{"id":1490,"date":"2024-01-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T12:30:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T12:30:13","slug":"online-payment-methods-for-business","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Online payment methods for small businesses (2026 update)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wondering how to take payments online? Whether you sell products or choose to let people book your services remotely, online payments help keep your business flexible if you\u2019re away from your business premises (or don\u2019t have one at all). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are different online payment gateways that can help you accept online payments \u2013 this guide can help you get up and running quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to take payments online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many ways to take payments online and the option you (and your customers) might choose depends partially on the type of business you run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Digital payment options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">bank transfers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">credit card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">debit card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Direct Debit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Bacs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">buy now, pay later <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">cryptocurrency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re a service-based business then you might choose to take payments by <strong>bank<\/strong> <strong>transfer<\/strong>, although it\u2019s likely some customers and clients won\u2019t be comfortable sending money this way. You\u2019d usually do this by issuing an <a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/how-to-write-an-invoice\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1461\">invoice<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, subscription-based businesses or those that take regular payments from customers could choose to collect money through <a href=\"\/knowledge\/funding\/how-to-make-a-bacs-payment\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1097\"><strong>Bacs payments<\/strong><\/a> or <strong>Direct Debit<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you sell one-off products or services then you\u2019ll probably want to take <strong>card payments<\/strong> using an online payment system. <a href=\"\/knowledge\/retail\/buy-now-pay-later-for-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1356\"><strong>Buy now, pay later<\/strong><\/a> services have also become popular with the existence of third-party apps like Klarna and Clearpay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to accept credit card payments online  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To accept debit or credit card payments online, you\u2019ll either need to create a merchant account and set up a payment gateway yourself, or you can use one of the digital payment systems we mention below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Credit and debit card payments are a great option for retail shops, hospitality businesses (for example if you use a restaurant booking system), and fitness providers. Bear in mind though, that processing card payments comes with a fee to you as the business owner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also choose to add payment apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay to give even more choice and flexibility to your customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wondering how to take card payments in person? We have separate guides on the <a href=\"\/knowledge\/technology-for-small-businesses\/best-card-readers-for-small-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1179\">best card readers<\/a> and <a href=\"\/knowledge\/hospitality\/best-pos-system-for-restaurants\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1340\">POS systems<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When accepting credit card payments, it\u2019s worth making sure you understand <a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/how-to-avoid-chargebacks\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1283\">how chargebacks work<\/a> too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an online payment system?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An online payment system is usually made up of different elements, including payment processors and payment gateways. It\u2019s useful to understand the terminology:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>payment gateway<\/strong> \u2013 this is a secure gateway that sends online payments to the payment processor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>payment processor<\/strong> \u2013 this deals with the actual transaction between payment cards and the acquiring banks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><strong>merchant bank<\/strong> \u2013 funds are deposited into a merchant bank before going into your <a href=\"\/knowledge\/banking\/best-small-business-bank-account\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1332\">business bank account<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes all of these come as one package. For example, you can get all-in-one online payment systems that have everything you need to start taking payments online. Even if an online payment system isn\u2019t all-in-one, most offer support to help you get set up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online payment systems often give you the ability to take card payments in different ways. For example, if you already have an online presence, you can integrate most payment services into your business website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top online payment systems for businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more about the different online payment systems below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online payment system<\/p>\n\n<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fees<\/p>\n\n<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#worldpay\">Worldpay<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting from 1.3 per cent +20p transaction fee for Visa and Mastercard<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#paypal\">PayPal<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 1.2 per cent plus a fixed fee<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#square\">Square<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1.4 per cent transaction fee plus 25p processing fee<\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#gocardless\">GoCardless<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 per cent plus 20p<\/p>\n\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#stripe\">Stripe<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1.5 per cent plus 20p for each transaction<\/p>\n\n<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#opayo-sage-pay\">Opayo (Sage Pay)<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prices and fees upon enquiry<\/p>\n\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"worldpay\">Worldpay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldpay.com\/en-GB\/products\/worldpay-ecommerce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Worldpay eCommerce<\/a> offers a range of payment options for businesses \u2013 including online. This makes it a great choice for businesses that take payments both in person and online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It works across multiple currencies, allows recurring payments and subscriptions, payment links \u2013 and includes fraud protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also integrate Worldpay with your website and start taking payments quickly and easily. The monthly gateway fees start from 1.3 per cent +20p transaction fee for Visa and Mastercard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"paypal\">PayPal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PayPal is one of the most well-known online payment systems. PayPal\u2019s option for small businesses is called <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.paypal.com\/docs\/checkout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PayPal Checkout<\/a> and it\u2019s easy to add payment buttons to your website. You&#8217;ll just need to create a <a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1034\" href=\"\/knowledge\/banking\/do-i-need-a-paypal-business-account-for-my-small-business\/\">PayPal business account<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This system lets you take payments from credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal. You can also integrate PayPal Checkout with shopping carts like Shopify. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There aren\u2019t any set-up or monthly fees, but you pay fees by the transaction \u2013 these are 1.2 per cent plus a fixed fee for each transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your customer gets taken to a payment page hosted by PayPal to complete the transaction, before getting returned to your website. You don\u2019t need to worry about PCI compliance as PayPal handles the payment (you just need to complete a self-assessment questionnaire).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Square<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/squareup.com\/gb\/en\/payments\/online-payments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Square<\/a> could be a good option if you want an all-in-one package. You can even build a website for free, if you haven\u2019t got one already. There\u2019s no monthly fee, but you pay 1.4 per cent for each transaction plus a 25p processing fee (UK cards).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can integrate other apps with Square, including Wix (for building your website), Xero (for linking sales with your accounting), and <a href=\"\/knowledge\/retail\/how-to-sell-on-instagram-uk\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"942\">Instagram<\/a> and Facebook (if you sell on social media). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no monthly fee for the <a href=\"https:\/\/squareup.com\/gb\/en\/online-store\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Square Online Store<\/a> and you pay 1.4 per cent per transaction, with different features and lower fees available on their paid plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Square also has point-of-sale systems you can use in-store, and an invoice app you can use to create invoices and send them to customers, letting them pay their bill online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Square accepts a range of payment methods, including alternative methods like Square Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Clearpay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GoCardless<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With <a href=\"https:\/\/gocardless.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">GoCardless<\/a> payment solutions you can manage on-off credit and debit card transactions and recurring payments for things like subscriptions and invoicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GoCardless can also be integrated with other programmes, including popular bookkeeping apps and accounting software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can start with a 90-day free trial (no transaction fees), and after that pricings start at 1 per cent plus 20p. There\u2019s also Advanced and Pro plans available with enhanced features and fraud protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stripe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stripe.com\/gb\/payments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Stripe<\/a> is a complete payment platform with customisable options and payment methods. Stripe was originally built with developers in mind \u2013 so there\u2019s lots of documentation to help you get up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need to have your own website and shopping cart first, but from there it\u2019s quick to integrate Stripe. All of this means that Stripe might be a good option if you want to start building your own customised payment system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fees are 1.5 per cent plus 20p for each transaction with a UK card \u2013 for EU cards it\u2019s 2.5 per cent plus 20p.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also use Stripe to create invoices and send them over email, including a secure link to a Stripe-generated payment page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opayo (Sage Pay)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elavon.co.uk\/accept-payments\/online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Opayo<\/a> (previously Sage Pay) is another well-known name in business software offering an all-in-one payment gateway and payments solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can build a customisable payment page for your website and offer customers a wide range of options, including Pay By Link and Virtual Terminal. You can also integrate with leading shopping carts (like Shopify).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are different pricing plans depending on what you need for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Importance of secure payment systems <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reason online payment systems exist is to make it quick and easy for you to sell your products or services \u2013 and to give both your business and your customers security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a customer buys something on your website using their card details, those details are encrypted and then processed through the payment gateway, payment processor, and merchant bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online payments need to be SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encrypted to be Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant \u2013 but online payment systems often have their own SSL certificate. And if you\u2019ve created your online store using a builder like Wix, Squarespace or Shopify, you should be able to get SSL certified through your provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re staying safe online and watch out for <a href=\"\/knowledge\/general\/online-scams-to-watch-out-for\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1491\">online scams<\/a>. Our guide has more on <a href=\"\/knowledge\/tech\/cyber-security-guide-for-small-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1076\">how to prevent cyber attacks<\/a> \u2013 something that\u2019s a risk for any business, not just big players.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small business guides <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/retail\/how-to-set-up-an-online-shop\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"985\">How to set up an online shop \u2013 a step-by-step guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/cash-flow\/could-ai-help-you-chase-unpaid-invoices\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1474\">Late payment letter template \u2013 how to chase late payments <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/technology-for-small-businesses\/best-free-software-and-tools-for-small-businesses-and-self-employed\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"916\">Free software and tools for small businesses <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/business-insurance\/faq\/what-is-public-liability-insurance\/\">What is public liability insurance?<\/a>  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"readytosetupyourcover\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\">business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Online payments help keep your business flexible if you\u2019re away from your business premises (or don\u2019t have one at all).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"rosanna-parrish","sb_review_date":"2026-01-23T12:30:06","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[336,347],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[25],"class_list":["post-1490","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-structure","category-retail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Online payment methods for small businesses (2026 update)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From credit cards and bank transfers to Direct Debit and payment apps, the online payment methods you choose will depend on your business.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Online payment methods for small businesses (2026 update)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find out the best way to take payments online, and the top five payment systems out there.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-23T12:30:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/online-payment-methods.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Online payment methods for small businesses (2026 update)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Catriona Fuller\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/online-payment-methods-for-business\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Catriona Fuller\",\"description\":\"Catriona Fuller is a content and marketing professional with 12 years\u2019 experience across the financial services, higher education, and insurance sectors. 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