Accepting credit cards immediately set him apart from his competitors. You appear more professional and better than that it will free up time that you are now going to customers in the billing - and worrying about whether you will ever get paid.
There are two basic ways to accept online payments: the traditional merchant accounts and services like PayPal.
A traditional merchant account is handled by your bank. You need a business checking account first (which is why we set one up in step 2). Then your bank set a checking account associated with that business. Typically costs from 200 to $ 300 to fix a system of traditional credit card for your business.
As you probably know, most companies take a percentage of each transaction as their fee. The fee is typically 1.5 to 3% of the transaction. So if your client pays $ 100, the company takes credit card between $ 1.50 and $ 3.00 as their fee.
Your other option is to use a service like PayPal. PayPal is an internet company that handles transactions for credit card for you (for a fee, of course). You can learn about your services ... do a search for Paypal preferred seach engine. Indeed PayPal acts as an intermediary for transactions credit card.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each. The systems of traditional credit card to fix cost more initially, but once you are set you can accept virtually any type of credit card. Most likely your customers have credit cards.
PayPal is less expensive to fix, but requires that customers also have a PayPal account. PayPal accounts are easy to fix, but all clients may be unwilling to do so.
A major advantage to accept credit cards is that you can is over a plan billed automated: you can be billed automatically to customers on a monthly basis, receives for example, and your payments automatically. Many customers, especially business customers, appreciate the automated billing because it means that they need not receive invoices, check cutting, etc..
The benefits to you are clear. You know you're getting paid on time. You look more professional, you can get customers would not have hired without the use of credit cards to charge their services, and best of all - you know you get paid.
I to fill out a simple form to get some customer information. I call or e-mailing back to discover a little more about what they need done. After an estimate immediately think of his reply and I send out love ... usually within 30 minutes ... people of the quick reaction time
Included in the email a link for customers to immediately accept the estimate and send it in an online repository to book your dates, order materials and work schedule. The website address to "do the coupling of a payment" immediately. As soon as I get the email indicating that I have received a payment, I put on the schedule and take care of the project.
For the remaining balance, usually ask the customer to pay by check to avoid another processing fee and most people do not have a problem with it. But some choose to pay the balance with your credit or debit card ... they are very good to me. They could not have decided to go forward if they could put it on your credit card.
I offer a little raw ... with each installation of the lawn, give a free month of maintenance. Many choose to continue with the regular service (a great way to get more repeat business that way) and always pay offer automated Paypal account for maintenance.
No more checks to cash, no more returned checks, and its sooo easy for both me and the client. Head on over to PayPal and click open your link free account right away ... down! The Internet is really a beautiful thing!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
