You have created the foundation, you have products or services to sell and you are getting the word out there. People pay you with cash and it’s all ok until you set up your online shop. Now you need to figure out how to take payments online.

If you need to send bank details to clients to accept payments you are leaving money on the table. Once you give the buyer this option, be prepared to loose a sale. It also looks unprofessional. When people want to pay, you need to make it as easy as possible for them. The path of least friction.

Finding the best way to take payments online depends on what your selling, the associated fees and how far along you are with your side hustle or small business.

This guide is written for a UK audience. Breaking down the practicalities or payment gateways and no assumption that you already have a steady income from your business.

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Why Your Payment Method Actually Matters

Before we get into the options, here is why this decision is worth your time.

The way you take payments affects how trustworthy you look, how quickly you get paid, and how much of each sale you actually keep. A client who cannot easily pay you will simply not pay you. Or worse, they will go to someone whose checkout process is easier.

If you have a side hustle building a business around a full-time job, the last thing you need is chasing payments or losing sales because your payment setup was an afterthought.

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The Best Way to Take Payments Online: Your Main Options

1. Stripe

Stripe is widely considered one of the best ways to take payments online for UK businesses, and for good reason. It is clean, professional and integrates with most websites including WordPress, Squarespace and Wix.

Cost: 1.5% + 20p per transaction for UK cards. No monthly fee.

Best for: Freelancers, service businesses and anyone selling through a website.

Setup: Straightforward. You need a UK bank account and to verify your identity.

The key advantage with Stripe is that it looks like your business. Your client sees your branding, not a redirect to a third-party platform. This great for perception, especially when you are trying to position yourself as professional.

My Experience: Stripe is a great, reliable service. Many of my clients opt for Stripe and I have not yet experienced any issue with the provider on any of the site I have built.

2. PayPal

PayPal is the most recognised name in online payments globally. Most of your clients will already have an account, which removes friction at the point of payment.

Cost: 2.99% per transaction for domestic payments (PayPal Business account).

Best for: Freelancers, coaches, anyone sending invoices to clients.

Setup: Very quick. Create a business account and you can start accepting payments the same day.

The downside is that PayPal can feel less premium. Some clients associate it with eBay or informal transactions. If you are positioning yourself at a higher price point, this is worth considering.

My Experience: I haven’t had a client request paypal on site builds, however, it is a reliable and well recognised platform.

3. GoCardless

GoCardless is a UK-built payment platform designed specifically for collecting bank-to-bank payments and Direct Debits. It is brilliant for recurring payments such as retainers or payment plans.

Cost: 1% + 20p per transaction (capped at £4). No monthly fee on the standard plan.

Best for: Anyone charging monthly retainers, subscriptions or instalments.

Setup: Takes a couple of days due to Direct Debit authorisation requirements.

If you are offering your services on a payment plan, which is something very few providers are transparent about, GoCardless is worth serious consideration. It automates the collection, so you are not manually chasing payments each month.

My Experience: Perfect for recurring payments. If you run a service business with a subscription model GoCardless is a helpful too to use.

4. Square

Square is another strong contender, particularly if you also sell in person at markets or pop-up events.

Cost: 1.4% per transaction for UK cards (online). No monthly fee.

Best for: Product sellers, craft fair traders, anyone who operates both online and in person.

Setup: Quick and straightforward. Card readers available from around £19.

My Experience: I have integrated square on may occasions. This again, is a reliable provider.

5. A Payment Link (No Website Required)

Did you know, you do not need a website to start taking payments online.

Stripe, PayPal and Square all allow you to create a payment link. A simple URL you send via WhatsApp, email or Instagram DM. Your client clicks it, enters their card details and pays. Done.

My Experience: I have done many craft fairs and events in my time and I guarantee you, that these options work.

This is the best way to take payments online if you are just starting out and are not yet ready to invest in a full website. It costs nothing to set up and you can be accepting payments today.

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What Does It Actually Cost?

Here is an honest overview of what you are looking at:

Platform	Per Transaction	Monthly Fee	Best For
Stripe	1.5% + 20p	None	Website integration
PayPal	2.99%	None	Invoices, quick setup
GoCardless	1% + 20p (capped £4)	None (standard)	Retainers, payment plans
Square	1.4%	None	Product sellers

When you consider a £500 service, you are looking at roughly £7.50 to £15 in fees depending on the platform. On a £1,500 website project, that is between £22 and £45. These are manageable figures, especially when you factor in the time you save not chasing bank transfers.

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Do You Need a Website to Take Payments?

No. But a website makes everything easier, more professional and more scalable.

Payment links work well when you are starting out. But once you are actively marketing your services, potential clients will Google you. If they land on a website with a proper checkout or booking system, you convert more of that interest into actual paid work.

A professionally built website with payment integration also means you can sell at any time of day, not just when you are available to respond to messages.

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What About Budget?

Take a chance on you. Invest in your business and be consistent. Many of my clients are transitioning from full time employment into self employment with their new side hustle or small business idea. They choose to pay via payment plan, bank transfer or credit card as they grow. Don’t wait until you have copious amounts of money to start your business. Doing so will impede your growth. The quicker you start, the quicker you begin making a profit.

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So…What’s the Best Way to Take Payments Online?

• Just starting out, no website yet → Use Stripe or PayPal payment links. Free to set up, works today.
• Have a website and want it to look professional → Integrate Stripe. It is the cleanest option.
• Offering retainers or payment plans → Use GoCardless for automated weekly  or monthly collection.
• Sell products in person and online → Square handles both well.
• Sending invoices to business clients → PayPal or Stripe Invoicing work well.

Setting up a payment method is one part of running a professional business online. The other part is making sure clients can find you, trust you and feel confident enough to pay.

That is where your website does the heavy lifting. A well-designed site with clear pricing, a strong about page and a smooth checkout or enquiry process does the selling for you, so that by the time someone is ready to pay, the decision has already been made.

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I’m Onika Sabrina, web designer in Great Barr, Birmingham who works exclusively with side hustles and small businesses. Transparent pricing from £1,500, payment plans available and your website delivered in 2-4 weeks. No agency overhead, no corporate pricing, just affordable websites that convert.

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