You've done the hard work — attracted a visitor, won them over, and got them to checkout. Then they look for their preferred way to pay, don't find it, and leave. A missing payment method is one of the most avoidable sale-killers in e-commerce. Here's how to offer the right mix without overcomplicating things.
The Essentials Every Store Needs
- Credit & debit cards — the non-negotiable baseline
- Digital wallets — Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal for fast, trusted one-tap checkout
These cover the vast majority of shoppers. If you offer nothing else, offer these well.
Worth Considering
- Buy Now, Pay Later (Klarna, Clearpay) — can lift average order value, especially for higher-priced items
- Local payment methods — important if you sell internationally or in regions with strong local preferences
- Bank transfer / direct debit — useful for B2B or subscription billing
Mind the Fees
Each method carries processing fees that eat into margin. Compare rates, but don't reject a popular method purely on fees — a slightly higher fee on a completed sale beats no sale at all. Factor average transaction fees into your pricing rather than refusing the methods customers want.
Keep It Secure and Smooth
Whatever you offer, ensure checkout is secure (SSL, trusted gateways), fast, and mobile-friendly. A clunky payment step undoes everything — streamlining it is exactly what our checkout optimisation service does. Setting up a new store? Run through the e-commerce launch checklist or book a free call.
- Cards plus digital wallets cover most shoppers — get these right first
- Buy-now-pay-later can lift average order value on higher-priced items
- Offer the methods your specific customers use; don't overcrowd checkout
- Factor processing fees into pricing rather than refusing popular methods
- Keep the payment step secure, fast, and mobile-friendly