Digital payment options/apps, looking for options and opinions

[BlueC]

In addition to my normal job I've had a little side business going. It started off with just a few clients here and there, so I kept it cash or check, but now that side business has picked up via word-of-mouth and more than 1/2 of my clients are wanting me to take digital payment. Most seem to be requesting Venmo. I've been working with a guy here and there who recommend I look into Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay (I don't have Apple products), and maybe Google Pay. Do any of yall have experience or recommendations? Things to do, things to avoid? I'm looking at sub $1,000 payments, typically in the $100-200 range. I want to keep this separated for safety and business reasons.

@Chris you might have some insight for me.

 

[Chris]

I use ApplePay and PayPal. They pretty much all charge the same fees these days.

ApplePay is my favorite though because of how easy it is to use, plus no fees.

I always tell people I’ll give them a 10% discount if they pay in cash. That’s usually enough to get them to pay cash.

Cash is king and I’ll do anything to avoid a CBDC.

 

[BlueC]

Cash is king and I’ll do anything to avoid a CBDC.

That's been my general thoughts and operation since this is all side job, but I keep running into the same question, "what's your Venmo?". I know I'll have to set a cash vs electronic payment pricing to cover fees and taxes. So as an android & windows user is Apple Pay still an option for me? Do you know of any significant issues with Venmo since it seems to be most requested?

 

[Chris]

That's been my general thoughts and operation since this is all side job, but I keep running into the same question, "what's your Venmo?". I know I'll have to set a cash vs electronic payment pricing to cover fees and taxes. So as an android & windows user is Apple Pay still an option for me? Do you know of any significant issues with Venmo since it seems to be most requested?

Yeah, whatever you do, incentivize people to pay you with cash. That discount usually does it for me, almost every time.

Unfortunately you can't use ApplePay since you've got to have an iPhone for that. Venmo is owned by PayPal so no issues with Venmo either. I don't think they charge fees either which is nice. Zelle is another nice one since there are also no fees, but it only works if both parties bank supports it.

 

[TJ Jim]

Bought 25 tons of gravel a few days ago and he wanted Venmo payment. Don’t have a Venmo account so I wrote him a check

 

[Zorba]

Get a Square. There's even a version that doesn't require a PHOOOOOONNE - and it apparently takes all kinds of payments. My wife uses one.

 

[BlueC]

Get a Square.

I should probably mention that clients who want to pay electronically usually never meet me in person, which I think the square is in person. The ones that do meet me are typically willing to bring cash/check.

 

[Zorba]

I should probably mention that clients who want to pay electronically usually never meet me in person, which I think the square is in person. The ones that do meet me are typically willing to bring cash/check.

Then tell them to PayPal ya.

 

[red02tj]

Venmo and PayPal are owned by the same company.
PayPal is the Zorba demographic
Venmo is the Phone Demo.


PayPal and Venmo are both owned by the same company, but differ in their focus: PayPal is for international business and broader financial transactions, while Venmo is for casual, U.S.-only transactions and social sharing. Venmo emphasizes a social feed for likes and comments on payments, whereas PayPal offers stronger buyer and seller protection. You can access both platforms through their respective mobile apps, and merchants can integrate Venmo payments into their PayPal checkout for increased customer options. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


Key Differences

• User Base & Focus:
  • PayPal: Geared towards businesses and general international money transfers, accepted in over 200 countries. [1, 6]
  • Venmo: Primarily a social payment app for peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions and splitting bills within the United States. [1, 3]
• Availability:
  • PayPal: Available globally. [6]
  • Venmo: Available only in the United States. [1, 6]
• Features:
  • PayPal: Provides robust purchase protection for buyers and sellers, invoicing, and other business tools. [1, 4, 7]
  • Venmo: Features a social feed where users can share and like payments, and offers a business profile option. [1, 2]

How They Work Together

• Integrated Checkout: Businesses already using PayPal can add a Venmo button to their online checkout, allowing customers to pay from their Venmo app. [1, 5]
• Transferring Funds: You cannot directly link Venmo and PayPal. To transfer money, you must first transfer funds from one platform to your linked bank account and then add the money to the other platform. [8]
• New Integration: A new Visa+ payname feature allows seamless transfers between PayPal and Venmo accounts, enabling users to send money to each other across both platforms. [9, 10]

When to Use Which

• Choose PayPal for: International payments, online business transactions, selling goods or services, and when stronger purchase protection is needed. [4, 6, 11]
• Choose Venmo for: Casual payments to friends and family within the US, splitting bills, or as a payment method for businesses that want to reach a unique segment of customers. [1, 3]

AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.paypal.com/us/business/accept-payments/accept-venmo
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venmo
[3] https://www.vellis.financial/blog/vellis-news/what-is-venmo
[4] https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/internet-security/is-venmo-safe
[5] https://developer.paypal.com/docs/multiparty/checkout/pay-with-venmo/
[6] https://www.rocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/venmo-vs-paypal
[7] https://www.purewl.com/venmo-vs-paypal/
[8] https://www.justanswer.com/software/rbjde-trying-transfer-money-paypal-venmo.html
[9] https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/46334/paypal-unveils-integration-with-domestic-wallets-across-the-world
[10] https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-is-a-visa-payname-and-how-do-i-use-it-help996
[11] https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/global-differences-in-payment-methods

 

[BlueC]

Sounds like Venmo might be my best option here. Thanks guys.

 

[Zorba]

Venmo and PayPal are owned by the same company.
PayPal is the Zorba demographic
Venmo is the Phone Demo.


PayPal and Venmo are both owned by the same company, but differ in their focus: PayPal is for international business and broader financial transactions, while Venmo is for casual, U.S.-only transactions and social sharing. Venmo emphasizes a social feed for likes and comments on payments, whereas PayPal offers stronger buyer and seller protection. You can access both platforms through their respective mobile apps, and merchants can integrate Venmo payments into their PayPal checkout for increased customer options. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


Key Differences

• User Base & Focus:
  • PayPal: Geared towards businesses and general international money transfers, accepted in over 200 countries. [1, 6]
  • Venmo: Primarily a social payment app for peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions and splitting bills within the United States. [1, 3]
• Availability:
  • PayPal: Available globally. [6]
  • Venmo: Available only in the United States. [1, 6]
• Features:
  • PayPal: Provides robust purchase protection for buyers and sellers, invoicing, and other business tools. [1, 4, 7]
  • Venmo: Features a social feed where users can share and like payments, and offers a business profile option. [1, 2]

How They Work Together

• Integrated Checkout: Businesses already using PayPal can add a Venmo button to their online checkout, allowing customers to pay from their Venmo app. [1, 5]
• Transferring Funds: You cannot directly link Venmo and PayPal. To transfer money, you must first transfer funds from one platform to your linked bank account and then add the money to the other platform. [8]
• New Integration: A new Visa+ payname feature allows seamless transfers between PayPal and Venmo accounts, enabling users to send money to each other across both platforms. [9, 10]

When to Use Which

• Choose PayPal for: International payments, online business transactions, selling goods or services, and when stronger purchase protection is needed. [4, 6, 11]
• Choose Venmo for: Casual payments to friends and family within the US, splitting bills, or as a payment method for businesses that want to reach a unique segment of customers. [1, 3]

AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.paypal.com/us/business/accept-payments/accept-venmo
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venmo
[3] https://www.vellis.financial/blog/vellis-news/what-is-venmo
[4] https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/internet-security/is-venmo-safe
[5] https://developer.paypal.com/docs/multiparty/checkout/pay-with-venmo/
[6] https://www.rocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/venmo-vs-paypal
[7] https://www.purewl.com/venmo-vs-paypal/
[8] https://www.justanswer.com/software/rbjde-trying-transfer-money-paypal-venmo.html
[9] https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/46334/paypal-unveils-integration-with-domestic-wallets-across-the-world
[10] https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-is-a-visa-payname-and-how-do-i-use-it-help996
[11] https://www.paypal.com/us/brc/article/global-differences-in-payment-methods

Venmo makes absolutely zero sense to me - if PayPal is usable on a PHOOOOOONNE, why would you need Venmo which requires one, and requires the other party to have one as well. In other words, PayPal works everywhere, Venmo does not. I don't get it. Why the Hell would anyone want/need "social" crap - all I want to do is pay or get paid.

 

[suicideking]

Venmo for people I do know. I play poker often and Venmo seems to be the most popular form of payment other than cash.

I'll also use Zelle for people I know.

Mostly Paypal for people I don't know, online trasactions. You can do 'friends and family' to have no fees taken out. Only good for people you somewhat trust. Definitely safer to use 'goods and services' because you can dispute, but the fees suck.