Get paid

What this step covers

• Picking a payment processor (Stripe, Square, PayPal) and what each one does well.
• When a payment link is enough, and when you need a full checkout on your site.
• Sending invoices for service work, and what to put on them.
• Linking the processor to the business bank account from step 3.
• How payment fees, payout timing, and chargebacks actually work.
• When you don't need any of this — Shopify and other all-in-one builders bundle most of it.

Why this comes after the audience step

Setting up payments before you have anyone to charge feels productive but isn't. Once someone says "how do I pay you?", the answer should take an afternoon. Payment processors also need the EIN and business bank account from step 3, so both should already be in place.

How to get paid

1. 1

   Pick a payment processor

   A payment processor is the service that takes a customer's card and moves the money to your bank account, minus a small fee. The big three — Stripe, Square, and PayPal — each do this well; they differ in how they fit different businesses.

   Square is friendly for in-person and simple online sales; Stripe is the developer-favored choice for online checkouts; PayPal is widely trusted by buyers. Our payment processors comparison below covers which fits which kind of owner. Set the account up in your business name, using the EIN from Step 3.

2. 2

   Choose how customers actually pay

   For most beginners, a payment link is enough: the processor gives you a web link or a button you paste into an email or onto your site, the customer clicks and pays. No coding, no full store.

   You only need a full checkout built into your site when you're selling many products regularly — and at that point an all-in-one store builder usually bundles it for you. Don't build a complex checkout for a business that has two products.

3. 3

   Send invoices for service work

   If you bill clients (rather than sell off a shelf), send invoices. An invoice is a simple bill that lists who you are, who the client is, what you did, the amount, the due date, and how to pay. Most invoicing tools email the client a pay-now link and track who has and hasn't paid.

   Keep every invoice — the IRS and your accountant will both want the records. Our invoicing tools comparison below covers the common options, several of which are free for low volume.

4. 4

   Link it to your business bank account

   Connect the processor's payouts to the business checking account you opened in Step 3 — never your personal account. This keeps the money separation clean and protects the legal wall the LLC gives you.

   Payouts usually land in one to three business days. Some processors let you choose faster payouts for an extra fee; for most owners, the standard timing is fine.

5. 5

   Understand fees, timing, and chargebacks

   Every processor takes a cut — commonly around 2.9% plus about 30 cents per online card charge. Build that into your price so the fee doesn't quietly eat your margin. Compare effective fees, not headline rates.

   A chargeback is when a customer disputes a charge with their card company and the money is pulled back, sometimes with a fee. Keep clear records, deliver what you promised, and respond quickly to disputes. Most beginners rarely see one, but knowing the word keeps it from being a surprise.

6. 6

   Know when you can skip most of this

   If you sell through Shopify or another all-in-one store builder, payments, checkout, and basic invoicing are mostly bundled in already. Don't bolt on a separate processor and invoicing tool you don't need. Check what your platform already does before you add more pieces.