If you sell online, getting paid should feel simple for your customers and simple for you. Online payments sit quietly behind the scenes, but when they’re not set up well, they can slow everything down.

This guide explains how online payments work, what you need to get started and how to choose a setup that fits your business.

What online payments actually involve

Online payments usually rely on a few key parts working together.

There’s the checkout your customer sees, the payment gateway that processes the card details and the account where the money ends up. All of this happens in seconds when it’s working properly.

Most businesses don’t need to build anything from scratch. Payment providers handle the heavy lifting.

Ways to accept payments online

There are a few common ways to take payments online.

Through a website
If you have a website, you can add a checkout using a payment provider. Customers enter their details and pay without leaving your site.

Payment links
If you don’t have a full website, payment links let you send a secure link by email or message. Customers click, pay and the job's done.

Platforms and marketplaces
If you sell through an ecommerce platform, payments are often built in. You just connect your bank account and manage everything from one place.

What you’ll need to get started

To set up online payments, you’ll usually need:

• A business bank account
• A payment provider or platform
• Basic business details for verification

Most providers can approve and activate your account quickly, sometimes within a day or two.

Understanding the costs

Online payments come with fees, so it’s worth understanding how they’re charged.

You may see:

• A fee per transaction
• Higher rates for international cards
• Charges for refunds or failed payments

There’s often no monthly fee, but higher transaction fees can add up as you grow.

Security and customer confidence

Online payment providers handle sensitive card data, which keeps your business out of scope for most security concerns.

From your side, it helps to:

• Use trusted and recognised providers
• Keep your website and plugins updated
• Make your checkout clear and easy to follow

A smooth checkout reduces abandoned payments and builds trust.

Choosing the right setup

Think about:

• How customers find and buy from you
• Whether you need recurring payments or one offs
• If you sell internationally
• How payments fit into your wider systems

You can always change or upgrade later. What matters is getting something reliable in place now.

Online payments don’t need to be complicated. The best setups are the ones your customers barely notice and you rarely have to think about.