Due to PayPal’s low fees, flexible payment options, and strong user base, your business can benefit by offering PayPal as another buying option. To get started, you’ll have to:
- Sign up for a PayPal Business account
- Confirm your email address
- Provide and confirm your bank account information
- Add your Social Security Number
- Set up PayPal as an additional payment option in your store
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Integrate PayPal into your Web site
To use PayPal with your existing Web site, you can choose between Express Checkout (better integration but more difficult) or Standard Checkout (uses simple HTML code).I recommend: PayPal's Additional Payment Option page will help you choose and implement your choice.
Bill customers via email
You don't need a Web site to send your customers bills through PayPal – they receive an email payment request that prompts them to click and pay.I recommend: Use PayPal's Request Money option.
Send professional B-to-B invoices via PayPal
You can integrate QuickBooks invoices to automatically create email invoices with click-to-pay buttons.I recommend: Use PayPal's Payment Request Wizard for QuickBooks.
Accept credit cards
As an add-on option, you can accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.I recommend: Upgrade to Website Payments Pro or Website Payments Standard.
Sell via eBay
Because so many eBay buyers use PayPal, you can benefit by creating a dedicated eBay Store and selling on eBay.I recommend: First register as a seller on eBay, then meet subscriber requirements to build an eBay Store.
Go on the road
PayPal lets you expand your online business to accept payments by phone, fax, mail, and in person at your offline store or at trade shows (but only in the United States).I recommend: Get the details at PayPal's Virtual Terminal page.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- By using PayPal's Website Payments Standard or Pro option, you can enjoy the benefits of a Merchant Account but you might be able to save on monthly and per-transaction fees.
- PayPal maintains one of the lowest online retail sales loss rates of less than 0.5% due to fraud.
- One small risk to PayPal accounts: the company can limit access to funds in your PayPal account that are related to disputed transactions, as well as close your account, which may interrupt the daily operation of your business. But the risk is low for most merchants.
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