Small Project Design

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.  
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

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Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
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Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.  
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

I don't take credit cards because of the cost but love PayPal. Clients can use their credit cards there with zero cost to me.  

Thad Broom, AIA

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Thad Broom AIA
Architect
Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
Virginia Beach VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-14-2018 17:25
From: Robert Medan
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

I have been asked on numerous occasions to accept alternative forms of payment. Most want to pay by credit card but I have resisted. So far, PayPal is the easiest and I have been paid a few times by this method. Most people pay their bills online and you would be surprised by how many people do not have a regular checkbook, an envelope to mail it in or stamps to put on the envelope. I have heard this as a reason for electronic payment more than once. Maybe if I had taken Bitcoin as payment 5 years ago...

R O B E R T  M E D A N ,  A I A
1 9 3 6 L O S  A LT O S  D R I V E

S A N  M A T E O , C A  9 4 4 0 2

T 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 4 7 7

F 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 3 1 3

r o b e r t @ m e d a n a r c h . c o m

w w w . m e d a n a r c h . c o m 

Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

Question for Thad: how do you not get dinged charges for PayPal? PayPal takes a percentage for each payment I receive plus charges a fee when I transfer that pay to my checking account/debit card. How do you get around these things?

------------------------------
Nichole Reber
Authority Marketing, Ghostwriting, and PR
I Turn Architects into Thought Leaders
Chicago

Searching for Employment
Columbus OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-15-2018 19:03
From: Thad Broom
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

I don't take credit cards because of the cost but love PayPal. Clients can use their credit cards there with zero cost to me.

Thad Broom, AIA

------------------------------
Thad Broom AIA
Architect
Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
Virginia Beach VA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-14-2018 17:25
From: Robert Medan
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

I have been asked on numerous occasions to accept alternative forms of payment. Most want to pay by credit card but I have resisted. So far, PayPal is the easiest and I have been paid a few times by this method. Most people pay their bills online and you would be surprised by how many people do not have a regular checkbook, an envelope to mail it in or stamps to put on the envelope. I have heard this as a reason for electronic payment more than once. Maybe if I had taken Bitcoin as payment 5 years ago...

R O B E R T  M E D A N ,  A I A
1 9 3 6 L O S  A LT O S  D R I V E

S A N  M A T E O , C A  9 4 4 0 2

T 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 4 7 7

F 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 3 1 3

r o b e r t @ m e d a n a r c h . c o m

w w w . m e d a n a r c h . c o m 

Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

Original Message------

Question for Thad: how do you not get dinged charges for PayPal? PayPal takes a percentage for each payment I receive plus charges a fee when I transfer that pay to my checking account/debit card. How do you get around these things?

------------------------------
Nichole Reber
Authority Marketing, Ghostwriting, and PR
I Turn Architects into Thought Leaders
Chicago

Searching for Employment
Columbus OH
------------------------------

Paypal does charge for credit card payments.  2.9% + .$.30 per transaction.  I have yet to process a credit card transaction yet.  I do have language in my proposal indicating that I accept credit card payments through paypal, however there is a 3% surcharge for the transaction.  I don't feel this creates a "bad taste".  ON avereage, our fees are substanially larger than many retailers, and I am not trying to "sell" something in the moment.  My clients have 30 days to pay, I will gladly accept a check within that time frame.

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Edward Shannon AIA
Des Moines IA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-15-2018 19:03
From: Thad Broom
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

I don't take credit cards because of the cost but love PayPal. Clients can use their credit cards there with zero cost to me.

Thad Broom, AIA

------------------------------
Thad Broom AIA
Architect
Thad A. Broom AIA, P.C.
Virginia Beach VA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-14-2018 17:25
From: Robert Medan
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

I have been asked on numerous occasions to accept alternative forms of payment. Most want to pay by credit card but I have resisted. So far, PayPal is the easiest and I have been paid a few times by this method. Most people pay their bills online and you would be surprised by how many people do not have a regular checkbook, an envelope to mail it in or stamps to put on the envelope. I have heard this as a reason for electronic payment more than once. Maybe if I had taken Bitcoin as payment 5 years ago...

R O B E R T  M E D A N ,  A I A
1 9 3 6 L O S  A LT O S  D R I V E

S A N  M A T E O , C A  9 4 4 0 2

T 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 4 7 7

F 6 5 0 . 5 7 7 . 8 3 1 3

r o b e r t @ m e d a n a r c h . c o m

w w w . m e d a n a r c h . c o m 

Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

We've set up and used Square to accept credit card payments online, but there is a cost. We don't do it very often, so it has worked in our case to just advise the client that the cost to process their payment this way will be added to their bill, but the costs approach 3%. It worked for us in the case we needed it, but others may have better solutions. I will say that it was pretty painless - the client gave us their credit card information, and we processed it online while we were on the phone.

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Andrew Cronan AIA
Senior Vice-president
Guernsey Tingle Architects
Williamsburg VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-13-2018 12:23
From: Scott Rappe
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

I have been using QuickBooks and accepted credit cards for two to three years now.   Many of my clients have been paying this method with extremely quick turnaround time i.e. 1 week or less in the DC Metro area.   That said payments of 1-3 k seem to be associated with a $30.00-$50.00 charge fee which i just rack up a fee for doing business and right off in taxes.   I figure this payment pays for itself for quick turn around time.   I do not charge them any extra charges and just know I have to figure in my proposals to add 100 to 200 in fees.   

I am not saying this is the best way but seems to be the most effective way for me to handle my client base in this region.   Hope this helps.


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Michael Wijdoogen AIA
Architect
Herndon VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-13-2018 12:23
From: Scott Rappe
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

I've been using the QuickBooks invoices and online payments for about a year now, after trying both Paypal and Square. I raised rates to cover the expense and offer a 5% discount for by paying by cash or check within 7 days of the invoice date.  The combination of the two things - online payment and the discount - have shortened the amount of time it takes the average client to pay the invoice by about half, and instant the integration with my existing accounting system makes life a lot easier. 

--lisa

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Lisa Selligman AIA
red dot studio, Inc.
Saint Louis, MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-13-2018 12:23
From: Scott Rappe
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.  
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

Original Message------

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.  
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------

I also own an Antique Market next door to my office, and of course we have credit card sales there.  I have taken fees through that machine...although I don't care for it as they charge +/- 2.5% for each charge.  They may even charge a bit more because you are entering 
the numbers by hand versus a card.  They also charge more for a "Business" credit card versus a personal one.  
What a Racket..!

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Nelson B. Nave AIA
Owner
Nelson Breech Nave, AIA Architect
Kalamazoo MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-13-2018 12:23
From: Scott Rappe
Subject: Alternative methods of payment

Clients are increasingly requesting to pay by methods other than check.  While we've accommodated the occasional paypal payment, we have not set up a formal alternative.
Is anyone explicitly accepting credit cards, paypal, bank transfers, (bitcoin!) etc.?
How are you handling the fees associated with these forms of payment?

------------------------------
Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
------------------------------