What is the preferred method of payment from your customers?

If you meet your customers in person, and they agree to you providing your service, how is the way that most of them prefer to pay?

1. A Check, all up front or 50% up front (and do you cash the check as soon as you get it?)
2. Quickbooks or Freshbooks invoicing with the credit card payment link attached to the invoice
3. Cash?

Exclude writing jobs where it is 100% online. These obviously would be more cc or paypal. But lets say this is for when you know your client personally

 

I do everything through PayPal for the extra protection and ID security, regardless of whether it's online, offline, in-person or anything else. It's typically easier for them, too, as I can just give them an email address and it serves for everything.

 

Awesome thank you. I never really got into Paypal, but think I am going to start using it more now. Im guessing setting up a business account is best. Anything to look out for when using it?

 

They let you have 8 email addresses on the same account, so use a separate one for all your business dealings. Don't rely on their bookkeeping, either - you're better off tracking your own (though theirs works fine). Other than that, just follow the rules, really.

 

I use paypal only for all my services. Payment upfront, so that I don't have to wait to get my money.

 

Like all the people above me, I like to use Paypal for all of my transactions (it offers an extra level of protection for me and the customers).
I have to admit that I also accepted cash because a few people didn`t have bank account. (weirdly enough, they weren`t amish)