tag:pinpayments.com,2005:/blogPin Payments Blog2023-12-04T00:00:00Ztag:pin.net.au,1:blog/what-are-payment-links-and-how-do-they-workWhat are payment links and how do they work?<p>In today’s fast-paced digital world, merchants are constantly seeking innovative and efficient ways to facilitate transactions. Whether it's a small business owner looking to expand online sales or a seasoned e-commerce giant aiming to enhance the customer experience, the need for flexible and user-friendly payment solutions is paramount.</p>
<p>Enter the world of <strong>payment links</strong> - a simple yet powerful tool that's revolutionising the way merchants conduct business online. But what exactly are payment links, and how can they be leveraged to streamline the payment process?</p>
<p>In this guide, we'll explore the concept of payment links, delve into their functionality, and uncover the many benefits they offer to merchants. From understanding the different types to learning how to create and use them effectively, this article is your go-to resource for all things related to payment links.</p>
<h2>What is a payment link?</h2>
<p>A <a href="/support/faqs/use-cases/send-payment-link">payment link</a> is essentially a URL or QR code that directs customers to a stand-alone web page where they can complete a transaction. It's a simple and efficient way for merchants to request and accept online payments without having to build a website or checkout page. Payment links can take various forms, including buttons, URLs, or QR codes, and can be shared across different channels like email, SMS, or social media.</p>
<h2>How do payment links work?</h2>
<p>Understanding how payment links work is essential for any merchant looking to utilise them. Here's an overview of how they work.</p>
<h3>Setting up the payment page</h3>
<p>The process begins with setting up the <a href="/support/guides/payment-pages">payment page</a>. Merchants can create payment links by subscribing to a payment processing company that offers this functionality. The payment provider will give a secure payment page where customers will be directed to enter their payment information.</p>
<h3>Customer agreement</h3>
<p>Once the customer agrees to the transaction, the merchant is ready to share the URL. This agreement is a crucial step, ensuring that the customer is fully aware of the transaction details before proceeding.</p>
<h3>Sending the payment link</h3>
<p>Sending the payment link is the next step, and it's usually sent via email or SMS, but merchants also have the flexibility to copy and paste links manually into other platforms. This versatility allows merchants to reach customers through various channels, enhancing the overall convenience of the process.</p>
<h3>Making the payment</h3>
<p>Finally, the customer makes the payment. Once they receive the payment link, they simply click the link or scan the QR code to be taken directly to the online payment page to enter their payment details. Depending on how the page has been set up, this could include fields to enter credit card details, or digital wallet options like <a href="/support/guides/apple-pay">Apple Pay</a> or <a href="/support/guides/google-pay">Google Pay</a>.</p>
<p>Let’s recap: The process of using payment links involves setting up the payment page, obtaining customer agreement, sending the payment link, and facilitating the customer's payment. It's a streamlined and user-friendly process that offers both the merchant and the customer a seamless transaction experience.</p>
<h2>Types of payment links</h2>
<p>Payment links typically come in one of the following forms:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>One-time link</strong>: Sent over SMS, email, or social media, allowing the recipient to enter payment details in a browser.</li>
<li><strong>Email invoice link</strong>: With invoices, merchants can specify recipient details, including name, address, and other company details.</li>
<li><strong>Buy Button</strong>: Placed on an e-commerce website, leading to a typical online store checkout page.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What are the benefits of using payment links for merchants?</h2>
<p>Payment links have many benefits and cater to various business needs.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Quick and easy</strong>: Payment links are quick to create and easy to use, making them accessible even for those without a lot of technical know-how.</li>
<li><strong>Flexibility</strong>: This simplicity doesn't compromise their effectiveness, as they offer flexibility in customisation and can be set up in mere minutes.</li>
<li><strong>Multi-channel use</strong>: Merchants can share payment links across various digital channels, from emails to social media, providing a multi-channel approach to reaching customers.</li>
<li><strong>Low maintenance</strong>: Payment links are an ideal solution for businesses that don't process a large volume of online sales, offering a low-maintenance solution that still allows for a variety of payment options.</li>
</ul>
<h2>When to use payment links</h2>
<p>Payment links can be utilised in various scenarios, making them suitable for a wide range of businesses and situations:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>New or small businesses without a website</strong>: If you have a new business or handle most of your transactions in person, payment links allow you to accept online payments without the need for a full-fledged e-commerce site.</li>
<li><strong>Selling through multiple digital channels</strong>: For merchants who conduct business directly on social media, through text messages, newsletters, or other digital platforms, payment links enable a tailored experience for each channel.</li>
<li><strong>Sporadic sales or special editions</strong>: If you release special products a few times a year or have seasonal sales, payment links can facilitate these transactions without building them into your permanent website.</li>
<li><strong>Distinct audiences or fundraisers</strong>: For those who plan fundraisers or have different target audiences, distinct payment links can be created for each event or segment, maintaining a unique donation or sales page.</li>
<li><strong>In-person selling without hardware</strong>: By adding a QR code that goes to your payment page on a poster or flyer, you can facilitate in-person sales without needing additional hardware.</li>
<li><strong>Occasional online sales</strong>: Even if you mostly sell in person and have a website, payment links can be used in specific situations, offering flexibility in how you reach your customers.</li>
<li><strong>Unpredictable business needs</strong>: If there's an element of unpredictability in your business, such as selling fresh produce or baked goods, payment links allow you to move quickly and adapt to changing demands.</li>
<li><strong>Global reach</strong>: For businesses aiming to reach international customers, payment links can be customised to accept various currencies and payment methods, broadening your market reach.</li>
<li><strong>Subscription services</strong>: If you offer subscription-based products or services, payment links can be configured to handle recurring payments, ensuring a smooth and automated billing process.</li>
<li><strong>Freelancers and service providers</strong>: Professionals who charge on a per-project basis or send electronic invoices may find payment links more intuitive and personalised for each client.</li>
</ul>
<p>Payment links are not just a one-size-fits-all solution. They can be adapted to various business models and needs. Whether it's a startup looking for a cost-effective online payment solution or a global brand aiming to enhance customer experience, payment links offer a flexible and efficient way to handle transactions.</p>
<h2>How to create a payment link</h2>
<p>Creating a payment link is simple and typically involves just a few steps for a merchant:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Choosing a payment service provider</strong>: Select a payment processing company that offers payment link functionality.</li>
<li><strong>Customising the link</strong>: Depending on the provider, you may have branding capabilities to customise your page.</li>
<li><strong>Sharing the link</strong>: Send the payment link through the desired channel.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can find more information on how to <a href="/support/faqs/use-cases/send-payment-link">send a payment link to your customers with Pin Payments</a> here.</p>
<div class="pointer">
<p>Tips for choosing a payment link service provider</p>
<p>When choosing a payment link provider, it's important for merchants to consider:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Cost</strong>: Understand the pricing plans and transaction fees.</li>
<li><strong>Supported payment methods</strong>: Check if they support various payment methods like credit cards, digital wallets, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Customization</strong>: Look for providers that allow customization of the payment link.</li>
<li><strong>Reputation</strong>: Consider the reputation and reliability of the provider.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2>Unleash the power of payment links with Pin Payments</h2>
<p>Pin Payments is a modern, small business-friendly solution that helps you accept card payments from customers online - including via payment links. It's fast and free to join, with no lock-in contracts or monthly fees.</p></p>
<p><a href="/get-started">Get started with Pin Payments</a> today to start realising the benefits of payment links.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/difference-between-payment-gateway-and-payment-processorWhat’s the difference between a payment gateway and payment processor<section class='article-body'>
<p>In the rapidly evolving world of digital commerce, the ability to process payments efficiently and securely is paramount. Whether you're a small business owner venturing into online sales or a seasoned retailer looking to optimize in-store transactions, understanding the payment landscape is essential.</p>
<p>Two terms that often surface in this context are <strong>payment gateway</strong> and <strong>payment processor.</strong> While they may seem interchangeable, they serve distinct functions in the payment process.</p>
<p>But what exactly are these terms, and how do they differ? Why might a business need one or both, and how do you choose the right solutions for your specific needs?</p>
<p>This article aims to demystify these concepts, breaking down the differences between payment gateways and payment processors, their roles, when to use them, and how to select the best options for your business.</p>
<h2>Payment gateway vs payment processor: What's the difference at a glance?</h2>
<p>Payment gateways and payment processors are two essential components in the payment processing chain, often confused but serving distinct roles. A <a href="why-you-dont-need-a-merchant-account-or-a-payment-gateway-to-process-payments">payment gateway</a> verifies and authorizes card information, while a payment processor handles the logistics of the transaction, transmitting data between the merchant, banks, and card networks.</p>
<p>For a quick overview, take a look at the table below:</p>
<table class='table'>
<thead class='table_head'>
<tr class='table_row'>
<th class='table_data'>Payment Gateway</th>
<th class='table_data'>Payment Processor</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody class='table_body'>
<tr class='table_row'>
<td class='table_data'>Gathers, encrypts, and verifies customer’s credit card information</td>
<td class='table_data'>Transfers funds by communicating between the merchant, acquiring bank, and issuing bank</td>
</tr>
<tr class='table_row'>
<td class='table_data'>Acts as a digital POS terminal</td>
<td class='table_data'>Acts as an in-person POS</td>
</tr>
<tr class='table_row'>
<td class='table_data'>A bridge between the business and the customer’s bank</td>
<td class='table_data'>A bridge between the business, customer’s bank, and the merchant’s bank</td>
</tr>
<tr class='table_row'>
<td class='table_data'>Must be integrated with a payment processor</td>
<td class='table_data'>Can be used on its own</td>
</tr>
<tr class='table_row'>
<td class='table_data'>
<strong>When to use:</strong>
Ecommerce or card-not-present transactions
</td>
<td class='table_data'>
<strong>When to use:</strong>
Digital wallets, bank transfers, direct debits, and in-person payments
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>What is a payment gateway?</h2>
<p>A payment gateway is a technology that encrypts and transmits payment details from the point of entry to the payment processor.</p>
<p>It acts as an online point-of-sale terminal, authorizing payments for card-not-present transactions, mainly for eCommerce websites. Payment gateways can be third-party or integrated into the merchant's e-commerce platform.</p>
<h2>When to use a payment gateway</h2>
<p>Payment gateways are essential for online transactions, especially in the world of e-commerce. They are used to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Set up an online store.</li>
<li>Collect payments over the phone without a physical credit card present.</li>
<li>Collect in-person payments without a full POS system.</li>
<li>Integrate payments with accounting or CRM software.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to choose a payment gateway for your business</h2>
<p>When selecting a payment gateway, consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Integration with your existing systems.</li>
<li>Costs and fees, which may range from 1% to 3% of the purchase.</li>
<li>Whether you want to receive international payments.</li>
<li>If you prefer a third-party or native payment gateway.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What is a payment processor?</h2>
<p>A payment processor executes the transaction by transmitting data between the merchant, issuing bank and acquiring bank. It's responsible for relaying transaction details and is necessary for all card-based transactions. Payment processors may also provide credit card machines and other equipment to accept credit card payments.</p>
<h2>When to use a payment processor</h2>
<p>Payment processors are required for any business accepting credit card payments. They are used:</p>
<ul>
<li>In brick-and-mortar stores.</li>
<li>To accept payments online (e.g on an ecommerce website).</li>
<li>In pop-up shops that travel to different venues.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to choose a payment processor</h2>
<p>When selecting a payment processor:</p>
<ul>
<li>Understand your basic setup needs, including merchant account and POS system.</li>
<li>Consider costs, which are often a percentage of the transaction plus a fixed fee.</li>
<li>Look for providers that offer discounts for high transaction volumes.</li>
<li>Evaluate if the processor accepts all types of mobile wallets and local payment methods</li>
</ul>
<h2>Do I need a payment gateway, a payment processor, or both?</h2>
<p>The decision to use a payment gateway, payment processor, or both depends on the nature of your business and the way you handle transactions.</p>
<p><strong>For E-commerce businesses</strong>, the online nature of transactions necessitates <strong>both a payment gateway and a payment processor.</strong> A payment gateway is essential to authenticate and verify card information, acting as a secure bridge between the customer's bank and your website. Meanwhile, the payment processor handles the actual transfer of funds, ensuring that the money reaches your account. Together, they create a seamless and secure online payment experience.</p>
<p><strong>Brick-and-mortar shops</strong>, on the other hand, typically require <strong>only a payment processor.</strong> Since transactions occur in person, the need for online authentication through a payment gateway is eliminated. The payment processor takes care of transmitting data between the merchant, issuing bank, and acquiring bank, making it a one-stop solution for in-store card payments.</p>
<p><strong>Hybrid businesses</strong> that operate both online and in-person <strong>will need both</strong>. If the business accepts online payments, a payment gateway becomes necessary to verify online transactions. Simultaneously, a payment processor is required to handle all card-based transactions, whether online or in-store. The combination ensures that all bases are covered, providing flexibility and security across various transaction methods.</p>
<h2>Pin Payments Makes It Easy for Small Businesses to Accept Payments</h2>
<p>In the complex landscape of online payments, small businesses often face challenges in setting up and managing accounts with multiple providers. Traditional methods require a separate payment gateway, processor, and merchant account, which can be cumbersome and difficult for small businesses to obtain.</p>
<p>Pin Payments <a href="/how-is-pin-payments-different-to-a-payment-gateway">simplifies this process by offering a single, all-in-one solution</a>. This approach not only streamlines the payment process but also makes it more accessible for small businesses.</p>
<p>Historically, obtaining an online merchant account through banking institutions has been a challenging task for small businesses. Pin Payments eliminates this barrier by providing a small business-friendly solution that's free to set up and maintain. With <a href="/support/guides/cards">a number of ways to accept card payments online</a>, Pin Payments offers flexibility and ease of use, catering specifically to the needs of small business owners.</p>
<p>Whether you're just starting your online venture or looking to optimize your existing payment process, Pin Payments provides a straightforward and cost-effective solution to accept card payments from your customers online.</p>
<p><a href="/get-started">Get started with Pin Payments today</a>, and take advantage of a system designed with small businesses in mind.</p>
</section>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/create-tailored-online-forms-in-minutes-with-snapformsCreate tailored online forms in minutes with Snapforms<p>Online forms have transformed the way businesses interact, communicate and gather information. In our increasingly digitised world, they serve as the gateway to seamless data collection, efficient communication and streamlined workflow processes that include online payments.</p>
<p>From surveys and registrations to feedback and applications, online forms have reshaped the landscape of information exchange, enhancing accessibility, convenience and overall user experience.</p>
<p>Australian-based online form builder <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://snapforms.com.au">Snapforms</a> is doing exactly that — enhancing the user experience of local industries — by offering an easy-to-use but seriously powerful customisable online forms solution.</p>
<p>Snapforms co-founder Tim Wilson says the platform was designed for businesses to easily create online forms using their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://snapforms.com.au/resources/form-builder">drag-and-drop</a> feature or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://snapforms.com.au/online-form-templates">pre-built templates</a> provided — and start using them in a matter of minutes.</p>
<blockquote class='quote'>
<div class='quote__body'>
<p>For the most part, it’s about turning an offline process into an online one. We've created Snapforms in a way that allows businesses to focus on the information that matters and create effective forms. Being an overall form builder, Snapforms also captures data across the spectrum. And because every industry has forms or the need to collect data internally or from customers, we are industry agnostic.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<img alt="Main dashboard view of Snapforms showing a registration form and fields that can be added." src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/create-tailored-online-forms-in-minutes-with-snapforms/dashboard-7f54e867deebcfde35e351ec161378af2c14084e26cba0dd61839ac458b021f6.png" />
<h2>Embedding payment collection comes easy too</h2>
<p>Not every business is the same – and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/integrations/snapforms">Snapforms’ integration with Pin Payments</a> has enabled businesses to build an online payment experience tailored specifically to their needs. The flexibility of the Snapforms solution means you can build forms for almost any scenario. Some examples include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Online payment of invoices</li>
<li>Course enrolment forms</li>
<li>Food order forms</li>
<li>Tour bookings</li>
<li>Training registration</li>
<li>Donations</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class='quote'>
<div class='quote__body'>
<p>Kindergarten enrolment forms are a popular one. This traditionally involves multiple forms asking for a child's history, address, etc. Parents would fill out those forms, drop them off in person, and the kindy would process it before asking for prepayments. This often results in cheque payments or online payments using a separate process.</p>
<p>Snapforms streamlines that whole offline process. The enrolment and payment are all included in the one online form. That form can then be embedded on a website, or sent as a link to your phone. That’s one example in an industry of many examples where payment is included in the online form process. Be it ordering a T-shirt, enrolling kids in school, or booking their activity tickets. Our integration with payment providers like Pin Payments enables the easy collection of these payments when a form is submitted.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<img alt="Dashboard view of adding a payments field to a registration form." src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/create-tailored-online-forms-in-minutes-with-snapforms/payment-form-c01e902b19a25c34f3b0b28b044ac6dddb82eabeb65bf659670ac309fbfe0b3d.png" />
<h2>Accessibility and data privacy the tenets of Snapforms</h2>
<p>Snapforms has established a reputation for being a safe and secure platform, adhering to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://snapforms.com.au/security">Australian Privacy Principles</a>. Being an Australia-based company, Snapforms hosts all of their data onshore, giving them data sovereignty. This has led to many Government agencies and Healthcare organisations relying on Snapforms' service.</p>
<blockquote class='quote'>
<div class='quote__body'>
<p>They make up 80% of our user base. The government mandates their data be stored onshore and never leave Australia. That's our priority as well — privacy of data and making sure it's secure.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, every form provider has a form builder, and they're all relatively similar. But ease of use and data privacy are our tenets and differentiators</p>
</div>
<footer class='quote__by'>
<span class='quote__author'>Tim Wilson</span>
<span class='quote__cite'>Co-Founding Director of Snapforms.</span>
</footer>
</blockquote>
<h2>Integrate Snapforms and Pin Payments</h2>
<p>Being Australia-based, both Snapforms and Pin Payments are the perfect solution for elevating local businesses that want to improve their processes and collect information from customers with ease. Find out how to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://snapforms.com.au/resources/take-payments-on-your-form-with-pin-payments">set up the integration here</a>.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/reconcile-payments-with-xero-bank-feedReconcile payments with ease using our Xero Bank Feed<p>As a small business owner, reducing the hassle of manually reconciling your daily sales gets you back more time in your day. If you’re using Xero as your accounting platform, you can now reconcile faster thanks to our new Xero Bank Feed. Xero launching its Bank Feed API in recent years has been a game changer, enabling online payment providers like Pin Payments to build our own bank feed to help our customers with reconciling.</p>
<h2>What is a bank feed?</h2>
<p>Bank feeds are great because they automatically import transactions from your bank or financial institution into your Xero organisation. This eliminates the need to import transactions manually. You can then match these imported bank transactions against your Xero transactions to complete your reconciliation.</p>
<p>It's especially helpful if your business spends a lot of time on manual reconciliation. When you run your own business, having that extra time to focus on other areas is always beneficial. Using a bank feed helps automate large sections of manual bookkeeping and will help your business' efficiency and productivity.</p>
<h2>What are the benefits?</h2>
<p><strong>1. Streamline reconciling</strong><br/>
With all the information you need in the one place, you won't have to switch between applications to reconcile payments from your payments provider.</p>
<p><strong>2. Saves you time, helps you scale</strong><br/>
Just because your business is growing doesn’t mean your reconciling work has to. Leverage Xero's Find and Match tool to automate the reconciling process.</p>
<p><strong>3. Keep your financial position current</strong><br/>
When your accounts are up-to-date, you'll make better business decisions. Bank feeds help you get ahead in your bookkeeping by enabling more regular reconciling.</p>
<h2>Reconcile with less time and effort</h2>
<p>Once enabled, your Pin Payments bank feed will be visible in your Xero account. The bank feed will import transactions from your Pin Payments account after each transfer and be presented as bank statement lines.</p>
<p>Following each transfer, you can view gross amounts charged to your customers along with the related transaction fees within the bank feed. You can then proceed to reconcile payments received from us against corresponding invoices in Xero. Here's where you can take advantage of Xero's Find and Match tool to really speed things up, which suggests matches based on the amount or transaction identifier.</p>
<p><img alt="Desktop view of a Xero account. On the left are transactions received by Pin Payments and on the right is the Xero transaction list." class="post--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/reconcile-payments-with-xero-bank-feed/article-ae45e546000d3062c449785c0edf4daa03557b0140331099e829bf4b22da2d58.png" /></p>
<h2>How to enable the Xero Bank Feed</h2>
<p>You can set up the Xero Bank Feed from the Account section of your <a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/">Pin Payments dashboard</a>. For step-by-step instructions, you can read our <a href="/guides/xero-bank-feed">Xero Bank Feed product guide</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/one-roof-and-pin-payments-drive-digital-conversations-at-womens-business-summitOne Roof and Pin Payments drive digital conversations at women's business summit<p>Investing in digital tools is great for business efficiency. But do you know what they can do for your business? When investing in the right tools, understanding them and what kind of data they can process is equally important, says Jen Sharpe, founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://think-hq.com.au/">Think HQ</a>.</p>
<p>Jen spoke to attendees of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.weareoneroof.com/">One Roof</a> Women's Small Business Summit, jointly sponsored by Pin Payments and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Pages/home.aspx">City of Melbourne</a>, on June 14. She shared her experience as a business owner, what worked and what didn't, and advice for other women business owners. Here are some highlights from her keynote speech:</p>
<p><strong>1. Understand the fundamental rules of cash flow, don't spend money on things you don't need straight away and make sure you're all in when you start.</strong></br>
<em>If you want something to work, you need to be all in. 100% in, 100% vulnerable, with 100% of your energy. But start small so you can test and refine without huge financial commitments. There will always be small windows to sprint and grow, and timing is everything. Recognise when the opportunity arises and act.</em></p>
<p><strong>2. Continuously seek ways to increase revenue through new client services and always talk, pitch, and ask questions.</strong> </br>
<em>Find ways to evolve. Just because your key product or service was what you launched with, that doesn't mean you can't evolve over time. If you don't, you might get left behind with the changes that are happening in the world.</em></p>
<p><strong>3. Own your emotional self and understand where your limitations come from.</strong> </br>
<em>Unless you know who you are as a person, there's every chance you'll get knocked about by things that trigger you. For anyone who wants to grow a business, it's the most vulnerable thing you will do. Explore who you are as a person and understand if there are limitations. If you can identify it for what it is, put it aside and keep growing the business.</em></p>
<p><img alt="Think HQ Jen Sharpe on-stage giving her keynote speech." style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/one-roof-and-pin-payments-drive-digital-conversations-at-womens-business-summit/founder-73a18333ef6e5cd933f074d319032a5d73765073a28f8e4f9889aa68f301dacf.jpg" /></p>
<p>In sharing her advice with other business owners, Jen says the whole experience of launching, running and growing a business can be challenging and lonely. It will expose weaknesses, and the bigger you grow, the more detractors you will have.</p>
<p>"But it's so exhilarating and empowering. Today I am a strong independent woman. It [running my own business] creates many choices, and I can make whatever choice I want for my family. That was one of the huge drivers for me in getting Think HQ to the size that it is. The whole experience will grow you beyond yourself. I would not be doing anything else," she told an audience of 180 women.</p>
<h2>Women business leaders share tips for a successful business.</h2>
<p>On day two of the Summit, four women business leaders came together virtually and discussed their successes, passions, vulnerabilities and advice when it comes to running and managing a small business. These four powerhouse women were Dr. Elise Bialylew (founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.mindfulinmay.org/">Mindful in May</a>), Emily Osmond (founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://emilyosmond.com/podcast/">The Emily Osmond Show</a>), Cherie Clonan (founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.thedigitalpicnic.com.au/">The Digital Picnic</a>) and Pin Payments co-CEO Caitlin Zotti. Here’s a preview of what they shared:</p>
<p><img alt="Laptop screengrab of the speakers at the Women in Small Business Summit virtual panel event." style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/one-roof-and-pin-payments-drive-digital-conversations-at-womens-business-summit/virtual-panel-4d4cf66cc7dacce4125c40e3fe35173e1a17cfeb8c07f0b1312635c16dffa5c2.jpg" /></p>
<h3>Dr. Elise Bialylew:</h3>
<p><em>In your business, you have to be wildly passionate and believe in the service of the product. Ask yourself if it’s needed in the world. Then invest in learning. I started off with no clue about business as I was a health professional. Spending money on my own learning was a shift in mindset.</em></p>
<h3>Emily Osmond:</h3>
<p><em>The content we share underpins what we’re doing online. There’s 4 types of content we can share:</em></br>
<em>1. Value: Give value to the audience and a reason for them to follow you.</em></br>
<em>2. Credibility: Share wins, celebrations, milestones, awards or media features. Sharing some of these helps the audience see we are the experts in our field.</em></br>
<em>3. Connection: Be like you are in-person and share a bit of yourself in your content through videos.</em></br>
<em>4. Promotion: This is often forgotten or invisible because we don’t want to come across as too pushy. Be inviting with your content and make people take the next step.</em></br></p>
<h3>Cherie Clonan:</h3>
<p><em>I’ve always seen everyday interactions and turned them into full cinematic experiences. That’s my autistic lived experience. I would watch everything and write copy for a scene I see in my head. Everything in front of me is a stunning opportunity to share content. You can do something similar by getting the smallest notepad and writing down everyday things that happen in your lives. Then see if you can turn that into content. The pen and paper will never fail.</em></p>
<h3>Caitlin Zotti:</h3>
<p><em>When you engage specialists, they will have a certain way they like to do things. Remember that you are the client and if you need it to work the way you understand, they should tailor it to how it makes sense to you. Don’t just accept their ways, tell them if it doesn’t work for you.</em></p>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn07RFLZ77k">Click here</a> to watch the recording of the virtual panel.</p>
<p>Pin Payments is thrilled to have partnered with One Roof again, with a shared vision of elevating women in business. For a second year, we are also sponsoring access to 12 months of business support through One Roof’s membership for 15 women-led businesses.</p>
<p>One Roof is a digital network for ambitious women on a mission to increase the number and success of women leaders and entrepreneurs. <a href="/blog/one-roof-is-revolutionising-entrepreneurship-opportunities-for-women">Read here</a> about how co-founder Sheree Rubinstein transformed the business from a leading co-working space for women in Australia to a digital platform that supports women in Australia and globally.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/streamline-your-business-growth-with-clevero-pin-paymentsStreamline your business growth with Clevero & Pin Payments<p>As a business grows, so does the complexity of running it. Manual processes often get in the way of expansion, and soon you find yourself looking for ways to increase efficiency of your business’s systems, products and services.</p>
<p>Here's where business management platform <a target="_blank" href="https://clevero.co/">Clevero</a> helps business owners save time. Clevero is one simple software system that helps run your business processes the way you want. Using Clevero, you can operate your business from end-to-end painlessly. You can track, manage and automate all aspects of your business's day-to-day operations and reduce the need for multiple productivity apps. And with Pin Payments’ partnership with Clevero, you can automate many of your business’s payment collection through our easy integration.</p>
<h2>Helping businesses through the growing pains</h2>
<p>Clevero is on a mission to help eradicate the mind-numbing manual processes of your business so you can focus on scaling. Those that turn to Clevero are often businesses that have been around for three to four years. These businesses realise the processes that used to work well are no longer up to scratch as the business grows.</p>
<p>“These businesses typically use multiple spreadsheets or ad-hoc systems. They're finding that as they grow, they’re spending too much time on manual work and double handling data entry. It’s clear that the systems they have in place are not suitable to be the foundation for their next phase of growth,” says Lez Yeoh, Clevero CEO and Founder.</p>
<p><img alt="Image of a laptop displaying a Clevero dashboard." style="max-width: 600px; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/streamline-your-business-growth-with-clevero-pin-payments/clevero-8a67e0b602b51cbe430ec357c0a2c3c1e5c20b6af1006267fa3c56601be69f98.jpg" /></p>
<h2>Clevero focuses on automation and out-of-the-box solutions</h2>
<p>Clevero’s key differentiation from other players in the business management space is their out-of-the-box solutions. They integrate key moving parts and functions of any business under one roof. From sales to delivery and operations, Clevero helps businesses scale in these areas and creates automated processes around those functions.</p>
<p>Before using Clevero, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.balanceagedcarespecialists.net.au/">Balanced Aged Care Specialists</a> were paper-based and operated using spreadsheets. As aged care specialists, they offer a range of services to help people with their aged care needs. Losing track of their clients, they realised they needed a better system. With Clevero, they were able to create automated processes, including taking payments and deposits, creating signature documents and scheduling appointments online with clients.</p>
<h2>Get started with Clevero</h2>
<p>Tired of going through the growing pains of your business? Don’t wait to streamline your business. <a target="_blank" href="https://clevero.co/contact/">Contact</a> Clevero to learn more today.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/trust-inclusion-compassion-make-pin-payments-great-place-to-workTrust, inclusion and compassion make Pin Payments a Great Place to Work<p>100% of Pin Payments’ employees have rated us as a <a target="_blank" rel="noopenner" href="https://greatplacetowork.com.au/gptwcertified/pin-payments/">Great Place to Work®</a> this year, certifying us for a second year in a row. We’re honoured to join the ranks of so many global organisations recognised for creating a positive work environment and an exemplary employee experience.</p>
<p>Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture that has certified companies around the world for 30 years. They enable companies and organisations to assess the effectiveness of their own workplace cultures through anonymous employee surveys.</p>
<p><img alt="Great Place to Work certification banner next to image of Pin Payments team." style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/trust-inclusion-compassion-make-pin-payments-great-place-to-work/team-a33358d01122cce9b859c7d267556b9ff4f647d7b08ed309d7bbd3b161c5cd10.png" /></p>
<h2>What our employees said about us</h2>
<p>We’ve always focused on creating a caring and supportive environment where everyone can be their authentic selves and achieve success. The Great Place to Work survey results validated that we are on the right track. 100% of our employees agreed that we create a safe place for them to work and that they receive the flexibility they need.</p>
<p>They also recognised that practicing transparency and diversity are top priorities for us. Results from the survey further showed that everyone was made to feel welcome when they first joined Pin Payments. But what really solidified our position as an organisation that is people-focused was the recognition of our honest and ethical practices.</p>
<p><img alt="Images collage of Pin Payments staff at outdoor activities." style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/trust-inclusion-compassion-make-pin-payments-great-place-to-work/socials-dbf4804f6d7d0b065094b9a5a0443eabcb4a85b66551fb2c3f477240a45c0524.jpg" /></p>
<h2>Life at Pin Payments</h2>
<p>Flexibility is at the forefront of the way we operate. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world had to isolate, remote working was a game changer. We knew it was important to carry on giving everyone that flexibility even today, with a hybrid working environment. In the last two years, we’ve seen employees welcome babies, get married and move houses. With such big changes in their lives, it was necessary to give everyone the space and time needed to adapt to their life changes and have a healthy work-life balance.</p>
<p>When we’re not working, we indulge in delightful gastronomic experiences through weekly lunches together at the office, and monthly socials that bring everyone closer on a personal level. Our employees are our strongest asset and we want them to feel appreciated. The Great Place to Work achievement was possible thanks to the trust that each team member has in Pin Payments.</p>
<h2>Work with amazing people!</h2>
<p>View our <a href="/jobs">open positions</a>.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/small-businesses-fight-the-good-fight-for-climate-reliefSmall businesses fight the good fight for climate relief<p>The climate crisis continues to unfold with increased conversations on what people can do better to reduce their carbon footprint.</p>
<p>According to 2022 <a href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/ap/en/newsroom/press-releases/en/2022/going-green-sustainability-key-to-future-success-as-consumers-and-employees-look-to-businesses-to-act/">research by Mastercard</a>, 70% of Australian small businesses were actively exploring how to operate more sustainably and taking steps to improve their practices.</p>
<p>In New Zealand, a 2022 <a href="https://www.myob.com/nz/blog/climate-change-small-business-action-needed/">study from MYOB</a> revealed that 66% of small and medium business owners believed that businesses have a responsibility and role in mitigating climate change. 48% have implemented processes to reduce their carbon footprint, with standard sustainability measures being the reduction of single-use products, composting and reducing power usage in offices.</p>
<p>Two such small businesses that took measures to reduce their carbon footprint are <a href="https://bindle.com.au/">Bindle</a> and <a href="https://www.traveled.co.nz/">Travel Ed</a>.</p>
<h2>Bindle gears up towards zero waste</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification">B Corp certified</a> boutique gift business Bindle is proudly waving the flag of responsible consumerism — putting themselves among businesses that operate as a force for good and prioritise people and the planet over profit. Bindle walks the talk through conscious purchases with no qualms about guiding others in improving their sustainability practices.</p>
<p><span class="hangQuote">“</span>Sustainability has become a big part of our brand and sets us apart from most competitors. For a long time, our gift boxes and tissue paper have been 100% circular, eco-friendly and can be composted or recycled after use. Our shipping cartons and tape are made from recycling materials.</p>
<p>"But the buck doesn't stop with us. We're not shy to suggest packaging amendments to our suppliers to reduce waste. We take into account and hold to account packaging sustainability when selecting new products. Because if not us, then who," shares Bindle founder and director Catherine Blackford.</p>
<p><img title="A Bindle gift box lid with a small teapot and tea cup on a tray." alt="A Bindle gift box lid with a small teapot and tea cup on a tray." style="max-width: 600px; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/small-businesses-fight-the-good-fight-for-climate-relief/bundle-1d231c9df0390c4a0084a0a69cb3fc91c2dcf029dfed69b0f7fafe3f88fc02cb.jpg" /></p>
<p>Catherine says that Bindle’s entire team is on board with their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, with an appointed "Warehouse Warrior and Recycling Goddess" who manages their strategy to improve recycling practices.</p>
<p>“It's a unified goal within the office to reduce our waste as much as possible. Our waste output is small but not quite zero. So, we always have that zero goal in mind. Recycling is part of our weekly operations meetings where we tackle specific efforts," Catherine shares.</p>
<p>These efforts include carbon offsetting, rubbish separation, organising cardboard recycling, ways to reuse access packaging materials — such as bubble wrap, paper stuffing and biodegradable packing pallets — and ensuring food composting.</p>
<h2>Start small - reduce, reuse and recycle</h2>
<p>“Consistent small steps help build motivation. Start by sorting your waste into paper recycling, cardboard recycling, soft plastic recycling and general rubbish, which is often the least full,” says Catherine.</p>
<p>Ditch those takeaway cups, get refillable water bottles, seek out renewable energy providers and keep that hot water unit turned off, adds Catherine.</p>
<h2>Travel Ed contributes to sustainable tourism</h2>
<p>Across the Tasman Sea, travel and tour agency <a href="https://www.traveled.co.nz/">Travel Ed</a> is doing their part to combat the climate crisis through sustainable tourism.</p>
<p>Travel Ed is driven by the philosophy of “Discovery by Doing". They offer engaging and interactive multi-day guided tours within a Māori context. Travel Ed partners with small Māori operators who take travellers on art and history tours while engaging in cultural experiences and interacting with local communities.</p>
<p>Founder Les Millard says their sustainability goals aim to create a greater world for future generations. They do this by embracing the <a href="https://www.tiakinewzealand.com/">Tiaki Promise</a> and <a href="https://www.sustainabletourism.nz/">The Tourism Sustainability Commitment</a>.</p>
<p><img title="A Māori guide speaking to a group of 5 visitors at the entrance to the Māori meeting house, Mataatua Wharenui" alt="A Māori guide speaking to a group of 5 visitors at the entrance to the Māori meeting house, Mataatua Wharenui" style="max-width: 600px; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/small-businesses-fight-the-good-fight-for-climate-relief/tour-guide-efcb42decff0db3c0f3718be353d781046d230bf83df4e3525038a02d3bdfa85.jpg" /></p>
<p>The Tiaki Promise is a collaborative initiative guided by seven travel and tourism-related organisations across the public and private sectors. Through the Tiaki Promise, organisations commit to care, conserve and protect New Zealand by guiding visitors to travel safely and conscientiously. The Tourism Sustainability Commitment — a programme managed by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) — guides the industry in positively impacting local communities, contributing to restoring and protecting the natural environment, and rebuilding economic sustainability.</p>
<p>Les says from the programmes they run, they donate to projects that enhance local communities and several environmental conservation organisations such as <a href="https://www.summerhill.nz/">Summerhill</a>, <a href="https://www.treesthatcount.co.nz/">Trees That Count</a> and <a href="https://theelms.org.nz/">The Elms Te Papa (Tauranga)</a>.</p>
<p>“I have also been a guest lecturer on sustainable development goals in business to second year commerce degree students studying Business Sustainability at Wellington's Victoria University. Everything we've done has enabled us to implement a breadth of practices to attain the best we can at addressing sustainable and regenerative standards," says Les.</p>
<h2>Sustainable tips for the travel and tourism business</h2>
<p>If you’re in the travel and tourism business in New Zealand, Les says <a href="https://www.bayofplentynz.com/sustainability-and-regeneration/the-green-room-te-ruma-kakariki/">The Green Room</a> training programme that has rolled out across the country is an excellent place to start.</p>
<p>This 12-week programme is designed to help participants gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue zero carbon and regenerative goals that align with the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.</p>
<p>"By completing this training and demonstrating our commitment to sustainable tourism, we have placed ourselves front and centre of the Tiaki Promise,” says Les.</p>
<p>As we begin the new year by reorganising and reprioritising business operations, let's ask ourselves how we can do better for the environment.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/digital-wallet-a-big-deal-for-small-business-ownersWhy digital wallets are a big deal for small business owners<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked the shift to digital payments as cash usage continues to drop. According to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.auspaynet.com.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/AusPayNet_Annual_Review_2021.pdf">Australian Payments Network (AusPayNet)</a>, in 2021, consumers made over 11.9 billion card payments, a 13.1% increase from 2020. Furthermore, the number of monthly digital wallet transactions increased by 90%.</p>
<h2>Why should small businesses get on board this payment revolution?</h2>
<p>Digital wallets rose in popularity with users as they reduce the need to carry physical cards and provide a secure, one-touch payment option. And when payments are easier for your customers, they'll keep coming back for more, giving you a competitive advantage.</p>
<p>Common digital wallets include <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://pay.google.com/intl/en_au/about/">Google Pay</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.apple.com/au/apple-pay/">Apple Pay</a>. Most ecommerce platforms support these, but you don't necessarily need to run an online store to benefit.</p>
<h2>Google Pay and Apple Pay are already enabled in your Pin Payments account</h2>
<p>We’ve added the functionality as part of our <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Payment Page</a>, <a href="/guides/payment-buttons">Payment Button</a>, <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing">Xero add-on</a>, and <a href="/integrations/ecwid">Ecwid integration</a>. Your business won't need to sign up for a digital wallet account, buy hardware or engage a developer to get started.</p>
<p>With digital wallets now available in your Pin Payments account, your customers can make payments faster using their Google Pay or Apple Pay accounts without entering their payment card details.</p>
<p>If you want to integrate digital wallets into your application or website, refer to our <a href="/developers/integration-guides">Integration Guide</a>. </p>
<p><img alt="Payment page showing the option to pay with a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay." class="article-image" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/digital-wallet-a-big-deal-for-small-business-owners/paymentpage-3f7fb0109d9d5779df34a748012266b6287a956f23b47f9fd05b50e793710a34.png" /></p>
<h2>Find out more about offering Google Pay and Apple Pay for your business</h2>
<p>Drop us an <a href="/support/contact">email</a> if you have any questions about the new features.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/scaling-your-small-business-to-new-heightsScaling your small business to new heights<p>If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably thought about scaling your business at some point, especially in the new year.
With the right strategy, team, processes and technology, nothing is impossible. So, if you’re thinking new year, new me, here’s how our customers <a href="https://aussieholidaystays.com.au/">Aussie Holiday Stays</a> and <a href="https://www.colourspace.gallery/">ColourSpace</a> scaled their business.</p>
<h3>Aussie Holiday Stays expands nationally</h3>
<p>Amanda Walker founded accommodation booking platform WA Home Stay in 2018. She envisioned a localised platform that offered cheaper booking fees, lower commission rates and listed council-approved accommodation.
Fast forward 4 years and that is now the national booking platform Aussie Holiday Stays.</p>
<img alt="House" style="display: block; max-width: 920px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/scaling-your-small-business-to-new-heights/house-d4034e8dde980fbf18a7db15f3bf6e4b41e83dfad949e000d9797012f5f74eae.png" />
<p>Amanda realised the business was ready to scale following a successful affiliate marketing campaign. In order to grow her business nationally, she searched for developers who could help create a platform for her business.
She landed on the idea to first conduct tests through website cloning — a method often used to for website testing without affecting the live site. For her, this was a cost-effective way to examine what she needed to improve her website to facilitate more listings and bookings.</p>
<p>“For our minimal viable product, we stumbled across a clone site service in India. We conducted initial website testing and had someone list their property on the clone website. That resulted in a reservation, and that was an <em>oh my goodness moment</em>. If we can do this based on our clone website, there is potential here to take this further.”</p>
<p>After a second website iteration, Amanda was ready to go national in early 2022.</p>
<p>Amanda says that scaling has much to do with learning by doing, so start small and always test your market’s acceptance to your product.</p>
<p>“To me, scaling means building a profitable national business and then replicating it in markets internationally. If we can do it sustainably and profitably in Australia, we can replicate it in different countries,” says Amanda.</p>
<h3>ColourSpace scales by finding the right market fit</h3>
<p>ColourSpace is a social enterprise with a mission to change how people engage with art. They curate and deliver fresh art to workplaces around Melbourne and parts of Sydney every three months. Their work not only creates dynamic workplaces, but also opportunities for local artists.</p>
<img alt="Art" style="display: block; max-width: 920px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/scaling-your-small-business-to-new-heights/art-5c7c3097f2cf8f4843c50273dcdee6a8e3255068e05a87881bf5c1a789c5b768.png" />
<p>ColourSpace launched in 2016 with two clients and 10 artists. Today, they’ve hit a milestone of 200 artworks on display, with a network of 300 artists.</p>
<p>For ColourSpace founder Scott Ko, scaling involved finding product market fit. Once the business took off, Scott ensured he spoke to his customers and understood their product needs.</p>
<p>“ColourSpace was always designed to be scaled. That's why I didn’t consider going residential or organising just events. I didn’t see that as particularly scalable.
Working with an office that subscribes to our artwork is iterative, and I can think about scaling that. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a boom in clients because all of a sudden businesses understood we are not interior designers. We come in and create these vibrant spaces.</p>
<p>“We’ve done the hard yards of knowing who to speak to, what our processes and margins are, cost of delivery and onboarding rates. We think a lot about whether this effort allows us to build that pipeline and infrastructure, or is it a once-off opportunity. If it’s a once-off, it's still fine. But is it aligned with where we want to go? That's how we've approached scaling,” he shares.</p>
<p>To Scott, a former management consultant, scaling simply means a system ready to take in more similar work and not just more work.</p>
<p>“Time and money are limited. We can afford to run only three experiments, so we better know which experiments we will invest in. If we don't know that, then we're not ready for scale.”</p>
<h3>Think you’re ready to scale? Here are some tips from our experts</h3>
<img alt="Art" style="display: block; max-width: 920px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/scaling-your-small-business-to-new-heights/profile_shots-91120de10edc74abe898382d742e9e6bc9475bb8bbc5096da276d3b42dda4dd1.png" />
<p><strong>Embrace imperfection</strong></p>
<p><em>“Get out there and start and see if it works. Don't worry about making mistakes; everybody does. If people can see that you're authentic, that goes a long way. So just be honest and be okay with the fact that you don't know everything and keep learning.”</em>
Amanda Walker</p>
<p><strong>Understand your business purpose</strong></p>
<p><em>“Understand why people buy from you. A business might be able to bring in $50,000 from one place and $80,000 from another. But if there’s no understanding as to why that business came about, then that business is not in a position to scale.”</em>
Scott Ko</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/xero-add-on-updateXero add-on update<p>Our <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing">Xero</a> update allows you to record payment processing fees and payment reversals from your Pin Payments account.</p>
<p>Each payment processing fee will be represented in Xero as a spend money transaction, and payment reversals such as refunds and chargebacks will be represented as a credit note. If you have enabled <a href="/support/faqs/charges-and-refunds/pass-on-fees">surcharging</a>, you will see the surcharge amount as a receive money transaction.</p>
<p>We’re putting everything in one place, to make your accounts reporting easier.</p>
<h2>Using the updated Xero add-on</h2>
<p>If you are an existing customer already using our Xero integration, you’re all set without needing to disconnect and reconnect Xero for the changes to take effect. You will be prompted to select accounts for <strong>fee expenses</strong>, <strong>fee reimbursements</strong>, and <strong>credit notes</strong> the next time you view your Xero settings from your <a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/account/xero">Dashboard</a>.</p>
<p><img title="Xero Online Invoicing" alt="Xero Online Invoicing settings under Dashboard account" class="article-image" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/xero-add-on-update/account-d6dd080a050286af5a08fa92ae07d519e5f0a0b8cf4d5aa499e262fca72fe209.png" /></p>
<p>If you are still unsure, our customer <a href="/support/contact">support team</a> is available to help you.</p>
<h2>Using Xero Online Invoicing for the first time</h2>
<p>Pin Payments’ integration with Xero online invoicing enables you to offer customers the option of paying Xero invoices using their credit or debit card online.</p>
<p>Xero is an easy-to-use online accounting software that’s designed specifically for small businesses. This means you can work when and where you want to, by simply logging on with your PC, Mac or even mobile device.</p>
<p>Xero has all you need to run your business – including invoicing, paying bills, sales tax returns, reporting and much more.</p>
<p>Follow our step-by-step guide <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing">here</a> on integrating Xero from your Pin Payments account.</p>
<p>Get started <a href="/get-started/xero">here</a>.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/world-tourism-dayPandemic changes travel landscape for small business operators<p>The pandemic has undoubtedly transformed the way we travel. As international borders reopened, travel did not look the same.
Traveller confidence took a hit with many taking extra precautions to keep the virus at bay.
During World Tourism Day — which fell on 27 September — Pin Payments spoke to our travel and tourism customers, <a href="https://www.kodasail.com/">Koda Sail</a>, <a href="https://www.nomadstays.com/">Nomad Stays</a>, and <a href="https://capeyorkmotorcycles.com.au/">Cape York Motorcycle Adventures</a> on how they had to shake up their travel offerings.</p>
<p><br><strong>Giving travellers confidence through flexibility</strong></br>
As travelling was on hiatus in the last two years, processing refunds was inevitable. Koda Sail, who organise group tours to Croatia, Turkey and the Maldives for young professional travellers, offered flexibility in bookings and bonus credit for those who kept their bookings.</p>
<p><em>“Book with confidence</em> was my tagline for the last four months. I introduced the flexible changes policy, something many companies were doing, just to get back customer confidence.
I had to keep on top of flexibility in transferring dates, names, and tours without extra costs,” says Koda Sail CEO Chris Tabone.</p>
<p>For the accommodation booking platform <a href="https://www.nomadstays.com/">Nomad Stays</a>, the boom in the digital nomad trend played into their hands as many sought to travel while working.</p>
<p>“Two years ago, when we pioneered the concept of instantly bookable month-long rentals for digital nomads, we had to explain to hoteliers and accommodation suppliers what a digital nomad was and what they needed in their accommodation choices.
Fast forward two years and that concept is well known around the world. We've enjoyed constant growth for the past two and a half years, which made launching and growing a travel brand during a global pandemic a unique experience,” shares Nomad Stays founder Mark Phillips.</p>
<p>The combination of luxury and off-road touring might be surprising, but that is what adventure tour operator <a href="https://capeyorkmotorcycles.com.au/">Cape York Motorcycle Adventures</a> is offering more of due to the demand.
Family-owned and operated, Cape York has been in the business since 1990, running guided off-road dirt bike tours between Cairns and Cape York, and Cairns to Darwin.</p>
<p>“We are seeing a maturing audience with a lot of 40th and 50th birthday celebrations on tour. We haven’t had that a lot in the past. Now we have travellers who want adventure touring, but then are also complaining about getting wet in a camp stretcher.
So we’ve moved onto providing our seven-day tours with full accommodation and hot showers,” shares Renae Kunda, Cape York Motorcycle Adventures Director.</p>
<img alt="Collage of three travel destination images. Pictured left a parked yellow Cape York Motorcycle Adventures dirtbike against a backdrop of the ocean. Pictured centre a Koda Sail cruise boat anchored on the ocean with travellers swimming around it. Picttured left is a traveller relaxing in a hammock with a drink in her right hand while overlooking greenery." class="article--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/world-tourism-day/article_image-264c61d54909ce54939348a1bed6b09123d65c3903cb05a9e7a753a47b5a0f76.jpg" />
<p><br><strong>Riding the travel wave while overcoming supply issues</strong></br>
By early 2022, enthusiastic travellers rushed to make bookings, eager to feel the freedom to travel.
This enthusiasm saw Nomad Stays almost booked out. Mark says while it was great to see the industry bounce back with increased business, the extended period of COVID-19 restrictions created long-term supply issues.</p>
<p>“It created an imbalance in many parts of the world, especially in Europe. We just didn’t have enough supply to deliver to all our customers.
Excess market demand was partially met with new gig-industry apartments coming into the market. Still, many new operators have little experience in the travel industry, and so their products and packages did not meet the expectations of a lot of modern demand.
We saw an increase in rejections from applicants who wanted to join our network but didn’t have the right product mix,” adds Mark.</p>
<p>He hopes to see more education and integration of the new range of gig-economy tourism players into the mainstream industry.</p>
<p>Renae says they also faced supply issues, having to increase the number of motorcycles available as tour group numbers grew. She had to purchase replacement bike parts 12 months in advance to avoid shipping issues, which was no easy feat considering a global vehicle shortage.</p>
<p>While the reopening of travel presented challenges that forced changes, they reflect an industry that continues to thrive despite the long travel pause. Renae, Mark and Chris share their advice and hopes amidst the transformation.</p>
<p><strong>Advice from industry experts</strong></p>
<img alt="Close up images of Nomad Stays Founder Mark Phillips, Cape York Motorcycle Adventures Director Renae Kunda and Koda Sail Founder Chris Tabone." class="article--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/world-tourism-day/experts-a19c7c7847c077a137566729330c261d7e2f6e3c8aad9677774a6d4c76770fec.jpg" />
<p><br><strong>Get more digital</strong></br>
<em>For travel businesses, now is the time to get a lot more digital in your business systems to position yourself to the large numbers of fast-moving, digital-first clients that exist today</em>
<br>Mark Phillips, Nomad Stays</br>
<br><strong>Schedule in ‘me time’</strong></br>
<em>I made the mistake of booking three years’ worth of work not realising that I would have to do that work in one season now.</em>
<em>It's really important to book in some personal time. Otherwise, you’ll burn out in a season and you are your best asset.</em>
<br>Renae Kunda, Cape York Motorcycle Adventures</br>
<br><strong>Show compassion</strong></br>
<em>I hope travellers show more compassion for the tourism and hospitality industry and take a breath before having expectations similar to that in 2019.</em>
<em>Everyone in the world is having similar problems such as staff shortages and getting things back into motion. Just be nice, be patient and we'll get back to it.</em>
<br>Chris Tabone, Koda Sail</br></p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/kia-ora-new-zealandKia Ora New Zealand!<p>We’re excited to announce that Pin Payments is now available in New Zealand.</p>
<p>Small businesses in New Zealand can now accept online payments from their customers with a low fee of <a href="/pricing">1.9% + 30c for domestic card transactions</a>. Getting started is free; businesses with an NZBN can <a href="/get-started">sign up</a> and quickly begin to accept payments.</p>
<h2>Payment tools at your fingertips</h2>
<p>Like Australian businesses using Pin Payments, your account will give you access to several in-built features, including <a href="/guides/payment-pages">payment links</a>, <a href="/small-business-payments/recurring-payments">recurring payments</a>, and <a href="/integrations/xero">Xero Online Invoicing add-on</a>, as well as integrations with <a href="/integrations/chargebee">Chargebee</a>, <a href="/integrations/woocommerce">Woo Commerce</a>, <a href="/integrations/ecwid">Ecwid by Lightspeed</a>, and more.</p>
<h2>Grow your platform business to New Zealand</h2>
<p>Our launch into New Zealand enables software platforms already using Pin Payments to scale their operations to New Zealand quickly with minimal cost. One integration now allows a platform to offer payments for both Australian and New Zealand businesses. Our customers <a href="https://www.revolutionise.com.au/">revolutioniseSPORT</a>, <a href="https://obee.com.au/">Obee</a>, and <a href="https://www.hirepos.com.au/">HirePOS</a> have already started serving their New Zealand customers as a result of this.</p>
<p>With over 530,000 small businesses in New Zealand, we’re excited to help our Kiwi friends embrace the digital revolution and thrive in the new economy.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please <a href="/contact">contact us</a> or call us on <a href="tel:+611300364800">1300 364 800</a> (AU) or <a href="tel:+6444887052">4-488 7052</a> (NZ) to speak with our team.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/one-roof-is-revolutionising-entrepreneurship-opportunities-for-womenOne Roof is revolutionising entrepreneurship opportunities for women<p>For years, <a href="https://www.weareoneroof.com/">One Roof</a> has been a place where aspiring women entrepreneurs had the opportunities and resources needed to turn their ideas into reality. Co-founded by corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur Sheree Rubinstein, One Roof was set up in 2016. As they grew more prominent over the years, One Roof quickly became the leading co-working space for women in Australia. Their initial setup in Southbank, Melbourne—which Sheree always knew would be temporary—saw over 200,000 people walk through its doors every year, with various events running weekly.</p>
<p>But just as One Roof was evolving and plans were underway to create a permanent flagship space to call their own, COVID-19 struck and things came to a complete halt. The pandemic plunged the world into lockdown and Sheree knew she had to pivot quickly. She soon relaunched One Roof as a digital membership for entrepreneurial women.</p>
<p>By going digital, One Roof was also able to shift their offerings online and continued delivering masterclasses, group networking and weekly meditation sessions. The pivot also created opportunities to add more offerings such as quarterly business check-ins, one-on-one connections, complimentary consultations for members by business experts and a peer-led coaching group called Inner Circle. Taking the membership online meant that One Roof was able to support more women across Australia and globally, with members across 9 countries.</p>
<img alt="Sheree Rubinstein" class="post--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/one-roof-is-revolutionising-entrepreneurship-opportunities-for-women/hero-a075d78ecfff18b70f1143124dec19cabcf8c2eb5ec79d7bddb89fd098251bdb.jpg" />
<p>This journey, however, was not short of challenges. Sheree (pictured above) made the hard decision to return the capital raised through investors for the flagship store. While she wasn’t operating a physical space anymore, she took that time to observe the changes happening around her and rework the business model.</p>
<p>“It was almost having to start again, to get the revenue and membership coming back while also not knowing whether investors wanted to go down the path of online membership. The biggest challenge was finding ways to set up something that is cost-effective and efficient,” Sheree shared.</p>
<p>Then came the challenge of figuring out what One Roof’s audience wanted, in light of the country having gone into lockdown.</p>
<p>“It’s important to keep talking to your customers and what I discovered in the last two years was that the needs of our target market were constantly changing. We went from being in lockdown and everybody wanting things online, to the country opening up and people wanting a mix of online and in-person activities. So we created hybrid options with a lot of our events and masterclasses.</p>
<p>“Networking is equally important. My network was there and opened every door for me in building my business. We might be good at connecting and meeting people, but we need to go that extra step to build very strategic and strong networks to help scale our business,” added Sheree.</p>
<p>One Roof has supported many businesses through their digital platform, one of them being <a href="https://www.prontobottle.com">Pronto Bottle</a>, the world’s first USB-charging self-sterilising baby bottle. Founder Shannon Gilleland was supported with her crowdfunding campaign and surpassed her $180,000 target. Through One Roof, she also gained access to community support and industry experts she could consult with. <a href="https://www.newbubclub.com">New Bub Club</a>, a meal delivery service for parents founded by One Roof member Darby O’Donnell, was supported from ideation through to testing and launch.</p>
<img alt="One Roof Team" class="post--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/one-roof-is-revolutionising-entrepreneurship-opportunities-for-women/team-2f6092b2b671b68b248dd6e9941a870297abf8ac4b8ef8902460ec05c92f6a49.jpg" />
<h2>Partnership with Pin Payments</h2>
<p>One Roof has established itself as a trailblazing community of women helping women and is on a mission to break barriers. Sharing this vision of elevating women in business, Pin Payments is proud to partner with One Roof to give women entrepreneurs the resources they seek. We will sponsor access to 12 months of business support through One Roof’s memberships, for 5 women-led businesses. Each business owner who applies also has the opportunity to elevate a fellow female founder, giving them access to business resources, coaching, networks and so much more.</p>
<p>To apply, <a href="https://www.weareoneroof.com/pinpaymentsform" title="We are One Roof - Pin Payments">complete the Application Form here</a>. You will need to provide details of the applicant's business, as well as nominate one fellow female founder and apply on behalf of their business. If selected, you both will receive 12 months of business support. Applications close on <strong>Thursday, 18 August 2022</strong>.</p>
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<h3>A virtual event not to be missed</h3>
<p>Through our partnership with One Roof, we are also bringing you a new networking opportunity in the upcoming virtual event, <a href="/blog/scaling-the-online-business-world-as-women-entrepreneurs">Unstoppable Female Forces: The Future of Online Business</a>. You will get the opportunity to hear from some powerhouse women entrepreneurs who will talk about topics including how they got through the challenges of the pandemic and ways to pivot businesses online.</p>
<p>This free event features four outstanding speakers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Jess Ruhfus, founder of <a href="https://www.collabosaurus.com">Collabosaurus</a></li>
<li>Anna Ross, founder of <a href="https://www.kesterblack.com">Kester Black</a></li>
<li>Kellie Brown, founder of <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com">Fig & Bloom</a></li>
<li>Sarah Thornton, co-founder of <a href="https://thefinderskeepers.com">Finders Keepers</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Join this unforgettable event on Thursday, 18 August at 12 PM AEST by booking your free ticket <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/unstoppable-female-forces-women-and-the-future-of-online-business" title="Humanitix">here</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/get-featured-with-pin-payments-feature-fridayGet featured with Pin Payments’ #FeatureFriday<p>At Pin Payments, we are always inspired by our customers’ small businesses and their achievements. We support a unique mix of clientele and love showcasing their businesses to the world by shining a spotlight on one customer every week by sharing their story.</p>
<p>#FeatureFriday — our weekly Social Media segment — shows you all the great products and services our customers provide. Every Friday, we choose an existing customer to feature across our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pinpayments" title="Facebook - @pinpayments">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pinpayments" title="Instagram - @pinpayments">Instagram</a> pages. Our customer base includes online stores, social enterprises, plumbers, bakers, musicians, accounting firms, and so many more.</p>
<h2>Nominate your business for #FeatureFriday</h2>
<p>If you are an existing customer with social media accounts and would love to be featured, <a href="https://pinpayments.typeform.com/to/yXFvj5qB" title="Typeform">get in touch</a> with us.</p>
<p>And if you are not already following us, here is a peek at our featured clients:</p>
<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CengVNIstWw"><img alt="Cape York Motorcycles - Instagram Post" class="post--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/get-featured-with-pin-payments-feature-friday/banner-cyma-83f642493191c76889bc01384972f39770b1475d85df568d30121977a0094cdb.jpg" /></a>
<a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcpOj_mMMbI"><img alt="Sin Gin - Instagram Post" class="post--img" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/get-featured-with-pin-payments-feature-friday/banner-gin-693af6b3022a234967eff15e8fa7fa0fd41efaa06c95430be85bfe5ad907ec71.jpg" /></a>
<p>Pin Payments began the journey of supporting businesses with their online payment needs in 2011. Today, we are Australia’s first unified approach to payments for small to medium sized businesses. We have grown alongside many of our customers and support over 12,000 companies in Australia and New Zealand accept card payments. We also support integrations with platform brands such as Ecwid by Lightspeed, Xero, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento.</p>
<p>If you like what you see and would love to be part of the Pin Payments family, get started <a href="/get-started" title="Get Started">here</a> or <a href="/contact" title="Contact Us">contact us</a> to find out more about how to take online payments for your business.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/scaling-the-online-business-world-as-women-entrepreneursScaling the Online Business World as Women Entrepreneurs<p>Pin Payments is proud to partner with <a href="https://www.weareoneroof.com/">One Roof</a> and celebrate women business leaders by presenting the unmissable virtual event, <em>Unstoppable Female Forces: The Future of Online Business</em>. </p>
<p>The online business space is changing, and women-led businesses are a force to be reckoned with. Over the past two decades, the number of women business operators increased by 46%<sup><a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/profile_of_australian_women_in_business.pdf" title="Profile of Women in Business Report">1</a></sup>. Excitingly, there has been an upwards trend in the proportion of female business owners/managers over the last 20 years. Women now represent 35.4% of business owners/managers<sup><a href="https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/ASBFEO%20Small%20Business%20Counts%20Dec%202020%20v2_0.pdf" title="Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman">2</a></sup>.</p>
<p>Through this FREE virtual event, we spotlight women who are paving the way in building fast-growing and scalable online businesses. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or looking to jump-start your business to the next level this event is not to be missed. </p>
<p>You will hear from <a href="https://www.collabosaurus.com/">Collabosaurus</a> Founder Jess Ruhfus, <a href="https://www.kesterblack.com/">Kester Black</a> Founder Anna Ross, <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com/">Fig & Bloom</a> Founder Kellie Brown and <a href="https://thefinderskeepers.com/">Finders Keepers</a> Co-Founder Sarah Thornton.</p>
<img alt="Woman entrepreneurs" style="display: block; max-width: 920px; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/scaling-the-online-business-world-as-women-entrepreneurs/hero-8ac9daeac173e3fbd46cd9d20380ff5b01c7daa54d3f93f8f5a28760d5e1600f.png" />
<h2>Innovative tips to improve your business</h2>
<p>Our speakers will talk about:</p>
<ul>
<li>Harnessing the potential of going online</li>
<li>Greatest successes and failures to learn from</li>
<li>Successful marketing techniques you can use</li>
<li>How they got through the pandemic and thrive</li>
<li>Insights into launching and scaling ecommerce and online businesses</li>
</ul>
<p>Join our unforgettable event on Thursday, 18 August at 12pm AEST by booking your free ticket <a href="https://events.humanitix.com/unstoppable-female-forces-women-and-the-future-of-online-business">here</a>.</p>
<h2>About the Speakers</h2>
<h3>Jess Ruhfus, <a href="https://www.collabosaurus.com/">Collabosaurus</a> Founder (Moderator)</h3>
<p>Jess Ruhfus is the Founder of Collabosaurus, a marketing platform that match-makes brands for clever collaborations & partnerships. With a background in fashion publicity and marketing education, Jess was frustrated sourcing cool brand partnerships in events, products & social media. So, she launched Collabosaurus in 2015, which has now attracted over 8500+ brands including Estee Lauder, ASOS, Bondi Sands & Marks & Spencer.</p>
<h3>Anna Ross, <a href="https://www.kesterblack.com/">Kester Black</a> Founder</h3>
<p>Anna Ross is a New Zealand-born creative and entrepreneur who created Kester Black out of her passion for wanting clean and ethical products. Moving from Dunedin to Melbourne in 2009, Anna developed the company from her bedroom with just $50 to her name. A few years, and a patented formula later, today Kester Black is a sustainable business with vegan and cruelty-free products used worldwide. Kester Black is also the first beauty brand in the world to be B-Corp certified.</p>
<h3>Kellie Brown, <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com/">Fig & Bloom</a> Founder</h3>
<p>Kellie Brown is the founder of Fig & Bloom, which specialises in high-end, contemporary floral design, and is now Melbourne’s only five-star florist with thousands of loyal customers. After studying fashion design at RMIT University and spending a decade working with well-known brands including Decjuba, Wonderbra, Witchery and Zoo York, Kellie decided to take her fashion knowledge and experience into a completely different industry – floral design.</p>
<h3>Sarah Thornton, <a href="https://thefinderskeepers.com/">Finders Keepers</a> Co-Founder</h3>
<p>Sarah Thornton is the Managing Director and Co-founder of the Finders Keepers, where communities come together to shop, explore and discover the very best from designers, makers and entrepreneurs in our country, online via their shop or in person at their markets. From her time in the trenches of building a small business, Sarah now understands how to build (and scale) a brand all the way from the nitty gritty to high-level creative direction.</p>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.weareoneroof.com/">One Roof</a></strong> is a digital network for ambitious women with a mission to increase the number and success of women leaders and entrepreneurs. They began as a pop-up coworking space with nearly 500 people walking through their doors, to now having onboarded over 1,000 women Australia-wide and possessing a database of 30,000.</p>
<h3>Find out more about One Roof and Founder Sheree Rubinstein in our upcoming feature.</h3>
</div>
<h2>References</h2>
<p><sup>1</sup> <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/profile_of_australian_women_in_business.pdf" title="Profile of Women in Business Report">Profile of Women in Business Report</a>.<br />
<sup>2</sup> <a href="https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/ASBFEO%20Small%20Business%20Counts%20Dec%202020%20v2_0.pdf" title="Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman">Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/pin-payments-small-business-digital-trends-reportPin Payments survey shows small businesses were in survival mode<p>It’s been a tough few years for businesses worldwide, with restrictions, isolation periods and lockdowns impacting our lives signficantly. To get a sense of the impact of the pandemic on Australian small businesses, we've surveyed 455 Australian business owners and decision makers as part of our Small Business Digital Trends Survey. </p>
<p>Here are some of the key highlights and standout trends. </p>
<h2>The pandemic creates both opportunities and challenges for businesses</h2>
<p>Our survey revealed most businesses had suffered negatively from the pandemic, particularly those in travel, the arts and events. The winners, however, were ecommerce and businesses that could pivot their offerings to delivery, take away or virtual. </p>
<p>Businesses less than a year old were less impacted than established businesses, presumably because these startups were created during the pandemic. </p>
<p>However, the majority of business leaders reported halting new investments in growth, due to operating in ‘survival mode’. </p>
<h3>Businesses in NSW and VIC were most impacted by the pandemic</h3>
<p>NSW and VIC were the most negatively impacted by the pandemic, with QLD, SA, NT and TAS following behind. Not surprisingly, businesses in Western Australia were the least affected by the pandemic – given the lack of COVID-19 cases and restrictions in this state. However, the regions impacted most by the pandemic also produced the most significant business innovation in retaliation to the health crisis, with startups taking advantage of users' uptake in digital technology. </p>
<p>Startups like <a href="https://www.revolutionise.com.au/">revolutioniseSPORT</a>, who designed their refund software and methodology for sports organisations, <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com.au/">Fig & Bloom</a>, who offer on-demand flower deliveries and <a href="https://www.petrescue.com.au/">Pet Rescue</a>, a digital marketplace for pet adoption, saw an increase in business during the pandemic due to their innovative use of digital.</p>
<h3>An online presence is not seen as priority to some small businesses</h3>
<p>While most businesses have some online presence, only 60% reported having a website. 49% stated their business had a Facebook account and 28% said they had Instagram. Of the businesses who reported not having any online presence, mature SMBs (3+ years) were more likely not to adopt digital practices and relied on word of mouth. </p>
<p>In general, SMBs seem hesitant to adopt new technologies or initiatives given budget concerns and constraints surrounding the economic uncertainty of the pandemic. This sense of unease has filtered through to business operations and prevented investment in digital. </p>
<h3>Online payments became the new norm</h3>
<p>While taking online payments has become commonplace, many businesses still operate with cash. Of those surveyed, 60% reported accepting online payments before the pandemic. Comparatively, newer SMBs seem more willing to adopt the technology (72%), seeing digital payments as a fundamental tool for business post-pandemic. </p>
<h3>Uncertainty stalls businesses investing in digital</h3>
<p>Despite some SMBs using the pandemic to bolster business, the majority (50%) are not looking to change their business in 2022 due to conservatism surrounding budgets and spending. Those looking to invest (24.5%) said they would invest on sales and marketing.</p>
<h2>Takeaways for small business owners</h2>
<h3>Expect the unexpected</h3>
<p>The last few months have shown the pandemic is here to stay in one way or another. Survival mode is not an option for the long term. Take the time to audit your business and evaluate your business’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances. </p>
<h3>Invest in digital</h3>
<p>If you don’t have a website, a well managed social media presence can be an easy and cheap alternative. Encourage your customers to share and recommed your business to people they trust. Although it does require some upfront and ongoing investment, being online will help your business in the long run.</p>
<h3>Take your payments online</h3>
<p>With more customer interactions happening online, a secure and smooth payments experience is important. Consider your business and customers’ needs and see what online payments solution works best for you.</p>
<h2>Download a copy of this report</h2>
<p>Fill in <a href="https://pinpayments.typeform.com/to/iMfZb2Zm">this form</a> and we’ll send a copy of Pin Payments Small Business Digital Survey Trends report.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmasSustainable gift ideas this Christmas<p>The holiday season can be a wonderful time of the year, but it can also be filled with excessiveness and significant waste. Statistics show waste increases by a whopping 30% at Christmas. On top of that, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/saving/christmas-waste-revealed-in-400m-of-unwanted-gifts-20191118-p53bnv.html">$400M dollars worth of ‘unwanted’ gifts received</a>, reportedly end up in landfills after the holiday period.</p>
<p>So, what can you do this Christmas to avoid excessive consumerism?</p>
<p>There’s no need to be the Christmas Grinch and dismiss all gifts. Instead, why not opt for sustainable alternatives that are good for the planet and help local businesses? We’ve rounded up a list of the best sustainable options for your Christmas this year.</p>
<h2>Support local businesses with these sustainable options</h2>
<h3>Consciously made fashion for kids</h3>
<p>For friends or family with kids, <a href="https://huxbaby.com/">Huxbaby</a> has you sorted. Buttery soft fabrics accompany their stylish looks made using all-natural products and sustainable practices. Worn by kids to the stars, like Khloe Kardashian, Pink, Hilary Duff, these kid threads will be envied by all!</p>
<img alt="Huxbaby" style="max-width: 700px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/huxbaby-941be5868a3ddda28f127a3d0d09c52d814f84de03d15e03e0ec816fc4d5eef3.jpg" />
<p>Founded by a Melbourne family in 2014, each piece is locally designed. Over 70% of the range is made from GOTS certified organic cotton or cotton blends that feel luxurious and are environmentally sustainable.</p>
<h3>Reusable cups</h3>
<p>Loving the planet while staying stylish has never been so easy. <a href="https://madebyfressko.com/">Fressko flasks</a> and reusable coffee cups are a sustainable, reusable alternative to plastic, rubber or paper, single-use takeaway cups.</p>
<img alt="Freesko Flasks" style="max-width: 700px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/fressko-7514bdad5b700e0b89b1f2aa7020a15561f9f4deacf910a786165df7de07698e.jpg" />
<p>Their flasks and coffee cups are thoughtfully designed in Melbourne, with quality, aesthetic and versatility in mind.</p>
<h3>A curated makers marketplace</h3>
<p>Many gifts given over Christmas end up in landfills, so this year try to buy sustainable gifts that stand the test of time. For these needs, look no further than <a href="https://www.thefinderskeepers.com/">Finders Keepers Online Markets</a>.</p>
<img alt="The Finders Keepers" style="max-width: 700px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/finders-keepers-90f254b27632e3f6e074de16188b7254f3750985b639da0dff49e57462e3fef6.jpg" />
<p><a href="https://www.thefinderskeepers.com/">Finders Keepers</a> is Australia’s largest curated marketplace of local makers, designers and entrepreneurs. Finders Keepers gives independent creators a platform to sell their products, supporting purchases from local handmade brands.</p>
<p>This Christmas, Finders Keepers Online Marketplace has you sorted for all your gifting needs.</p>
<h2>Personalised subscriptions</h2>
<p>Subscriptions are the perfect gift for the person who has everything. Instead of buying throw-away or unwanted items, you can tailor your choice for the recipient.</p>
<h3>Perfume Subscriptions</h3>
<p>Perfume lovers will delight at Melbourne based <a href="https://cygnetperfumery.com.au/shop/extrait-de-parfum-subscription-2021/">Cygnet Perfumery</a>, who offer <a href="https://cygnetperfumery.com.au/shop/extrait-de-parfum-subscription-2021/">year-long subscriptions</a> to their slow made handcrafted perfumes. Created using sustainable practices and local ingredients, the perfumery only puts out its range once a year to avoid excess waste.</p>
<div class='c-CaseStudy desktop'>
<div class='c-CaseStudy_hero'><img alt="Cygnet Perfume" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/cygnetperfumery-285d40f1f5595ea51b3b6c3617a83ecdc715c0a5adcd38105d1ed59d5a5f86c3.jpg" /></div>
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<p>The subscription model includes a unique bottle each month with a personalised letter and scent notes, but don’t fret you can still buy their scents all year long!</p>
<h3>For your furry friends</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.ollysbox.com.au/">Olly’s Box</a> is a perfect gift for a furry friend, which is sure to provide a pooch and their family with a monthly box of joy.</p>
<img alt="Olly’s Box" style="max-width: 700px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/ollysbox-d7c664df4f4ef0812831a5345023ce26e6a6b1c1f8cb23195ac4b5d571713b55.jpg" />
<p>Jam packed with fun interactive toys and all-natural Aussie made treats delivered to special four-legged friends, Olly’s Box will have everyone flipping out with excitement.</p>
<h3>Three cheers for flowers all year!</h3>
<p>Everyone loves flowers, in fact there isn’t a time of year when you’re not in need of some floral cheer. So, why not give the gift of monthly happiness with Aussie brand <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com.au">Fig & Bloom’s</a> beautiful boutique florals.</p>
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<div class='c-CaseStudy_hero'><img alt="Fig & Bloom" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/fig-and-bloom-8fdbc26689502fddd440fc8475e67650fb93ae675f6ee443d8b4549266159183.jpg" /></div>
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<p>As the lovechild of former fashion designer Kellie Brown and her partner Dan Groch, Fig & Bloom offers subscriptions as short as three months for high-end contemporary floral designs. This fashion-forward brand also offers gifts like cheese boards, green cups and preserved arrangements.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t end there, the team are also passionate about sustainability in the flower industry and aim to use <a href="https://www.figandbloom.com.au/sustainability/sustainability-in-the-flower-industry/">Australian grown products</a> created under ethical conditions without pesticides.</p>
<h3>Give an experiential or educational gift</h3>
<p>The best gifts in life often are experiences. So why not treat your loved one to a fun day out. <a href="https://weteachme.com/">WeTeachMe</a> is an Australian online curator of workshops and classes in Australia.</p>
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<div class='c-CaseStudy_hero'><img alt="WeTeachMe" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/sustainable-gift-ideas-this-christmas/weteachme-a55fc09815bf2a6e874bc216efaacb94d4b697977c4e8cb93433006db8bced35.jpg" /></div>
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<p>From the likes of pasta making to pottery to taxidermy, there’s a massive range of online and in-person classes to suit even the fussiest recipient. They even have a broad range of sustainability classes <a href="https://weteachme.com/sustainability-courses">across Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney</a>.</p>
<p>Purchase a gift card to <a href="https://weteachme.com/">WeTeachMe</a> this Christmas, and give the gift of fun!</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/5-tips-to-convert-social-media-followers-into-customers‘Tis the season to sell on social media: 5 tips to convert followers into customers<div class='introduction'>
<p>This year—more than ever before—gift-givers are looking to social media for inspiration, to browse options… and ultimately, to <span style='white-space: nowrap;'><span class='punctuation'>‘</span><span class='buy-button'>Buy Now</span><span class='punctuation'>’</span>.</span></p>
<p>So as a small business in 2021, now’s the time to start taking advantage of these popular and dynamic selling spaces.</p>
<p>Not sure where to begin?</p>
<p>No worries. Here’s our top tips for selling through your social media channels this selling season.</p>
<hr>
</div>
<h2>1. Create an online store or catalogue</h2>
<p>If your brand is already on Instagram, Tik Tok, or Facebook, you can open an online store through a platform like <a href="https://woocommerce.com/">WooCommerce</a>, <a href="https://www.shopify.com/">Shopify</a>, or <a href="https://www.ecwid.com/">Ecwid by Lightspeed</a>.</p>
<p>You’ll be able to set up shop on your social media page, right where your customers are already browsing.</p>
<p>Do your customers prefer WhatsApp? No problem.</p>
<p>You can also <a href="https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/account-and-profile/about-catalog/?lang=en">create a catalogue</a> within WhatsApp to share your products and services directly with potential buyers.</p>
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<p>If you’re setting up a new online store, check if the platform you use integrates with your social media channels. And be sure to ask if there will be any fees!</p>
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<h2>2. Make purchases easy with payment links</h2>
<p>The easier it is for your customer to pay, the more likely they’ll go through with the purchase.</p>
<p>By sharing a <a href="/guides/payment-pages">payment link</a> on your social media channels, your customers can see your product, like it—and buy it. All with a tap of their finger.</p>
<p>Simply create a payment link with your online payment platform—like <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Pin Payments</a>.</p>
<div class='pointer'>
<p>Online fraud increases during the holiday season. So your customers will appreciate a safe, trustworthy, and reliable payment link.</p>
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<h2>3. Have everything good to go!</h2>
<p>It sure is a crazy time of year. Especially for small businesses hoping to make the most of the holiday rush.</p>
<p>So to come out the other end with plenty of sales (and your sanity), you need to plan, plan, plan.</p>
<p>Have your social media posts ready to go leading up to the holiday season, and even into the new year (January is a buying frenzy too!). That includes preparing and scheduling images, videos, and written content.</p>
<p>Trust us, your future self will thank you!</p>
<div class='pointer'>
<p>What’s the key to the heart of a happy customer? Transparency.</p>
<p>So have your realistic delivery and restocking timeframes and refund policy planned well before the orders come rushing in.</p>
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<h2>4. Arm yourself with useful online business tools</h2>
<p>To get the most out of your social media channels, make sure your page is a business page.</p>
<p>A business page—set up through <a href="https://business.instagram.com/getting-started">Instagram for Business</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/facebook-business-suite">Facebook Business Suite</a>—is different to a personal one, as it’s specifically used to promote and sell your business and what you offer.</p>
<p>This means you’ll have heaps more promotional capabilities for your holiday campaign. And, following the campaign, you’ll also have access to a load of performance analytics.</p>
<p>With all this intelligent data, you can go bigger and better next time!</p>
<h2>5. Remember your other online marketing channels!</h2>
<p>Social media is important. But so are all the other digital marketing tools.</p>
<p>So give your email list some love too. Your holiday campaign should reach your customers at all their digital touch points. That means social media, email marketing, and of course your online store!</p>
<p>A holistic digital marketing strategy is the best way to secure a spot in your customer’s mind. So when they see your offering pop up on their Instagram feed, they’ll be quick to buy!</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/add-funds-to-your-pin-payments-balanceAdd funds to your Pin Payments balance<p>Business refunds have become more commonplace since the emergence of COVID-19. As such, there may be times when your business doesn’t have the required funds in its Pin Payments account balance to process a refund.</p>
<p>If this is the case, there’s no need to worry, there are a few simple steps which will help you to continue processing customer refunds.</p>
<p>While our <a href="/support/contact">customer support</a> team is still available to help you with your refunds, a method is now available that allows you to add funds to your account yourself.</p>
<h2>To automatically transfer funds:</h2>
<ol>
<li>Use the bank details found in your dashboard under <a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/merchant-deposits">Accounts > Deposits</a> to transfer funds to your account (ensuring you include the narration in the transfer reference). An email with this same information will be sent to you following a failed refund attempt due to insufficient balance.</li>
<li>Your deposit will be credited to your account balance, and your transfer schedule set to Manual (see below for information on this). An email will be sent to you to let you know your account has been credited.</li>
<li>You will then be free to process refunds to your customers using the increased account balance.</li>
</ol>
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<h2>Why your transfer schedule is set to manual</h2>
<p>Normally, proceeds from charges you process are automatically transferred to your bank account. This is known as an automatic transfer schedule.</p>
<p>After the funds you’ve transferred are credited through this process, your transfer schedule is automatically switched to manual to prevent the funds from being transferred to your bank account, before you can submit the refund.</p>
<p>Once you’ve finished processing your refunds, you can <a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/transfers/schedule">switch your transfer schedule back to automatic</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/how-small-business-owners-can-improve-their-refund-processHow small business owners can improve their refund process<p>Since the emergence of COVID-19, many businesses have been plagued with issues surrounding cancellations and delays, resulting in a higher volume of refund requests.</p>
<p>This has created challenges for small businesses, partially in relation to cash-flow and administrative processes. While the <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-business" title="COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for business">ACCC has created some guidelines regarding a business’s obligations under Australian Consumer Law</a>, many are still uncertain on the best practices to follow when providing refunds.</p>
<p>So, here are a few tips to help you improve your business refund process.</p>
<h2>Communicate with your customers</h2>
<p>Refunds often result due to the cancellation of an event, holiday or the delay in a service or product; which can leave a business in a busy and frantic state. With that in mind, it’s important to remember your customer, and communicate with them as the situation unfolds.</p>
<p>It may be that in doing so, some customers are happy to hold off on requesting a refund until further information is provided regarding a new date for an event or service. Likewise, some customers may only request a partial refund—which can greatly assist with cash flow.</p>
<p>Ultimately, coming to an amicable solution with your customer, in regards to their funds, should be the first step in your process. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, so if you do encounter a customer dispute <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-business" title="COVID-19 (coronavirus) information for business">the ACCC has some advice which may assist</a>.</p>
<h2>Consider how you facilitate refunds</h2>
<p>Once you’ve come to a solution regarding a customer’s refund amount, you’ll need to process the transaction.</p>
<p>Where possible, make sure your customer’s refund goes back onto the card that was used for the original purchase. Try to avoid issuing a credit by way of bank transfer into the customer’s account, unless it’s done as a last resort.</p>
<p>Processing the refund back to your customer’s payment card helps your business avoid chargebacks, as the bank of the purchasing card will have visibility that a refund has occurred. If you don’t do this, a customer may be able to dispute the fact that you’ve provided a refund.</p>
<p>For <a href="/features/foreign-currencies" title="Foreign Currencies">international payments</a>, customers might find it more useful to pay in their local currency. Look for payment providers who allow you to refund in foreign currencies, as your customer will receive the exact amount they originally paid back onto their card.</p>
<p>Where feasible, card payments and refunds should be your preference, over cash or bank transfer to ensure your business is protected.</p>
<h2>Create a transparent refund policy</h2>
<p>If you haven’t yet updated or created a refund policy for your business, now is the time. With refunds taking place more than ever before, it’s a good idea to ensure your business policy protects you and your customers.</p>
<p>It may be worth including, within your policy, the optional solution of a partial refund or credit instead. A customer may be just as happy to receive a gift card to the same value or credit-note, in place of the full amount, which will help your business with cash flow during this difficult period.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, the most important factor is that you always remain transparent and honest with your customers. Make sure your refund policy is easily accessible for customers and is clear and comprehensible, to avoid any potential disputes.</p>
<p><a href="/support/faqs/disputes/refund-dispute-difference">For more information on the difference between a refund and dispute, click here</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/how-to-future-proof-your-small-business-against-fraudHow to Future-Proof Your Small Business Against Fraud<p>Fraud is one of those terms no one likes to hear in business, but the reality is it exists, and it’s your job to put the correct measures in place to protect your business. Knowing where to start safeguarding your business can be the hardest part. The good news is awareness is the firs.</p>
<p>Familiarising yourself with the different types of business fraud will help you re-examine whether your existing practices need improvement or not. When it comes to fraud, there are certain types you should be aware of when protecting your business.</p>
<h2>Three types of fraud to watch out for</h2>
<h3>Account Take-Over Fraud</h3>
<p>From a financial perspective, one of the most significant risks a company can face is ‘Account Take-Over Fraud’. This type of fraud exists when someone gains access to a business account, sometimes through a compromised password, and then gains access to multiple business tools and applications.</p>
<p>An even higher risk exists if a business has used the same password for multiple accounts or platforms, thus enabling easy access for fraud. The difficulty with Account Take-Over Fraud is it’s not always clear that an account has been hacked and hackers can set up automatic rules on an inbox to filter out anything which may alert you to what they’re doing.</p>
<p>While online payment providers, like Pin Payments, may send you an email regarding unusual activity, if these filters are turned on, you won’t receive it and, therefore, won’t know your account has been compromised. From that point, hackers may trigger password resets to other accounts or access your business or personal bank accounts.</p>
<h3>Money Forwarding Fraud</h3>
<p>‘Money Forwarding Fraud’ is another type that has gained significant traction since COVID-19 and can leave your business financially liable for a hacker’s actions. Money Forwarding Fraud occurs when a scammer overpays for a transaction and then asks you to send some or all of it on to someone else. If you do so, and the transaction later turns out to be fake, you’ll be left with a chargeback for the full amount of the original transaction and additional chargeback fees. So when in doubt of the legitimacy of a financial transaction, do not forward any money.</p>
<h3>Credit Card Fraud</h3>
<p>Lastly, credit card fraud happens when a stolen credit card is used to pay for transactions. This is one of the most common run-of-the-mill scams and due to the increase in online shopping since the pandemic, many have encountered it. Despite this, more security measures are in place now than ever before to combat credit card fraud from as easily or readily happening.</p>
<p>It’s important to remember that fraud is a commercial enterprise for some people and, as such, the technology and practices they use are constantly improved upon and updated. Given this, it is paramount you stay up-to-date with the latest tools and publications, which will help you stay in the know about scams.</p>
<h2>Tips For Safeguarding Your Small Business Against Scams</h2>
<h3>1. Have different passwords across all your business accounts</h3>
<p>This may seem like an obvious tip, but many people use the same password or password variant across multiple accounts. In fact, according to a study by Google as many as 65% of people reuse the same password for multiple or all accounts. Despite how difficult it can be to remember passwords for all your business apps and accounts, doing so could save you thousands, not to mention the emotional stress of being hacked. Password managers, like <a href="https://1password.com/">1Password</a> or <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a>, can be a great solution to this problem.</p>
<h3>2. Ensure you have two-factor verification enabled on all your accounts</h3>
<p>Almost all financial or business tools now support two-factor verification, two independent inputs that confirm your identity, as a security measure for accounts. The first factor is invariably the humble password. The second factor is commonly a verification number provided via email, another platform or an authenticator app, which only you have access to. Pin Payments use two-factor authentication each time a customer logs into their account, with the code changing each time. Two-factor verification can (when used with an app or phone) ensure your account is protected in situations where your email account is compromised. <a href="/support/faqs/your-account/two-factor-authentication">For more information on why you should use two-factor authentication click here</a>.</p>
<h3>3. Watch out for any suspicious activity across all your business accounts</h3>
<p>As a business owner, it’s important to carefully monitor all activity, transactions, and interactions. If you have an online store, keep an eye out for suspicious behaviours like repeat failed transaction attempts with assorted cards, unexpected order volumes for high-cost items, and purchases where the billing address is different to the delivery address. This type of activity can indicate attempts at fraud. Cross-check all transactions with a form of ID and ensure that all of the details including name, address, and credit card are correct. When there is doubt, Pin Payments provides one possible solution in easy card authentication (ECA). ECA allows merchants to verify a suspicious customer before shipping an order. <a href="/support/faqs/customers/verify-your-customer">You can find more information on how we use ECA here</a>.</p>
<h3>4. Keep on top of your security updates</h3>
<p>At the end of the day, the most important thing you can do to protect your business is to ensure all of your security protocols, processes, and software are up-to-date. Make sure you regularly run software updates so you are utilising the latest technology and consider regularly updating or changing your passwords. Though this might seem extreme, these measures are in place to protect your data, financial security, and business. You can also stay up-to-date with the latest online scams through the Australian Government’s Australian Competition and Consumer Commission called <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/">Scam Watch</a>.</p>
<p>For more information on fraud read our other article ‘<a href="/blog/avoiding-common-online-scams">Common Scams and How to Avoid Them</a>’.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/pin-payments-integrates-with-ecwidEcwid by Lightspeed integration<p>We're excited to announce an integration with the global ecommerce platform <a href="https://www.ecwid.com/" title="Ecwid by Lightspeed">Ecwid by Lightspeed</a>. Our aim has always been to build modern solutions for small businesses who need to accept payments online and be on a level playing field with local and overseas competitors. Ecwid by Lightspeed is the ideal ecommerce solution for businesses selling for the first time or looking to grow their online presence.</p>
<img alt="Ecwid by Lightspeed integrating with Pin Payments" width="920" style="width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/pin-payments-integrates-with-ecwid/product-f696731839d0c885e798314aba61b779f5cc2b1c1a962c70a7fa68e5c6feaf1b.png" />
<h2>What is Ecwid by Lightspeed?</h2>
<p>Ecwid by Lightspeed is a leading choice for small business merchants to set up a store and start selling quickly. Supporting more than 200,000 small businesses worldwide, Ecwid by Lightspeed will provide users with simple, customisable design tools. There is <a href="https://www.ecwid.com/pricing" title="Ecwid by Lightspeed Pricing">no upfront cost</a>, and Ecwid by Lightspeed tiered pricing allows businesses to scale up when ready.</p>
<p>Small business owners will be able to create a new online store from scratch in just 5 minutes, or easily add an online store to their existing website, with technology that instantly mimics their current design. No coding or software installation required.</p>
<p>For mature ecommerce businesses, there's no need to abandon your existing site—Ecwid by Lightspeed can be added virtually anywhere you have an online presence. You have the freedom to operate multiple online stores, including on your website, social media channels, and mobile devices. For those who have an existing ecommerce business, you can easily <a href="https://support.ecwid.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005901109-Migrating-your-store-to-Ecwid" title="Migrate your store to Ecwid by Lightspeed">migrate your store to Ecwid by Lightspeed</a>. If you have an existing Pin Payments account, you can just enter <a href="/support/faqs/your-account/api-keys" title="Your Pin Payments API Keys">your existing API keys</a> into your new Ecwid by Lightspeed store.</p>
<h2>Why Ecwid by Lightspeed?</h2>
<p>We’ve seen an uptake in online sales for businesses—ease-of-use and minimising costs with low transaction fees are essential in our rapidly changing, global economic environment. But for many small business owners, selecting an ecommerce platform can be daunting.</p>
<p>That’s why we’re very excited to announce our partnership with Ecwid by Lightspeed, who, from our research, is the leader in their space. With Ecwid by Lightspeed and Pin Payments, Australian businesses will have access to the same tools as their competitors and remain in the best position to achieve success and growth.</p>
<h2>Getting started with Ecwid by Lightspeed</h2>
<p><a href="https://my.ecwid.com/p/pinpayments#register" title="Sign up">Sign up</a> for an Ecwid by Lightspeed Starter account with Pin Payments and start selling online. You don't need a web developer or technician—but if you need support, drop our <a href="/support/contact" title="Contact support">friendly team a note</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/pin-payments-partners-with-global-ecommerce-platform-ecwidPin Payments Partners with Global Ecommerce Platform Ecwid by Lightspeed<figure>
<img alt="Ecwid by Lightspeed and Pin Payments" style="max-width: 328px; margin: 30px auto 60px; display: block;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/pin-payments-partners-with-global-ecommerce-platform-ecwid/logos-5bd95ed88028b708431cd1b8602526f178024b19e47132c07d33d66bd55d8d33.svg" />
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<p><a href="/">Pin Payments</a>, an Australian payment solutions provider, today announced a partnership with global ecommerce platform <a href="https://www.ecwid.com/">Ecwid by Lightspeed</a>, in an effort to help Australian small businesses compete in the global marketplace.</p>
<p>With more than 2 million small businesses in Australia, according to the <a href="https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/ASBFEO-small-business-counts2019.pdf">Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman</a>, COVID-19 has resulted in many businesses needing greater digital financial support. Ecwid by Lightspeed integration with Pin Payments looks to change this by providing the right tools to help small to medium-sized businesses transition online.</p>
<p>Preceding this announcement, Ecwid by Lightspeed recently partnered with the Victorian Government on the 20 million dollar ‘<a href="https://business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/business-resilience-package/Small-Business-Digital-Adaptation-Program">Small Business Digital Adaptation Program</a>’ to help local businesses adapt to a digital operating environment. This program provides greater access to online tools and platforms.</p>
<p>Supporting more than 200,000 small businesses worldwide, Ecwid by Lightspeed will provide users with simple, customisable design tools. Small business owners will be able to easily add an online store to their existing website, with technology that instantly mimics their current design. The integration will also allow merchants to accept payments online without requiring a web developer, due to native integration with Pin Payments.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Small businesses were hit hardest during the pandemic, and they are continuing to look for support to help stay afloat,” said Ecwid by Lightspeed Vice President of Business Development, Scott Varner. “This partnership with Pin Payments will provide an efficient solution for small business owners to create a website and sell directly from their online storefront, in just five minutes.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For mature ecommerce businesses, the Ecwid by Lightspeed integration means businesses can sell from anywhere in the world where they have an online presence. Small business owners will also have the freedom to operate multiple online stores across their websites, social media channels, and mobile devices.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Though we’ve seen an uptake in online sales for businesses - cost, ease-of-use and low transaction fees are essential in our current global economic state,” said Pin Payments Director of Sales & Growth, Chris Dahl. "For many small business owners, selecting an ecommerce platform can be daunting. That’s why we’re very excited to announce our partnership with Ecwid by Lightspeed, who from our research is the leader in their space. Australian businesses will have access to the same tools as their competitors and remain in the best position to achieve success and growth.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For more information visit <a href="https://pinpayments.com" title="Pin Payments">www.pinpayments.com</a> or <a href="https://ecwid.com" title="Ecwid by Lightspeed">www.ecwid.com</a></p>
<h3>About Pin Payments</h3>
<p>Pin Payments is Australia’s first unified approach to payments for small to medium-sized businesses. It supports over 12,000 companies in Australia and New Zealand to accept payments from debit and credit cards bearing the Visa, MasterCard and American Express brands without requiring a merchant account. Pin Payments supports integrations with platforms such as Ecwid by Lightspeed, Xero, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento. For more, visit <a href="https://pinpayments.com" title="Pin Payments">pinpayments.com</a></p>
<h3>About Ecwid by Lightspeed</h3>
<p>Ecwid by Lightspeed is a global software-as-a-service ecommerce platform company established in 2009. Ecwid by Lightspeed provides online selling solutions for small businesses in over 175 countries and in 54 languages. Ecwid by Lightspeed was built to enable businesses to quickly and easily create a new online store or add shopping capabilities to an existing website. The platform offers merchants a comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, including access to key marketplaces such as Amazon and Google, access to a range of point-of-sale solutions, and the ability to advertise and sell on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. Ecwid by Lightspeed offers a free one-page ecommerce website to each user and can integrate with any site builder, including WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and more. For more information visit <a href="https://ecwid.com" title="Ecwid by Lightspeed">www.ecwid.com</a>.</p>
<h3>Pin Payments press contact</h3>
<p>Ruth Thomas<br/>
<a href="mailto:ruth@changemakersmedia.com.au">ruth@changemakersmedia.com.au</a></p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/seamless-merchant-onboarding-for-your-platform-business-with-merchants-apiSeamless merchant onboarding for your platform business with Merchants API<p>We’re excited to announce the release of our new <a href="/developers/api-reference/merchants">Merchants API</a>. This feature is invaluable for software platform businesses looking to streamline the provision of card payment capabilities to its customers.</p>
<h2>What’s new?</h2>
<p>We’ve been helping software platforms such as <a href="/customers/obee">Obee</a> and ezyCollect <a href="/blog/selecting-the-best-payment-provider-for-your-software-platform">embed payment features into their platform</a> for a number of years. Until now, when it came time to create a new Pin Payments account for one of their customers, it had to be done manually through our website.</p>
<p>Our Merchants API steps up our offering by giving partners greater visibility and control, allowing them to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Create Pin Payments accounts via the API, instead of directing customers to do so from our website.</li>
<li>Know when their customer’s Pin Payments account has been approved and is ready to process payments.</li>
<li>Retrieve information about each account, such as pricing, settings, and payment history.</li>
<li>Operate a customer’s Pin Payments account securely.</li>
</ol>
<h2>How does the Merchants API work with my platform business?</h2>
<p>Usually, a business will <a href="/getting-started">get started with Pin Payments</a> by completing an application online from our website. The Merchants API allows you to do this all through an API, so you can provide a seamless setup experience for your customer.</p>
<p>You collect the required information about your customer from your platform, and submit a request to the Merchants API to onboard them as a Pin Payments merchant.</p>
<p>Once your customer’s Pin Payments account has been activated, you’re able to use the full suite of <a href="/developers/api-reference">Pin Payments APIs</a> to process transactions for them.</p>
<figure class='merchants-api-flow'>
<div class='entity'>Software Platform</div>
<div class='processes'>
<div class='process'>
<div class='caption'>New account request</div>
<div class='to-pin solid'></div>
</div>
<div class='process'>
<div class='caption'>Submit transactions</div>
<div class='to-pin solid'></div>
<div class='from-pin dashed'></div>
</div>
<div class='process'>
<div class='caption'>Request account information</div>
<div class='to-pin solid'></div>
<div class='from-pin dashed'></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='entity'>Pin Payments API</div>
</figure>
<h3>Want to know more?</h3>
<p>To access our Merchants API, you will need a partner API key—available to approved partners. <a href="/contact?from=merchantapi">Contact us</a> to learn about becoming a partner.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/how-to-minimise-foreign-currency-conversion-fees-when-selling-onlineHow to minimise conversion fees when selling online<p>Selling internationally is now part and parcel of growing a business. In the past, we’ve written about how to process <a href="/blog/foreign-currencies" title="Processing foreign currency payments from Australia">foreign currency payments for small businesses</a> and what to look for when <a href="/blog/a-guide-on-accepting-international-ecommerce-payments" title="A guide on accepting international ecommerce payments">accepting international payments for ecommerce businesses</a>. In this post, we’ll cover how multi-currency settlement in Australia works.</p>
<h2>1. Sell in multiple currencies, settle in domestic currency</h2>
<p>The most straightforward scenario is a business transacting in a foreign currency such as USD, with their payments provider converting into AUD for settlement. In this example, your transactions are converted from USD into AUD. This set up works well for companies starting to sell internationally with little need to hold funds in a foreign currency.</p>
<figure class='diagram diagram--one'>
<div class='diagram__inner'>
<div class='entity'>Foreign currency transaction</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-one'></div>
<div class='process'>Conversion to AUD</div>
<div class='arrow-combo arrow-two'>
<div class='arrowbody'></div>
</div>
<div class='entity end'>Domestic bank account (AUD)</div>
</div>
</figure>
<h2>2. Pay suppliers in a foreign currency</h2>
<p>As a business matures, it starts to make sense to keep your money in your preferred foreign currencies.</p>
<p>Referring back to our previous example, now fast forward a couple of years. Your business is growing, and you have overseas suppliers you work with that require payments in USD. It’s becoming increasingly expensive to convert your USD transactions into AUD and then convert them back into USD to pay your suppliers. You’re getting concerned with getting hit by conversion fees as well as being exposed to foreign exchange risk.</p>
<p>Ideally, you can hold the proceeds of your foreign transactions in USD, instead of receiving funds in AUD. Unfortunately, the majority of vendors do not offer this solution to merchants. Whilst they might allow you to transact in a selected number of foreign currencies, they will only settle into your AUD bank account.</p>
<figure class='diagram diagram--two'>
<div class='diagram__inner'>
<div class='entity'>Foreign currency transaction</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-one'></div>
<div class='process one'>Conversion to AUD</div>
<div class='arrow-combo arrow-two'>
<div class='arrowbody'></div>
</div>
<div class='entity two'>Domestic bank account (AUD)</div>
<div class='arrow-combo arrow-three'>
<div class='arrowbody'></div>
</div>
<div class='process two'>Conversion to foreign currency</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-four'></div>
<div class='entity three'>Suppliers</div>
</div>
</figure>
<h2>3. Settle funds in a foreign currency without conversion</h2>
<p>With a Pin Payments account, you can settle your transactions into a <a href="/support/faqs/transfers/foreign-currency-transfers">foreign currency bank account</a> (including a <a href="/support/faqs/transfers/settle-to-wise" title="Settling funds to a Wise multi-currency account">Wise multi currency account</a>). This gives you the ability to pay your suppliers from your foreign currency account without any currency conversion. This feature is useful for merchants like <a href="/customers/koda-sail" title="Koda Sail case study">Koda Sail</a>. With suppliers primarily based in Europe, it was vital for them to accept and settle transactions in Euros. This feature also gives you greater control over fluctuating exchange rates by allowing you to choose to convert to AUD when the foreign exchange rate is in your favour.</p>
<figure class='diagram diagram--three'>
<div class='diagram__inner'>
<div class='entity entity-one'>Foreign currency transaction</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-one'></div>
<div class='entity one'>Foreign currency bank account</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-two'></div>
<div class='entity two'>Suppliers</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-three'></div>
<div class='process two'>Conversion to AUD</div>
<div class='arrow arrow-four'></div>
<div class='entity three'>Domestic bank account (AUD)</div>
</div>
</figure>
<div class='info-box'>
<div class='info-box__header'>
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<div class='info-box__inner'>
<h3>What is Wise?</h3>
<p><a href="/support/faqs/transfers/settle-to-wise">Wise</a> helps individuals and businesses open a borderless, international business account in minutes. With a Wise business account, you can send, spend, and receive multiple currencies with the real exchange rate.</p>
<p>Your recipient doesn't need a Wise account to receive their money. It's free to open a Wise account, and their <a href="https://wise.com/au/business/pricing-and-coverage" title="Wise pricing">pricing</a> is transparent with no hidden fees.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Looking to accept multi-currency payments?</h3>
<p>With Pin Payments, you can accept a range of <a href="/currencies" title="Foreign Currencies">foreign currencies</a>. <a href="/get-started" title="Sign up for Pin Payments">Sign up for a free account</a> and take advantage of our world-class features. Set up takes less than 10 minutes, and you can start accepting payments within a few days. You don't need a web developer or technician – but if you need support, <a href="/support/contact" title="Contact our support team">drop our friendly team a note</a>.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/synder-and-pin-payments-for-smarter-reconciliationSynder & Pin Payments: smarter reconciliation<p>It’s no secret that being a Small and Mid-sized Business (SMB) owner means constantly juggling many tasks at once. That’s where smart automation solutions come in, doing everything possible to help businesses manage their daily agenda with more efficiency.</p>
<p>There are many areas of improvement. According to recent findings, 75% of Australian SMB owners are <a href="https://www.theadviser.com.au/breaking-news/39201-nearly-a-third-of-smes-struggle-with-finance">struggling with business management</a> and more than half have serious <a href="https://www.xero.com/small-business-insights/category/cashflow/">cash flow issues</a>. The situation is not expected to improve with the ongoing health crisis. <a href="https://synder.com/">Synder</a> was developed to help businesses tackle this problem.</p>
<img alt="Pin Payments and Synder integrate with Xero and Quickbooks" style="border-radius: 6px 6px 0 0; overflow: hidden; display: block; margin: 4em 0 0; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/synder-and-pin-payments-for-smarter-reconciliation/hero-5ac1f09f36766e1a9eed982fa15272a39419cc5bc2b4fe738a18703c13bd7ade.png" />
<div class='info-box'>
<div class='info-box__inner'>
<h2>What is Synder?</h2>
<p>Synder is a smart bookkeeping automation tool helping SMBs synchronise ecommerce and payment platforms with <a href="https://synder.com/help/how-to-connect-pin-payments-to-xero/">Xero</a> and <a href="https://synder.com/help/how-to-connect-pin-payments-to-quickbooks-online/">QuickBooks</a>. Transactions are recorded with maximum details allowing for easy bank account reconciliation, categorisation, and reporting. Payments are applied to existing invoices, fees and refunds are properly accounted for, and advanced settings are available to fine-tune the process even further.</p>
<p>As a result, your bookkeeping is in great shape, up-to-date, and comprehensive.</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>4 common bookkeeping issues</h2>
<p>Accounting issues can have a negative impact on the overall business productivity, revenue, and its use of resources, resulting in poor cash flow and management problems. Pin Payments is aware of these challenges and has recently partnered with Synder to help business owners better manage their finances with an exclusive free plan for existing Pin Payments merchants.</p>
<h2>1. Time consuming manual data entry</h2>
<p>If you or your bookkeeper record your business transactions in Xero or QuickBooks manually, human error is almost unavoidable. Errors in individual transactions lead to issues in cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements. Reports such as these are crucial when making important business decisions, and your cash flow depends on them.</p>
<p>Besides errors, another problem with manual data entry is that it takes up a huge amount of time and resources, which many small businesses simply don’t have. In order to be well-prepared for tax season, it’s necessary to properly record all sales and business expenses. Fulfilling these bookkeeping tasks properly takes hours a week if done manually.</p>
<figure>
<img alt="Receive Money transaction created by Synder in Xero" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/synder-and-pin-payments-for-smarter-reconciliation/receive-f4c30f6a3da29e117565521ddf0ff2ce94eb1b34ff8eaa5fecd0476a753d3164.png" />
<figcaption>Receive Money transaction created by Synder in Xero</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Solution: Bring in every single transaction</h3>
<p>Set up Synder to <a href="https://synder.com/help/how-to-sync-your-transactions-with-synder/">automatically bring in your Pin Payments data</a> into <a href="https://synder.com/help/how-to-connect-pin-payments-to-xero/">Xero</a> or <a href="https://synder.com/help/how-to-connect-pin-payments-to-quickbooks-online/">QuickBooks Online</a> to make sure that every transaction (be it a customer payment, refund, payout, or a fee paid to the vendor) is accounted for. This is important for accurate bookkeeping with all transactions present and properly categorised.</p>
<p>It’s worth noting that keeping accounting records for the fees paid to vendors on each transaction is crucial for maintaining a correct reconciliation process, and successful tax reporting.</p>
<figure>
<img alt="Spend Money transaction created by Synder in Xero" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/synder-and-pin-payments-for-smarter-reconciliation/spend-e7283ff8b39551588fa16657654b67f573268705065e08e7ae1945ff33c5ed92.png" />
<figcaption>Spend Money transaction created by Synder in Xero</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>2. Account reconciliation discrepancies</h2>
<p>Accounting professionals recommend reconciling your bank account balance with bookkeeping records at least once a month. It’s important in order to identify any discrepancies in time to fix them, prevent fraud, and ensure accountability. Due to poor bookkeeping practices, many business owners rarely see a desired zero balance when attempting to perform bank reconciliation. They often end up manually creating records to account for what’s missing. This practice can take a lot of time, resources, and influence business accountability.</p>
<h3>Solution: Reconcile your accounts regularly with a simple flow</h3>
<p>Once you have Synder working for you in the background, bringing the real-time data into your accounting system, you can begin to regularly reconcile your accounts without much trouble. The actual reconciliation <a href="https://synder.com/help/synder-auto-reconciliation-feature-for-xero/">will take a few clicks</a> as your real balance will correspond with the bookkeeping records. It will also ensure that you are well-prepared for the tax season, and can spot any irregular activity as quickly as possible.</p>
<p><em>Learn more about reconciliation <a href="https://synder.com/help/reconcile-pin-payments-transactions-in-xero/#1">in this guide</a> for Pin Payments users</em>.</p>
<h2>3. Costly bookkeeping mistakes</h2>
<p>Bookkeeping has a reputation for being a very complicated process, which requires precision and accuracy. Mistakes in bookkeeping can end up costing a lot of money, and business owners rightly worry about making sure the data cannot be messed up.</p>
<h3>Solution: Utilise highly secure software</h3>
<p>Synder protects your data with its two flagship features: <a href="https://synder.com/help/rollback-function-in-synder/">duplicate detector and rollback</a>. It means that no duplicates will go through, and you can easily undo any synchronisation you have made with Synder.</p>
<p>You can give yourself peace of mind knowing that all the power is in your hands and your accounting is secured.</p>
<h2>4. Overwhelmed with data</h2>
<p>Ecommerce businesses are multiplying <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/europe/merchant-services/insights/reports/australia#:%7E:text=Australia's%20business%20to%20consumer%20e,over%20the%20last%20few%20years.&text=With%20a%20small%20population%20of,a%20high%20volume%20of%20customers.">at an unprecedented rate</a>, but many of them struggle when it comes to business management. Collecting data about products sold, returning customers, and other important insights can become overwhelming.</p>
<h3>Solution: Use the power of detail</h3>
<p>Properly set up bookkeeping processes give you another benefit that is often overlooked. Once it’s present, you don’t need to look for the sales insights further than your sales receipts.</p>
<p>Synder ensures that no important data is lost in translation, bringing customer and product information from Pin Payments into your accounting software, creating all the necessary receipts, and customers/items if needed. It will also be able to find existing customers and products, and if the names are identical, it will recognise them and add new data to existing customers/items in your accounting file. This data can provide crucial insights to business owners.</p>
<p>Being a highly customisable app, if you don’t need to record individual items or customer information, you can always <a href="https://synder.com/help/customize-pin-payments-settings/">adjust Synder settings</a> accordingly.</p>
<h2>Getting started with Synder</h2>
<p><a href="https://synder.grsm.io/pinpayments">Sign up</a> for Synder today to synchronise your Pin Payments transactions with Xero and QuickBooks.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/aroflo-helps-tradies-get-paid-faster-and-easierAroFlo and Pin Payments: helping tradies get paid faster and easier<p><em>The demand for strong end-to-end solutions has always driven the trade industry to explore new technology. It’s because of this push for optimisation that tradies around Australia are readily embracing digital job management solutions and the utility they provide.</em></p>
<p><em>These needs are what have made the partnership between us at Pin Payments and leading job management software provider AroFlo such a powerful combination. When we first teamed up our combined goal was clear: make it easier for tradies to accept card payments and get paid faster for their hard work.</em></p>
<h2>What is AroFlo?</h2>
<p><a href="http://aroflo.com/">AroFlo</a> is an Australian owned, developed and run job management software company. First launched in 2001 to a small group of trade businesses, AroFlo has since grown to become a mainstay in trade operations across the country. You’ll just as often see the software utilised in small trade businesses as you will in complex enterprise situations. This is part of the software’s core goal: to allow businesses of any scope to expand without worrying about outgrowing the systems they use to operate every day.</p>
<p>This pursuit runs alongside AroFlo’s other mission:</p>
<h2>To help tradies get paid faster and easier.</h2>
<p>Ask any tradesperson what their least favourite part of the job is and more often than not they’ll tell you it’s invoicing clients and chasing up payment for completed work.</p>
<p>Luckily, AroFlo’s job management software eliminates the need to manually draw up invoices and request payment for services rendered.</p>
<video controls="controls" autobuffer="true" autoplay="autoplay" loop="loop" muted="muted" style="width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/aroflo-helps-tradies-get-paid-faster-and-easier/video-e8d81039593c387b8690897b35549dcc754da73fa8793d3c3b1e8c29cee2e536.mp4"></video>
<h2>It all starts by streamlining the invoicing process.</h2>
<p>Automation is everything when you’re trying to get your workflow moving at a quicker pace.</p>
<p>AroFlo’s digital job management software slashes admin time by allowing you to set up your charge rates, material costs, overheads, margins and more as you build your own fully customisable invoice templates.</p>
<h2>Which then also boosts your efficiency in the field.</h2>
<p>If you hate the thought of trekking back to the office to get your finances in order before you clock off for the day, fear not.</p>
<p>AroFlo’s field software gives you the ability to create and send invoices on site using the same templates you created back at the office.</p>
<p>Your field staff can even record their labour and materials as they go and feed this data into the finished invoice, so nothing gets missed or forgotten.</p>
<img alt="AroFlo" style="margin: 2em 0 1em 1em; vertical-align: middle; float: right; max-width: 240px; width: 33%" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/aroflo-helps-tradies-get-paid-faster-and-easier/mobile-45d96df89116823c630e349393365848bdfc9d6117ae02ec9b2601a1caacca69.png" />
<h2>And once that invoice is sent, the real magic happens</h2>
<p>This is where Pin Payments takes over as a fast and efficient payment gateway.</p>
<p>There are two main ways that tradies can use Pin Payments alongside AroFlo.</p>
<h3>On-site:</h3>
<p>A great feature of AroFlo is that it can turn any mobile device into a fast, convenient and secure card processor that merges seamlessly with Pin Payments.</p>
<p>It’s a simple three-step process:</p>
<ol>
<li>Open AroFlo on your mobile device</li>
<li>Create an <a href="https://aroflo.com/features/invoicing-billing-software/#field">invoice on the spot</a></li>
<li>Take payment in-person using the Pin Payments gateway</li>
</ol>
<p>Quick and easy</p>
<hr>
<h3>Back at the office:</h3>
<p>Payment after the fact is once again an effortless three-step process using AroFlo’s instant connection to Pin Payments.</p>
<ol>
<li>Open AroFlo</li>
<li>Generate an email PDF invoice</li>
<li>Include a clickable payment link to Pin Payments</li>
</ol>
<p>Piece of cake.</p>
<figure class="Browser" data-address-field="aroflo.com" style="max-width: 786px; margin: 2.5em auto;">
<img alt="AroFlo" style="margin: 0; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/aroflo-helps-tradies-get-paid-faster-and-easier/web-d599b5a51386709c7f50cee934aaf5b531589f3d1408c0d23b841b583d139a17.png" />
</figure>
<p>If you’re after even more ease of use, you can then send the details of these invoices to your <a href="https://aroflo.com/addon-partners/#accounting">preferred accounting package</a> such as Xero or MYOB.</p>
<hr>
<h3>So, ready to go digital?</h3>
<p>AroFlo’s <a href="https://aroflo.com/book-demo/">sales demonstrations</a> are a great way to see how digital job management can revolutionise your trade business. This includes how features such as Pin Payments can speed up everyday payment processing.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/better-scheduled-payment-managementPaypa Plane & Pin Payments: better scheduled-payment management<p>Scheduled payments are increasingly driving small to medium businesses. Whether it’s a membership, a subscription, an invoice, or an instalment payment — scheduled payments are here to stay. When operated well these types of payments can mean assured cash flow, predictable earnings, and closer customer relationships for businesses. However without purpose-built systems, managing scheduled payments can become a drag: lots of extra administration, missing payments, and — worst of all — upset and lost customers. Scheduled payments can have the most impact on a business’s relationship with its customers, so it’s important to get them right!</p>
<p>That’s why Pin Payments have recently integrated with <a href="https://www.paypaplane.com/">Paypa Plane</a> to bring better scheduled-payment management to Pin Payments account holders (along with some serious alliteration opportunities).</p>
<p>Paypa Plane’s software is designed specifically to ensure that scheduled payments run on time, that any missed payments are handled automatically, and importantly — that payers have the best possible experience in managing their payments. This is so important to get right because payers are the lifeblood of businesses, and they are so often overlooked when it comes to payment services.</p>
<p>Paypa Plane is the only software in the market that provides a linked business — payer account system. This allows businesses to send payment requests to their customers, securely captures consent to pay (along with payment details), and then allows that payer to manage those payments as the agreement continues (no more phone calls about changing payment days, or switching credit cards etc. - that can all be done by your payer in their own time).</p>
<img width="920" style="margin: 60px 0; width: 100%; display: block;" alt="Paypa Plane" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/better-scheduled-payment-management/product-c81a1f464f84fa03a256111fd85b5a3a94a49bdd0385950647968bcf48c0fd92.png" />
<p>This self-management means an unburdening of admin for the business, better customer service, and successful cash flow capture. In fact, Paypa Plane’s systems on average capture over 99% of all payments within 72 hours of the original due date, without any manual intervention required from the business (all whilst keeping payers happy and informed)!</p>
<p>Pin Payments’ integration with Paypa Plane means that these unique services can be easily linked to existing (or new) Pin Payments accounts. Your business can ‘plug’ your Pin Payments account into Paypa Plane’s software to ensure that your customers are getting the best scheduled payment experience. This integration also means a reduction in admin and customer service burdens, and your cash flow can stay on track with a fraction of the effort usually required.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/checkoutA new chapter for Pin Payments with Checkout.com<p>Over the past six years, we’ve built Pin Payments out of a desire to offer businesses an easy way to get paid online and be on a level playing field with local and overseas competitors.</p>
<p>Today, we’re excited to announce that we will be joining <a href="https://checkout.com" title="Checkout.com">Checkout.com</a>, one of the leading global payment solution providers. This marks the next natural move for us and offers our merchants access to Checkout.com’s global acquiring footprint.</p>
<h2>Making payments accessible</h2>
<p>From our humble beginnings, we now support over 12,000 merchants in Australia and New Zealand. Key to our growth is our approach to make accepting card payments for merchants as straightforward as possible.</p>
<p>We’ve developed <a href="/integrations" title="Pin Payments Integrations">integrations</a> with business platforms such as Xero, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento to help merchants leverage their existing technology infrastructure.</p>
<p>We’ve also built easy-to-use features such as <a href="/small-business-payments/recurring-payments" title="Recurring Payments">Recurring Payments</a> and <a href="/guides/payment-pages" title="Payment Page Product Guide">Payment Pages</a> to help merchants accept payments in different ways.</p>
<h2>Why Checkout.com?</h2>
<p>In Checkout.com, we found a partner who shares a similar approach to solving problems for businesses with innovative financial technology. With Checkout.com, we are excited to provide our merchants with improved payments performance and international growth opportunities. We feel that together, we can help small businesses close the technology gap and compete in a global marketplace.</p>
<h2>What’s next?</h2>
<p>We will continue to operate our payments platform to support your business from our offices in Melbourne and Perth. We’re also working hard on releasing new features in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>In short, it’s business as usual.</p>
<p>Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing our work and helping entrepreneurs here in Australia and across the region.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/taking-card-payments-as-an-equipment-hire-rental-businessHirePOS & Pin Payments: Taking card payments as a hire rental business<p>Australia’s equipment hire rental industry is growing. With greater demand for flexibility, more customers are choosing to lease rather than purchase goods outright. At Pin Payments, we want to support small businesses in the hire rental space by making it fast, easy and affordable to accept card payments. That's why we were excited when <a href="https://www.hirepos.com.au/" title="HirePOS">HirePOS</a>, Australia's leading hire rental software company, chose Pin Payments to help streamline the process of taking card payments for hire rental businesses.</p>
<h2>What is HirePOS?</h2>
<p>HirePOS is an Australian owned, developed and supported hire rental software company. Established in 2005, HirePOS has provided online solutions to over 600 businesses across Australia and New Zealand for 15 years. From vehicle hire to audio/visual, medical equipment and more, HirePOS is the platform of choice for the hire rental industry. <a href="https://www.hirepos.com.au/features.html" title="HirePOS Features">HirePOS features</a> include finance, stock control and customer communication. Through partnering and integrating with Pin Payments, HirePOS is also helping hire businesses accept card payments.</p>
<h2>Key payment features for your hire rental business</h2>
<p>If you’re taking card payments as a hire rental business, you need a system that’s as reliable as it is secure. Shayne Cooper, CEO of HirePOS, outlines must-have payment features hire rental businesses should look for when running their business.</p>
<p><strong>1. Invoice payment link for secure, online payments</strong></p>
<p>Want to get paid sooner? You need an alternative to manual payments. Manual payments can be time-consuming and have a high potential for human error. Plus, they assume that customers have access to available funds. The fastest way to get your invoice settled is to send it with a convenient link for customers to pay by card online.</p>
<p>With HirePOS, you can insert a clickable link into email messages. The link directs customers to a web page, where they can pay securely online. The payment is processed through your Pin Payments account. A payment record is also automatically created in HirePOS, which saves on administration time.</p>
<figure class="Browser Browser--https" data-address-field="HirePOS">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/taking-card-payments-as-an-equipment-hire-rental-business/invoice-screen-b02a6dad426d19b0b2cc7795cd4aaebaf3b1aaebad4f688f632842bc09264981.png" />
</figure>
<p><strong>2. Online store</strong></p>
<p>Looking for a reliable, efficient way to manage your inventory? With an online store, you can receive bookings directly into the HirePOS software without having to re-enter details. HirePOS comes with a built-in online store function that you can attach to your website via a direct link or an IFrame. Alternatively, if you have a Web designer or know-how, you can use <strong>HirePOS’s API</strong> to design a custom store, and still link to HirePOS.</p>
<p>With HirePOS, your online store’s appearance is configured within the platform. Prices and item information are pulled from your existing data, for items you’ve specified for your store. HirePOS’s setting can do availability checks before a customer submits a request, ensuring your inventory is accurate so you never miss a sale. Based on settings in HirePOS, you can automatically calculate a Quote for the customer when they submit a Booking.</p>
<figure class="Browser Browser--https" data-address-field="HirePOS">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/taking-card-payments-as-an-equipment-hire-rental-business/store-front-7b696ba4270a8a61e9f680b423ca1ca98cbb0c2e344d0abdf933bc399e871b35.png" />
</figure>
<figure class="Browser Browser--https" data-address-field="HirePOS">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/taking-card-payments-as-an-equipment-hire-rental-business/checkout-42e41981f54249619f2527c8cbb5b1a1f0d2dd2b6a72048eda0698138f70139f.png" />
</figure>
<p><strong>3. Authorisation for deposits</strong></p>
<p>Taking deposits as a rental hire business is essential for protection against loss or damage. By integrating with Pin Payments, HirePOS enables you to charge your customer’s card to collect a deposit.</p>
<p>Pin Payments’ <a href="/security" title="Security">PCI-DSS Level 1</a> certification means that customer card details are kept encrypted and secure at all times.</p>
<figure class="Browser Browser--https" data-address-field="HirePOS">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/taking-card-payments-as-an-equipment-hire-rental-business/payment-form-43ed2d2da8eea2cb89d53cd46fc24aa6b49c96133451021eed703f1851987c98.png" />
</figure>
<p><strong>4. Local support for your small business</strong></p>
<p>As well as enjoying these key payment features via the integration, you can count on premium service for your hire rental business. Just like Pin Payments, HirePOS offers local support via phone or online. That means help is at hand, if and when you need it most.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We chose Pin Payments as our payment platform as it came highly recommended by our clients. The fact that Pin Payments is locally based means we can promise the same high level of support that our customers expect. Our shared commitment to outstanding service makes this a great partnership.</p>
<p><cite>Shayne Cooper, CEO, HirePOS</cite></p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Get started free today</h3>
<p>You can get started with a <a href="https://hirepos.azurewebsites.net/Trial">free trial of HirePOS</a> and try all features for 30 days. That includes payment features via the Pin Payments integration.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/use-custom-fields-in-payment-pageNew feature: Add custom fields to your Payment Page<p>We’re excited to announce an update to the Payment Page feature that lets you include custom fields when accepting a payment from your customer.</p>
<p>The <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Payment Page</a> was designed to provide a straightforward way for any small business operator to get paid by their customer, and it’s been a part of every Pin Payments account since we launched.</p>
<p>Now with the addition of custom fields, merchants can use it in even more scenarios to get paid online.</p>
<h2>More flexibility with custom fields</h2>
<p>When accepting payment from a customer, you may want to collect some additional information. For example, the invoice number they’re paying for, or a phone number to contact them on if the need arises.</p>
<p>We’ve added the option to use up to three custom fields on your Payment Page.</p>
<img style="max-width: 600px; width: 100%; display: block; margin: 20px auto;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/add-custom-fields-to-your-payment-page/dashboard-95e9c15c8b320634b2a37e08e541f313ab1d675133a691c103ac303ed8b936af.png" />
<p>After a successful transaction, the custom field values will appear in the metadata section when viewing the charge in your dashboard, as well as being searchable from the Charges screen.</p>
<p>Learn more about using the Payment Page by reading the <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Product Guide</a>.</p>
<p><figure
style="border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; margin: 0 auto; max-width: 600px; text-align: center;">
<img width="600" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/add-custom-fields-to-your-payment-page/charge-fe488e66c85070e12fa44bbd1a4a5fa35d29279e205c448afc232c3a7c726c1a.png" />
</figure></p>
<h3>Not a Pin Payments customer? It’s free and easy to get started.</h3>
<p>Sign up for a free account and take advantage of our world-class features. You don’t need a web developer or technician, but if you need support <a href="/support/contact">drop our friendly team a note</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platformsSplit Payments for B2B Platforms: What You Need to Know<p>Different business models have different needs when it comes to managing payments. If you run a platform business, or you’re thinking of starting one, you’ll want to know how <a href="/developers/payments-for-platforms" title="Payments for Platforms">payments for platforms</a> work. We covered the basics in a <a href="/blog/selecting-the-best-payment-provider-for-your-software-platform" title="Selecting the best payment provider for your software platform">previous post</a> about key payment features for platforms. Now, we’re going one step further with a specific focus on split payments for B2B platforms.</p>
<p>In this post, we explain how split payments for B2B platforms work. We also discuss the two primary payment models for B2B platforms, including the pros and cons of each.</p>
<h2>What is a B2B platform business?</h2>
<p>A platform is a business model that facilitates exchanges between groups. Many platforms are B2C, meaning they facilitate exchanges between businesses and consumers. Airbnb and Uber are popular examples of B2C platforms.</p>
<p>B2B platforms run on similar principles but facilitate exchanges between businesses. Obee is an example of a B2B platform business model. <a href="/customers/obee" title="Obee Case Study">Obee</a> is a reservation, table and waiting list management system for restaurants. Obee facilitates payments from restaurant customers for reservation security or gift vouchers. Payments are then distributed to the restaurants, minus platform fees.</p>
<h2>How platform payments work and which model to choose</h2>
<p>There are three main parties or groups in a B2B platform business – the <strong>owner</strong>, <strong>merchants</strong>, and <strong>customers</strong>. In the Obee example, Obee is the platform owner, the restaurants are merchants, and the customers are the end users (the merchant’s customers).</p>
<p>In order to manage payouts and fees, platforms require a system that allows them to split payments between merchants. This can be done using one of two common payment models – the <strong>referral account model</strong> (which <a href="/customers/obee" title="Obee Case Study">Obee</a> uses) and the <strong>platform payout model</strong>. We discuss these in detail below, so you can choose the best split payment model to suit your B2B platform business.</p>
<h2>Model 1 – Referral account model</h2>
<p>In the referral account model, each merchant has their own payment account. When a customer makes a payment on the platform, it is processed on the merchant’s payment account. From there, funds are settled directly to the merchant’s bank account.</p>
<p><strong>How this works on Pin Payments</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The platform owner integrates their platform with Pin Payments once (they do not need to sign up for an account)</li>
<li>Each of the platform’s merchants signs up for their own Pin Payments account</li>
<li>When the platform refers a new merchant, Pin Payments takes care of the onboarding process, ensuring all <a href="https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/how-comply-and-report-guidance-and-resources/customer-identification-and-verification/customer-identification-know-your-customer-kyc">KYC AML</a> compliance requirements are met</li>
<li>The merchant manages their own payments via the Pin Payments dashboard</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Advantages</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Reduces risk to the platform owner, as each merchant is responsible for their own account and the flow of funds</li>
<li>Reduces compliance costs by outsourcing merchant onboarding to Pin Payments</li>
<li>Creates a potential new revenue stream, as platform owners can set a fee for each transaction (eg: Obee charges restaurants a fee for each payment made on the platform)</li>
<li>Does not require a lot of development work or resources to integrate</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Disadvantages</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>May not suit platforms which require complex payout schedules</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="SplitDiagram DiagramDesktop" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platforms/diagrams/diagram-1-715af5035cbf24e2ba786f7d34e156da72cf6326b9a6997c4f979b0e4676c996.svg" />
<img class="SplitDiagram DiagramMobile" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platforms/diagrams/mobile/diagram-1-064e7b4b8482c8f034e17128e3463f485dd225d43a858864d505dcfcd99578f9.svg" /></p>
<h2>Model 2 – Platform payout model</h2>
<p>In the platform payout model, all customer payments are processed in an account owned by the platform. The platform distributes funds to merchants, according to logic built into their platform.</p>
<p><strong>How this works on Pin Payments</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The platform owner signs up for a Pin Payments account</li>
<li>Each merchant is represented as a ‘recipient’ in the platform’s account</li>
<li>The proceeds of transactions (minus fees) are paid to the platform’s account</li>
<li>Business logic in the platform determines when and how much funds to transfer to a recipient (merchant)</li>
<li>Merchants must complete the KYC AML verification process before funds are released</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Advantages</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>More flexibility for the platform owner to split payments based on their needs</li>
<li>Merchants aren’t required to manage their own payment account</li>
<li>Popular among platforms servicing a single industry, where proceeds of transactions need to be shared between multiple beneficiaries</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Disadvantages</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Requires more up-front development work than the referral account model</li>
<li>Higher risk for platform owners, as they are responsible for KYC AML compliance being completed, plus exposure to chargebacks</li>
<li>Need for platforms to build software functionality for merchants, as merchants don’t have access to a Pin Payments dashboard</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="SplitDiagram DiagramDesktop" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platforms/diagrams/diagram-2-1fedf3f44e80db00b984afba6c6a68e90bda038fb77f41b9212a2b1c6767efa4.svg" />
<img class="SplitDiagram DiagramMobile" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platforms/diagrams/mobile/diagram-2-e19c89d45baeee45455d261854bd72e4672386831a98bb62b54e041063fae564.svg" /></p>
<h3>Talk to Pin Payments about split payments</h3>
<p>Choosing the right payment model is essential for minimising risks and costs. It ensures split payments are processed smoothly (which keeps merchants happy, too). If you’re unsure about which split payment model best suits your B2B platform, <a href="/contact?from=platforms" title="Contact us">contact Pin Payments</a> for support.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/resend-receipts-to-your-customersNew feature: Resend receipts to your customers<p>We're announcing our new handy Resend Receipts feature to help you resend receipts to your customers. As you know, following a successful charge with Pin Payments, <a href="/support/faqs/your-account/receipts">a receipt</a> is automatically sent to your customer’s email address. However, there may be times when you need to resend a receipt. Common use cases we see are customers providing the incorrect email address or requesting a copy of the receipt to be sent to their bookkeeper or employer.</p>
<p><img width="680" alt="Resending receipts from dashboard" style="margin: 1.3em 0 1.3em -10px; width: 100%; max-width: 680px;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/resend-receipts-to-your-customers/dashboard-0ceed31efded18a5a54802a4726f5a083507d188b83f3f48a1b32f72a91274cc.png" /></p>
<h2>How to use the Resend receipts feature</h2>
<p>To use this feature, log into your account. Click on the <strong>Charges</strong> panel and select an existing charge. Scroll down to the <strong>Email receipt</strong> section, enter the email address you wish to send a copy of the receipt to, and click <strong>Send Receipt</strong>.</p>
<h3>Not a Pin Payments customer? It’s free and easy to get started.</h3>
<p><a href="/get-started">Sign up for a free account</a> and take advantage of our world-class features. Set up takes less than 10 minutes and you can start accepting payments within a few days. You don’t need a web developer or technician – but if you need support, <a href="/support/contact">drop our friendly team a note</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/accept-recurring-payments-from-your-customersAccept recurring payments from your customers<p>Today we’re happy to announce the public release of our new <a href="/small-business-payments/recurring-payments">Recurring Payments</a> feature to help you manage ongoing payments from your customers.</p>
<p>Collecting recurring payments has been one of the most requested features from businesses using Pin Payments. While there are a number of subscription platforms available for more complex requirements, there appears to be a lack of cost-effective and simple solutions for your typical small business.</p>
<p>Some scenarios where a small business might need to collect ongoing payments from customers include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Account fees (e.g. bookkeeping, tuition, labour)</li>
<li>Subscription to a regular publication</li>
<li>Recurring donations or memberships</li>
<li>Software subscription fees</li>
<li>Paying a due amount across instalments</li>
</ul>
<p>Every Pin Payments account now has this feature available from the dashboard under ‘Recurring’, and via the <a href="/developers/integration-guides/subscriptions">Subscriptions API</a> if you’re looking to integrate into your own application. It’s as simple as:</p>
<ol>
<li>Creating a Plan.</li>
<li>Subscribe one or more customers to the Plan.</li>
<li>Allow the feature to take care of charging their card when it’s due.</li>
</ol>
<p><img width="680" alt="Recurring payment plan" style="margin: 1.3em 0 1.3em -10px; width: 100%; max-width: 680px;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/accept-recurring-payments-from-your-customers/hero-f499110ba323d9600afd33807b069fb1575b285311755e98195ab69590ab5a80.png" /></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Recurring Payments is easy to set-up, safe and secure. Simplicity is what matters most to us and to our indie retailer customer base.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>— Mark Fletcher, Managing Director of Tower Systems</p>
<p>You can read more about how the feature works in the <a href="/guides/recurring-payments">Product Guide</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/is-a-credit-card-terminal-the-best-choice-for-your-businessIs a credit card terminal the best choice for your business?<p>Many small businesses believe they need a credit card terminal to accept card payments. While a credit card terminal — otherwise known as an EFTPOS machine or card reader — makes sense for some businesses, many businesses can accept payments more easily using a virtual terminal. In this post, we talk about the benefits of a virtual terminal compared to a credit card terminal to help you determine which is the best choice for your business.</p>
<p><img alt="Virtual Terminal" style="max-width: 600px; margin: 1.5em 0; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/is-a-credit-card-terminal-the-best-choice-for-your-business/devices-19c85bf4fabd2bbeb1c390523398255baa0863a37963bed1d827ef5b40b57f67.jpg" /></p>
<h2>Credit card terminal vs virtual terminal</h2>
<p>Whether you need a credit card terminal depends largely on the type of business you run. If you process a lot of in-person payments – like in the retail or hospitality industries – a credit card terminal is likely the best solution for your business. However, if the majority of your customers pay online, a virtual terminal is a convenient, cost-effective alternative.</p>
<p>A virtual terminal allows you to receive <a href="/small-business-payments/manual-sales" title="Manual Sales — Control Card Payments">manual payments</a> from your mobile, tablet or desktop. It does the exact same job as a credit card terminal, only online. The difference is that you manually input credit card details, instead of asking customers to wave or insert their card.</p>
<p>A virtual terminal is the perfect choice for a wide range of businesses. For example, an online retailer who sells goods at a tradeshow or market a few times a year. Or an equipment hire business that occasionally takes manual payments when customers call or pop into the office.</p>
<p>If you have a credit card terminal collecting dust (and costing you money), a virtual terminal could be a better choice for your business.</p>
<h2>Benefits of a virtual terminal</h2>
<p class="strong">1. Cardholder privacy</p>
<p>One <a href="/blog/accepting-credit-card-payments" title="Accepting Credit Card Payments: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid">common mistake</a> businesses make when receiving payments over the phone is writing down the card details before entering them into a credit card terminal. Whether it’s a sticky note, piece of paper, or document on your computer, writing down credit card details is risky and unsecure. It could also make customers reluctant to pay over the phone. A virtual terminal eliminates this risk, allowing you to enter card details directly into a secure online portal. You can also issue a digital receipt in a few clicks.</p>
<p class="strong">2. Cost effective</p>
<p>Unlike a credit card terminal, which usually incurs a monthly rental fee, there are no additional costs for taking manual payments via a virtual terminal. Manual payments are treated like any other transaction. The only difference is how you enter them.</p>
<p class="strong">3. Reliable</p>
<p>Most credit card terminals require a phone connection. While this is usually fine, network issues and outages do occur — sometimes for hours on end. If your credit card terminal is down, it could cost your business sales. A virtual terminal, on the other hand, just needs internet access, ensuring you never miss a sale.</p>
<p class="strong">4. Convenience</p>
<p>If you’re heading out to a tradeshow or event, you probably want to travel light. With a virtual terminal, you can take <a href="/small-business-payments/in-person-sales" title="Accept Credit Card Payments Face-to-Face">in-person payments</a> directly from your phone, tablet or laptop. No carrying around extra devices – or, worse still, leaving them at home. A virtual terminal is ready when you are. Plus, it stores all your transactions in one place, so you always know how you’re tracking.</p>
<hr>
<h3>Get started free today</h3>
<p>If you’re considering replacing your credit card terminal with a virtual terminal, you can get started free with Pin Payments. Pin Payments is a flexible payment platform that allows you to accept credit card payments, your way — online, in-person or over the phone. Sign up for an account and join <a href="/reviews" title="Pin Payments Reviews">thousands of small businesses</a> who trust Pin Payments for fast, secure, convenient card payments.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/withdraw-funds-set-your-own-transfer-scheduleNew feature: Withdraw Funds - Set your own transfer schedule<section>
<div class='content'>
<p>At Pin Payments, we believe in putting the power in your hands. When it comes to managing your small business payments, we’re always looking for ways to make your life easier. Our new <a href="/support/faqs/transfers/transfer-mode" title="Do I have to withdraw funds, or will I receive them automatically?">Withdraw Funds</a> feature does just that by giving you greater control over your finances — especially when it comes to foreign currency settlements. Here, we explain how the new feature works, plus how it can save you time and money.</p>
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<h2>What is the Withdraw Funds feature?</h2>
<p>When customers pay you online via Pin Payments, funds are transferred to your bank account automatically. This typically happens within three days, depending on your settlement delay. The new Withdraw Funds feature allows you to overwrite the default automatic transfer and switch to a manual schedule. With Withdraw Funds, you can specify how much money you want to transfer from Pin Payments — and when you want that transfer to take place.</p>
<h2>Reduce foreign currency transfer fees</h2>
<p>The Withdraw Funds feature is especially useful if your business receives funds in foreign currency. Most banks charge a fee when transferring foreign currency back to your local bank account. If you’re receiving automatic transfers daily or weekly, these fees can add up fast.</p>
<p>With Withdraw Funds, you can choose to transfer funds from Pin Payments less frequently — fortnightly or monthly, for example — to minimise fees. You can also keep money in your foreign bank account to pay for suppliers who accept that currency. It’s cheaper, easier, and more convenient.</p>
<h2>Save time reconciling transactions</h2>
<p>Even if you don’t deal with foreign currency settlements, Withdraw Funds can save you valuable time. Switching to a manual schedule and choosing when you transfer funds from Pin Payments can minimise the time you spend on tedious reconciliation work.</p>
<h3>Try the Withdraw Funds feature today</h3>
<p>The Withdraw Funds feature is now available for all Pin Payments customers. <a href="/support/faqs/transfers/transfer-mode" title="Do I have to withdraw funds, or will I receive them automatically?">Learn more</a> about the new feature, and start setting your own transfer schedule.</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Not a Pin Payments customer? It’s free and easy to get started.</strong></p>
<p>Sign up for a free account and take advantage of our world-class features, including Withdraw Funds.</p>
<p>Set up takes less than 10 minutes and you can start accepting payments within a few days. You don’t need a web developer or technician – but if you need support, just <a href="/support/contact" title="Contact Support">drop our friendly team a note</a>.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/accepting-credit-card-paymentsAccepting Credit Card Payments: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid<p>As a small business owner, it’s important to get paid on time. The easiest way to make that happen is to accept credit card payments online. At Pin Payments, we’ve been streamlining credit card payments for small business owners since 2013. In that time, we’ve helped thousands of people get paid faster and more securely. We’ve also seen some situations where card payments aren’t processed ideally.</p>
<p>If you don’t receive card payments carefully, you can compromise your customer’s security. You could also cost your small business valuable time and money. If you’re already accepting credit card payments, or you’re thinking of getting started, here are 5 common mistakes to avoid.</p>
<h2>1. Not keeping credit card details secure</h2>
<p>Have you ever scribbled down credit card details on a sticky note or piece of paper? Perhaps you’re storing customer details in a clunky Excel spreadsheet? No matter how careful you are, manual storage isn’t secure. If your customer’s details fall into the wrong hands, it could be disastrous for your business. It’s not worth the risk.</p>
<p>Protect yourself, and your customers, by putting <a href="/security" title="Security">card safety</a> first. Look for providers that have been assessed and certified against the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standard. When you use a PCI compliant provider, you can receive card payments safely – and your customers can purchase with confidence.</p>
<h2>2. Not integrating payments from your invoice</h2>
<p>If you only accept payments via bank transfer, you might be making life more complicated – for you and your customers. Typing in account numbers and BSBs is time consuming and frustrating. There’s a high chance of human error, which can result in payments going missing. Plus, it means your customers need to have cash on hand.</p>
<p>Look for payment providers that allow you to add <a href="/solutions/xero" title="Invoicing">a payment link</a> to your invoice, so you can accept credit card payments in a few clicks. That means more flexibility and convenience for purchasers – and a much better chance you’ll get paid sooner. If the provider can integrate with your accounting software, such as <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing" title="Xero Online Invoicing">Xero</a>, that’s even better.</p>
<h2>3. Using a different name when billing your customers</h2>
<p>Have you ever checked your credit card statement and seen a transaction you didn’t recognise? In most cases, this is because the trading business is billing under a different name. So, they sell goods as ‘Chocolate Delights’, but bill customers as ‘PK Munroe’. This can be confusing and increases the likelihood of disputes.</p>
<p>To ensure you’re accepting credit card payments that make sense to your customers, check that your trading name is displayed on statements. If in doubt, talk to your provider.</p>
<h2>4. Paying too much to accept credit card payments</h2>
<p>There are various providers who offer credit card payments, but many come with expensive set-up costs, ongoing fees and lock-in contracts. Some also charge for extras you might not need, like point-of-sale card readers.</p>
<p>As a small business owner, you probably don’t have an unlimited budget, so think about what you need – and what type of commitment you’re willing to make. Make sure you <a href="https://www.g2.com/compare/paypal-paypal-vs-pin-payments-vs-square-payments-vs-stripe-stripe-payments" title="Pin Payments on G2">shop around and compare</a> before you sign up.</p>
<h2>5. Not offering credit card payments at all</h2>
<p>Many small business owners make assumptions about accepting credit card payments. Some worry that software will be difficult to set up. Others assume their customers don’t mind dealing with manual payments.</p>
<p>The truth is, if your business isn’t set up to receive card payments, you could be losing sales. If that’s the case, it could be time to rethink the way you receive payments.</p>
<h3>Get started free today</h3>
<p>The good news is, it’s fast and easy to receive card payments online. With Pin Payments, you can get set up in less than 10 minutes and start accepting payments within a few days. You don’t need a web developer or technician – but if you need support, our friendly team is just a phone call or email away.</p>
<p><a href="/get-started" title="Sign up">Sign up</a> for an account at Pin Payments and start accepting payments, your way. With competitive pricing, free set-up and world-class customer support, Pin Payments makes getting paid faster, safer and easier than ever.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/a-guide-on-accepting-international-ecommerce-paymentsA guide on accepting international ecommerce payments<section>
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<p>Accepting payments in a foreign currency is something you should consider if you have an ecommerce business.</p>
<h2>Sell to the world with multiple currency payments</h2>
<p>Ecommerce businesses are born global. Selling online gives you access to lucrative international markets such as the US or the UK.</p>
<p>Offering foreign currency payments can also reduce shopping shopping cart abandonment by international shoppers. There's nothing more off-putting for a shopper than seeing a foreign currency just as they are about to pay for their purchase. Lack of clarity around conversion rates and prices are likely to turn them away and lose your business a valuable sale.</p>
<h2>Where do I start?</h2>
<p>It’s surprisingly easy to set your business up to take international payments, and you have a good range of options.</p>
<p><a href="/blog/foreign-currencies" title="Processing foreign currency payments from Australia">We previously wrote a post detailing some of the traditional options</a>: setting up a foreign currency merchant account with your bank, establishing a company in a foreign market or using a third-party vendor. Each of these options pose limitations and drawbacks.</p>
<p>The simplest option is to use a payment provider that processes the transaction for you and automatically handles the currency conversion. With this type of payment system, you don’t need a merchant bank account. Most can approve you within a day or two so you’ll be ready to go in no time.</p>
<p>If you're using a shopping cart platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento, most payment processors will easily integrate with any existing solution you have.</p>
<h2>What should I look for?</h2>
<p>A great payment provider will give you the option to charge your customers in a <a href="/currencies/" title="Accept international payments online">range of currencies</a> and either, i) convert the money back to you local currency before putting it in your bank account, or ii) allow you to keep the money in the currencies in which your customer paid. The second point is valuable if you’d like to have control of when to convert money back to your local currency or if you need to keep the foreign currencies for any outgoings.</p>
<p>We find that most businesses leave it to their payment provider to convert the money back into their local currency. But, as a business matures, it starts to make sense to keep the money in the foreign currencies.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/why-you-dont-need-a-merchant-account-or-a-payment-gateway-to-process-paymentsWhy you don’t need a Merchant Account or a Payment Gateway to process payments<h2>What is a Payment Gateway?</h2>
<p>A Payment Gateway is a software interface that enables a website or application to submit requests to charge a customer’s credit card. By itself, a payment gateway cannot process transactions, a business will also need to apply for a merchant account.</p>
<h2>What is a Merchant Account?</h2>
<p>A Merchant Account is a facility a business will open at a bank or payment processor to accept the requests from a payment gateway to charge their customer’s credit card. Note that a Merchant Account is different to your business bank account. Unlike your business bank account where you can have complete control over your account, your Merchant Account is only a holding place for deposits.</p>
<p>It can be difficult for small businesses to be approved for an online Merchant Account through banking institutions. Typically, banking institutions will require historical details about your business, turnover and average transaction value. This can be problematic for a new business without prior history.</p>
<p>A Merchant Account allows a business to issue payment instructions on behalf of the card holder. When banks approve a Merchant Account, they consider how risky the business requesting the Merchant Account is. Risky businesses are more likely to incur <a href="/support/faqs/disputes/what-is-a-dispute">disputes</a> and cost the bank money. To insure against potential risk, banks may ask businesses to provide a deposit as security in order to open a merchant account.</p>
<figure class="Article_illustration">
<figcaption>Traditional ecommerce</figcaption>
<div class="Flow">
<div class="Flow_step Flow_step--actor">
<img class="Actor_customer" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/pinpayments/how-we-are-different/customer-4a5ea5b9a68ed7a4dcead5794bcfcc1cd20a772987c1465509f33ab7c4aca17f.svg" />
<p class="Actor">Customer</p>
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<div class="Flow_subStep">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/pinpayments/how-we-are-different/software-ce3e4e3b351c3e1506b0dc7b46e0273c35660e97177a8e5bc65f3014180c8144.svg" />
<dl>
<dt>Software vendor</dt>
<dd>Customer facing software</dd>
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<div class="Flow_subStep">
<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/pinpayments/how-we-are-different/gateway-9e45f39fc9a0d54fbd6c99e194f4e6cb309877a68746473db81530f5837c5b54.svg" />
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<dt>Payment gateway</dt>
<dd>Software interface for accepting card payments</dd>
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<dt>Acquiring bank</dt>
<ddProvides merchant facilities to receive funds</dd>
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<p class="Actor">You</p>
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<h2>Pin Payments = Payment Gateway + Merchant Accounts</h2>
<p>Instead of asking a small business to setup and manage accounts with multiple providers, Pin Payments provides a single, simple account that combines both the Payment Gateway and Merchant Account.</p>
<p>Signing up for an account with Pin Payments is free with no lock in contract. Our <a href="/pricing">pricing</a> is competitive, with no hidden fees or hidden monthly fees. What’s more, when you sign up with Pin Payments you automatically gain access to a <a href="/small-business-payments">number of different ways</a> to process credit card payments. Your business can start accepting card payment from your on online stores, in-person sales and manual sales to name just a few!</p>
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<figcaption>With Pin Payments</figcaption>
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<img class="Actor_customer" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/pinpayments/how-we-are-different/customer-4a5ea5b9a68ed7a4dcead5794bcfcc1cd20a772987c1465509f33ab7c4aca17f.svg" />
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<div class="Flow_step Flow_step--process Flow_step--processPin">
<img class="Process_pinpayments" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/logo/default-0f145e50fd62a941a93d62ea63c5778f6edf37141e191f47f0d5b023e10f08b6.svg" />
<img class="Process_PinComponents" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/pinpayments/how-we-are-different/combined-8eab554d5c84ef4e25fab902d501ff0d18e75de2619ccd8b6438bc8a198e3790.svg" />
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<p class="Actor">You</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/selecting-the-best-payment-provider-for-your-software-platformSelecting the best payment provider for your software platform<p>Today people are so well adjusted to paying for things online that to stay relevant it's important for business to business software vendors to consider offering online payments as a part of their platform.</p>
<p>This is already common with invoice management software, restaurant booking platforms, grassroots sports memberships management and software to manage equipment rentals. But any platform where transactions take place can deliver greater value for having payments integrated.</p>
<p>The benefit for your customers is that with payments directly integrated into your software platform, they can report on who has paid without needing to compare data across multiple systems.</p>
<h2>How it works</h2>
<p><a href="/customers/obee">Obee</a> is a software platform that helps restaurants streamline online customer reservations and gift voucher sales. Restaurants that want to accept payments and deposits connect their Obee account to their Pin Payments account. Customers then can secure reservations and purchase gift vouchers from the restaurant’s website using their credit or debit card.</p>
<p><img alt="Brae" style="max-width: 496px; width: 98%; margin: 50px auto; display:block;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/selecting-the-best-payment-provider-for-your-software-platform/brae-79db8424648d18eafe88ea98dd400212168b61e0c8b895ea0dcb28428ca29366.png" /></p>
<h2>Look for these benefits</h2>
<p>When researching payment providers, ask about how they’ve been able to help other software vendors like yours with <a href="/developers/payments-for-platforms" title="A payments platform for your platform">building payments</a> into their platform.</p>
<h3>1. Smooth onboarding for your customers</h3>
<p>You’ll likely see a lacklustre adoption from customers if the steps to set up their online payment account are complicated and time consuming. Look for payment providers who can facilitate a fast and painless setup (e.g. online, same day activation) experience for you and your customers.</p>
<h3>2. First class payment experience</h3>
<p>An online payment page hosted by your payment provider is an acceptable way to start offering payment features on your software platform. Make sure they also offer a modern <a href="/developers/integration-guides/hosted-fields">payment API</a> so you can place the payment form in your own interface when you’re ready (this will help improve checkout conversions).</p>
<h3>3. Minimise scope for PCI DSS compliance</h3>
<p>Every business that accepts card payments online must be PCI DSS compliant. Ask the payment provider if they can provide a solution to ensure sensitive card data never touches your environment or your customer’s environment. This qualifies you for the simple PCI DSS <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pci_security/completing_self_assessment">Self Assessment Questionnaire</a> (SAQ A), rather than the more complex SAQ A-EP.</p>
<h3>4. Opportunity to grow your revenue</h3>
<p>Payment providers generate their revenue primarily through fees charged on each transaction processed. By bringing a stream of new customers to your payment provider, see if they offer flexibility around how transactions are priced, with an option for your business to receive some transactional revenue.</p>
<h2>Want to know more?</h2>
<p><a href="/contact">Contact us</a> if you would like to have a conversation about the best approach for integrating payments into your software.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/payment-page-surchargingSurcharging now available on Payment Pages<p>For some time we’ve included the option in our <a href="/blog/xero_online_invoicing">Xero Online Invoicing add-on</a> to pass on the card processing fees to your customers. It’s been extremely popular with Xero users, and today we see that more than half of all Xero invoices paid online with Pin Payments use surcharging.</p>
<p>We’re very excited to announce that surcharging is now included with our standard <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Payment Page feature</a>, which means any business using Pin Payments can choose to pass on card processing fees when requesting payment from a customer. It’s as simple as including the Payment Page link in your invoices, emails or SMS messages to customers.</p>
<figure class="Browser Browser--https" data-address-field="Pin Payments (Southern Payment Systems)">
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<p>With the Surcharging option enabled on your Payment Page link, prior to confirming payment the customer will be presented with a clear summary of the amount they’ll pay, including the card surcharge.</p>
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<img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/payment-page-surcharging/payment-94e747593fdc33db81505d0e00c3a99601f7393afc5e2e6608134f4c0266fc12.png" />
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<p>An added benefit is that because the card surcharge amount represents the exact cost of processing the transaction on your Pin Payments account, we help you comply with the ACCC’s <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing-surcharging/payment-surcharges">payment surcharge regulation</a>.</p>
<p>You can learn how to use this new feature in our <a href="/guides/payment-pages">Payment Page Usage Guide</a>, and we'd love to hear from you with any questions you might have.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/avoiding-common-online-scamsCommon online scams and how to avoid them<div class='ArticleWrap'>
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<p>If you’re in the business of selling online, chances are you’ve either been scammed or you’ve thwarted an attempted scam against your business. Because it’s our business to help small businesses accept payments online, from time to time we’re witness to a number of different types of credit card fraud and online scams.</p>
<p>We’d like to share some tips and stories from this experience with the aim of helping your business minimise exposure to them.</p>
<p><a name="credit-card-fraud"></a></p>
<h2>Credit card fraud</h2>
<p>The most common form of online credit card fraud is where someone uses a credit or debit card they’re not entitled to for a purchase, known as an ‘Unauthorised transaction’.</p>
<p>The typical way this works is a scammer obtains stolen card details and targets particular online stores to make a purchase from. The typical targets for this type of scam are businesses selling high value products that can be easily resold, such as electronics.</p>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<p>Whilst there is no sure way to avoid these fraudulent transactions, there are some strategies your business can take to reduce your exposure to losses:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="/blog/understanding-risks-of-accepting-payments-online">Understanding risk for small businesses accepting payments online</a>.</li>
<li><a href="/blog/easy-card-authentication">Easy Card Authentication</a> helps you verify the person making the purchase is the true cardholder.</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="friendly-fraud"></a></p>
<h2>Friendly fraud</h2>
<p>Friendly fraud occurs when the true cardholder makes the purchase but they choose to dispute the transaction with their bank anyway. Their objective is to obtain the goods at no cost, by receiving their funds back through the dispute process, at the merchant’s expense.</p>
<p>You might wonder why the card issuing bank would allow a cardholder to dispute a legitimate transaction, but often the cardholder will provide a story which is simply not true. Common examples of this are claiming the goods were not received (when they actually were), or that the merchant didn’t have their authority to charge the card.</p>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<ul>
<li>Build relationships with your customers, so they’ll likely be more loyal to a small business in the long run.</li>
<li>Keep detailed records of your correspondence with customers, including evidence of the transaction and fulfilment (signature on delivery is more useful when dealing with disputes).</li>
<li>Make sure the refund policy and method for requesting a refund is clear to customers. Otherwise, customers might find disputing a transaction with their bank easier than asking for a refund.</li>
<li>Take the time to understand consumer law and don’t make your refund policy too restrictive. Just covering your right to refuse a refund in your policy doesn’t mean your customer isn’t entitled to a refund, or that you will win a dispute if one arises.</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="money-forwarding"></a></p>
<h2>Money forwarding</h2>
<p>Money forwarding is an audacious scam where the scammer is aiming to receive a deposit of funds in their nominated bank account. They do this by trying to convince a small business with card processing facilities to process a payment for more than what the total of the goods or service come to.</p>
<ol>
<li>The scammer targets a service provider (rather than a retailer selling goods), and represents themselves as a customer who says they’re unable to speak on the phone for one reason or another.</li>
<li>A purchase of services for some time in the future will be negotiated, usually that’s of high dollar value. One tell-tale sign of this scam is that the scammer will almost always confirm early on that the merchant accepts card as a form of payment.</li>
<li>Once terms for payment are agreed, the scammer will expand on their story to include reasons why they can’t make it to the phone and (this is the key) they will usually introduce some other complexity that results in them wanting to overpay their invoice. For instance, they might claim to be moving into a new house but, because they’re stuck in hospital, they don’t have any way of paying their removalist. They will then ask if they can pay the “removalist” fees using the merchant’s card processing facility and provide bank details so that the merchant can forward the extra payment amount on to their “removalist”.</li>
<li>Once this extra amount is sent on to this bank account, the scammer disappears, never to be heard of again, and never ends up using the service they have paid for. This scam works because the scammer is using a stolen credit card and then, when the true cardholder discovers the transaction on their card, they will dispute it with their bank and recover the full transaction value back from the merchant.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Recommendations</h3>
<p>Never accept an overpayment for your goods or services. Never forward funds on to a bank account and always remember that, as a merchant, you are responsible for each transaction you process. Take extra steps to ensure you really know your customer — if you suspect a potential scam ask for ID and insist on calling them to confirm the order.</p>
<p>Finally, <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/">scamwatch.gov.au</a> is a fantastic resource to keep abreast of current scams across the industry. We suggest subscribing to their email newsletter updates.</p>
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<div class='BlogCollection_page BlogCollection_page--Current'>
<div class='BlogCollection_pageTitle'>Avoiding common online scams</div>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#credit-card-fraud">Credit card fraud</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#friendly-fraud">Friendly Fraud</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#money-forwarding">Money Forwarding</a>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/moving-our-home-to-pinpaymentsMoving our home to pinpayments.com<p>Just recently we relocated the Pin Payments website from pin.net.au to pinpayments.com.</p>
<p>We’re now helping small businesses in New Zealand accept card payments, and are exploring other locations outside of Australia/NZ where similar businesses would benefit from having access to our product. Moving to pinpayments.com is one of the steps as part of that journey.</p>
<h2>What do you need to do?</h2>
<p>Access to our API through api.pin.net.au will continue to work as normal, with any requests to pin.net.au from your web browser being redirected to pinpayments.com.</p>
<p>We do still suggest to update your references to the pinpayments.com domain and api.pinpayments.com (if you’re working with our API) at some point in the near future.</p>
<p>If you have any questions or concerns, we'd be happy to hear from you.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/webhooks-zapierWebhooks + Zapier = more integrations<p>One of the more regular questions our customer support team receives is if Pin Payments integrates with a particular software product their business is using. We do our best to be compatible with the most common products our customers are using, but there are times that an integration isn’t possible.</p>
<p>A recent feature we’ve made available to all Pin Payments customers is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="/developers/api-reference/webhooks">Webhooks</a>. Webhooks is an industry standard for sending a notification when an event has occurred in an application. For example, you can be notified whenever a successful charge has been processed by your Pin Payments account.</p>
<img title="Pin Payments Webhooks" class="article-image Browser--withShadow" alt="Pin Payments Webhooks" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/webhooks-zapier/webhooks-95f7afc7cd4cebf562c6b7ff50fe503e5219e763fccad748ab926c7cc98cef0e.png" />
<h2>Introducing Zapier</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.zapier.com">Zapier</a> is an online automation tool that connects your favorite apps, such as Gmail, Xero, Trello, and over 750 more. It allows you to connect two or more apps to automate repetitive tasks (which they call ‘Zaps’) without coding or relying on developers to build the integration. Because Zapier supports webhooks as a trigger, every Pin Payments customer now has the ability to use their Pin Payments account with any of the 750+ apps that Zapier connects to.</p>
<p>Some examples where you could take advantage of this include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Create a sales invoice in Xero when a customer successfully pays.</li>
<li>Add a customer’s email address to a Mailchimp campaign when a Customer record is created in your Pin Payments account.</li>
<li>Send yourself an email when a customer’s attempt to pay fails.</li>
<li>Display your sales data on a Geckoboard dashboard.</li>
</ul>
<p>The list of events that webhooks supports can be found on our website here — <a href="/developers/api-reference/events">/developers/api-reference/events</a>.</p>
<p>We’d love to hear how you’re making make use of this feature in your business, or if you need some help from us in getting started.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/xero_online_invoicingXero Online Invoicing<h2>Don't pay the price for accepting card payments.</h2>
<p>You can now automatically pass on transaction fees to customers who choose to pay your Xero invoices with their credit or debit card.</p>
<p>Some business owners decide not to allow their customers to pay invoices by card due to the fees incurred. This new feature allows you to apply a surcharge to the invoice amount so that your customer pays the card transaction fee and you receive full payment of the invoice. This is particularly helpful if you’re invoicing large amounts; you can control your business costs and won’t feel like you’re impacted by additional fees where your customer chooses to pay with card.</p>
<p>When choosing to enable this feature, Pin Payments automatically calculates the fee amount and adds this to the total invoice that your customer pays, so it’s clear and simple for you and your customer.</p>
<p>By automatically calculating the exact amount, we protect you from the <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing-surcharging/payment-surcharges">recent regulation changes introduced by the ACCC</a>, that could expose you to penalties if you apply a surcharge for any more than the transaction fee amount.</p>
<p>If you’re already a customer, read our <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing">guide</a> to see how easy it is to pass on the surcharge. Otherwise, <a href="/get-started">sign up</a> to Pin Payments today to take advantage of this great feature.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/easy-card-auth-dashboardVerify card transactions before shipping goods<h2>Know your customers. Stay protected.</h2>
<p>Chargeback anxiety — the struggle is real.</p>
<p>You don’t need us to tell you how frustrating fraudulent transactions and chargebacks are. Especially if you’ve just shipped a costly product like clothes, electronics, car parts or any other high-value equipment. Once you’ve released the goods, the chances of getting them returned after a chargeback are close to zero, even if the fraudsters get caught.</p>
<p>Not only are your products lost and your sales revenue forfeited, but getting involved in too many chargebacks can result in your business being flagged as high-risk by your payments provider.</p>
<p>Although there’s no way to eliminate chargebacks and card fraud altogether, we can give you an easy way to help prevent it.</p>
<h2>Card authentication is easier than ever</h2>
<p>Our easy card authentication, built in consultation with Mastercard, quickly verifies that your customer is genuine before you ship their order. Here’s how it works:</p>
<ul>
<li>Your customer pays for a product.</li>
<li>We include a short random code on the charge description on their bank statement.</li>
<li>You ask your customer for the code.</li>
<li>You enter this code into your Pin Payments dashboard.</li>
<li>We do our usual fraud scan to ensure the transaction is legitimate.</li>
<li>Your customer is verified and you can release the goods with peace of mind.</li>
</ul>
<aside class='case-study'>
<h3>Watch Direct</h3>
<p>Australia’s largest watch store uses Easy Card Authentication to protect their premium products from fraudulent buyers. Customers don’t mind the extra step if it means Watch Direct will never accept stolen credit card details. Peace of mind is worth the time.</p>
<div class='wd-logo'><img src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/easy-card-auth-dashboard/watch_direct_logo-c45c864ca092df441ca09697d457d8002ccca831bd095cb51b6236aa8da7733a.png" /></div>
</aside>
<blockquote class='testimonial'>
“We are super happy with Easy Card Authentication as it has saved us a lot of chargebacks and losses”
<div class='by'>Alex, Watch Direct</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Of course this feature isn’t suitable as a default aspect of your payment process. It’s designed to be used for orders that you may not feel confident fulfilling without verifying further.</p>
<h2>An essential tool to help prevent fraud</h2>
<p>While you can’t avoid fraud altogether, enabling preventative measures can have a significant impact, even if it helps prevent just one case of fraud. Furthermore, if you do face a chargeback, you’ll be asked to gather evidence regarding the transaction — demonstrating this step will help prove your diligence as a merchant.</p>
<p>With no additional costs, using card authentication is just one tiny step and a three-digit code towards giving you assurance and added peace of mind.</p>
<p>Protecting your business is <em>that</em> easy.</p>
<p>Switch to Pin Payments today to take advantage of this great feature.</p>
<p>If you're an existing customer and don't see the "verify customer" button on your charges, simply contact us to enable easy card authentication on your account.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/creating-an-awesome-service-in-2016Creating an awesome service in 2016<p>In 2016, we continued our journey of making Pin Payments the most flexible and user-friendly option on the market; one that bridges the gap between traditional payment facilities and the needs of today’s businesses.</p>
<p><img title="Pin Payments Dashboard" class="article-image" alt="Pin Payments Dashboard" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/creating-an-awesome-service-in-2016/dashboard-2356939fb8090a1085cbdd54c3e47bcb8b3cf860387e734675242493c2064fa0.png" /></p>
<p>We started out with a redesigned, mobile-responsive dashboard, offering our customers easy access to their accounts from any device. This became the foundation for all our newest features and upgrades to your Pin Payments service.</p>
<h2>Easy card authentication</h2>
<p>Built in consultation with Mastercard, our easy card authentication feature quickly verifies your customer before you ship their order. This helps keep your business protected from any potential loss of revenue or product due to fraudulent transactions and chargebacks.</p>
<h2>Secure customer storage</h2>
<p>Our latest dashboard upgrade saw the addition of secure customer payment profiles. We handle all security, privacy and compliance on your behalf, supporting your business’s capacity for accepting recurring payments. Now you can offer your customers better service and peace of mind, knowing that their data is safe with you.</p>
<h2>Flexible payment settings</h2>
<p>Customer accounts can not only hold multiple payment cards, but give you the ability to request part-payments across different sources of funds. This smart, flexible feature means one less barrier to conversion, streamlining your checkout process and offering your customers the convenience of accessing their money, wherever it may be.</p>
<h2>Zero-charge card authorisation</h2>
<p>Previously, testing if a customer’s card is valid meant processing a live charge, but now you can use a pre-authorisation instead. This feature has been available through the API for some time, but now when you create a charge in your dashboard, you can opt to hold off on capturing the funds whilst ensuring that amount is available when you’re ready to bill.</p>
<h2>Receipt updates</h2>
<p>Style matters just as much as substance. We’ve been working on a more modern design for your electronic receipts, helping you maintain your brand’s credibility through a consistent and elegant visual style. Included are custom fields for your business’s logo and ABN, plus your customer’s card type, last four digits and charge date.</p>
<h2>Payment metadata</h2>
<p>Now when you issue a charge via the API, you have the option of adding extra details, such as order numbers or customer names. This makes it easier to cross-reference payments with orders, or even automate your payment tracking process entirely. This metadata can be viewed on charges in your dashboard. Best of all, this system is both customisable and flexible, meaning you decide what information is most valuable for your business to capture.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/dashboard-updatesBetter customer features in our latest dashboard update<p>We’re proud of the platform we’ve created. It’s super flexible and easy to integrate into all the popular e-commerce services, plus we’re constantly evolving it to give our customers a competitive edge in their market.</p>
<p>Our latest updates include some new customer management features in the Pin Payments dashboard. Offer your customers the best experience possible, with better service and the peace of mind knowing their data is safe with you.</p>
<h2>Create customers with secure payment profiles</h2>
<p>As a Pin Payments user, <a href="/guides/customers">you can now create customer profiles in your dashboard</a>, and vault their card details for repeat charges in the future. We’ll handle all the security, privacy, data integrity and PCI-DSS compliance on your behalf. It’s secure, seamless and zero-hassle, supporting your business’s capacity for accepting recurring payments.</p>
<p>Securely vault customer payment details with our new Create Customer feature.</p>
<h2>Zero-charge card authorisation</h2>
<p>Our new card authorisation feature lets you <a href="/guides/charges">capture an authorisation of funds</a> without actually processing a charge — like, for example, when holding security for an accommodation booking. As you input the charge in your dashboard, you can elect to hold off on taking payment while still ensuring that amount will be available for when you’re ready to bill.</p>
<p>Authorise a transaction upfront; capture the funds later.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/international-transaction-feesWhat is an international transaction fee and why are my customers being charged?<section id='introduction'>
<div class='content'>
<p>Buying goods from around the world is now easier than ever before. But we’re also seeing an increase in international transaction fees appearing on bank statements, with no explanation of what they’re for.</p>
<p>We’re often asked about these fees, and wanted provide some clarity around what they are, where they come from, and what the deal is.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='content'>
<h2>What is an international transaction fee?</h2>
<p>With every foreign currency transaction, you may see an additional fee on top of the amount charged. This ‘international transaction fee’ is imposed by the credit card provider, and not related to the merchant accepting the payment.</p>
<p>Depending on the card issuer’s policy, the fee may be a percentage of the transaction amount, or a flat per-transaction rate.</p>
<h2>Why not mention this up front?</h2>
<p>This is a tricky one — for us and for you. There are currently no industry standards governing international transaction fees. And with the plethora of credit card providers out there, each with their own policies, it’s impossible for us to detail what you or your customers should expect.</p>
<p>For example, shoppers with credit cards issued by the big four banks here in Australia charge a fee for international transactions. But over the road in New Zealand, none of the banks charge. This is an unpredictable, inconsistent area of the global finance industry.</p>
<p>It’s also beyond our control, and yours. International transaction terms and charges all come down to the relationship between your customer and their card provider.</p>
<h2>What can I do to notify my customers?</h2>
<p>These fees aren’t usually a concern for merchants. Most savvy shoppers today are familiar with extra charges coming from financial institutions.</p>
<p>But if customers are asking about this, we recommend including a note on the payment confirmation page of your checkout process letting them know foreign currency transactions may incur a fee from their card issuer.</p>
<p>For more information, <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/online-shopping/buying-online/articles/foreign-transaction-fees-when-shopping-online">check out this article that provides more details on foreign currency transaction fees</a>. If your customers would like more specific information, they will be able to find this on their card issuer’s website.</p>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/sell-to-the-worldEverything you need to know about foreign currency payments<section id='introduction'>
<div class='content'>
<h1>Looking to sell to the world?</h1>
<h2>Here’s everything you need to know about foreign currency payments.</h2>
<p>Accepting foreign currency payments may be something that’s been on your mind for a while, or you may have just started to look into it. Whether you’re looking to expand your business globally, or simply want to start by allowing your customers to pay in the currency they choose, processing payments in a foreign currency is something you should consider.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='content'>
<h2>Why is it important?</h2>
<p>A big contributor to shopping cart abandonment is shoppers being deterred due to lack of clarity around conversion rates and prices when displayed in a currency that’s not theirs. Offering foreign currency payments shows you’re looking out for your customers, which helps you stand apart in a world where business focus is increasingly centred around the customer. Of course it’s crucial if you want to expand your business internationally.</p>
<p>It also helps your business look more professional.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='content'>
<h2>What do I need to do?</h2>
<p>It’s surprisingly easy to set your business up to take multi-currency payments, and you have a good range of options.</p>
<p><a href="/blog/foreign-currencies" rel="noopener" target="_blank">We previously wrote a post detailing some of the traditional options</a>: setting up a foreign currency merchant account with your bank, establishing a company in a foreign market or using a third-party vendor. Each of these options pose limitations and drawbacks, you can read the full article here.</p>
<p>The simplest and most cost-effective option is to use a payment provider that processes the transaction for you and automatically handles the currency conversion. With this type of payment system, you don’t need a merchant bank account so there’s no lofty paperwork; it’s super easy and really quick to set up. Most can approve you within a day or two so you’ll be ready to go in no time.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='content'>
<h2>How does it work?</h2>
<p>Regardless of whether you have a custom ecommerce solution, you’re using a shopping cart platform (like Shopify, WooCommerce or Magento), or if you have a different set-up altogether, most payment processors will easily integrate with any existing solution you have.</p>
<p>A great payment provider will give you the option to charge your customers in a range of currencies and either, i) convert the money back to you local currency before putting it in your bank account, or ii) allow you to keep the money in the currencies in which your customer paid (this is great if you’d like to have control of when to convert it back to your local currency or if you need to keep the foreign currencies for any outgoings). We find that most businesses leave it to their payment provider to convert the money back into their local currency but, as a business matures, it starts to make sense to keep the money in the foreign currencies.</p>
<div class='cta-well'>
<a class="cta" href="/foreign-currencies">Accept payments in any currency with Pin Payments</a>
</div>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/find-the-right-partners-for-your-ecommerce-businessFind the right partners for your e-commerce business<section id='introduction'>
<div class='content'>
<h1>Find the right partners for your e‑commerce business</h1>
<p><strong>Partnering with the right suppliers gives you a head start in running an efficient e-commerce business, potentially saving you thousands of dollars each year.</strong></p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='ArticleWrap'>
<div class='content'>
<p>With the range of business services out there, it can be hard to know which providers are right for you. If you decide solely on price, you may miss out on key features that offer more value than they cost. Yet it’s just as easy to get caught up in the excitement of new features, and end up paying for what you don’t need.</p>
<p>Let’s look at the 5 fundamental functions in a modern, technology-enhanced business, and how to choose the right providers for your first few years.</p>
<p><a name="your-business-email"></a></p>
<h2>Your business email</h2>
<p>Your email address lets people know you mean business. It helps prove you are who you say you are, and that you represent the company you work for.</p>
<p>When setting up your business email, avoid free domains like hotmail.com, outlook.com, yahoo.com or gmail.com. Invest a little extra in using your company domain name instead. It’ll make you look professional and credible to your customers and partners.</p>
<p>If you’ve not registered your domain name yet, look for registrants that also offer email accounts, giving you the ease of dealing with just one provider. Alternatively, you could use business apps to get powerful search, collaboration, spam protection and calendar services under your business domain.</p>
<p><a name="your-accounting-platform"></a></p>
<h2>Your accounting platform</h2>
<p>Simple spreadsheets are a popular choice for businesses just starting out, but even with clever formulae and macros, they lack the smarts for complex integrations and automation. A proper accounting platform, on the other hand, could save you hundreds of man-hours on bookkeeping, budgeting and administration.</p>
<p>While there are several well-established accounting platforms on the market, there are a number of lesser-known platforms worth considering if you’re after a simpler service. Before you buy, check out <a href="http://www.business.vic.gov.au/money-profit-and-accounting/financial-management-set-up/How-to-choose-small-business-accounting-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Victoria’s guide</a> on choosing the most appropriate accounting software for your business.</p>
<p><a name="your-online-presence"></a></p>
<h2>Your online presence</h2>
<p>A solid online presence begins with a solid website. Specialist web designers and agencies can deliver not just a top notch look and feel, but audience-aware digital strategy too. When shopping around, look for outcome-focused professionals with a proven track record in design, development and e-commerce strategy.</p>
<p>That said, not every business needs a website of that scale. For smaller offline businesses like beauty salons and fitness schools, a simple but elegant website will often do the trick. These days, you can select from an enormous range of beautiful website templates complete with DIY features to create your own basic web presence. At a pinch, at least set up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/products/pages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook Page</a> to let your target audiences know you exist.</p>
<p><a name="your-invoicing-platform"></a></p>
<h2>Your invoicing platform</h2>
<p>The most suitable invoicing platform will depend on the nature and size of your business. Freelancers and solopreneurs, for example, may only need the cheapest option with a bare minimum of features - something like a Microsoft Word template.</p>
<p>However, businesses with a steadier clientele might want a solution that does more of the work, requiring less manual intervention. In this case, there are invoicing platforms that could streamline the entire invoicing process, integrating with bank transactions as well as third-party time tracking systems. A provider at this level could have a significant influence on your cashflow and time management.</p>
<p><a name="your-payment-processing"></a></p>
<h2>Your payment processing</h2>
<p>These days, you’re not limited to the payment processing options offered by the big banks. There are many options that are affordable and simple to use for face-to-face payments, making them perfect for retail boutiques, cafés, small bars, salons and market stalls.</p>
<p>An e-commerce business, on the other hand, will need a smart online payment processor that adheres to security and best practice standards. Ensure it’s well-integrated into the key online commerce platforms you use, and has a powerful developer API for when you might require something custom built for your business.</p>
<p>Research your needs and options thoroughly to ensure you pick a platform that you can stick with as your company matures and grows.</p>
</div>
<div class='BlogCollectionPosition'>
<div class='BlogCollection' id='BlogScroller'>
<a class="BlogCollection_page" href="/blog/setting-up-your-business-right"><div class='BlogCollection_pageTitle'>Setting Up Your Business Right</div>
</a><div class='BlogCollection_page BlogCollection_page--Current'>
<div class='BlogCollection_pageTitle'>Finding the right partners for your ecommerce business.</div>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#your-business-email">Your business email</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#your-accounting-platform">Your accounting platform</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#your-online-presence">Your online presence</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#your-invoicing-platform">Your invoicing platform</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#your-payment-processing">Your payment processing</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/setting-up-your-business-rightSetting Up Your Business Right<section id='introduction'>
<div class='content'>
<h1>Setting Up Your Business Right</h1>
<p><strong>It’s time. You’ve found the perfect opportunity, written your plan, and forecasted your financials for the next year. You’re finally ready to get your business up and running. But how?</strong></p>
<p>This is the first of a seven-part series that provides an essential guide to setting up your online business. Each part will focus on a particular phase and provide expert guidance on how to approach every stage in order to establish a successful business.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section>
<div class='ArticleWrap'>
<div class='content'>
<p>For newcomers, starting a business always seems daunting. After all, it’s the start of a new chapter in your life and career, and there’s so much to think about. But good news - getting started is simple once you know what steps to take.</p>
<p>With your products and services confirmed, it’s time to establish your operations. Here’s what you need to do to lay the right foundation for your new business.</p>
<p><a name="register"></a></p>
<h2>Register your business</h2>
<p>First decide whether you’re actually running a business, or simply ramping up a hobby. As a hobbyist, you’re not held to the same reporting obligations that businesses are. However, when undertaking regular activity to turn a profit, it’s both essential and beneficial to register as an active business.</p>
<p>There are four business structures available to small businesses in Australia - sole trader, company, partnership, or trust. Each is treated differently by the legal system, offering unique benefits and restrictions concerning tax, personal liability, licensing, obligations as an employer, and even your ongoing costs and administrative requirements.</p>
<p>Once you’ve researched and decided on the structure that best suits your business, you’ll need to <a href="https://abr.gov.au/For-Business,-Super-funds---Charities/Applying-for-an-ABN/Apply-for-an-ABN/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apply for an ABN</a> and <a href="http://www.asic.gov.au/for-business/registering-a-business-name/steps-to-register-your-business-name/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">register your business name</a>.</p>
<p><a name="identify"></a></p>
<h2>Identify your sources of income (and expenses)</h2>
<p>This one’s a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how often it gets lost in the commotion - particularly for businesses that start out as a hobby. Identifying your sources of capital and cashflow is a critical step for ensuring you can stay in business once you’ve started.</p>
<p>Will you invest your own money (remembering that your business may be a separate legal entity to yourself), or will you seek investors? Do you already have paying customers or a regular clientele? What assets do you need to purchase before you can begin trading? What expenses are you anticipating in your first financial year?</p>
<p>First, prepare a plan for your most likely scenario. Then build a contingency in case Plan A doesn’t work out.</p>
<p><a name="tax"></a></p>
<h2>Research your tax obligations</h2>
<p>As a business, your tax obligations can vary depending on your business structure, the industry you serve, whether you have employees, how much you turn over, and whether you’ve registered for GST. These factors also determine the incentives, claims and deductions you may qualify for.</p>
<p>Take the time to thoroughly research the rules that apply to your business before you start. The penalties for not meeting your obligations can range from simple resolutions to lengthy, drawn out repayments - or even imprisonment.</p>
<p><a name="accountant"></a></p>
<h2>Find an accountant that’s right for you</h2>
<p>Unless you’re in the business of accounting, it’s typically worthwhile to delegate your finances and taxation to an expert. A good accountant is a valuable resource with whom you’re likely to have a lasting relationship, so it helps to start your journey with someone who suits the way you like to work.</p>
<p>Would your location make it difficult to regularly meet if you needed to schedule several meetings in a short period? Does their communication style and work ethic match yours? Will you prefer traditional accounting services, or would your business benefit from specialist support from tech-forward firms like <a href="https://mifi.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mi-fi</a> and <a href="/friends-of-pin-payments/pop-business">Pop Business</a>?</p>
<p>Understanding the way you like to work, and the auxiliary factors involved in setting up and running your business, can go a long way to helping you find people you can trust - an important consideration when it comes to your livelihood.</p>
<p><a name="branding"></a></p>
<h2>Develop your branding</h2>
<p>Your brand communicates your business’s personality, values and reputation. It can tell customers very quickly about the kind of business you run, the calibre of your offerings, and your attention to detail. Good branding is a simple yet essential part of doing business. And the more you grow and succeed, the more important your brand becomes in representing what you stand for.</p>
<p>Ensure your marketing and communication material always conveys who you are by getting your brand right early. Just a few basic rules for your logo, typography and stationery can see you through years of customer-facing marketing materials.</p>
<p><a name="network"></a></p>
<h2>Network responsibly</h2>
<p>Our relationships are the drivers of success - but not every relationship will be suitable for you or your business, no matter how good the opportunity sounds.</p>
<p>Despite the conventional advice to ‘leave your baggage at the door’, even the most professional among us are still human. Research has shown that the stress of interpersonal conflict at work can have an <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/bu-bus081611.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adverse effect on our relationship at home too</a>, compounding in undue strain that ultimately impacts productivity.</p>
<p>Be sure to choose business partners, colleagues and associates you can trust, who show sincerity and enthusiasm for the work. Most importantly, make sure you enjoy working with them - both your business and your health may depend on it.</p>
<p><a name="knowledge"></a></p>
<h2>Soak up knowledge</h2>
<p>Ensure you’re mentally prepared for the adventure you’re embarking on, no matter what area of your business you’re looking after. From <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Content-Inc-Entrepreneurs-Successful-Businesses/dp/B015GFA5QC/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entrepreneurs</a> to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone-ebook/dp/B002Q6XUE4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaders</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Value-Proposition-Design-Customers-Strategyzer-ebook/dp/B00MI47IL0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">product designers</a> to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Things-Catch-Jonah-Berger/dp/1451686579" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marketers</a>, the experience of those who succeeded and failed before you will prove invaluable, especially in your first few years.</p>
<p>If reading a whole book has proven too challenging for your schedule, opt instead for magazines, blogs or newsletters that offer bite-sized education for busy people. Or find a buddy or mentor who can help you stay focused and keep your head in the game.</p>
<p>However you do it, expanding your knowledge of your industry and market, along with general good practice, will help you make better informed decisions as your business grows.</p>
<p><strong>Further reading:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.business.gov.au/info/plan-and-start/start-your-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start your business - business.gov.au</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.xero.com/au/small-business-guides/women-in-business/how-to-start-a-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to start a business - Xero Small Business Guides</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/startup/business-start-up/ten-tips-on-how-to-start-your-own-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ten tips on how to start your own business - FlyingSolo</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Putting in the groundwork for these stages will give you a solid foundation for taking your business to the next level and ensuring stability for future growth. The next edition gives you guidance on the next phase — <a href="/blog/find-the-right-partners-for-your-ecommerce-business">identifying the right providers for your business</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<div class='BlogCollectionPosition'>
<div class='BlogCollection' id='BlogScroller'>
<div class='BlogCollection_page BlogCollection_page--Current'>
<div class='BlogCollection_pageTitle'>Setting Up Your Business Right</div>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#register">Register your business</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#identify">Identify your sources of income (and expenses)</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#tax">Research your tax obligations</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#accountant">Find an accountant that’s right for you</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#branding">Develop your branding</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#network">Network responsibly</a>
<a class="BlogCollection_anchor" href="#knowledge">Soak up knowledge</a>
</div>
<a class="BlogCollection_page" href="/blog/find-the-right-partners-for-your-ecommerce-business"><div class='BlogCollection_pageTitle'>Finding the right partners for your ecommerce business.</div>
</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/moulaGet your hands on some Moula!<p>At Pin Payments, our priority is helping your business succeed. Not only do we provide you with everything you need to accept payments, we’re also continuously partnering with innovative companies that give you all the tools you need to help your business grow.</p>
<p>The latest addition is a great company called <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a>. The clue’s in the name – <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a> can give you access to money. We know that getting access to funding can be fundamental in helping you take your business to the next stage. All you need to do is give <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a> a little bit of information about yourself and your business, along with access to some of your business data, and they can quickly assess and approve you for a loan. It really is that simple. Of course there are some conditions, but it’s an easy process and the requirements are completely reasonable.</p>
<p>Don’t just take our word for it – Allison LeBusque, Partner at Harris Business Solutions, has already benefited from the partnership between <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a> and Pin Payments to improve cash flow at her Melbourne-based accounting firm.</p>
<p>“As a growing business, access to capital is critical,” said Allison. “Pin Payments’ partnership with <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a> offers us a convenient, alternative source of finance for our business with a seamless application process and approval within 24 hours. We are excited to see Australian companies come together to better support the needs of small businesses outside the traditional services offered by banks.”</p>
<p>Why not check out <a href="https://moula.com.au/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=pinpaymentsblog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moula</a> and see if they can help you take your business to the next level.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/support-for-tls-1-endingSupport for TLS 1.0 ends on January 1, 2017<p><em>This information is most relevant to users of older web browsers and software developers using older libraries to connect to the Pin Payments APIs. If you're using our payment tools (e.g. our payment pages), or one of our <a href="/partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supported integrations</a>, you most likely won’t need to take any action.</em></p>
<p>We're making some changes to our platform this month in order to improve the security of our systems and to maintain compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).</p>
<p>On January 1, 2017, Pin Payments' servers will cease to accept connections using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 protocol. Our servers will continue accepting connections using TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2.</p>
<p>In order to assist you with this transition, we recently removed support for TLS 1.0 on our test API (test-api.pinpayments.com). This gives you an easy way to test your software: have it make a charge through our Test API; if it works, that means it will continue to work after we make the changes to our Live API on January 1.</p>
<p>You may also find the free service "How's My SSL?" (<a href="https://www.howsmyssl.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.howsmyssl.com</a>) helpful in your testing.</p>
<p>Recent amendments to our terms and conditions will come into effect for existing merchants from June 30, 2016 onwards. The full details of our terms and conditions can be viewed at <a href="/terms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pinpayments.com/terms</a>.</p>
<p>If you have any queries or concerns regarding the above changes, please <a href="/contact">get in touch with us</a>.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/5-tips-on-finding-your-perfect-payment-solution5 tips on finding your perfect payment solution<section id='introduction'>
<div class='content'>
<h1>5 tips on finding your perfect payment solution</h1>
<p>Today, more than ever, choosing a payment partner that fits your business is no simple task. With so many options out there, it can be challenging to find the right mix of features and terms at a suitable price.</p>
<p>One thing is for sure, every online business needs a payment provider who can serve as a long–term partner. Your payment provider should be looking after you not just in the early stages, but also as your business grows to give you peace of mind. At Pin Payments, we’re experts in processing payments for small business; here are 5 tips you should consider when looking for a solution to help you accept credit card payments. </p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='contract-terms'>
<div class='content'>
<h2>1. Read the fine print, don’t get locked in</h2>
<p>Did you know, some providers offer contracts that lock you in for years? The decision you make today may be the one you’re stuck with for some time.</p>
<p>Imagine if you need to adapt to disruptions in your industry and market, especially in a scenario where you may want to end your contract early. Before you sign, be sure to address the fees, penalties and termination clauses involved in the agreement.</p>
<p>Ideally, you would stick with a payment provider not because you’re locked into a lengthy contract, but because they give you a positive experience and help your business.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='technology'>
<div class='content'>
<h2>2. Future proof your payment solution</h2>
<p>E–commerce moves quickly — you’ll need an online payment system that can cater to your needs both today and in the future. Several major payment gateways were designed before smartphones and tablets, and — believe it or not — haven’t changed since.</p>
<p>If you want to offer a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience your customers will come back for, it’s important to find a flexible and forward–facing technology that can keep up with your developing platform. If you’re using one of the popular e-commerce solutions such as WooCommerce or Shopify, you’ll want to make sure your payment solution <a href="/integrations">integrates easily</a> with your chosen platform.</p>
<p>Talk to the developer working on your payment processing. Their expertise and honest advice on a provider’s capabilities can be what ultimately enables your competitive edge.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='support'>
<div class='content'>
<h2>3. Check for local support</h2>
<p>Don’t settle for less when it comes to client support. Unexpected situations can result in downtime and loss of business if the matter can’t be resolved quickly. You could spend hours or days, working on problems that a payments expert could fix within minutes.</p>
<p>Consider only the payment options who are available to help during your 9 to 5, offering local support from a real person with fast access to experts and technical specialists.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='currency-options'>
<div class='content'>
<h2>4. Consider multiple currency payment options</h2>
<p>Many payment providers in Australia only support AUD currency transactions. This is fine if you only ever sell within the country, but without foreign currency options, you may find it tricky to effectively advertise your products on the overseas market.</p>
<p>If you want to sell to customers in their local currency, or if you’re considering a global expansion in the future, look for a payment partner who can accommodate <a href="/currencies">broader currency needs</a>. Check to make sure they have the flexibility to handle international transactions when you’re ready to make your move.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='price-and-costs'>
<div class='content'>
<h2>5. Weigh up the price (and the hidden costs)</h2>
<p>It’s no secret — cost is a key decision-making factor when choosing a payment processor, particularly if you’re a new small business that needs more time to realise sustainable bottom line. But don't fall into the trap of simply going for the lowest rate, as the true cost may be hidden in the fine print and additional fees.</p>
<p>Stay away from providers who charge a minimum monthly fee just for having an open account, or those who impose an exit fee when you need to upgrade to another provider. Look for a payment partner who’s interested in a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with you, who wants your business to succeed just as much as you do, and doesn’t charge extra for good service.</p>
<figure style='margin-top: 40px;'>
<img alt="Traditional Payment Processor" title="Traditional Payment Processor" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/how-to-find-your-perfect-payment-partner/traditional-payment-processor-f34e8fc44a97e858a6759152ddd575ffd526aa69686c13d03db9cffd0aa21c5b.png" />
<figcaption>Traditional Payment Processor</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure>
<img alt="All–in–one Payment Processor" title="All–in–one Payment Processor" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/how-to-find-your-perfect-payment-partner/all-in-one-6ed519c4171f2d5c6d43af7a1f81086e27dee312e17ca74856a310a8ed24b141.png" />
<figcaption>All–in–one Payment Processor</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/payoutsPayouts Launch<p>Following a successful private beta program, today we’re excited to announce the release of <a href="/payouts">Payouts</a> for all Pin Payments merchants.</p>
<p>Payouts is a <a href="/docs/guides/marketplace-payouts">collection of simple APIs</a> which allow you to push funds to any Australian bank account. Payouts allows businesses to build platforms such as marketplaces and scaled services, and to pay their recipients more efficiently. For example, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://netball.com.au">Netball Australia</a> uses Payouts to automate online membership payment and disbursement across more than 2000 clubs nationally.</p>
<h2>Get started.</h2>
<p>To get started with Payouts, first <a href="/docs/guides/marketplace-payouts">set your transfer schedule to manual</a>.</p>
<p>When your transfer schedule is set to manual, charge proceeds are still made available according to your usual settlement schedule. Rather than being automatically sent to you, proceeds will move from your <a href="/docs/api/balance">pending balance to your available balance</a> and will accumulate until you send funds using the <a href="/docs/api/transfers#post-transfers">Transfers API</a>.</p>
<h2>Payouts is available now.</h2>
<p>Payouts supports transfers to any Australian bank account, and is available to all Pin Payments merchants today!</p>
<p><a href="/payouts">Learn more about Payouts</a>, read our blog on <a href="/blog/split-payments-for-b2b-platforms">split payments for B2B platforms</a>, or <a href="/get-started">sign up</a> and get started with Payouts.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/raising-our-series-a-roundRaising Our Series A Investment Round<p>We’re sharing a behind-the-scenes update today; Pin Payments has received $3.1m in an investment round led by Vix Investments Limited.</p>
<p>Pin Payments was started from scratch to upgrade Australia’s ecommerce capabilities. We’ve worked with thousands of businesses to help them take advantage of the web and the growth of ecommerce. In September, our merchants processed their millionth successful sale. Now it’s time for us to grow! This capital raise means we’ll be expanding our team and our product, to better serve your business and help you make more sales.</p>
<p>Vix are an ideal strategic investor for Pin Payments, and we’re delighted to join their payment-focused portfolio. Vix bring deep global payment experience to our team, and we aim to leverage this experience to improve payment services for businesses of all sizes.</p>
<p><strong>Thank you</strong> to all of our customers for helping us to get here. We’re excited to have you on board as we commence the next phase of our journey.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/how-to-respond-to-a-chargebackHow to respond to a dispute<p>In our prior blog post, <a href="/blog/understanding-risks-of-accepting-payments-online">Understanding risk for small businesses accepting payments online</a>, we explained what a dispute is and how to protect your business from potential related losses. If you receive a dispute from your bank or payment processor here are some best practices on how to respond.</p>
<h2>Act quickly</h2>
<p>Banks generally run to a timeline for how long they will wait to hear from you. It's recommended that you respond to your acquiring bank or payment processor no later than 3 days after you've received a dispute. It's not unusual for the dispute to be ruled in the cardholder's favour if you don't respond within 7 days.</p>
<h2>Contact your customer</h2>
<p>It's possible the cardholder simply didn't recognise the business name on their bank statement, so a prudent first step is to reach out and ask your customer why they initiated the dispute. If this was the case and they're happy with the charge, they can request a reversal of the dispute with their bank.</p>
<p>In a situation whereby you exhaust all avenues in contacting your customer and you still don't hear back from them, this may suggest the purchase was made via unauthorised use of someone else's credit card. It can still be worth submitting a challenge in this situation.</p>
<h2>Provide relevant information as soon as possible</h2>
<p>At a minimum you should include the following when responding to a dispute request for information:</p>
<ul>
<li>Receipt that was sent to the customer</li>
<li>Online tracking or shipping confirmations (if applicable, i.e. the goods were physical and not digital)</li>
<li>A transcript of any customer service communication you had with your customer</li>
<li>Device identification or IP address of the customer (if applicable, i.e. online purchase, or using an online product)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Don't submit a refund</h2>
<p>Once you've received a dispute, it's best not to issue a refund. Even after your refund, the dispute could be ruled in the cardholder's favour, in which case you would pay for both the refund and the lost dispute.</p>
<h2>Wait for the process to complete</h2>
<p>It can take the cardholder's bank up to 55 days to resolve a dispute, once documentation has been sent to the payment processor. During this time it's normal for your payment processor to place a temporary hold on the amount being contested. If the dispute is ruled in your favour these funds are returned to your account.</p>
<ol class='chargeback-response'>
<li>Dispute arrives</li>
<li>Contact your customer</li>
<li>Send documentation to payment processor</li>
<li>Wait for decision</li>
</ol>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/nab-outageNAB Outage - Improving Our Uptime<p>Our banking partner NAB is currently experiencing a major outage, with their online payment services routinely dropping transactions. The issue has continued for days and unfortunately we currently have no estimate of the time to resolution. We thought it would be timely to share some thoughts on our efforts toward improving availability for businesses using Pin Payments.</p>
<p><strong>How do you keep a payment system online in Australia?</strong></p>
<p>Conceptually, high-availability systems can be simple: things might break, so keep a spare. The things that break include servers, power generators, coffee machines, and any other significant component of your system. As a matter of course, Pin Payments has always employed redundant systems with automated failover, load balancing, and physical separation of components that might cause each other harm. These days it can be relatively easy for a new web app to achieve satisfactory levels of availability. Backstage, however, where a payment system crosses the border from "new web application" to "bank", the approach to technology sometimes lags contemporary engineering by a decade or more.</p>
<p>Obviously payment processing is not solely a technical domain. It takes more than architecture decisions to Get Stuff Done. Deployment of a "spare bank" is a multi-year commercial/political epic, not a sensible bit of engineering solved with a couple of whiteboard diagrams.</p>
<p>An unfortunate feature of the local payment landscape is that simple high-availability architecture has not been available to small businesses. Your favourite restaurant does not have the time to implement load-balanced merchant accounts with automated failover (<a href="http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2015/06/back-to-the-fax-nab-web-payments-outage-hits-federal-government/">nor does the government</a>). Instead they must accept the risk of the bank going offline and losing sales when it happens.</p>
<p><strong>Easy code, hard conversations</strong></p>
<p>This problem is one of many opportunities for Pin Payments to help. We have recently brought our improved transaction routing online to defend our merchants against bank outages. The system architecture work was straightforward. Navigation of the commercial/legal/political environment was not.</p>
<p>NAB has been a key partner of Pin Payments since our beginning and their involvement has been critical in deploying our platform. NAB provides merchant facilities (bank accounts that receive funds from credit cards). In front of these merchant facilities NAB provides a system called Transact. NAB Transact is a multi-purpose reporting system from SecurePay (Australia Post) that, among other things, assists in submitting payments to the credit card networks. Transact's performance is inadequate for us and our merchants, so we built in an additional link to the card networks to protect our merchants from outages. Our new system works - Pin Payments is up while NAB's own merchant services are down. We have unique capabilities in place to protect our merchants. For the first time, highly-availabile redundant connectivity to the card networks is available, at no cost, to Australian businesses of any size.</p>
<p>Although this can be difficult to appreciate during a four-day outage, NAB is Australia’s best payments bank. Pin Payments is committed to building future products to help small businesses with NAB's support, irrespective of whether Securepay’s technology has any involvement.</p>
<p>We’re serious about our mission to fix payments for Australia. It'll take time. We’re inspired by our customers, and as we continue to grow with you the team at Pin Payments offers our humble thanks for your support.</p>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/understanding-risks-of-accepting-payments-onlineUnderstanding risk for small businesses accepting payments online<section id='introduction'>
<div class='article-body'>
<p>Online commerce has made it easier for businesses to reach wider markets with lower overheads than ever before. It’s relatively straightforward to set up an online storefront with connected payments and instantly start selling to your target audience.</p>
<p>While the promise of making it big online is exciting, it’s important to understand the risks involved and how to best protect yourself from online fraud and losses to your business.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='parties-involved'>
<div class='parties'>
<h2>Parties involved in a credit card transaction</h2>
<p class='intro'>By accepting payment with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, you become a part of their global payment networks. It’s important to understand the parties involved in any transaction.</p>
<ul class='actors'>
<li class='card-scheme'>
<h3>Card Scheme</h3>
<p>A credit card brand, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Card schemes outline the dispute processes followed by Issuing Banks.</p>
</li>
<li class='card-issuer'>
<h3>Issuing Bank</h3>
<p>The financial institution who manages the issuance of cards and billing with its card holders.</p>
</li>
<li class='cardholder'>
<h3>Cardholder</h3>
<p>The customer paying for goods or services using a card supplied by their Issuing Bank.</p>
</li>
<li class='merchant'>
<h3>Merchant</h3>
<p>The business accepting payment for a product or service, via a Service Provider or Acquiring Bank.</p>
</li>
<li class='payment-provider'>
<h3>Service Provider</h3>
<p>A company partnered with the Acquiring Bank to provide payment services to merchants.</p>
</li>
<li class='acquirer'>
<h3>Acquiring Bank</h3>
<p>The financial institution which processes the card payment for the merchant.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</section>
<section id='risk'>
<div class='article-body'>
<h2>Risk compared to card-present transactions</h2>
<p>Online payments can present unique challenges compared to face-to-face payments. Because a physical card isn’t required, and the customer’s identity can be masked, the chance of encountering fraud is higher. A fraudulent transaction will likely result in a Dispute from the cardholder.</p>
</div>
<div class='full-bleed'>
<div class='two-col'>
<div class='col'>
<h3>What is a dispute?</h3>
<p>A <a href="/support/faqs/disputes/what-is-a-dispute">dispute</a> occurs when a cardholder contacts their card issuing bank to challenge an unrecognised charge on their card. If the dispute is ruled on behalf of the cardholder, a chargeback will take place with funds returned to the cardholder.</p>
<p>Disputes are a feature of the Visa, Mastercard and American Express networks intended to protect cardholders, but they can present challenges for merchants, especially if they’re new to selling online.</p>
</div>
<div class='col'>
<h3>Common reasons a dispute is raised:</h3>
<dl class='reasons'>
<dt>Not as described</dt>
<dd>The cardholder claims to have never received the goods, or the goods were materially different from their expectations.</dd>
<dt>Not recognised</dt>
<dd>The cardholder has no recollection of what a charge in their bank statement relates to.</dd>
<dt>Fraud</dt>
<dd>The cardholder claims they did not authorise the purchase (e.g. their card information was stolen and used fraudulently).</dd>
<dt>Admin error</dt>
<dd>Duplicate billing, incorrect amount billed or a refund which was promised but never processed.</dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<section id='chargeback-process'>
<div class='dispute-flow'>
<h2>The dispute process</h2>
<ol class='flow'>
<li class='cardholder'>
<h3>Dispute raised</h3>
<p>The Cardholder disputes a transaction with their Issuing Bank.</p>
</li>
<li class='issuing-bank'>
<h3>Issuing Bank</h3>
<p>The Issuing Bank sends details of the dispute to the Acquiring Bank.</p>
</li>
<li class='acquiring-bank'>
<h3>Acquiring Bank</h3>
<p>The Acquiring Bank notifies the Merchant or the Service Provider.</p>
</li>
<li class='merchant'>
<h3>Merchant notified</h3>
<p>The merchant can accept the dispute or supply evidence in order to contest it.</p>
</li>
<li class='acquiring-bank'>
<h3>Evidence review</h3>
<p>The Acquiring Bank reviews the evidence. If it addresses the dispute, it is sent to the Issuing Bank.</p>
</li>
<li class='issuing-bank arbritration'>
<h3>Arbritration</h3>
<p>The arbritration process between the Issuing Bank and Acquiring Bank commences.</p>
</li>
<li class='outcome'>
<h3>Outcome</h3>
<p>Funds are returned to either the Cardholder or Merchant, depending on the banks’ final decision.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p class='explain'>This arbitration process is handled between the issuing and acquiring banks. Payment Service Providers (such as Pin Payments) are there to assist merchants during the process to ensure information flows to and from the acquiring bank.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section id='mitigating-chargebacks'>
<div class='article-body'>
<h2>Strategies to minimise disputes</h2>
<p>Hopefully the above explanation helps paint a clear picture of what disputes are and the parties involved. In order to minimise disputes it’s important to have processes set up prior to receiving any dispute request from your acquirer or payment processor. Here are some suggestions.</p>
<h3>Beware of unusual transaction activity</h3>
<p>Merchants should look into abnormal behaviour, as it could suggest the customer is trying to purchase with stolen credit cards.</p>
<ul>
<li>Multiple failed payment attempts, followed by a successful charge. Even greater concern if attempts are with different credit cards.</li>
<li>Customer tries lower amounts after previous higher charge amounts fail.</li>
<li>Order from a new customer for a dollar amount much higher than your average sale amount.</li>
<li>Customer places an order with an international shipping address for a product that should be easier to obtain locally.</li>
<li>Customer uses suspicious phone number and/or e-mail address (e.g traep68399@hotmail.com). If you’re unsure, try contacting the customer to confirm they are who they say they are.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Communicate with your customers</h3>
<p>Try to resolve a dispute directly with a customer before they consider disputing the charge with their bank. This will save you a lot of time and additional fees imposed by your Acquiring Bank or Service Provider.</p>
<h3>Accurate Statement Description</h3>
<p>Ensure that your Service Provider allows you to accurately set what appears on your customers bank statements. If the customer purchases from a website named “Bulk Fishing Supplies” but appears as “A & R Outdoors Pty Ltd” on their bank statement, there’s a high chance the customer won’t recognise the charge.</p>
<h3>Proof of purchase and delivery</h3>
<p>Ensure that you retain proof of sale, delivery and any communications that you have with your customer. This will be vital for challenging disputes.</p>
<h3>Be timely in response to disputes</h3>
<p>Each step in the dispute process has a defined time limit during which action can be taken. Generally, if you don’t respond within a five day period following initial notification of a dispute the bank will rule in the cardholder’s favour.</p>
<p>The reality is that you’re likely to be exposed to disputes at some point when selling online. However they don’t need to be an impediment on your business, as long as you understand how they work and be prepared by keeping the appropriate sales and customer information.</p>
</div>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/easy-card-authenticationEasy Card Authentication<section class='article-body'>
<p><strong>We’ve added a simple new feature to help fight credit card fraud.</strong></p>
<h2>The Problem</h2>
<p>Businesses selling premium goods can receive fraudulent orders, and risk having their funds reclaimed due to chargebacks.
For example, a business selling high–quality watches can attract fraudsters, because the goods can easily be sold after being purchased with a stolen credit card. Here’s how the scam works:</p>
<ul>
<li>The thief uses stolen credit card details to order a product</li>
<li>The product arrives and the thief sells it for cash</li>
<li>The true owner of the credit card sees an unrecognised transaction in their online banking or card statement, and contacts their bank to get their money back</li>
<li>The merchant loses the funds for the fraudulent transaction (plus the cost of the goods!)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Help from the Card Schemes</h2>
<p>The core of the problem here is that the merchant doesn't know if the buyer is the genuine cardholder. Mastercard and Visa have implemented systems to address this issue with their respective SecureCode and Verified by Visa programs. These features provide effective additional protection for merchants by asking the cardholder to supply a password at the time of purchase. Unfortunately this approach necessarily introduces additional friction into the payment experience, and in some cases this results in genuine customers abandoning their purchases.</p>
<table class='auth-comparison'>
<tr>
<th>Authentication Method</th>
<th>Merchant Protection</th>
<th>Customer Friction</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Card Scheme ("3D Secure")</td>
<td>High</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>No Authentication</td>
<td>None</td>
<td>None</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>Instead of choosing between card scheme authentication or nothing, there’s a third option. We can try to authenticate transactions <em>after</em> the critical moment of purchase. This keeps the purchase process easy for genuine customers, while adding an opportunity to reject suspicious orders.
<h2>New Feature: Easy Card Authentication</h2></p>
<p>The way this works is simple. Pin Payments adds a short random code to the start of the text that appears in your customer’s online banking:</p>
<div class='statement-descriptor'>
<div class='date'>21/1/2015</div><div class='auth-code'>172</div>PIN* ACME WATCH SHOP
<div class='amount'>$2,795.00</div>
</div>
<div class='descriptor-caption'>
In this example, a customer has purchased an expensive watch from Acme Watch Shop.
If they can tell us the authentication code <b>172</b>,
we can be more confident that they are the true owner of the credit card.
</div>
<p>In situations where you're unsure about fulfilling a high-value order, you can ask your customer to provide the code from their bank's website or mobile app.</p>
<p>Your checkout system doesn't need to change at all, and your customers don't need to do extra work or remember additional passwords to buy from you.
This process can add protection without increasing abandoned orders.</p>
<table class='auth-comparison'>
<tr>
<th>Authentication Method</th>
<th>Merchant Protection</th>
<th>Customer Friction</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Card Scheme ("3D Secure")</td>
<td>High</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pin Payments</td>
<td>Medium</td>
<td>None</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>No Authentication</td>
<td>None</td>
<td>None</td>
</tr>
</table>
</section>
<section class='article-body outro'>
<p>We’re rolling out easy card authentication now for all new merchants. If you're already using Pin Payments and you think this feature would be helpful for your business, please email us at support@pinpayments.com and we'll enable this feature for your account.</p>
</section>
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tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/foreign-currenciesProcessing foreign currency payments from Australia<a class="update" href="/blog/a-guide-on-accepting-international-ecommerce-payments">Click here for updated information on multi-currency payments</a>
<section class='full-bleed introduction'>
<div class='article-body'>
<p>The recent availability of simple yet powerful ecommerce and marketing tools has put launching an online business within reach of anyone with an idea and the initiative to get started. Considering the size of the Australian market relative to Europe and the US, many software startups share the thinking that when launching from Australia you should go global from day one. More-traditional businesses might wait until they’ve scaled their operations at home in Australia before looking abroad.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section class='article-body'>
<h2>Why bother with foreign currencies?</h2>
<p>An important factor when selling to international customers is your ability to advertise prices and process transactions in their local currency. Displaying prices in AUD raises questions like:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>“Which country is that?”</em></li>
<li><em>“What will I end up paying after conversion to my currency?”</em></li>
<li><em>“I wonder if they ship to me?”</em></li>
<li><em>“Will they be harder to contact compared to the alternatives?”</em></li>
</ul>
<p>Every question presents a point of friction in your checkout or sign-up process. Displaying prices in your customer’s currency (or USD) can make it easier for your business to compete on a level playing field with companies located in the country you’re targeting.</p>
</section>
<section class='full-bleed prior-to-2013'>
<div class='article-body'>
<h2>Options prior to 2013</h2>
<p>Ask any Australian business billing in foreign currency (most commonly USD) and you’ll hear similar stories of bouncing between banks and payment gateways searching for a multi-currency solution. Here are just a few forum threads highlighting the frustration:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1410680#r26098747_">Online payments in USD</a></li>
<li><a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1436707_">Multi-currency merchant account</a></li>
<li><a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1295539_">Int. merchant facility (to accept USD)?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/forums/sales-marketing/202-merchant-account-all-currencies-2.html">Merchant account for all currencies</a></li>
</ul>
<p>The options available had their advantages and disadvantages, with none of them really providing the knockout punch of easy setup, limited costs, and flexibile integration.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Option 1: Foreign currency merchant account</h2>
<p>A merchant account is a special type of bank account that enables you to process payments via credit and/or debit cards. Establishing one of these typically involves considerable paperwork and preparation of business plans, coupled with a processing timeframe of 1-3 months.</p>
<p>Most banks in Australia do not offer foreign-currency merchant accounts. Worse still, the terms of service for a typical merchant account can prohibit your business from advertising prices in foreign currencies (even if the price is converted to AUD at the time of the transaction).</p>
<p>Establishing a foreign currency merchant account involves a similar (and more involved) process to setting up an AUD merchant account, and you’ll need to add:</p>
<ol>
<li>Foreign currency merchant account (to be able to process credit-card transactions).</li>
<li>Payment gateway (so your website can connect to your merchant account).</li>
<li>Foreign currency bank account (to settle the captured funds).</li>
<li>Your own method for converting funds to AUD and transferring to your AUD bank account.</li>
</ol>
<p>If your efforts with this approach are successful, and if you’re able to supply the security deposit and setup fees, you’ll be able to take payments in one currency. Repeat the process above for every currency you’d like to use. Most of the discussions in the forum threads posted above refer to this type of setup.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Option 2: Establish a foreign business entity</h2>
<p>Taking it to the next level is registering an entity in the foreign jurisdiction you’re targeting, enabling you to work with banking institutions who may be more progressive with payments, and being able to bill in the foreign country’s domestic currency (e.g. USD) through a merchant account or an alternative payment provider in the region.</p>
<p>Moving your company is overkill for the sake of being able to bill in a foreign currency, but this approach highlights what some businesses considered in the past. This route still may be relevant to you if you’re looking to establish a presence in a foreign market. There’s <a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/silicon-beach-australia/delaware/silicon-beach-australia/ZqQidE7eReY/JGH7hyfHaLYJ">a great prior discussion in the Silicon Beach Australia group worth reading</a>.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Option 3: PayPal</h2>
<p>Back when your only option was to open a merchant account with a bank, PayPal provided an easy alternative to start accepting payments online. A limitation however for Australian merchants is that in most situations you’re redirecting customers off your site to pay, which can lead to confusion for customers and a lack of control for merchants. PayPal’s product suite differs around the world, and their Australian offerings lag behind those in the US and UK considerably.</p>
<p>PayPal allow you to process payments in foreign currencies and accumulate funds in your PayPal account. At the point you withdraw your funds to your Australian bank account you’ll incur a currency conversion fee. Some of the fees are available on the <a href="https://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/merchant-fees">PayPal website</a>.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section class='full-bleed easier-way'>
<div class='article-body'>
<h1>Now there’s an easier way</h1>
<p>The options discussed so far were the lay of the land until 2013, when the online payments landscape changed for the better in Australia. The new generation of online payment systems, including Pin Payments, offer easier access to foreign currency transactions capabilities, and in most cases are more cost effective than the options discussed above.</p>
</div>
</section>
<section class='article-body'>
<h2>Australia’s first all-in-one multi-currency payments</h2>
<p>Pin Payments is an Australian company founded in 2011 and launched to the public in May 2013. At the time opening a merchant account with a bank was required to accept payments within your website or app. It was common for software developers and agencies to need to hand-hold their clients through this process, and there was no guarantee if and when an application would be approved. Pin Payments changed this by making an all-in-one multi-currency payments available to all Australian businesses for the first time.</p>
<p>With the new generation of payment systems like Pin Payments, no merchant account is required; you just provide your existing bank account details where funds are deposited. Credit card payments can be processed in AUD or any of the supported foreign currencies.</p>
</section>
<section class='option-roundup'>
<h2>Comparing options for processing transactions in foreign currencies in Australia</h2>
<div class='table-wrapper'>
<table border='0' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0'>
<tr class='solutions'>
<th valign='middle'>Solution</th>
<td valign='middle'>Merchant accounts</td>
<td valign='middle'>Foreign business entity</td>
<td valign='middle'>PayPal & third-party systems</td>
<td class='pin' valign='middle'>Pin Payments & new generation systems</td>
</tr>
<tr class='alt'>
<th valign='top'>Pros</th>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Next day settlement may be possible depending on your bank</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Logical step if you’re opening a physical office in that country</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Easy setup</li>
<li>Use your existing bank account</li>
<li>Single account to support multiple currencies</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td class='pin' valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Easy setup</li>
<li>Single account supports multiple currencies</li>
<li>Use your existing bank account</li>
<li>Settle foreign currency transactions in AUD or foreign currencies</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign='top'>Cons</th>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Requires additional account with a traditional payment gateway</li>
<li>Long application process</li>
<li>Security deposit required + monthly account fees</li>
<li>Requires one merchant and settlement account per currency</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Requires a director or equivalent in foreign country</li>
<li>Requirement still exists to select a payment processor in that country</li>
<li>Tax/legal/operational issues can add complexity if your primary business is Australian</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>High fees for foreign currency transactions</li>
<li>High conversion fees when withdrawing funds to your bank account</li>
<li>Limited flexibility due to lack of developer APIs</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td class='pin' valign='top'>
<ul>
<li>Settlement can be delayed by a number of days (avoids you maintaining a security deposit)</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</section>
<section class='article-body outro'>
<p><em>We’re working hard to make it easy to run online businesses from Australia. By bringing new capabilities to small businesses we improve the local payments industry as a whole. As always, if there’s anything we can do to help your business get paid, talk to us on 1300 364 800, email sales@pinpayments.com.</em></p>
</section>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/inline-payment-formsAnnouncing Inline Payment Forms<p>Starting today, accepting payments on your website has become even easier.</p>
<p>You've been able to <a href="/docs/guides/request-payments">request a payment</a> using your Pin Payments account for quite a while, but today we've extended it to allow you to receive payments without your customer leaving your website.</p>
<p><img title="Screenshot of the new Pin Payments pay buttons" alt="Screenshot" style="max-width: 600px; display: block; margin: 20px auto; width: 100%;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/inline_payment_forms/screenshot@2x-ed99d44d8606cc1be910b8ad813dd56af0c36447e12538ac35ba10997cd1399e.png" /></p>
<p>Accept payment in an overlay directly on your site, which means higher conversion rates and a smoother customer experience.</p>
<p>To get started, check out our new <a href="/docs/guides/payment-buttons">Payment Buttons guide</a>, or head to the <a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/payment-button">Payment Button section</a> of your Pin Payments dashboard.</p>
<p>Don't have an account yet? Start accepting multicurrency credit card payments securely on your website without any coding, in three steps:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="/get-started">Sign up to Pin Payments</a> and activate your account.</li>
<li>Head to your account page and generate a payment form with an amount, description and currency.</li>
<li>Add the generated code snippet to your site.</li>
</ol>
<p>We've updated the <a href="/guides/payment-buttons">secure payment forms guide</a> with new code as well, and the Javascript API documentation for the payment form will be published soon.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/gbp-and-eurAnnouncing GBP and EUR Payments<p>Your Pin Payments account now accepts GBP and EUR.</p>
<p>E–commerce in Western Europe is approaching US$300bn [emarketer.com], with the UK accounting for roughly one third of these sales. The region is similar to North America in its proportion of online shoppers, with over 70% of the population having made a purchase on the web. We’re working to help your business address these customers.</p>
<p>Today, Pin Payments supports six currencies: AUD, USD, NZD, SGD, GBP, and EUR. There’s no additional cost or setup to take payments in any of these currencies, they‘re all available when using the API or your dashboard.</p>
<p>We aim to help growing businesses address customers wherever they are. Accepting foreign–currency payments in web and mobile apps used to be costly and difficult, particularly for small or new businesses. With Pin Payments, it’s now easier than ever for Australians to participate in the global growth of online business.</p>
<p>We’ll continue working to bring you more currencies and card types—please <a href="/contact">contact us</a> with your suggestions, and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/PinPayments">@PinPayments</a> for announcements.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/sgdAnnouncing SGD Support<h2>Accept Payments in Singapore Dollars</h2>
<p>Today we’re launching SGD support for all businesses using Pin Payments. We’re frequent visitors to Singapore and are pleased to offer Singapore Dollar transactions as the first move in our efforts to help you better serve customers through Asia.</p>
<p>As with our recent addition of <a href="/blog/nzd">NZD</a>, there’s no additional cost or setup required to accept payments in Singapore Dollars—just choose 'SGD' as your currency when creating charges.</p>
<p>We’ll continue working to bring you more currencies and card types—feel free to <a href="/contact">contact us</a> with suggestions, and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/PinPayments">@PinPayments</a> for more.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/posMobile Payments!<h2>Announcing Mobile Point of Sale Payments</h2>
<p>Starting today, your Pin Payments account can be used for easy face–to–face transactions.
Pin Payments POS (point of sale) is a web–based system for accepting card payments in retail and trade situations. It’s designed to be a simple and portable alternative to traditional hardware card terminals.</p>
<p>We often meet small businesses who miss a sale when their customer isn’t carrying cash. These businesses aren’t always ready or willing to apply for a traditional card hardware from their bank. Now there’s an easier solution: just use your existing equipment. With Pin Payments POS you can accept cards on your phone, tablet, or laptop. Keep an iPad on your shop counter, or if you travel to your customers, use a phone to take payments on–site.</p>
<p>Pin Payments POS is the easiest way to get started with point of sale payments. As your business grows, we can help you upgrade to advanced POS and mobile systems like <a href="https://pushpay.com">PushPay</a>.</p>
<p>Check out <strong><a href="/pos">Pin Payments POS</a></strong>, and see <a href="/docs/guides/pos">the documentation</a> for more detail. Happy selling!</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/nzdAnnouncing NZD Support<h2>Accept Payments in New Zealand Dollars</h2>
<p>Happy Friday! Today we’re announcing support for NZD on all Pin Payments accounts.
This means you can now accept payments in New Zealand Dollars (in addition to AUD and USD), allowing customers based in NZ to pay in their local currency.</p>
<p>NZD support has been a commonly–requested feature, and we’re pleased to provide NZD as the first of many additional currencies, to help Australian businesses serve a wider audience.</p>
<p>If you already have a Pin Payments account, you can process NZD payments now – just choose "NZD" when creating a charge via the API or dashboard.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/xeroXero Integration<p><img alt="Xero" class="xero_logo" width="188" height="102" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/xero/logo-71d5dd040f48a08423bdec3a5b2f2832040919bc3031cac172b3de8a8a38bfb3.png" /></p>
<p>We’re excited to announce that we now provide integration with the easy to use online accounting software <a href="http://www.xero.com/au/?ref=pin-payments">Xero</a>.</p>
<p>With Xero and Pin Payments, you can easily send invoices to your clients and accept online payment by credit card; all without the usual hassles you face accepting online payments in Australia. And when your customer pays an invoice with their credit card, we’ll automatically mark it as paid within your Xero account.</p>
<img title="Get your invoices paid with Xero and Pin Payments" alt="Xero" style="margin: 20px auto; display: block; width: 100%; max-width: 626px;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/xero/hero-710ee66d6cd6c4a176ba16c2fdd73ed69d71f1cbab5dcbddd7bdc5933f615684.png" />
<ul class='features'>
<li class='invoices'>
<div class='icon'></div>
<h3>Easy Invoicing</h3>
<p>Xero makes the process of preparing professional invoices for clients quick and easy.</p>
</li>
<li class='seamless'>
<div class='icon'></div>
<h3>Seamless Payments</h3>
<p>Your customers will appreciate the simple process from receiving an invoice to paying it.</p>
</li>
<li class='mobile'>
<div class='icon'></div>
<h3>Payments on the go</h3>
<p>Both Xero Invoices and our payment form work great on your customer's mobile devices.</p>
</li>
<li class='merchant'>
<div class='icon'></div>
<h3>No merchant account required</h3>
<p>Pin Payments lets you accept credit card payments on Xero invoices, without a merchant account.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>What is Xero?</h2>
<p>Xero is easy to use online accounting software that’s designed specifically for small businesses. It's all online, so you can work when and where you want to. Just login with your PC, Mac or mobile.</p>
<p>Your bank statements are automatically imported and categorized, letting you see your cashflow in real-time. Invite your team and work together on financials. You can collaborate over your up-to-date numbers.</p>
<p>Xero has all you need to run your business – including invoicing, paying bills, sales tax returns, reporting and much more. Find out more or try <a href="https://xero.com/">Xero Accounting Software</a> for free.</p>
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
<p>Once you have your Xero and activated Pin Payments account ready, <a href="/guides/xero-online-invoicing">connect your Xero account</a> and follow the instructions.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://dashboard.pinpayments.com/account/xero">Connect your Pin Payments account with Xero »</a></strong></p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/spreedly-subscriptionsAcquiring Spreedly Subscriptions<p><a href="https://spreedly.com">Spreedly</a> provide secure credit card storage and multi-bank connectivity to online businesses around the world. They're one of our key partners, and have been an integral part of our effort to fix payments here in Australia. In addition to their main offerings, since 2008 Spreedly have provided a simple API-driven recurring billing platform, for managing subscription payments without writing billing code.</p>
<img alt="Spreedly Subscriptions" style="max-width: 620px; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto; display: block" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/spreedly/hero-f85cb92a2cbbe9983d2af2eabc37d1eb080f2faa003a1af155cd30d8264200ec.png" />
<p><strong>Today we're thrilled to announce that Pin Payments has acquired the technology and global customer base for Spreedly's subscription billing service.</strong></p>
<p>Subscriptions work well as a pricing model for many types of products and services, and we've always had recurring billing on our roadmap as a "must have" feature. Today's announcement means we'll be able to leverage Spreedly's experience to make recurring billing even easier for all businesses using Pin Payments.</p>
<p>Ahead of any new developments, Spreedly subscriptions already works with your Pin Payments account. If you need recurring payments for your business without writing a heap of billing code, check out <a href="https://spreedly.com">Spreedly</a>. We're aiming to making subscription-based businesses even easier to start and to manage, and we're looking forward to seeing what you'll create.</p>
tag:pin.net.au,1:blog/shopifyShopify!<p><img alt="Shopify" class="shopify_logo" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/shopify/shopify_logo-3cbb27fddf7693944dd7a4977b0c93333147d5d6a35fccd11f1500106355e98b.png" /></p>
<p>Well, this is exciting. Today we're announcing Pin Payments has partnered with the e-commerce legends at <a href="https://www.shopify.com?ref=pin-payments">Shopify</a> to provide seamless multi-currency payments for online store owners.</p>
<p>Shopify are leaders in providing easy/beautiful/functional online stores. They promise "A shop in minutes, a business for life" - and we see them delivering on this with great tech and design, backed by their years of experience in online retail across thousands of stores.</p>
<p><img alt="Shopify" style="width: 100%; margin 30px auto; display: block; max-width: 587px;" src="https://pinpayments.com/assets/blog/shopify/shopify_screenshot-0d9c0d5b114919e8272282fca45e69de2c39e39badf31a23072703dd23b22678.png" /></p>
<p>With <a href="/integrations/shopify">Shopify and Pin Payments</a>, you can easily set up your online store to take payments without making your customers leave your site at the time of purchase. Ka-ching, more sales! Additionally you can market to customers outside of Australia by selling in USD in addition to AUD, with more currencies coming later this year.</p>
<p>Shopify is one of the easiest ways to build and run your online business. Pin Payments support is being rolled out today (see the "checkout" settings in your Shopify dashboard). If you don't have a Shopify account, <a href="https://www.shopify.com?ref=pin-payments">get onboard and start selling!</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.shopify.com?ref=pin-payments">Learn more about Shopify at Shopify.com »</a></strong></p>