Part of Week 2: Feature Activation — Day 11.
Some website tasks sound far scarier than they actually are.
"Payment gateway" is one of them.
It sounds like something that requires an IT degree, three spreadsheets, and a long phone call with your bank. In reality, it's usually closer to setting up a new streaming account than building a banking system.
Yet it's one of the last things many small business owners switch on. Not because it's difficult, but because it sounds difficult.
Key Takeaways: How to Accept Online Payments
- You don't need to build your own payment system. Your Website Builder and payment provider handle the complicated technical work.
- Setting up online payments depends on the provider you choose. You may need to create an account and complete verification before accepting payments.
- When choosing a payment option, look at fees, payment methods, payout terms, security, and whether it works with your Website Builder.
- You don't need to offer every payment method available. Start with the options your customer base is most likely to recognise and trust.
- Payment gateways handle the sensitive payment processing that happens when customers pay online.
- Always test your checkout before launch so you know payments, orders, and confirmations are behaving as expected.
- The main takeaway? Accepting payments online sounds technical, but most of the technical stuff isn't actually your job.
Your Week 2 Roadmap: Feature Activation
Getting your site live in Week 1 was step one. Now it’s time to switch on the features that actually make your business money: stores, bookings, payments, and the small details that turn visitors into customers. Here’s what’s ahead:
- Why You’re Putting Off Launching Your Store
- Why Clients Still WhatsApp You Instead of Booking Online
- Why Visitors Skim Past Your “About Us” Section
- Why “Setting Up Payments” Feels Scarier Than It Is (this post)
- Why You’re Afraid to Turn On Online Bookings
- Why Your Photos Are Quietly Hurting Your Site
- Why Your Contact Form Isn’t Getting Submissions
Let’s start with the feature most business owners are most nervous to switch on: the store itself.
The Problem: "Payment Gateway" Sounds Intimidating
Words matter. If somebody called it a payment connector, far fewer people would hesitate.
Instead, the word gateway makes it sound like you're about to configure servers in a secret underground data centre.
Mercifully, that's not part of your job description. Most of the technical work has already been done by your Website Builder and your payment provider. Your job is mostly choosing an option and filling in a few details.
Setting Up Payment Options Is Simpler Than You Think
Here's the reassuring part: you aren't actually building a payment processor.
Your Website Builder and chosen payment provider handle the complicated machinery behind the scenes. What you need to do depends on the payment option you choose.
Generally, you'll select a supported online payment processing method and follow the setup instructions for that particular provider. You may need to create an account, complete verification, or provide certain business and banking information before accepting payments.
So, perhaps slightly more involved than switching on Netflix. Still considerably easier than building a bank.
Once you've configured everything, place a small test order yourself.
Follow the same checkout journey your customers will use and make sure everything behaves as expected before you start taking real orders.
How Do Online Payments Work?
Thankfully, you don't need to understand every step happening behind the scenes to accept online payments.
When a customer reaches your checkout and chooses how they want to pay, the payment provider handles the sensitive payment processing required to complete the transaction.
The customer follows the payment process, the online transaction is approved or declined, and your online store can then respond accordingly.
Behind the scenes, there's considerably more going on. But that's a little like using Wi-Fi: you don't need to understand every signal bouncing around the house before watching a movie.
For a beginner, the important part is much simpler.
Choose a reputable payment provider that works with your Website Builder, follow its setup process, and test your checkout before opening the doors to customers.
How Do You Choose a Payment Gateway?
Not every payment gateway will suit every business, so don't simply pick the first logo you recognise.
Start with the practical stuff. Check these points:
- Which payment methods it supports
- What transaction fees it charges
- How quickly money is paid out
- Whether it works with your Website Builder.
Then think about your customers. A payment option that's wonderfully convenient for you but unfamiliar to everyone buying from you isn't particularly helpful.
HostAfrica's Website Builder supports options including:
- PayFast
- PayPal
- Paystack
- Stripe
- M-Pesa
- Bank transfer
- Pay on Collection
- Telebirr
- Worldpay
This gives businesses different ways to accept payments depending on their market.
The goal isn't to offer every payment method imaginable. It's to make paying convenient for the customers you actually serve.
How Much Does It Cost to Accept Online Payments?
Accepting online payments usually comes with some costs, but there's no single price that applies to every business.
Different payment providers have different fee structures. Depending on the provider and payment method, there may be transaction fees or other charges to consider.
Don't let that send you back to accepting cash from a shoebox.
When comparing your options, look beyond the first percentage or price you see. Consider the payment methods available, payout terms, setup requirements, and whether the provider is convenient for your customers.
The cheapest option on paper isn't necessarily the best one if nobody wants to use it.
Think of payment processing as part of the cost of selling online. You're looking for an option that's affordable, trustworthy, and convenient for the people actually buying from you.
One Small Test Can Save A Massive Headache
Before announcing your store to the world, become your own first customer. Place a small test order.
Check that:
- the payment goes through,
- you receive an order notification,
- and your customer confirmation email arrives.
This five-minute exercise replaces:
"I hope it works..."
with:
"I know it works."
Are Online Payments Secure?
Handing over card details online requires trust, which is why payment security matters to both you and your customers.
Fortunately, the benefits of accepting online payments through a trusted payment gateway means you don't have to become your own miniature bank.
The payment provider handles much of the sensitive payment processing like fraud detection. They do this through their secure systems rather than expecting you to build that infrastructure yourself.
Your job is to use a reputable provider and keep your account credentials secure. You also need to use SSL on your website, and keep an eye out for suspicious orders or account activity.
Think of your payment gateway like hiring professional security for the checkout counter. You still lock the shop at night, but you aren't personally designing the alarm system.
Which Online Payment Methods Should You Offer?
Customers don't all like paying the same way. One reaches immediately for a credit card. Another prefers an EFT. Someone else has become so attached to their digital wallet that their physical wallet hasn't seen daylight since 2022.
Offering a few familiar payment options can therefore make checkout considerably easier.
Depending on your market and payment provider, that could include:
- Debit and credit cards
- Instant EFT
- Bank transfers
- Digital wallets
- Mobile payment options.
You don't need seventeen different ways to pay. Start with the methods your customers are most likely to recognise and trust.
The important thing is removing unnecessary friction. Once somebody has decided to buy, your checkout should make completing that purchase feel like the obvious next step. It shouldn't introduce one final obstacle course.
Quick Tip
Don't wait until launch day to set up payment systems.
The sooner you connect your payment gateway, the sooner you can test your checkout and fix any small issues before your first real customer arrives.
Tasks like setting up a merchant account and ensuring your gateway accepts credit cards means no payment hiccups on launch day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a business bank account to accept online payments?
That depends on the payment provider you choose.
Providers can have different banking, account, and verification requirements. So, don't assume you'll automatically need one particular type of account. Check what's they need from you when choosing your payment provider and get those details ready before you begin setup.
What happens if a customer wants a refund?
Refunds are generally handled according to the process offered by your payment provider.
The exact steps, timing, and any conditions can differ depending on the provider and payment method. It's worth familiarising yourself with the refund process before launching. Rather that than learning where the button is while an unhappy customer waits.
How long does it take to set up online payments?
There's no universal setup time.
Choosing and configuring a supported payment option can be straightforward. However, your payment provider may also require account registration or verification before you're ready to accept payments. Give yourself some breathing room and do this before launch day rather than making it the final item on your checklist.
How much do online payment gateways charge?
It depends on the payment provider and the type of payments you're accepting.
Providers can use different fee structures, so compare their current pricing before deciding. Look at the bigger picture too: payment methods, payout terms, convenience, and compatibility with your online store can matter just as much as the headline fee.
What is the safest way to accept payments online?
Start with a reputable payment provider rather than trying to handle sensitive payment information yourself.
Your payment provider takes care of much of the specialised payment processing, while you should keep your own website and accounts secure. Use SSL, protect your login details, and keep an eye on your orders and account activity.
Next in this series: Why You're Afraid to Turn On Online Bookings →
Ready to start accepting customer payments with confidence? HostAfrica's Online Store Builder makes it easy to connect trusted payment providers and start selling in just a few clicks.
