In the digital age, cash is becoming a less common form of payment. Many businesses now offer online purchasing and an option to pay with a debit or credit card. This has led to the rise of PayPal and other online payment systems. These services use money stored in online accounts to make it easier for users to transfer funds to one another without using cash or going through a bank. These payment systems are beneficial for both businesses and customers. Businesses no longer have to deal with handling cash, which saves them time and resources, while customers can conveniently pay from their phone or computer—and even send money as a gift if they so choose. Read on for more information about these popular online payment systems and how they can benefit your business.
What is PayPal?
PayPal is a leading online payment platform that allows users to pay for goods and services, send and receive money, and buy and sell items online. The company was founded in 1998, and it has since become the most recognized online payment system in the world. PayPal can be accessed from a computer, tablet, or mobile device, making it ideal for both online and in-person transactions. However, while PayPal is one of the most popular payment platforms, it is not the only one available.
Venmo: The Millennial’s Choice
If you are running a business that caters to millennials, then you might want to consider using the payment app Venmo. This app is similar to PayPal in that it is widely used to make peer-to-peer payments. However, unlike PayPal, Venmo is largely used to transfer money between friends and family with few other uses. With Venmo, you can use your phone to easily transfer money between your friends. You can also use the app to make purchases at certain retailers, like a restaurant or clothing stores. One unique feature of the app is instant transfers between friends. This allows you to transfer money to your friends instantly or vice versa. These instant transfers are free if you use Venmo as a friend-to-friend payment system. If you use Venmo as a merchant, then you will be charged a small fee. Also, this fee will vary from merchant to merchant. Another feature of the app is that it lets you add a short note with each payment. This can be helpful when you are paying your friend back for your share of the bill or for that gift you received on your birthday.
What is Venmo?
If you run a business and use PayPal, you might wonder what the difference is between the two platforms. In short, Venmo is a mobile payment app that allows users to send money to one another. While PayPal is a robust online payment platform that can be used to pay for goods and services and send money to friends, Venmo is a closed system that is used primarily to transfer money between people. Use Venmo to split a dinner bill, pay back a friend for a favor, or send a gift to your niece for her birthday. The app currently has more than 25 million users and is available on both Android and iOS devices.
Which payment system is best for your business?
As you have learned, both PayPal and Venmo are popular payment systems that you can use to accept payments from customers. However, they are not the only options available to you. What payment system you choose depends on your business and the kind of payments you process. Is your business mainly online or in-person? Do you accept cash payments as well as other forms of payment? Because payment systems vary in terms of their payment processing methods and features, you first need to determine which payment system is best for your business.
Bottom line
In the end, the decision about what payment system to use for your business is one that you need to make carefully. You want to select the system that will work best for you and your customers. You also want to make sure that any fees you pay for the service are reasonable. With the rise of online and mobile shopping, businesses are increasingly accepting online payments for both goods and services and items like gift cards. PayPal and Venmo are two of the most popular online payment systems.
