Hi
I am thinking selling software online, or offer my software for free but accept donations, but don't know what is the easiest and cost-effective way to collect money.
So far I only know to get paid by PayPal, and PayPal charges some fees. But some of my potential customers are companies, and maybe they prefer to use Credit Cards.
I wonder if anyone had experience and/or knowledge on this subject?
Thank you, any advice will be much appreciated!
Regards
Michael
This is interesting! But I don't know if Patreon concept works for software developers.
People can use credit cards when paying via Paypal too.
Thx, but I don't know if companies also use PayPal, or they have to use one of their employee's Paypal.
What can't a company use their paypal
Sorry I didn't know if companies normally have PayPal, or if it's common that for a company paying via PayPal.
@eco2: If there are companies accepting PayPal, companies must have PayPal, therefore companies do have PayPal.
My company does not but since it isn't a public listed company, I can easily use my own account.
@eco2: Yes. Fees are reasonable and it is reputable enough so it doesn't tarnish your image even to the biggest of companies.
A buyer doesn't need a PayPal account to pay by CC into the sellers PayPal acc
I think that if a company isn't flexible enough to be able to create a paypal account, then they're also unlikely to be flexible enough to have a policy on making payments that are not invoiced (and necessary) (that is, "donations"). The actual payments are usually handled by a separate area, which would require an invoice and approval from the relevant business unit.
That includes most of the larger corporations.
Buyers can used PayPal to pay by credit card
It is a lot more expensive to have a merchant credit card account and accept credit card payments than it is to accept PayPal
An alternative for credit card transactions is Stripe, which has lower fees in Australia than PayPal (1.75% + 30c vs 2.60% + 30c).The process can also be simpler – whereas PayPal redirect the user to their website and ask them to fill in details or sign up to PayPal and then back to your website, Stripe has a one-step payment window which can just overlay top of your website, without needing an account or other details. Example of Stripe's one-step payment screen: https://imgur.com/cuUicjU
I recently switched to Swipe because whilst PayPal make you withdraw every payment manually, Swipe automatically deposits your balance to your bank account at the end of each day. And also because of the lower fees.
Patreon