{"id":15089,"date":"2024-03-13T14:08:40","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T14:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=15089"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:07:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:07:27","slug":"best-payment-methods-for-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/best-payment-methods-for-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the best payment methods for small businesses?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the best payment methods for small businesses?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-03-13T14:08:40+00:00\">13 March, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What are the best payment methods for small businesses?\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/best-payment-methods-for-small-businesses\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/kieronjohnson\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"kieron-johnson-profile-picture\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/Kieron-Johnson.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Kieron Johnson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Paying for goods and services is a bit like getting off a packed plane after a long flight\u2014you just want to get it over with as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But speed aside, the process needs to be handled safely and securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The same can be said when accepting payments in your small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The best payment methods make it safe, quick and easy for your customers to pay you while being practical and cost-effective for your business to receive payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With the right combination of payment options, you can provide a streamlined sales process for your customers and improve your cash flow by collecting payments faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In this article, we look at the pros and cons of seven payment methods and the factors you should consider before accepting them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here\u2019s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-best-payment-methods-for-your-small-business-pros-and-cons\" data-level=\"2\">Best payment methods for your small business: Pros and cons<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-cash\" data-level=\"3\">1. Cash<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-cheque\" data-level=\"3\">2. Cheque<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-3-direct-debit\" data-level=\"3\">3. Direct debit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-4-credit-card\" data-level=\"3\">4. Credit card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-5-debit-card\" data-level=\"3\">5. Debit card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-6-online-payment\" data-level=\"3\">6. Online payment<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-7-mobile-payment\" data-level=\"3\">7. Mobile payment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-choose-the-best-payment-methods-for-your-small-business\" data-level=\"2\">How to choose the best payment methods for your small business<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-0ba45a37-4e28-4545-bc08-1c1e35e790ec\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-0ba45a37-4e28-4545-bc08-1c1e35e790ec\"\n\t>Download your free cash flow forecast so you can stay on top of the numbers<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-payment-methods-for-your-small-business-pros-and-cons\">Best payment methods for your small business: Pros and cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-cash\">1. Cash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Rumours of the death of cash have been greatly exaggerated, but it\u2019s fair to say that the use of notes and coins is in decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The payment processing company, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldpay.com\/en\/insights\/article\/the-global-payments-report-5-enterprise-takeaways-for-2021\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Worldpay<\/a>, has predicted that the pandemic would cause in-store cash payments to fall from 13% in 2020 to just 7% by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But cash is still king in terms of its liquidity and zero processing fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">You can also offer potential customers a cash discount to incentivise a sale you may not have otherwise landed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">On the flip side, cash is susceptible to theft, fraud and mismanagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It isn\u2019t exactly the most hygienic way to pay either, which is the main reason cash use has plummeted since the onset of Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-cheque\">2. Cheque<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A cheque is a signed document authorising the transfer of funds from your customers\u2019 bank account to your company\u2019s bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Like cash, cheque usage is on the slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">From 2007 through to 2022, cheque payments dropped 90%. In 2022, cheques constituted less than 0.5% of payments according to trade association <a href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/money\/saving-and-banking\/cheques-down-since-2007-2617328\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UK Finance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The main advantages of cheques are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are no upfront fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They provide a payment record<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are easier to carry around than large wads of cash<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They can be stopped in the event of being lost or stolen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Nowadays, the biggest issue with cheques is the risk of receiving one of the fraudulent or bounced variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-direct-debit\">3. Direct debit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If your customers have to make a recurring payment to your business, such as a subscription, direct debit may be the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A direct debit instruction authorises the collection of a specific amount of money from your customers\u2019 bank account on an agreed date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">On the positive side, direct debit processing fees are typically low at around 1%. But they vary according to providers, which offer different options such as flat rates, monthly or annual fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With direct debit, late and missed payments are a thing of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Payment success rates are high because direct debit is connected to your customers\u2019 bank account which, unlike a payment card, can\u2019t get lost, stolen or expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And even though direct debit accommodates repeat payment cycles, it also facilitates irregular and one-off payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">One negative to bear in mind is that your business may have to wait for its first payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This is because direct debit payments work in predetermined cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-credit-card\">4. Credit card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A credit card is a card issued by a bank or other financial institution, which enables your customers to borrow money from the issuer to make payments to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your customers then repay the borrowed sum \u2013 plus any interest and charges \u2013 by the billing date or over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Nearly six decades on, 14% of all in-store and online payments were made using a credit card in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Accepting credit cards offers three key advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They can increase your cash flow by making payments that are usually received on the same day for in-store transactions and within two to four business days for online transactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Credit cards expand the customer base of your business, which can potentially increase its reach and revenue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/from-little-treats-to-trouble-new-study-exposes-the-hidden-financial-impacts-of-impulsive-spending-301896365.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Studies<\/a> show credit card holders are more susceptible to making knee-jerk purchases, which can only be good for your business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But accepting credit cards isn\u2019t all sunshine and rainbows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">One drawback is that they incur costs such as monthly fees, equipment rental fees and processing fees that typically range from 1.5% to 3.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There are also chargeback fees to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">These occur when your customers dispute the charge to their credit card and reverse the transaction because, for example, they didn\u2019t receive the product they ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s important to note that one too many chargebacks can result in a suspension of your processing privileges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Then, there\u2019s the ever-present possibility of credit card fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But you can shield your business from this risk by using a secure payment processing solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-debit-card\">5. Debit card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A debit card is connected to your customers\u2019 bank account, which is deducted each time your customers make a payment to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If your customers don\u2019t have sufficient funds to make the payment and they haven\u2019t arranged an overdraft, the payment request will be declined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The advantages and disadvantages of accepting debit cards are pretty much the same as credit cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But debit cards generally have the edge over credit cards in terms of processing times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Payments are ordinarily received on the same day for in-store transactions and within two business days for online transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Debit cards also have lower processing fees, which typically range from 0.25% to 0.35% per transaction plus a fixed rate of \u20ac0.04 to \u20ac0.05 for authorisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-online-payment\">6. Online payment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Online payment involves your customers accessing the internet to transfer funds to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Online payment uses a payment gateway, which equips both brick and mortar and online businesses to accept, process and manage various online payments. Consider the likes of GoCardless, Stripe and Square here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Direct debit payments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online credit card transactions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online debit card transactions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/forecasts\/997921\/most-common-online-payments-by-type-in-the-uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Statista<\/a> survey found that 59% of respondents used online payment services in 2023, making it the second most popular form of payment in that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Advantages of online payment include a streamlined customer payment experience, payments in real time, strict encryption protocols and cutting-edge fraud detection mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Disadvantages of online payment include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fees for everything from network access to brand usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unexpected technical issues, such as payment system downtime, which temporarily prevents your customers from buying goods or services from your business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-mobile-payment\">7. Mobile payment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If its meteoric rise in popularity over the past 17 years is anything to go by, mobile payment is the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of the payment industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/topics\/6757\/mobile-payments-in-the-uk\/#topicOverview\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Statista<\/a>, almost 25% of all mobile phone users made mobile payments in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Simply put, mobile payments are any kind of digital payment made online or offline using a mobile phone or tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In addition to in-app purchases, they offer a variety of payment options including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital wallets<\/strong>, which are mobile apps that store your customers\u2019 payment information. Using near-field communication (NFC) technology, your customers can make safe and secure purchases from your business with a simple tap of their phone. Examples of popular digital wallets are PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Money transfer apps<\/strong>, such as XE Money Transfer, Remitly and Wise, enable your customers to send money to your business quickly and safely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Mobile payments have significant benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For instance, digital wallets are unmatched in terms of their speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When the sender and recipient of a payment are using digital wallets, payments often take seconds to process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Equally, mobile contactless payments have unparalleled authentication protocols \u2013 ranging from fingerprint ID to GPS location \u2013 making them one of the most secure forms of payment on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There are also some downsides to mobile payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The fees for NFC mobile payments, for example, aren\u2019t for the faint-hearted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">These include set-up fees, a fixed monthly fee, a fixed fee for each transaction and a percentage of each transaction, which can be anything from 3% to 5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-0ba45a37-4e28-4545-bc08-1c1e35e790ec\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-0ba45a37-4e28-4545-bc08-1c1e35e790ec\"\n\t>Download your free cash flow forecast so you can stay on top of the numbers<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-choose-the-best-payment-methods-for-your-small-business\">How to choose the best payment methods for your small business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">There are a whole host of factors to consider when choosing the best payment methods for your small business. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">As a small business, fees should always be high on your list of priorities, but there are other factors to be considered. For example, a payment method may have low fees, but it may not be widely used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">On the flip side, a payment option may be wildly popular, but have exorbitant fees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Neither situation is ideal, but you may be able to find a workaround by choosing a fee structure that suits your business or by negotiating a better deal with your provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Customer preference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The old adage, \u201cwhat the customer wants, the customer gets\u201d, has its limitations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But it\u2019s worthwhile taking onboard your customers\u2019 payment preferences and offering a suite of options that accommodate them and increase the sales of your business at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compatibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Even the best payment method in the world is subject to one caveat: the ease with which it can be integrated into your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Choose payment methods that can be seamlessly implemented into your existing systems, platforms and software at minimal cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Different payment methods have different features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Opt for features that can improve your payment system such as integration, customisation, data and reporting, security and reconciliation support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Security risks vary according to the payment methods involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Assess the risks associated with each form of payment, such as theft and fraud, then select the options that afford the highest level of protection for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When it comes to business, your operations may be small today but big tomorrow. So it\u2019s important to choose payment methods that can accommodate your business as it grows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For instance, card payments rate highly in the scalability department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This is because they\u2019re initiated by your customers, therefore your administrative burden doesn\u2019t increase as you scale your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">To reach the masses and maximise your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/cash-flow-forecasting-small-businesses\/\">cash flow<\/a>, it\u2019s a good idea for your business to accept multiple forms of payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The best payment methods are safe, secure and seamlessly integrate with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/accounting\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">accounting software<\/a>. They depend on your customers\u2019 preferences and the unique needs of your business model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">When it comes to accepting payments from your customers, variety is indeed the spice of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Cash flow forecast template<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Get your free cash flow forecast template and use it to project how much cash will be flowing in and out of your business, and when.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-0ba45a37-4e28-4545-bc08-1c1e35e790ec\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download the cash flow forecast template<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1451131632-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/10\/GettyImages-1451131632-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about the best payment methods your small business can offer, so you can keep your cash flowing smoothly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1766,"featured_media":8132,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[107,110,369],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[370,230],"coauthors":[496],"class_list":["post-15089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-business-finances","tag-cash-flow","tag-payments","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Kieron Johnson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1150431964.jpg","imagine_tags":{"370":"Payments","230":"Small 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