Payment & Tax Tools
Let's secure the bag! Here are several payment options you can choose to secure the bag. Below you'll learn about Paypal, Acuity Scheduling, Quickbooks, Stripe and more.
Paypal.me
To set up your Paypal.me link go to https://www.paypal.me and follow the steps below.
- Click create
- Login to your Paypal account
- Follow the prompts to set everything up.
For example, if you make your address https://www.paypal.me/YOURNAME
You can add or change the paid amount anytime by adding forward slash and the amount
Here’s an example
https://www.paypal.me/DanielleLesliePay/1797
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/DanielleLesliePay/1997
The Paypal.me link is best for one time payments, not recurring payments. So if you use this for a payment plan, you’d send this link to your student at the time each payment is due by adding their payment plan amount at the end of the link in the example above.
When using this for a payment plan, send your payment reminder email several days before it’s due and include the link. Then on the day the payment is due, send another email if they haven't paid yet.
This can be a lot to keep up with and manage for recurring payments. This is why we recommend using Acuity Scheduling (or an app that automates recurring payments).
Contact their customer support when you need help using their service or have customer support questions. Also, you can search for tutorials on how to use Paypal on YouTube.
Acuity Scheduling
Choose the free version of Acuity for scheduling appointments. Once you're ready to sell using this app, you'll either upgrade to the Emerging Plan or the Grow Plan.
Acuity Scheduling can be used to take one time payments and recurring payment plans. You can also use this as a low tech and low cost alternative for sales pages and order pages. You'll need the Emerging Plan to accept one time payments and you'll need the Growing Plan to create recurring payment plans.
To learn how to use Acuity Scheduling, CLICK HERE
Quickbooks Self-employed
>> Register here to access your exclusive #CFS Student Discount: https://quickbooks.grsm.io/danielleleslie5706
This is a payment tool plus more and cost $5 - $10 per month as of 9/2018 depending on the promotions they’re running. After researching their plans, the Self-employed plan seems to be the best fit for our students.Self-employed Features
• Track income & expenses
•Capture & organize receipts
•Estimate quarterly taxes
•Invoice & accept payments
•Run basic reports
•Track miles
If you use them to accept payments, you’ll have 2 options.
1. Accept credit/debit card payments includes a 2.9% charge + $0.25. Takes 2-3 business days to process and hit your account.
2. Accept ETF/ACH (bank transfer) includes no charge. Takes about 5 business days to process and hit your account.
Even if you don’t use them for payments, we advise you use them to stay on track with your quarterly taxes. *It’s so important to track taxes quarterly when you have a WFA business. Don’t get stuck and surprised with a high tax bill owed to Uncle Sam!
Click here to learn more.
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed/
Follow their directions to set everything up. Connect your bank account to use the invoice option to receive payments.
To access more secure payment information about your invoices, create an account here as well https://merchantcenter.intuit.com/msc/portal/home
*Consult a tax professional for tax advice on tracking and paying your quarterly taxes
Contact their customer support when you need help using their service or have customer support questions.
Freshbooks
This is a payment tool plus more and cost $15 - $25 per month as of 9/2018 depending on the plan you choose. After researching their plans, the Lite or Plus plan seems to be the best fit for our students. Plus, they have a 30 day free trial.
The Plus plan comes with a recurring payment option. Keep in mind Acuity Scheduling’s Grow plan also comes with a recurring payment plan. So if you’re using this in Acuity, it’d be better to go with quickbooks self-employed to save a little money.
Freshbooks Features Included in All Plans
• Customize invoices and look professional
• Accept credit cards online
• Import expenses to track spending
• Dashboards that keep your finger on the pulse
• Powerful reports with insights about your business https://www.freshbooks.com
Contact their customer support when you need help using their service or have customer support questions.
Stripe
From what we’ve researched, Stripe is the most user friendly when using a 3rd party software app that integrates with it. For instance, Acuity Scheduling integrates with Stripe for one time payments and recurring payment plans.
However, you can process payments within Stripe without using their API or 3rd party apps. See the Stripe Guide for instructions on how to set up Stripe payments.
Click here for the Stripe Guide
