Stripe holds a clear lead, recommended for customizable checkouts, payment links, and built-in fraud tools. Square frequently matches it when small businesses need straightforward onboarding or point-of-sale sync without separate merchant accounts.
Since July, Venmofalling and QuickBooks Paymentsfalling appear noticeably less often across small business payment questions.
Latest insights
Week of Sep 21–27 · Since Jul 5
PayPal Gap between platforms: PayPal's Mentioned in is higher on ChatGPT Search than on Google AI Mode in Small Business Online Payment Processing: 82.9% vs 57.6%
Square Gap between platforms: ChatGPT Search now mentions Square 22.3 points more often than Google AI Mode in Small Business Online Payment Processing, a widened gap
Helcim Gap between platforms: Google AI Mode now mentions Helcim 18.7 points more often than ChatGPT Search in Small Business Online Payment Processing, a narrowed gap
Shopify Payments Gaining: Shopify Payments's mention rate in Small Business Online Payment Processing rose 6.5 points to 37%
Shopify Payments Gaining: Shopify Payments now ranks #5 in Small Business Online Payment Processing, up from #7
How to set up payment links for your small business
Payment links are one of the easiest ways to collect money from customers online, even if you don't have a website. You create a secure checkout link through a payment provider, send it to your customer, and they pay using the payment methods available on that page. The provider processes the transaction and deposits the funds into your account.
For example, if you run a cleaning service, sell handmade products, do freelance work, or provide consulting, you can text a customer a link to pay a $75 bill without handling their card details yourself.
1. Choose a payment provider
Here are three popular options for small businesses in the US.
My general recommendation: If you mainly send bills by text or email, compare Stripe and Square first. If your customers frequently ask to pay through PayPal, consider PayPal as well.
2. Set up your account
Once you choose a provider, follow these steps:
Create a business account. Register on the provider's official website and enter your business details.
Verify your identity. Be prepared to provide your legal name, business address, contact information, and any requested tax or business identification details.
Connect your bank account. This is where the provider can deposit your payments.
Complete payment verification. Submit any additional information the provider requests before you begin accepting payments.
Keep your login secure and enable two-factor authentication if available.
3. Create your first payment link
The exact menus differ by provider, but the process is straightforward.
Choose what you're charging for
Enter the name of your product or service, such as "House Cleaning — Standard Service" or "Website Design Deposit."
Set the amount and payment frequency
Choose a fixed price, a customer-entered amount if supported, or a recurring payment for subscriptions.
Customize checkout
Add your logo, business contact details, applicable tax, and any customer information you need. Configure shipping or tips if relevant.
Create and copy the link
Save your settings and copy the generated payment URL. You can now send it to customers.
4. Send the link to your customers
You can share your payment link through:
Text messages or WhatsApp
Email invoices or payment reminders
Facebook, Instagram, or other social media
Your business website
A QR code displayed at your shop, market stall, or service location
Here is an example of how you could send it:
:::writing{variant="chat_message" id="58214"}
Hi! Thanks for choosing our business. You can complete your payment of $75 for your service using the secure payment link below:
[Insert your payment link]
Once your payment is complete, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your business!
:::
5. Receive and track your money
After a customer pays, the payment provider records the transaction and typically gives you a confirmation or notification. You can check your dashboard to see which payments succeeded, which are pending, and which still need attention.
Before considering a job paid, verify its status in your payment provider's dashboard rather than relying solely on a customer's screenshot.
Remember to account for:
Processing fees: These are deducted according to your provider's fee schedule.
Payout timing: The money may take time to reach your bank account.
Refunds and disputes: Know how to issue refunds and respond to chargebacks.
Bookkeeping: Record the gross sale, processing fee, and net deposit separately.
For example, using the published standard Stripe US online card rate of 2.9% + $0.30, a $100 payment would work like this:
Customer pays
$100.00
Processing fee
$3.20
Amount remaining
$96.80
Illustrative calculation using Stripe's standard published US online card rate; other payment methods, international transactions, and additional services may have different fees.
Compare the fees for the payment methods your customers actually use, along with payout timing and any monthly charges. Don't assume that a provider with the lowest card fee is always the cheapest overall.
Let's narrow this down to your business
I can walk you through the exact setup and help you choose the most suitable provider.
Setting up payment links is a straightforward way to accept credit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers without needing a full e-commerce website.
Step-by-Step Setup Process
Choose a Payment Service Provider
Select a processor that fits your transaction volume and business type. Popular options include Stripe for customizable and global checkouts, PayPal for familiar peer-to-peer and merchant invoicing, Square if you already use their POS for in-person sales, or Authorize.net for traditional merchant accounts.
Create Your Account and Verify Identity
Sign up with your chosen provider. You will need to provide standard business details, including your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number, bank account information for payouts, and a basic description of your goods or services.
Navigate to the Payment Link Generator
Log into your dashboard and locate the tool. For example, in Stripe, go to Payment Links ; in Square, look for Online Checkout or Create a Link.
Configure the Product or Service Details
Enter the item or service name.
Set the price (fixed price, or allow customers to enter a custom amount like a donation or variable invoice).
Specify currency and whether it is a one-time charge or a recurring subscription.
Customize the Checkout Experience
Add your business logo and brand colors so customers recognize the page.
Configure additional fields if needed, such as collecting a shipping address, phone number, or custom text notes from the customer.
Set a custom confirmation message or redirect URL to send customers back to your website after payment.
Generate and Test the Link
Save the configuration to create the unique URL.
Run a small test transaction (if supported by your gateway) or view the live page to ensure the checkout flow, tax calculation, and receipts look correct.
Distribute the Link to Customers
Copy the URL or QR code and share it via email, SMS, social media direct messages, or embed it into digital invoices.
If you'd like, let me know:
Which payment processor you are leaning toward or currently use
Whether you need the links for one-time sales or recurring subscriptions
I can give you more tailored tips for that specific platform.
If you mean payment links—a URL you send a customer so they can pay online without you building a checkout page—the process is generally:
Set up a business payment account
Use a provider such as PayPal or Square and complete the business/payment verification they require.
Create the product or service
Enter:
Customer-facing description
Amount
Currency
One-time or recurring payment, if supported
Optional taxes, shipping, discounts, tips, or customer information
Generate the payment link
The provider creates a hosted checkout page and gives you a shareable URL. For example, PayPal's current process is Pay & Get Paid → Create Payment Links and Buttons, then enter your product/service and pricing details and select Build it.
Test the link
Open it yourself and verify the description, amount, currency, and checkout experience before sending it to customers. PayPal specifically recommends verifying these details and completing a test payment.
Send it to the customer
You can generally put the link in an email, text message, invoice, website, or QR code. PayPal and Square both support sharing payment links directly with customers.
Track the payment
The payment provider records the transaction in your dashboard, where you can reconcile it with the customer's invoice/order.
If you already use a particular provider
Square: Dashboard → Payments & orders → Payment links → Create link. Choose Collect a payment or Sell an item, enter the amount/details, then save and share the link.
PayPal: Business account → Pay & Get Paid → Create Payment Links and Buttons, enter the product/service and pricing, then build and copy the link.
If you tell me which payment processor you use (Stripe, Square, PayPal, QuickBooks, etc.), I can give you the exact click-by-click steps for generating a link for a customer invoice.
Link Distribution : Copy the generated URL or convert it into a QR code, then share it with the customer via text message, email, WhatsApp, or social media.[](]()]()
If you would like to proceed, tell me:
What kind of products or services you are selling
Which payment provider you prefer to use
I can give you specific instructions for setting up your first link.
Choosing the right service depends on your setup, existing tools, and how you plan to manage transactions:
Stripe Payment Links : Best for no-code product sales, digital goods, and subscriptions, allowing you to build a branded checkout page in minutes without writing code.[](https://stripe.com/payments/payment-links)
Square:
QuickBooks Online: Perfect if you want payment links tied directly into your accounting and invoicing workflow.
If you tell me what type of business you run (e.g., freelance services, retail, coaching) and your preferred accounting or banking tool , I can recommend the best payment provider and fee structure for your specific situation.
Square Payment Links : Best if you already use Square for in-person point-of-sale systems and want to unify your online and offline inventory and tracking.[](https://squareup.com/us/en/payment-links)
GoDaddy Pay Links : Best if your domain or small business site is already hosted through GoDaddy and you want an integrated commerce dashboard.[](https://www.godaddy.com/payments/pay-links)
If you can tell me what you are selling and which platform your website or store uses , I can recommend the exact service with the lowest fees for your setup.
