Open up a world of international payment solutions with this digital giant.
Founded in 1998, PayPal boasts helping more than 17 million businesses through a suite of international payment solutions for 200 markets worldwide.
You can manage your transactions, accept payments and run an international marketplace through a convenient dashboard. Eligible businesses can also take advantage of PayPal Working Capital, a type of short-term loan that offers an advance on future PayPal sales.
| Product Name | PayPal business |
|---|---|
| Max. Transfer Amount | $10,000 |
| Transfer Methods | |
| Transfer Options | |
| Transfer Speed Minimum transfer time | 3 - 5 days |
| Banking Partner | PayPal |
| Customer Service | |
| Available Currencies | AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD |
Pros
- Customers don't need to register with PayPal
- Free basic business accounts available
- Make up to 250 payments at once
- No credit check financing available for qualifying business accounts
Cons
- Funds withdrawal can take up to four business days
- Chargebacks fees can add up
- Digital goods are not covered under seller protection
What can PayPal offer my business specifically?
PayPal’s extensive range of payment solutions gives it a major advantage over other providers. Your PayPal Business Account opens up the possibility of seamlessly creating professional invoices customized to your needs and easily paid to your account with the click of a button.
Each invoice becomes part of a complete business history that you can organize for easy second requests, if needed, and file for tax purposes. Business account holders can also request payments without asking their payee to register with PayPal.
PayPal offers three business account types: Pro, Standard and Express. Pro gives you access to the full range of PayPal business services at a monthly fee of $30. Standard and Express are both free, and each allows access to selected business services.
Invoice and payment management is a standard part of PayPal’s free Standard business account. This benefit carries over into the more robust Pro account — which, at $30 monthly, also includes customized checkout pages, PayPal payments and point-of-sale card processing.
Established businesses with PayPal sales of at least $15,000 gain access to fast financing through PayPal Working Capital — with no credit check. Maximum loans are 30% of your annual sales through PayPal or $97,000, and you face no penalties for early prepayment.
Can I send bulk payments through PayPal?
Yes. Through PayPal Payouts, you can send money to multiple recipients at one time. Each of your recipients must own a PayPal account, and transfers are nearly immediate.
PayPal also supports batched payments through Mass Pay, which allows you to instantly send money to multiple payees at the same time. You can upload a CSV file of up to 5,000 records — including your recipients’ PayPal account emails, the amount you want to pay and their currency code — adding a custom message for each person, if you’d like. Or use the MassPay API to pay up to 250 people at one time.
How are PayPal’s exchange rates on international payments?
PayPal makes international payments easy. But while its exchange rates are often lower than your bank’s, they aren’t the strongest among competitors. We’ve found exchange rates at 2.7% above the mid-market rate.
If you plan to use PayPal for one-off payments, you might find better rates with another provider. Read our guide to business transfers to learn more about your options.
Calculate your exchange rate
How much will my business pay to send money with PayPal?
You won’t pay fees for transferring money from your PayPal account to a linked US bank account. However, merchants or businesses that accept payments from customers could pay up to 2.9% of the payment plus a fee per transaction for the convenience.
Because PayPal tailors its tools to your needs, speak to a representative to learn more about the fees you face for merchant services.
What types of payments can my business make?
You can transfer money from your PayPal account to other PayPal accounts in all locations.
But you don’t necessarily need to fund your PayPal account with a linked bank account. You can also pay with a credit or debit card.
To manage your payments, you can tag them as specific types that include:
- Gifts. You can indicate the payment as a gift for a special occasion.
- Owed payment. Use this tag if you’re reimbursing or repaying family or friends.
- Living expense. Indicate your payment as a regular expense, like rent or utilities.
Pros and cons of using PayPal for business
Pros
- Easy and fast.It’s a leader for a reason — payments couldn’t be more straightforward or easy to manage.
- Good for small transfers.You’ll pay a fee equal to a percentage of your transaction, which could mean low fees if you’re not sending a lot.
- Global presence.PayPal offers services to more than 200 countries, opening the world up to your business needs.
- Comprehensive business services.International payment services come with customized invoices that you can integrate into existing technology.
- Convenient mobile app.Use PayPal’s app to send money with your smartphone or tablet.
Cons
- Weak exchange rates.PayPal’s rates on most transfers start at 2.5% on the mid-market rate, which you can beat with other online specialists.
- High fees punish large transfers.PayPal’s fee structure can add a lot to the total cost of your transfer, given its fee is based on how much you’re sending. You’ll also pay more if you’re using plastic.
How do I make international payments with PayPal?
Start by signing up for a PayPal Business Account. Select the level of services you’d like from Pro, Standard or Express. Then enter your email address.
You’ll enter basic information about you and your business, including your industry, average revenue and EIN, if you have one. You’ll then confirm your personal contact information and click Submit.
After PayPal validates your account, you’ll link a bank account to your PayPal account, adding a credit or debit card if you wish.
From there, you simply enter the email address or phone number associated with your recipient’s PayPal account and the amount you want to send. When complete, your recipient receives an email or text letting them know the money is ready.
What happens next?
- Track your transfer. See the progress of your funds to delivery through your online dashboard or PayPal’s app.
- Get support. Call or email PayPal for support. Or access the online knowledge base for answers to common questions posed by customers.
What is PayPal?
Established in 1998, PayPal has grown to become a leading global provider of digital payments, supporting more than 225 million accounts. Headquartered in San Jose, California, it’s licensed to operate as a money transfer service in all 50 US states, as well as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Previously owned by eBay, PayPal separated from its parent company in July 2015 to become an independent, publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ. Today, it earns more than $13 billion in revenue, handling more than $450 billion in payment transactions, $155 billion of which are mobile payments.
Bottom line
PayPal gives small businesses the tools they need to manage payments, whether account-to-account or through point-of-sale services that keep more than 17 million businesses humming.
But international businesses may find stronger exchange rates and lower fees elsewhere, especially on large transactions.