Sell without a store: Receive payments with PayPal Open
Receive payments where your community is
Many solo freelancers use social media, emails or messengers not only to communicate, but also to market their products. With the right tools, they can also receive payments directly there - without any online store or technical setup.
PayPal Open offers three flexible ways to receive payments:
- Payment links that can be shared quickly, for example via email, DM, post or QR code.
- Buy buttons that can be integrated into an existing page, for example a link-in bio tool or a landing page.
- Tap to Pay turns your smartphone into a payment terminal (compatible smartphone required)
All variants are fast, mobile-optimized and offer a familiar user experience. This turns the place where interest arises directly into the point of sale.
Payment links: From post to payment in seconds
A purchase doesn't start in the shopping cart, but where interest is generated: in a post, a story or an email. This is exactly where payment links from PayPal come in: They lead directly from the product info to payment, without detours via external platforms.
This is particularly helpful for
- digital products
- e-book, course or software sales
- (Online) pre-orders or tipping models
A payment link creates a separate payment page with title, price, description and product image. Variants such as sizes or colors can be integrated as well as freely selectable prices. Shipping costs and taxes can be calculated automatically.
The finished payment link can be shared flexibly: via messenger, email, social media or as a QR code on a product label or table display. The payment page supports common payment methods such as credit card, wallets and selected regional methods such as SEPA direct debit, iDEAL or Swish - depending on the country and availability for the respective buyer.
Particularly practical: your customers do not need their own PayPal account. This means that payments can be processed securely and conveniently online.
For self-employed people who regularly sell digital content, this is an easy way to receive payments with PayPal without having to set up a traditional store system.
Buy buttons: Your site becomes a sales area
If you already use a website or a link-in-bio tool, you can integrate PayPal's shopping cart or buy buttons with just a few lines of code. This transforms a simple landing page into a functional sales area. You create the button in your PayPal account and automatically receive the appropriate HTML code, which simply needs to be copied and pasted into the website. Customers click, pay with their preferred method and the amount is credited directly to your PayPal business account.
You retain control over your design, storytelling and user experience while benefiting from a reliable checkout that helps build trust. A streamlined solution for anyone who wants to present their offer online and process payments directly.
Easily sell on site with Tap to Pay
In addition to the digital options, you can also accept payments on site: directly via your smartphone. With the PayPal "Tap to Pay" function, you can accept contactless payments by card or wallet without a separate card reader. All you need is a compatible iPhone or Android device with NFC function (Tap to Pay works on devices with Android 8.0, NFC functions and Google Play Services. iOS from iPhone XS and higher).
This is particularly practical, for example, for
- Markets, pop-up stores
- Workshops and live events
- Small-scale sales where flexibility counts
Payment glitches, fees, stress?
The everyday life of solo self-employed people brings with it a few stumbling blocks, especially when it comes to processing payments. Delayed payouts, complicated refunds, international fees or technical challenges can cost a lot of time. PayPal offers targeted solutions to help with these challenges.
Access to your revenue
Many creators experience that platforms release revenue delayed or only partially pay out. With PayPal, you get access to your earnings as soon as they are credited to your PayPal business account - without an intermediary account.
Facilitate payments from abroad
International sales often involve additional complexity - for example, in payment processing or communication. PayPal is used worldwide and allows customers in many countries to use a familiar and fast payment option. This helps to simplify cross-border sales and reduce organizational effort.
Less effort for subscriptions, incorrect bookings & more
Especially with digital business models such as courses, memberships or software subscriptions, payments often have to be monitored manually. With PayPal , recurring payments can be automated. If a payment fails - due to insufficient credit, for example - it is retriggered at a later date. This helps to keep subscriptions active without any additional effort on your part.
Solve tax issues for foreign sales
Different countries, different VAT rates: PayPal helps to calculate these, as well as shipping costs. This helps save time and reduces potential sources of error.
Manage expenses: The PayPal Business Debit Card
With the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard® you can use your available credit on the PayPal business account directly for business expenses. The card works anywhere Mastercard is accepted - online, on the go or in-store. And the best thing is that you automatically receive 0.5% cashback as a weekly credit for authorized business payments (please refer to the card terms of use for detailed information).
You can easily manage everything yourself in the PayPal app: Set limits, block or unblock the card or request a replacement card if necessary.
PayPal: familiarity & trust
Many shoppers make intuitive decisions when paying - especially if they are not yet familiar with the provider. A familiar payment method like PayPal is a clear advantage.
With millions of active users in Germany and the award as the "Most Trusted Brand 2024" (YouGov) PayPal conveys reliability and professionalism. This strengthens trust in your offer and increases the likelihood that interest will turn into an actual purchase.
Ready to sell quickly: without a store, without detours
Whether you're just getting started or already running a solo business, PayPal payment links, Buy buttons, Tap to Pay and the Business Debit Mastercard® will have you up and running in minutes.
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