Many home businesses doing business online utilize the PayPal banking services for receiving payment and purchasing.  This is a quick way to undertake these transactions.  You also can transfer payment deposited into PayPal to another bank.  Or you can withdraw money from PayPal by having them send you a check, for a fee.

PayPal does charge slight fees for their transactions, but you generally have to pay fees for other types of banking, too, especially when they involved other countries. 

PayPal continues to expand its services so that more and more companies are using it, making international banking and business less difficult.

Mark at Digital Money World informs us that PayPal just announced its partnership with GPShopper, enabling it to offer Mobile Checkout.

“Mobile Checkout is a simple payment mechanism for consumers on-the-go and merchants with online storefronts. ”  Through Mobile Checkout, consumers (in your case your quilting and fabric art customers) in the U.S., U.K. and Canada can purchase items securely through PayPal by using their mobile phones!  Has the world just become easier?

Although I’ve not used PayPal to pay for purchases, I’ve found it great way to receive payment promtly, especially from companies and individuals in other countries.

Also, PayPal is being utilized by the travel industry…something to consider when you travel to quilt shows. 

 Northwest Airlines announced it will begin using PayPay as a way passengers can pay for their tickets, opening up the area of airline flight to this method that’s recognized internationally.  Mark at Workboxes has more on this topic and PayPal’s new look.

Post from: Blisstree

Using PayPal for your Quilting Business

I’ve not encountered many who didn’t pay me.  I found, when someone was late, the situation usually could be resolved.  If there was a problem with the product or service, we were able to work it out.

I learned when contracting for a project, especially a larger one such as a quilt or wall hanging that ran into quite a bit of money…both for my supplies and price from the buyer, I would divide the payments into increments.  That way, I had money in hand for supplies.  Customers didn’t find it so overwhelming when it came to payment.  I would request the balance upon delivery (or before delivery if it was something I shipped). 

Laura Spencer, at Writing Thoughts, relates a situation she encountered, The Case of the Missing Payment – Happily Resolved. Then Laura mentions four tips to ensure you receive your payment in a timely fashion.

Of course, Laura’s examples generally relate to writers.  However, the tips she gives can be applied to other businesses,  such as quilting and fabric arts, to help keep you from encountering a payment problem. 

Post from: Blisstree

Collecting Payments in Your Quilting Business

As you visit brick-and-mortar stores or browse the online ones, you’ll see many fabrics and other supplies on sale.  Numerous e-newsletters I receive announce after Christmas sales.  Shop owners and quilters desire to sell these holiday related items so they’re off the inventory and don’t have to be stored until next year. 

If you are a quilt shop owner, this may be a time you’ll want to run sales on items you don’t desire to hold over.  If you’re fortunate, you’ve sold all your holiday related items.  However, generally a shop, whether on or off line will have a few items left in stock after Christmas.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilts & Quilting Items on Sale