I'll take payment any way my clients want to pay me. LOL Most of my clients send me a check. Since they're local, it doesn't take long. A few of my clients do direct deposit (actually I do it myself since I handle their payroll and I just pay myself.)

Interesting thing happened today. One of my new payroll clients told me she doesn't want to pay me monthly and asked if I'd take it all up front for the year. I gave her a small discount and she handed me a nice big check. That was nice!

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Stacey B. Stahl, Owner/Virtual Assistant
CuttingEdgeVirtualAssistant.co m

Hello to everyone from Argentina! Here we do not have many options, specially with international clients. PayPal is the best choice, in spite of the fees. My local clients just bank wire my fees every month. Way to go, Stacey! Congratulations!

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Alejandra Kahn
Icon Virtual Assistance

Sabrina said:

Quote:

I've always been wary of checks in case they bounce. Have you ever had issues yourself (if that question isn't too nosey for you)?

No. But all my clients have come from referrals, so we know someone in common. I know that isn't fool proof, but it helps.

Stacey - re: that pre-payment - that rocks!!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

@Stacey. How jealous are the rest of us feeling right now about your big fat paycheck? That is the best news I've heard all day and it's not even mine!

@Lezly. I guess nothing is really fool proof but checks just seem more risky than most.

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Sabrina L. Williams
For a bird's eye view of your business

Hello. Someone that I sent money to had a great idea. On paypal they ask you if this money is a gift or if it is for items purchased. She told me that if you say the money is a gift, there are no fees. You must use a bank account and not a debit or credit card. If you use a debit or credit card with the gift option, there will be fees.

Hi,
I'm from Grenada. Most of my clients are local or from neighboring islands like Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent & Grenadines and wire transfer was the best solution at the time. I worked with students from Liverpool University on London and wire transfer was also the ideal way. I am considering paypal though.

Marina

Originally Posted by linda1988

Hello. Someone that I sent money to had a great idea. On paypal they ask you if this money is a gift or if it is for items purchased. She told me that if you say the money is a gift, there are no fees. You must use a bank account and not a debit or credit card. If you use a debit or credit card with the gift option, there will be fees.

Well, that's great except it's not the truth...! So I would not recommend this option. Honesty is a very good value to have for your business.

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Terri Williams, Assisting the small business owner
www.terripwilliams.com

Personally I like Paypal, yes there are fees but I've had a paypal account for so long now that it's the only company I truly trust.

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Launch Virtual Assisting
Targeting Your Business Needs

We use Freshbooks to bill and they can either send a check or go through PayPal... we are pretty happy with those options!

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Lauren & Melanie - VaVa Virtual Assistants www.VaVaVirtual.com

I don't take checks...I used to but it was such a hassle going to the bank and then I had a bounced check which created problems.

By the time the check clears, I have often started working on the account and if it not for the deposit I take from the client to cover me between payments, I'd have to either bill early enough to have the check clear when work commences or I would have to wait until the check clears to begin work again.

As a result, I only take wire transfers and PayPal. So much easier and I never worry about lag time between payments.

Janine

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