I plan on only accepting paypal. I don't do well with checks. I still have 3 checks from December sitting on my counter waiting to be deposited. My bank is in Arizona so it's not really convenient to pop in and make a deposit.

What I wonder is, do any of you give a discount to those who use paypal without a credit card? Maybe split the processing fee as an incentive to have them not use a card?

Bette, Check with your bank, some banks are starting to accept electronic deposits of checks now since the banking laws changed, or you can mail them in.

I don't understand what the benefit would be for offering a discount to someone who doesn't use a credit card. What's the difference? I use PayPal but not a lot so I guess I don't understand the difference in payment types.

Rebecka,

The difference is that when people pay with credit cards you have to pay a processing fee. I think it's 2-4% based on how much you use the service. So, if you offer a discount for people to do a bank transfer rather than pay with a credit card, both you and the client are saving money.

I don't do mail. That's why I have checks sitting on my counter. I mail about 3 things/year and they usually take months to get out the door. I don't even own envelopes, much less stamps. I'm not sure what you mean by electronic deposits... I would not be comfortable giving my bank information to anyone.

Also, just so you know, my name is not Bette. I saw that before but I wasn't sure if you were directing it to me or not. My name is Amanda. My ID is VagabonDetteVA which shows my female vagabond ways which I'll fund through being a VA. Just thought I'd let you know. No biggie.

I'm sorry Amanda, I'm retarded sometimes, your name is right there in your signature. I don't know where I got Bette from. Doh!

I never realized you only had to pay the fee when it was a credit card charge. Of course, I've already make it obvious how much I pay attention to things. LOL

As far as the electronic deposits, I think you can just fax them or scan and email them to the bank instead of going into making a deposit. I don't know if it is everywhere but there are some banks advertising it here now. I'm going to check into it more myself, because I HATE going to the bank... that's the only thing I miss about my old jobs... direct deposit.

No worries about the name. I figured you misread the D for a B in my ID.

How much you pay in fees depends a lot on how much you use the account and what kind you have. So it depends.

I bank with a small credit union so I kind of doubt that they do the electronic deposit thing but I'll look into it, thanks.

One option I had thought of was to supply my clients with SASEs and deposit slips for my bank account and they could mail the payment directly. Then I could just transfer the money out so I don't have to worry about anything wonky happening with the info....

How do you accept direct debit to your accounts without giving someone all of your banking information?

I'm late in the game I accept the following:

PayPal (echeck and credit card)
Faxed Checks
Mailed Checks
I also have a few barter arrangements (but that is on a case by case basis)

My check printing software supposedly offers something that would allow my clients to put in their information then I can have it electronically put into my bank but I haven't looked into it further and I'm not even sure if my clients would do it. Most of my clients fax or mail their checks.

__________________
Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

I have used versa check in the past and really liked it. I will probably start using it again for the check by fax option. It's also cheaper to print your own checks, if you have more than one checking account.

Here is a free software called FreeQuickwire (I found it on the VersaCheck website), it allows you to accept checks by email. I haven't used it, but if anyone else has please post back and let us know how you like it.

I am doing Paypal or check. I prefer Paypal because in addition to the ease of use - it also provides me with an immediate papertrail to refer back to in case of questions, audit, etc....

Originally Posted by Rebecka

Here is a free software called FreeQuickwire (I found it on the VersaCheck website), it allows you to accept checks by email. I haven't used it, but if anyone else has please post back and let us know how you like it.

I kind of like that. It looks like you can add an icon to your website to receive payment that way....I might look into that more. That got me thinking.....I could make some changes to how I send invoices. (Great, now I have all these ideas.)

__________________
Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.