Which Digital Payment Should You Use?

Running a successful small business involves making decisions that help push your company forward, while creating valuable options for your customers. Sometimes, you can advance your company and avoid depleting your working capital simply by upgrading the technology you use every day.

If you’re looking to provide your customers with a more convenient way to pay, consider offering digital payment methods to help you get paid faster and reduce unpaid invoices. Whether you incorporate one or more of these methods, these five digital payment options can help you find the right solution for your business’s unique needs.

ACH Transfer

An ACH payment is a type of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) that goes through an Automated Clearing House network. Although ACH payments go through the ACH network in batches, payers send money from their bank account to another bank account. Similarly, most small businesses use their business bank account to accept funds through an ACH transfer. In order to use this method, the payer must sign an ACH authorization to allow one-time or repeating payments. ACH transfers include the following payment methods:

Wire transfer: Although financial institutions vary, some wire transfers use the ACH network for a convenient, safe payment method.
Direct deposit: When sending payments, including staff payroll, an ACH transfer deposits money directly into your employees’ bank accounts.
eCheck: An eCheck works similarly to a paper check, but it saves on paper and processing time. Once a payer completes a payment authorization, eChecks can be used to send a one-time or recurring payment via the ACH network.

Bank-to-Bank Wire Transfer

Although some wire transfers go through the ACH network, which may take longer to reach the recipient, others are sent much faster directly from bank to bank. This method may also be referred to as a bank wire. A bank-to-bank wire transfer is entered manually and is not batched or sent through the ACH network. Although payments are usually sent faster with this method, bank wire transfers are generally more expensive than other forms of digital payments. Keep in mind that bank-to-bank wire transfers may be considered less secure than ACH transfers since they cannot be reversed once they are sent. In order to learn more about bank-to-bank wire transfer services or fees, contact your bank directly.

Credit Cards

Whether you’re a B2B or B2C company, credit cards represent one of the most widely used payment options with roughly 464.9 million credit accounts currently in America.¹ Additionally, if you sell products online, credit cards are a reliable and safe way to accept payments from customers.

In order to accept credit cards, you’ll need a credit card payment processor account or business bank account that offers merchant services. While fees and usage charges vary, many credit card processing services charge a transaction fee, monthly fee, chargeback fee and other costs for usage. To learn more about credit card merchant accounts, you may want to contact your business bank directly or read below for alternatives to the traditional merchant processing accounts.

Digital Payment Apps

Another reliable payment option for small businesses are feature-rich digital payment apps. While they vary by company and/or specific plan, some payment apps can replace a credit card processor or supplement other digital payment methods. Additionally, many of the following options allow you to accept money online or through an app. Some of the most popular digital payment apps include:

Amazon Pay: This online payment method allows customers to use their Amazon account credentials for a fast, convenient and secure checkout for your business.
PayPal Business: PayPal Business offers both in-person and online payment processing services with several different membership tiers for small businesses. This option allows customers to pay with debit or credit cards, cryptocurrency and other methods.
Venmo for Business: Venmo for Business is another popular payment app for online, in-person or app-based digital payments.
Square: Square is yet another mobile payment terminal and merchant services processor that allows you to accept digital payments from a payee’s mobile phone or an online store, as well as in person using a POS terminal.

Digital Checks

While this digital payment method is similar to eChecks, there are key differences between the two options. Digital checks generally do not use the ACH network, and may be transmitted and deposited faster than eChecks. Additionally, digital checks can be a payment option for bank accounts that do not support ACH transfers. Senders also typically do not need the recipient’s bank account number, which can help expedite the payment process further. While financial institutions vary, digital checks may be sent via email and can be deposited right away. Some digital check providers include:

Checkbook.io: Users can send a digital check, also referred to as a real-time payment, securely in as little as 60 seconds without using the ACH network.
Checkissuing: This company provides a secure, end-to-end encrypted digital payment method that requires just a recipient’s name, payment amount and email address.

References

¹Suknanan, J. (2021). Americans have less credit card debt in 2021, but do you know the average balance for your generation?

About Bonnie P

Bonnie is a Chicago transplant who's committed to seeing the world on a dime. As an avid news junkie with a fascination with finance, she loves to help others do more with less.

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