All business owners want to offer their clients multiple payment options to ensure everyone has a convenient, secure, and easy way to pay.
But it might surprise you to learn that some payment methods have negative implications for your business!
Below are payment methods that may seem harmless, but in today’s digital world can end up costing your wedding planner business more than you think…
Checks: Outdated, Slow and an All-Around Hassle
We know checks are becoming less and less common, and there are a lot of practical reasons for that.
For starters, most people don’t carry a checkbook around with them anymore. Plus, checks take a long time to clear, they get lost in the mail, and they can bounce. They’re just inconvenient.
But checks aren’t extinct. And while many companies believe accepting checks is an easy way to avoid processing fees, it’s something you as a business owner should reconsider. Here’s why:
- Paper checks include tons of personal information, not to mention full bank routing and account numbers. That means it’s your responsibility to keep checks secure and accounted for. It also makes it more difficult than necessary to scale a business, as it requires outdated accounting practices.
- Checks are most frequently returned for nonsufficient funds or closed bank accounts. If you are accepting a check as payment for goods or services, you need to allow for ample time — about 10 business days — to get paid. That can mean delaying your services until the check clears.
- Manually sending out payment reminders allows room for error. It relies solely on one person tracking all payment due dates as it corresponds to the event date. Whether it’s missing a due date, sending out late reminders, or trying to collect after the event, leaving a manual process in place is risky.
Venmo: Literally Not Meant For Businesses
This one is pretty straightforward. Venmo is simply not meant for business use.
Here’s a verbatim quote from Justin Higgs, Venmo’s director of corporate affairs: “Venmo is designed for payments between friends and people who know and trust one another.”
It’s tempting to use Venmo because of the convenience and the fact that most customers are familiar with it. But unless you sign up for a Venmo Business account, it is not a viable payment processing option for your company.
Save yourself a major headache in the future by only using Venmo for payments between friends, family, and those crazy group dinners where someone always pays the whole bill so they can get credit card points.
Buy Now Pay Later: A 10% Pay Cut
“Buy now, pay later” services are popping up everywhere. These financing options for weddings are new and look to offer a great financial solution for couples needing a little help, but there are some serious fees to beware of.
The industry standard processing fee for a “buy now, pay later” service is 10%. While it’s nice that you’re offering your couples an alternative payment option, you’re taking a 10% pay cut. And while you can definitely raise your prices to cover this cost – there are other ways to work with couples who need a “financing” payment option.
Instead, work with your couple to understand their financial needs for your services. Making sure your retainer stays intact but then offering to split up the remaining fee over 6-8 installments can go a long way for couples who need some extra help.
All the money owed to you will still be collected well before the event date, but by breaking up payments into more installments, it allows for your couples to budget better and not have everything due at once. You keep more of your hard earned money, and couples can pay you over time — win win.
“Buy now, pay later” products typically pull a soft credit check which won’t impact the couples credit. In 2022 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a report that said more regulations may be on the horizon for these products.
If you’re considering “buy now, pay later” products as a payment option for your couples, stay up to date so you know what to expect — and be sure to inform your couples as well.
Paypal, Stripe and Square: High Processing Fees Galore
These platforms offer impressive benefits, payment security, and an overall positive experience for your clients. But, as an individual user, you are paying retail rates – anywhere from 2.9% – 3.5%+.
When running you’re running a wedding planner business, every dollar counts — you don’t want to be pocketing less for your services than you need to!
There are often fees on top of the marketed processing fees, so knowing exactly how much you are paying is incredibly important. Here’s a quick comparison of some of the top payment processors on the market.
| Stripe | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Square | 2.9% + 30¢ 3.5% + 15¢ – using a card on file |
| Honeybook | 2.9% + 25¢ 3.4% + 9¢ – using a card on file |
| Quickbooks | 2.9% + 25¢ |
| PayPal | 3.49% + 49¢ |
| Rock Paper Coin | 2.5% |
Partnering with a vendor like Rock Paper Coin offers you the benefit of a low group rate for processing fees. We work hard on your behalf to negotiate the lowest group rates possible with their processor. With Rock Paper Coin, you can use those low rates to increase your planner businesses’ bottom line.
In addition to having some of the lowest processing fees on the market, Rock Paper Coin has all the tools a wedding planner needs to streamline their business.
Not convinced yet? Try our wedding planner software for free for 30 days! Here’s what you’ll get:
- A dedicated account manager
- Free account establishment
- Contract templates
- One-on-one training
Click the button below to get started for a free 30 day trial, no strings attached!
