Checkout fee
The percentage and any fixed amount charged when the customer pays
Digital Solutions · Guide 02
The best way to collect a payment may depend on what happens next.
A payment method should make it easier to complete the sale, confirm the customer’s payment, access the funds, handle a refund, and keep a reliable record.
Choose for the sale
Four common collection methods
| Method | Where it can fit | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Payment link | Remote orders and simple invoices | Easy to share; confirm who owns the link, when settlement occurs, and how refunds work. |
| Online checkout | A website with repeated sales | Creates a structured customer journey; integration, chargebacks, and maintenance add work. |
| Merchant wallet or QR | In-person and mobile-first sales | Can be fast and low-friction; customer adoption and cash-out economics matter. |
| Bank transfer | Known customers and larger invoices | Creates a formal trail; matching a payment to an order may remain manual. |
The merchant view
Measure the cost after settlement.
A customer may see one total while the merchant receives another. The useful comparison begins with the sale price and ends when spendable money reaches the business account or wallet.
A completed checkout is not the same thing as a completed settlement.
Cost worksheet
Include more than the advertised rate
Currency conversion
The rate used when payment and settlement currencies differ
Settlement fee
The cost of moving the balance to a bank or mobile wallet
Refund cost
Whether the original fee is returned and who pays for the refund
Chargeback cost
The disputed amount, administration fee, and time the funds may be held
Operating cost
Devices, connectivity, bookkeeping time, and customer support
01
Test as a customer
Complete a small purchase on the intended phone and network. Check the payment message, receipt, and failure path.
02
Test as the merchant
Measure when the sale appears, when the money settles, what is deducted, and how the order is matched to the payment.
03
Test the exception
Process a refund and read the dispute process. A system is easiest to judge when the transaction does not go as planned.
Decision rule
Start with one sales channel, not every feature.
Choose a method for a real customer group and a real type of sale. Run it for a short period, reconcile every transaction, and expand only when settlement and support are predictable.