Taking Payments Online

E-Commerce Solutions > Accepting Payments

For many small businesses, accepting payments online offers major benefits. Customers increasingly expect this facility and it can improve your cashflow significantly.

A common misconception not realised by businesses venturing in taking payments online is that you do not need a shopping cart to take payments online for products or services.

Buyers now use the internet for a speedy service, most sales are paid for with credit and debit cards. To accept payments online, you will have to make special banking arrangements. It is easy to get lost in all the jargon used by payment processing websites, but this is actually very simple to set up and we will talk you through the options available to you, and what you'll need to do.

A suitable alternative from shopping carts

Taking payments online without using a shopping cart is suitable for small businesses needing to take specific payments for services such as membership subscriptions, or making a booking - where there is a set fee to pay.

An example of taking payments on your website for a set membership fee is below. This example can also be used for selling any product or service with a fixed fee.

• At the point where you request payment, the user would be redirected away from your website to a secure payment gateway provider (such as PayPal, or Sage Pay). The payment gateway processes the transaction, and none of the credit card data is stored on your server (enabling you to have a data protection policy).
• Once payment has been made the user is directed back to your website where they are then notified and membership permissions have been granted.
• Depending on how the payment gateway is set up, money would then be transferred to your business bank account, or you would manually log in and withdraw the balance to your bank account.

A Recent Project taking online payments:

The Au Pair Company

Avando Systems have recently completed The Au Pair Company website, which has a membership registration system linking through to payment before access to member facilities is granted.

The client is able to oversee paid users, and the user is notified when their subscription is due for renewal.

Click here for more information on the project.