        I'm going to consider using this as well for some of my offline projects where online payments are more convenient for my prospects/customers such as recurring billing of smaller amounts than $100.

        Cheers,

        Kunle
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        • Profile picture of the author Tracy411
          Originally Posted by Kunle Olomofe View Post

          Centurian, that's a very helpful post and I really like your payment page and the personal approach concept you use. Does it convert well?

          I'm going to consider using this as well for some of my offline projects where online payments are more convenient for my prospects/customers such as recurring billing of smaller amounts than $100.

          Cheers,

          Kunle
          I agree completely with you here. I like the personal feel to the payment page.

          Tracy
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        • Profile picture of the author ClarkKent
          Originally Posted by Kunle Olomofe View Post

          Centurian, that's a very helpful post and I really like your payment page and the personal approach concept you use. Does it convert well?

          I'm going to consider using this as well for some of my offline projects where online payments are more convenient for my prospects/customers such as recurring billing of smaller amounts than $100.

          Cheers,

          Kunle
          I'm gonna take a look at sending out some Google Checkout Invoices.
          Seems to be a fair rate for customers who want to pay by credit.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tracy411
        Originally Posted by Centurian View Post

        There are better ways to take payments other than PayPal. Offering your client a variety of ways to pay can increase customer satisfaction as well as present a more professional image.

        Also, offering credit card payments or in-house financing options can increase sales and higher profits by leveraging customer or vendor credit lines.

        Monthly billing for services can be done on recurring or simply auto billing services. For regular clients, they can specify how they will pay each month upfront. When service is rendered you can then bill them and then draft payment by predetermined method.

        This is preferred to make it convenient for the client and increase prompt payments for services. Then you don't have to wait for them to take the action to pay you. You can also sell a packaged service financed over six months, predetermine date and payment amounts, and have payments automatically deposited in your bank.

        Another method is to send bill with a link to a payment page. I use this to take payment amounts that vary or for quick payments. Simply email your bill with amount due with a payment link. They can click through to make payment on a payment page or virtual terminal. Here's one example of a payment page: NewCenturyMarkets.com - Payment Page

        You can take credit card payments by phone, fax, email, shopping cart, mobile phone, and a variety of other options. Checks can be taken by all the same methods and direct deposited to your bank account. Also, offering flexible financing as another payment option taps 150 million potential customers who would buy but need other terms.

        If you want to discuss how to set-up any of these options, PM me.
        Wow, Centurian! That's some really helpful information. Thanks I may very well PM you when I go to set up my payments.

        Also, I really liked your payment page. As Kunle indicated, I too like the personal touch. Relationships are what it is all about, as I see it.

        So for the payment page you showed as the example, this is just for one-time bills, correct? Can you set up recurring payments through it, or do you always need to invoice the client each time?

        As I see it, I would ideally be looking to accept credit cards and check payments (both one-time and recurring), and have the payments deposited directly into my bank account (preferably not via PayPal or any processor that can suspend/withhold money as PayPal has done). I have not had trouble with PP, but I know people who work in offline and have had to deal with detailed audits and having money held, accounts suspended simply because they regularly receive large payments into their accounts. What's the most efficient way to do what I have described, as you see it?

        If you couldn't guess, I've not had to deal with this before, so I am in new territory and appreciate advice from people who have some experience.

        Thanks

        Tracy
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        • Profile picture of the author Kunle Olomofe
          Originally Posted by Tracy411 View Post

          As I see it, I would ideally be looking to accept credit cards and check payments (both one-time and recurring), and have the payments deposited directly into my bank account (preferably not via PayPal or any processor that can suspend/withhold money as PayPal has done).
          Tracy
          I know what you mean, I have had Paypal freeze money on me on more than one occassion, so I stay away from them as much as I can or only use the if I wont be taking in much money and have no choice but to use PP.

          I havent used the following site but have known of them for over 10 years and have never heard anything negative so far and have also paid for others services using them, they are called 2checkout.com , free to sign up and very professional I am seriously considering using them with Goggle checkout and one other local credit card processor. Check them out, they do automated recurring billing but not sure about recurring check billing.

          Cheers

          Kunle
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  • Profile picture of the author Danielm
    I send an invoice via email from freshbooks. I always tell them about recurring payments, accepting credit cards, etc. Then weeks later a check shows up in the mail. Kind of a hassle really as my bank isn't very close and I have to them mail the checks to the bank for deposit.
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