Roqqett Blog

If you want to accept payments on your website, the first step is to decide which payment methods you’ll offer. This decision is entirely up to you, but it’s generally a good idea to accept a variety of payment methods. This will help you reach more customers and improve their buying experience. People are much more likely to complete a purchase if they can pay with their preferred method.

Key Takeaways

• Accepting credit and debit cards is the most basic way to facilitate online payments.
• Adding a payment gateway to your website is crucial for processing transactions securely.
• Using eChecks can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional card payments.
• Integrating digital wallet payments can provide a convenient option for your customers.
• Sending click-to-pay email invoices can streamline the payment process for your clients.

1. Accept Credit and Debit Cards

Forbes Advisor published a survey showing that only 9% of Americans use cash as their predominant payment method. What they are using? Debit and credit cards – with 54% of consumers using a debit card, and 36% using a credit card (physical or virtual).

Accepting credit card payments is simple to do and vital for growing your business. Before you start accepting credit cards online, however, you’ll need a merchant account. Also known as credit card processing, a merchant account is a type of bank account which enables your store to accept online payments.

You can easily facilitate accepting card payments through established payment providers such as PayPal or Stripe. These will accept the most-used credit cards worldwide — Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Remember, in order to accept credit and debit card payments, you’ll need to set up a merchant account via your chosen bank – but that’s really easy to do. In fact, most of the methods mentioned above are quite seamless to implement.

2. Add a Payment Gateway to Your Website

A payment gateway connects your website to a checkout system. It links your website to the likes of Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, either embedding a checkout to your website or redirecting your customers to the payment gateway’s own website to complete the purchase.

Setup a Secured Gateway

A secure payment gateway encrypts credit card payments so customers can feel secure using your site to make purchases.

Add a Merchant Account

A merchant account is necessary to process online payments. There are a variety of online payment processing tools that come with both a secure payment gateway and help you set up a merchant account to process online payments.

Setting up a secure gateway is essential. You're also putting automated processes in place, which will save time on manual processing, especially as you scale your business and handle more transactions.

3. Use eChecks

Wondering how to accept payments online without dealing with cards or cash? Then check out eChecks. A type of EFT (electronic funds transfer), eChecks work just like a paper check, but online!

Much like their paper counterparts, eChecks will deposit money from the customer’s bank account to your business’ bank account, via an ACH (Automated Clearing House) software. All the customer needs to do is add some banking details into the online payment form, which is then processed by the ACH. Using eChecks allows your business to earn money and save trees – hooray!

Another way to accept online payments is through a direct debit of a bank account with an eCheck, or electronic check, through ACH payment options. This allows your customer to input the information from their paper check (routing and account number, name, amount, and authorization) into an online payment form or software interface. An ACH transaction processes the payment electronically—without the physical presence of a paper check.

4. Integrate Digital Wallet Payments

The data tells us that over 1.31 billion people worldwide are expected to be using mobile payment apps in 2023. Clearly, if you’re mapping out how to take payments online for your long term strategy, you probably need to start accepting mobile payments.

Digital wallets are becoming increasingly popular, with big names like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay being used by millions around the world. It's a convenient way for consumers to make quick payments on any internet-connected device without having to enter their personal or financial details. In today's ecommerce market, accepting digital wallets on your site is a must.

Benefits of Digital Wallets

• Quick payments online
• Built-in security features such as tokenization, encryption, and passwords
• Convenience of not entering personal or financial details

How to Implement Digital Wallets

One route is to use API integrations, but that can sound daunting if you’re a tech beginner. Luckily, the majority of ecommerce platforms – including Squarespace Ecommerce and BigCommerce – will provide your website with the ability to accept digital wallet payments within their most basic price plans.

Mobile wallets are the future of online payments. If your online store accepts mobile app payments, you can offer a seamless and secure payment experience to your customers.

5. Send Click-to-Pay Email Invoices

Sending click-to-pay email invoices is one of the most time-efficient ways for your business to accept payments online. For service-based businesses especially, you can send your customers an invoice by email and get paid in a few clicks. This method not only reduces your company’s use of paper but also streamlines your reporting and manages your data securely.

How to Send Click-to-Pay Email Invoices

1. Create your invoice using your preferred invoicing software.
2. Choose a delivery method (e.g., email) and send your invoice to your client.
3. Track your invoice, set up payment reminders (if needed), and get paid.

Benefits of Click-to-Pay Email Invoices

• Time-efficient: Reduces the time spent on manual invoicing.
• Environmentally friendly: Reduces paper usage.
• Secure: Manages your data securely.
• Streamlined reporting: Automatically marks invoices as paid when payment is received.

Email invoicing gives your customer the ability to pay their bills online and receive a receipt in seconds. This helps streamline your reporting and manage your data securely.

6. Install Recurring Billing Software

Recurring billing software – also called automated billing software – is ideal for subscription-based businesses because it allows your customers to pay automatically each time the payment is due, making your customers’ lives easier – and ensuring you get paid on time! Just think, happy customers means happy profits.

Most of the major payment processing software also includes recurring billing features. For example, Growth Marketing Pro built an SEO tool that charges subscribers on a monthly basis and they used Stripe to set this up.

Sites like Paysimple also offer a suite of tools to set up custom, automated recurring billing if you already have a payment processing system in place.

Using automation is essential. It removes most human error and the stress of keeping track of invoicing and payments.

7. Accept Cryptocurrencies

Accepting cryptocurrencies can have serious drawcards for your business. Crypto payments transcend geographical boundaries – allowing your business to reach customers all over the world, without having to work within the constraints of traditional banking systems.

Benefits of Accepting Cryptocurrencies

• Lower Fees: Bitcoin transactions do not require a processing fee (though crypto payment gateway merchants will charge a 1% fee).
• Enhanced Security: Benefit from crypto’s advanced cryptographic security features, which defend you against fraud and chargebacks.
• Global Reach: Accept payments from anywhere in the world without incurring currency exchange fees or bank handling fees.

How to Get Started

1. Choose a Crypto Payment Processor: Sites like Bitpay provide all the tools you need to accept crypto payments online, send invoices, request payments, and receive money on the go-through apps.
2. Integrate with Your Website: Ensure your ecommerce platform supports cryptocurrency payments.
3. Inform Your Customers: Make sure your customers know they can pay with cryptocurrencies by displaying this option prominently on your website.

If you're okay with handling cryptocurrencies, it's a way you can extend your reach to a broader online audience.

8. Take In-App and In-Game Payments

In-app purchases allow users to buy additional content, features, or functionality within a mobile app or game. This model is commonly used to offer premium versions, subscriptions, or access to exclusive content.

Integrating payments into your custom mobile app ensures a seamless end-to-end experience for your customers. If your app bumps them to another website or forces them to use a desktop to pay, it adds friction to their experience. It also makes it more difficult for your business to actually get paid.

Simple and Safe In-App Purchases

Learn about using in-app purchase and StoreKit framework to sell items within your apps, like premium content, virtual goods, and subscriptions.

Types of In-App Purchases

• One-time purchases
• Recurring subscriptions or donations
• Monthly memberships

Ensuring a smooth in-app payment process can significantly enhance user satisfaction and increase your revenue.

9. Accept Mobile Payments

Mobile payments are becoming increasingly popular as more consumers rely on their smartphones for everyday transactions. Integrating mobile payment options into your website can significantly enhance the user experience and streamline the checkout process.

Benefits of Mobile Payments

• Convenience: Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay make online payments super convenient for your customers. Their credit card information is entered automatically, so they don’t have to fumble with typing in all those numbers from a physical card.
• Speed: Transactions are faster, reducing the time customers spend at checkout.
• Security: Mobile payments often come with additional security features like biometric authentication, making them a secure option for both businesses and customers.

How to Implement Mobile Payments

1. Choose a Mobile Payment Provider: Select a provider that supports popular mobile wallets and ensures PCI compliance to keep your customer’s information safe.
2. Integrate with Your Website: Follow developer guidelines to build each mobile payment option into your site. This may involve adding specific code snippets or using plugins.
3. Test the Integration: Ensure that the mobile payment options work seamlessly across different devices and browsers.
4. Promote Mobile Payment Options: Let your customers know that they can now pay using their mobile wallets. This can be done through email newsletters, social media, and on your website.

Popular Mobile Payment Providers

By integrating mobile payments, you not only make it easier for your customers to pay but also enhance the overall efficiency of your business operations.

10. Use Payment Links

Payment links are secure, sharable URLs or QR codes that connect to personalized payment forms. They can be added to emails, texts, chats, or messenger apps. You can even embed them directly into quotes and invoices for faster payments. International payment platforms make it easy to send payment links for cross-border transactions.

Conclusion

Accepting payments on your website is a crucial step in expanding your business and reaching a wider audience. By offering a variety of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, digital wallets, eChecks, and even cryptocurrencies, you can cater to the diverse preferences of your customers. Remember to be transparent about any processing fees and ensure that your payment process is secure and user-friendly. With the right tools and strategies, you can make the payment experience seamless for your customers, ultimately boosting your conversion rates and growing your business. Start implementing these tips today and watch your online sales soar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a payment gateway and why do I need one?

A payment gateway is a service that authorizes and processes payments for online businesses. It acts as a bridge between your website and the financial institutions that process the transaction, ensuring secure and efficient payment processing.

Can I accept payments without a merchant account?

Yes, you can accept payments without a merchant account by using a third-party payment processor. These processors aggregate transactions from multiple merchants and handle the payment processing on your behalf.

What are eChecks and how do they work?

eChecks are electronic versions of traditional paper checks. They work by transferring funds directly from a customer's bank account to your business account through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network.

Is it safe to accept cryptocurrency payments?

Yes, accepting cryptocurrency payments can be safe if you use a reputable payment processor that follows security best practices. Cryptocurrencies offer secure, decentralized transactions, but it's important to stay updated on regulations and market volatility.

How can I set up recurring billing on my website?

To set up recurring billing, you'll need recurring billing software or a subscription management service. These tools allow you to automatically charge customers at regular intervals, making it easy to manage subscriptions and memberships.

What are the benefits of using digital wallet payments?

Digital wallet payments offer convenience and speed for customers, as they can complete transactions with just a few clicks. They also provide enhanced security through tokenization and encryption, reducing the risk of fraud.