Paypal account for clients

[ashlee.adward]

Hi All

I have heard of therapists using Paypal accounts which clients pay into. Could anyone please let me know if anyone has an account. If so, how do you go about setting one up?

How does it work?


Thanx x

 

[Shannon (: 8.21.09]

I don't use paypal and have no need to. Part of the facilities where I work is cash & card handling and then I'm paid what I owed at the end of the month.

For corporate, event work I take cash or cheque.

Personally as a new start up, I avoid unnecessary costs, and I haven't lost any custom because of not having a pay pal account.

If mobile became a larger part of business, I would probably talk to my business account manager first about card handling because they charge on individual basis and have commited to under cut any other service I'm interested in. I haven't taken then up on the offer, so I can't vouch if it's true or not.

Myarka.

 

[Niko171]

Join http://www.paypal.com

Set up an account.

Once you have an account, you familiarise yourself with it.

When someone wants to book a session, you can send them a payment request.

They get that request in their email and can pay it by CC even if they do not have a paypal account.

Once they have paid, you get email notification.
It is free for them to send a payment.

You do not receive the full amount, paypal deducts a % each time

eg when someone books a place on my monthly study group, she pays £10 and the fee is 54p so I receive £9.56.

I find it handy to havea paypal account

tigress

 

[Tescburwyn]

Hi All

Thank you for your replies. Card handling sounds like a good idea too. So does a business accounts manager.

I will also be looking into a Paypal account. Maybe it is convenient for some clients.

I thought there was talk of cheques being phased out, sometime in the future.


Thanx x

 

[GautleSuetRut]

Hi All

Thank you for replies.

Both card handling and Paypal account are good ideas.


Thanx x

 

[Yousufzai]

In 2018, and hopefully I will have grown my business enoungh by then to own my own spa.

Myarka

 

[joe.attaboy]

The 2018 date is not set in stone yet - there is set to be a meeting (probably in 2016) between various monetary organisations about alternatives to cheques - many businesses still rely on them, and a large percentage of people do not have access to internet or telephone banking.

 

[Burning like Antartic ice]

Hi,

i use paypal for my business, did not know how it would take off at first, but 12 months down the road, it has been a good idea, their fees are reasonable, think it is about 3.4% up to £1500, then the percentage drops a little. I have a payment page, clients click on it and pay, people even use their phones to pay too, so paypal has been a winner for me.

Therapist1960uk

 

[Buy Foreclosures homes]

I use paypal for taking payments for my courses but it also comes in handy for taking deposits off new clients, this helps prevents a huge occurance in no shows.......

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks guys
That is such a fantastic idea to use paypal for new clients. As Isis says some of them sometimes never show so paypal would definitely sort the problem out!
Thank you again!
Marta

 

[Taylorsaurdy]

An interesting and timely post

Barbara x

 

[cofempomi]

Out of interest Isis, how much deposit do you charge for new clients?

I use paypal on my website for gift vouchers but I've not used it yet for taking payments from clients. I've had quite a number of no shows recently and have been looking in to different ways to improve the situation so deposits via paypal sound like a good idea.

 

[Kelso]

I have had problems with no shows too, so this is an excellent idea, will look into it, thankyou.

 

[mo_sniper]

Sounds like a good idea - but what response do you get from new people when you suggest it? Does it put anyone off?

 

[Miss Pierce]

I'd be interested in this too! I've always wondered that. I had a client come to me once who mentioned that she had rang another therapist first for an appointment and was told she would have to pay up front so she didn't book with them and came to me instead! I suppose it's all swings and roundabouts really.

 

[toughcountryfucker]

It depends on what treatment they want to book and i normally ask for 50% up front. What i ususally do and its more so for men (sorry guys) then for women, when they ring i ask for their name and adresss and telephone number, if they are reluctant i then ask for full payment up front via paypal..... geuine clients wont mind giving booking details or a one of payment via paypal when subsequent payments can be cash on the day. Those seeking a thrill or timewasters will refuse or just hang up!

If they give their booking details freely i know they arent some guy who wants their visit to be kept a secret with no paper trail..... so i just take a 50% payment via paypal.

As i said regular clients pay in cash on the day.

I also explain its non refundable!

I guess you have to value your time and make it known that you run a professional business and clients will respect your values and that they are lucky to be able to book time with you.

Thats my opinion and it works for me xx

 

[The Close Friend]

I take deposits for colonics and nutrition consultations.

Rarely have a problem. As Isis said, if they are serious clients then it isn't a problem.

If anyone has had a problem they usually say something like "oh, I don't have my card just now, can I phone back with it". We then say we can only hold it provisionally for a few hours. Genuine people usually call back in a very short space of time.

I use a POS machine tho due to the volume of transactions we do. Paypal would be too expensive as the POS is 48p for a debit card and 2.8% for a credit card as opposed to the Paypal charge.

Patchouli