A guide to small business payments

If you’re thinking of starting a small business then it’s crucial that you have a smooth payment process for your customers. Making it hard to checkout can cause visitors to abandon their baskets even if your product is incredible. But payments are something that most business owners assume take care of themselves, leading them into a false sense of security. Just because some sales are coming through doesn’t mean you aren’t losing just as many as a result of a poor payment portal. Supercharge your business success today with these simple tips:

Multiple payment methods

You might assume that all your customers will want to pay with a debit card, but lots of visitors might prefer to use their credit card or even a service like Paypal or Klarna. With the right credit card processing software you’ll be able to accept a wide range of cards and then decide whether you’re going to partner with third-party payment providers too.

Security

Whatever payment portal you choose, it needs to be secure. Customers are now very aware of how easy it is to fall for scams or have their card details stolen, so they’re wary of websites that don’t protect their information. Make sure your website has an SSL certificate and use a secure payment provider to encrypt card details.

Keep it simple

Long, complicated payment processes are sure to put customers off. Try to keep forms to a minimum and don’t ask for any information you don’t need. It’s worth looking into some basic UX principles or hiring an agency to optimize the customer’s journey on your site. Visitors who are attempting to check out should be able to do so quickly and easily. 

Have information readily available

You might think it’s in your best interests to hide how long shipping takes or how expensive it is. But it’s actually better to be upfront – customers will only feel frustrated and even less likely to buy if they’re faced with unexpected shipping costs right at the end of the process. If you have any free shipping offers going on then make sure these are advertised on a banner on your homepage. 

It’s also a good idea to allow customers to create an account when they’re checking out, as this will make payments much easier should they return in the future. However, you need to remember not all customers will want to create an account, so having a guest checkout option will help you to capture all kinds of shoppers.

Customer service

No system is perfect, so offering an excellent level of customer service is key to maintaining satisfaction. Payment issues are some of the most frustrating that a customer can experience, whether that’s having too much money deducted from their account or not receiving a refund. Make sure your contact details are visible on your website. This will not only help customers who are having problems, but it will reassure potential shoppers that they can reach out should something go wrong.