Payment Methods

Hey Fellas!

I have a few websites I'm waiting to get ranked so I figure that I'll stay busy and venture into the Offline Marketing world! I have my own methods planned out (well spun versions from the great members here) and I would consider myself a good salesman, but I'm wondering how do you guys set up recurring payments?

I have considered making a simple paypal website that i could access on my laptop but that could have its own issues. For instance, what if its a face-to-face meeting and they have wi-fi? I really don't want them to venture away from the meeting to pay, that has the potential to kill or slow the sale. However, this is not too much of a concern as I have a rooted phone (free wifi hotspot).

The website would be used as a tool at face to face meetings and could also be used as a page that I just forward them over an e-mail (in the instance that a face to face meeting is not an option or needed).

Not only that, but paypal doesn't look too professional. What would you guys suggest?

I'm just aiming for simplicity and convenience for the client!

I would also like to know how people get paid using offline. It seems a couple people get paid by cheque initialy but for recurring payments i dont know, maybe just send them a paypal invoice or something!

I got a tip from other threads in this forum to use freshbooks. It seems like its one of the top choices to use for recurring payments. They have quite a few options to receive payments from clients.

Also I've been reading about SQUARE, which is a small device you connect to your iphone so you can swipe and charge on credit cards when you make a deal in person. It was made by the same guy who created twitter. Though I don't know if it accepts recurring payments.

Just sign up with a credit card processor, or any of the mobile payment processors (people think this is really cool when they are able to slide their card with your phone).

For a processor (just for online payments like your OP suggests), I would recommend Flagship Merchant Services. And for mobile payments, I've used Intuit GoPayment, which does support recurring charges.

I'm registered with Square, though I've never used it. But I can check to see if they support recurring payments.

Alternatively, I provide processing for various types of companies.

I setup Freshbooks + paypal. Paypal may not look professional butif you use it with freshbooks it does + it's very convenient. Other then that check out volusion.

Thank you guys, I did a lil bit of research after I posted my question and I am really liking freshbooks. It is free (for up to 5 clients) and when you get more, its only like 20 or 30 a month. Thanks guys!

FYI - I scrapped Freshbooks once I discovered Zoho. Its less expensive and it integrates with their other programs, like CRM, etc.

Also, about Credit Card processors, be sure to not tell them you are a web design or SEO company. They usually decline these. Pick another one of your services and tell them you do that.

Good luck fella's!

Freshbooks is one alternative.....Or potentially Square if you are doing a lot of face to face sales since you can pull out your phone and process their credit card transaction in front of them and they'll receive a receipt with a geolocation of where they are and what they purchased.

If you really need to create something more simple than PayPal, you may need to create a custom page from a merchant account. Or, sign up for 2CO and use their page. Really there are a lot of alternatives, but most are expensive. For example you could use Chargify and tie that into Wuforms, which simplifies things and makes it "pretty" but you'll be paying for it.