9 reliable B2B payment solutions for small businesses

9 reliable B2B payment solutions for small businesses

9 reliable B2B payment solutions for small businesses

August 09, 2024

The best B2B payment solutions for small businesses

Did you know that despite the fast advancement of digital technology, checks continue to dominate the side of the B2B payment field?? Yep, those papery things are still going around and thriving. Actually, in the USA, almost half of the B2B payments are made by depositing checks.

On top of not being eco-friendly, checks are neither financially nor time-friendly. Of course, there are also other B2B payment methods: wire transfers, cash, or credit cards. However, these methods often fall short in terms of convenience and cost-effectiveness. And since disruptions in business-to-business payments can affect buyer-supplier relationships, it’s imperative to find a better way.

So then what other B2B payment solutions are out there that won’t cost you a fortune, are safe to use, and don’t involve going to the bank or spending hours managing them?  The answer lies in online B2B payment solutions. With a B2B market size expected to reach USD 174.38 trillion by 2030, it’s clear these digital platforms are transforming the way businesses transact.

What are online B2B payment solutions?

B2B payment solutions are used by businesses to send money to other businesses. These payments can be made in person, online, or over the phone. There are many different types of B2B payment solutions, however, recently the ones that are stealing the most attention are B2B payment platforms and innovative payment startups.

They are software programs that help businesses process their payments without having to go through any third parties or other intermediaries. With these systems, you can receive payments from customers and then send them in bulk to your bank account or other accounts at the end of each day or week.

The best B2B payment solutions online

While B2C payments have always been favored, and thus more developed, many high-end B2B payment platforms have appeared in recent years. Although many of them established themselves as industry leaders they haven’t prevented new B2B payment solutions to enter the market and introduce new technologies.

Such as verified ACH payments for businesses which provide an added layer of security for businesses that process ACH transactions. A verified ACH payment is a payment that has been validated by the recipient’s bank or financial institution, ensuring that the payment is authorized and legitimate. This verification process helps to protect businesses from fraudulent ACH payments and reduces the risk of errors and disputes.

So to save you the trouble of figuring out which way to head with your B2B payments, we made lengthy research to find the best business-to-business payment options. Check the list:

Paypal

Known mostly for B2C payments, Paypal is also a key player on the B2B side. 

If you decide to go with Paypal B2B payment, you’ll be able to send tailored invoices to your clients via email. They have an easy-to-use interface that allows you to swiftly organize invoices, schedule them or even arrange installment payments. In addition to that, you can also opt for a payment gateway if you have an e-commerce site.

Moreover, the client gets to choose between paying with their own PayPal account, bank account, credit, or debit card. 

Price: PayPal only charges you a fee of 3.49% +$0.49 per transaction.

Stripe

Stripe does feel more like a backend utility but its popularity really speaks about its functionality. It offers billing, payment gateway, and merchant account. Also, it’s extremely practical because, in general, it’s the ‘default’ CCPP for most web-builders.

However, if you are a big B2B player and checkouts often surpass $50k, this is not the best B2B payment method for you.

Price: Transactional. For every payment made through their platform, their pay-as-you-go plan charges a 2.9% + $.30 cent fee.

Fundbox Pay

Fairly new on the market and also different from the rest, Fundbox Pay offers credit and payment solutions to small businesses and it’s the perfect choice if you deal with clients who always ask to extend deadlines

It gives the buyer the opportunity to pay an invoice right away even if they don’t have the money in their account. The first 60 days are interest-free which is extremely helpful since SMEs don’t have big cash reserves. On the other hand, the vendor gets their money on time. Everybody wins.

Price: They have different fees based on a few different factors, hence it is best to use the calculator on their website to calculate the fee of the exact amount you need.

Square

Another big name between B2B payment solutions. Square makes sending, managing, and tracking invoices easy. However, unlike other B2B payment platforms, they only allow payments with credit or debit cards. Additionally, their famous Square Cash service is available for B2B payments as well.

Price: A fee is charged per transaction. 2.6% + 10¢ is the cost for every tapped (mobile payments), dipped (chip cards), and swiped (magstripe cards) payment.

QuickBooks

Although they are worldwide famous for their accounting software, QuickBooks also offers a B2B payment solution and a good one for what it’s worth.

You can easily send invoices to clients, arrange installments and get notifications. If they pay by bank transfer you’re charged $0. But when they pay by credit card, you’re charged 2.9% plus 25 cents per transaction, which, in fact, is slightly less than the competitors.

Price: You have three options to choose from. One for starting a business, second for running your business, and third to grow your business, so you can choose the one that’s most suitable for you.

Plastiq

When it comes to centralizing all your B2B payments, Plastiq is the best. With this B2B payment platform respecting different vendors’ preferences is no longer an issue. Your supplier prefers credit cards, but your distributor takes only wire transfers? No big deal. Plastiq will sort this out for you.

Price: There are both free and paid subscriptions, and speaking about the transactions, it’s free for ACH bank transfers and checks disbursement, 2.85% for card payments, and $5/$39 for wire transfer disbursement: domestic/international.

TradeGecko

Like B2C online checkouts, TradeGecko offers a payment gateway for wholesale buyers. No invoices. Although, if you prefer invoices they do have a classic e-invoicing option. Using TradeGecko’s B2B payment solution, you can automate your B2B payment process and focus on offering your customers a great customer experience.

Price: Transaction fees they charge on every transaction and a monthly fee starting at $39 and up to $599, depending on which of their four plans is your choice.

Braintree

If you have a SaaS company with a subscription business model, Braintree is what you need. Of course, that’s if you’re cool with charge-per-transaction fees.

Their checkout experience mimics B2C gateways and their seamless operations. This way you’ll be able to attract and retain more B2B customers. Also, it gives you an opportunity to accept cryptocurrencies as a payment, Venmo, Apple Pay, Android Pay, etc.

Price: A flat $15 fee is assessed for each chargeback. Transaction charges depending on paying option.

Chargify

Chargify is a subscription billing service for B2B SaaS companies so you can evolve your billing alongside your business. This is a B2B payment solution that integrates with all your favorite systems, offers invoices for customer-initiated payments, automatically collect on their behalf, and more. 

Price: Paid subscription starting at $599 and up to $3,499. Moreover, they offer a plan with configurable functionality tailored to your business needs, for which you can ask to get a quote on their website.

Conclusion

In the end, choosing the best B2B payment software for your business comes down to a few critical factors such as budget, needs, and software compatibility. However, bear in mind that there might be hidden costs and fees, so be sure to read the fine print before committing to a payment software solution. While the selection process may seem daunting, investing time in thorough research and perhaps even trialing multiple options can lead to a decision that not only meets your current needs but also positions your business for future success.

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Salary in the marketing industry: What is the minimum wage

Salary in the marketing industry: What is the minimum wage

Salary in the marketing industry: What is the minimum wage

August 09, 2024

Salaries in the marketing industry
The marketing industry has experienced extraordinary growth in recent years, making it one of the most desirable career paths for many college graduates. While choosing your career path in college, you may have stumbled on the job growth predictions in marketing. With a diverse range of roles spanning from digital marketing to public relations, the industry offers a lot of opportunities for professionals at all levels. However, understanding the financial rewards associated with these roles is crucial for making informed career decisions.

Now you’re probably wondering what is the salary in the marketing industry, what essential student skills you should possess in order to apply or if is there a different median annual range for public relations professionals. Well, stick along until the end as we touch on these important aspects of salary in marketing, especially when it comes to college students.

Median annual salary

Marketing professionals get an average salary of at least $135,000 with other additional working benefits. Experts in managerial roles get $15 extra of this median annual salary estimate as wages. Students looking to pivot their educational journey in the line of marketing would be securing a financially stable future for themselves. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average marketing manager gets $150,000 annually.

Depending on the median annual salaries by state, this figure would vary between a few thousand. BLS also projects a potential job spike in the marketing sector as new college students discover the financial-liberating opportunity. There are also great self-employment opportunities for scholars that’d love to own their firms in the future. It’s a big industry, and getting high-paying clients wouldn’t be that much of a struggle.

Pay determination guidelines

In the sales and advertising sector, the size of your firm or self-employed business determines your annual salary. Big advertising corporations land huge clients with a fat marketing budget. Such contracts attract steady pay, work bonuses, and additional incentives to assigned staff. It’d be difficult to compare these clients’ income streams to a startup or thriving business. Salaries should first be categorized based on the income of your employers.

Most states take the minimum wage law seriously and have grievous penalties for defaulters. As a student pursuing a career in advertising, you should study these essays about minimum wage to avoid being the victim of corrupted work modules. Learn both arguments about minimum wages to fully understand how they affect your next salary. Good knowledge of minimum wage for marketing jobs would help you with job offers.

Like in other lucrative careers, experience and educational background play a large role in the advertising salary range. Experts in executive roles have extended certifications that show the level of education and experience they have in the business. Of course, the pay of an executive director would vary from a year-two intern at an advertising firm. Lastly, some companies pay wages while others give their staff salaries with additional incentives.

Overtime pay

Students looking to get marketing jobs would be getting lots of overtime openings at their workplaces. This job involves lots of paperwork, which would require more working hours for students that need extra pay. Companies that take on multiple clients per time often get swamped with a ton of workload annually. Marketing managers assign tasks to student interns with the consolation of overtime pay for the additional hours invested into the job.

Every student intern is entitled to the minimum wage rate for overtime hours. The overtime pay system works for full-time employees, like for student interns at advertising firms. Aside from the additional pay for overtime hours, students can easily get a great deal of experience working extra hours. It might get a bit stressful while on the job, but the level of experience and pay compensate for your devotion.

Pitfalls to avoid

Being new to marketing jobs or internships, we’ve seen many students take pitfalls in their careers before they begin. To avoid these common mistakes in the future, aspiring marketing students need to learn about the pitfalls to avoid. First, never sign an advertising work contract without reviewing and understanding the contractual terms. This has caused marketing interns to work additional hours without pay because they agreed to the terms.

Secondly, be a team member while on the job. Like every financially liberating job, you must be a team member to walk your way up the ladder. Volunteer to be a mentee under one of the marketing managers or a competent supervisor in your company. This gives you an edge over other student interns in the same organization. Most marketing managers had to make it to the top without any aid. Here’s a great chance to path yourself on a hitch-free road to the top.

Job outlook for marketing

From the last job growth estimation by BLS, employment in the advertising sector is set to increase %15 between 2022 and 2032. Ideally, this employment rate is faster than the national median range in other sectors. With the vast majority of advertising done online today, there’s an increasing need for more advisement deals across all levels of business. We expect more digital marketers than print-on-demand advertisers in the coming years.

From the report, the growth of the projected job outlook for marketing is estimated to be a 10% increase for marketing managers and 8% for public relations managers. Other marketing careers like public relations specialists would get an 8% increase in job growth and a 19% increase for market research analysts. This report shows that many marketing jobs that involve reaching out to customers online would pay more.

Conclusion

Marketing managers promote the products and services of businesses to their target audience. As everything goes digital today, most of this advertising is done online. Undergraduates considering a career in marketing have made the smart choice. This is one of those financially liberating careers that set you up for life. With the right skill set and strategic thinking, marketing managers wield significant influence over consumer behavior and brand loyalty, making it an exciting and impactful field.

As a student, you can intern with a reputable advertising firm to get enough experience on the rudiments of the job. With additional certifications and years of experience, you can secure yourself a managerial role in advertising. College students get fair minimum wages when interning with marketing firms.

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Customer retention for SaaS companies: A step-by-step guide

Customer retention for SaaS companies: A step-by-step guide

Customer retention for SaaS companies: A step-by-step guide

August 08, 2024

Proven strategies for customer retention for SaaS companies

There are numerous practical ways to ensure your SaaS company grows and overcomes the market competition. And one of them is customer retention.  This is the ability of a firm to keep its clients over time, a skill that’s crucial in an industry estimated to reach 247 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. This approach has proven to be more cost-effective than acquiring new customers and leads to increased revenue through upsells and referrals.

Implementing a SaaS customer retention strategy may take time and resources. However, it comes with unlimited benefits. For instance, it reduces the cost of marketing and customer acquisition, increases the value of each sale, helps get insight into your customers and client outreach, enables you to establish referrals and loyalty, and helps minimize customer churn. All these benefits ensure that your enterprise grows in no time.

Proven strategies for customer retention for SaaS companies

That said, you can adopt several strategies to retain customers in your SaaS company. These include:  

Leverage data from customer

The first and one of the most effective approaches to promoting retention rate in your SaaS firm is to leverage customer data. That gives you valuable insights into your customers and what influences them. As such, you’ll be able to map clients’ journeys and improve their experience, thus building business relationships. That goes a long way in promoting your retention rate. 

One of the best ways to leverage customer data is to adopt modern technologies into your company systems. For instance, you can purchase and install specific software to help streamline the process. But you must select the best applications on the market. For example, you can consider investing in a platform like Parative or any other similar application. 

Communicate with customers regularly

After successfully winning customers and staying with them for a while, you may be tempted to focus on other things, like finding new ones. However, that may affect your retention rate as some of your current clients may think that you no longer value them.  

You might think you only need to talk to customers when responding to their concerns or complaints. But that shouldn’t be the case. You should always reach out to your customers to know how they’re doing and their experience with your SaaS product. Therefore, you must establish a communication schedule to communicate with your clients. That goes a long way in making your customers happy, thus enabling them to remain connected with your brand.

Keep your product updated

You must understand that SaaS products or technology keeps changing. And for businesses to keep up with their emerging needs, they must invest in modern software. While keeping your product updated is crucial, exploring excellent alternatives to Saleo can also provide fresh perspectives on enhancing live product demos and ultimately customer satisfaction. That’s why you need to keep your product updated. 

Besides, you must keep your customers current on any changes in the SaaS sector or technology. That helps companies to prepare for any potential downtime or interruptions. That also goes a long way in promoting customer relations and helps enhance your retention rate.

Build a reward program

If you want to retain many clients in your SaaS company, you must implement an incentive program. This involves creating a system that rewards loyal customers who purchase your SaaS product or service repeatedly. Doing so encourages your clients to continue partnering with you instead of going to your competitors.  

One of the best ways to reward loyal customers is by providing discounts. This involves allowing clients to pay less for your SaaS product. For instance, if you charge USD$50 per month, you can offer a 10% discount for clients who decide to use your product for the next six months.

Gather customer feedback

Customers will always have various opinions regarding your SaaS offering. This could be either positive or negative. Therefore, you may consider gathering clients’ feedback to know what they think about your brand.  

Collecting feedback enables you to know whether you’re doing well or not. As such, you’ll be able to take collective measures to improve or change your services.  

Keep in mind that collecting feedback isn’t enough to help retain clients. You should go the extra mile and respond to or act upon each one. You can start by showing customers appreciation for the positive feedback and providing solutions for negative criticisms. All of these factors contribute to enhancing customers’ experience and satisfaction, thus enabling them to remain loyal to your brand.  

You can adopt various ways to collect customer feedback. These include requesting them to fill out post-purchase forms, sending them email messages, making phone calls, and encouraging them to leave comments on your company’s online platforms.

Make self-service possible

Today, most companies are open 24/7. Therefore, your clients may need your help at any time of the day. However, it becomes a major issue if you cannot address their objections and dissatisfaction. And if that happens, most of them may reconsider seeking assistance elsewhere, which would negatively impact your retention. For that reason, you should contemplate making self-service possible. 

With self-service, customers can always engage with your brand and find the assistance they need. As such, they’ll be capable of solving their own problems. Doing so encourages them to remain connected with you.  

Indeed, you can implement numerous strategies to make self-service possible in your SaaS company. These include providing reading guide manuals, video tutorials, and chatbots.

Personalize your SaaS product offerings

Each company or business is distinctive in one way or the other. For that reason, you should avoid providing generalized solutions. Instead, you should find effective ways to handle each firm according to its needs. And the best way to do so is by customizing your product offerings. This strategy will go a long way in significantly boosting your customer retention strategy.

Provide free customer training

Lastly, you may consider offering complimentary customer training to retain them. This is essential, especially if you believe your SaaS solution is difficult to learn and use.

Training customers on your products enables you to create strong relationships with them. This helps minimize churn, thus increasing your customer retention rate. 

Conclusion

There are numerous SaaS startups available nowadays, which implies that competition for available clients is tough. Therefore, if you are not cautious, you may miss out on connecting with your ideal customers. While winning customers is challenging, keeping them loyal presents an even greater barrier. And even when you win a few, another big challenge arises: how to retain them. Hopefully, the tips mentioned above can guide you on the viable ways to retain loyal customers in your SaaS firm. 

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How AI and machine learning are changing fleet operations

How AI and machine learning are changing fleet operations

How AI and machine learning are changing fleet operations

July 12, 2024

AI and machine learning are revolutionizing how goods are moved and how vehicles are managed. This isn’t about robots taking the wheel (not just yet, anyway); it’s about smarter, more efficient operations that save time, cut costs, and improve safety. Let’s have a look into how these eld gps technologies are transforming fleet operations from the ground up.

The new fleet intelligence

Imagine having a fleet manager who never sleeps, eats, or takes a break, yet continuously optimizes your operations 24/7. That’s essentially what AI brings to the table. It’s like having a superhuman coordinator who can predict traffic jams, suggest optimal routes, and even forecast maintenance issues before they happen. This level of intelligence is changing the game, making fleets not just faster but smarter.

Predictive maintenance

One of the most groundbreaking impacts of AI and machine learning is in predictive maintenance. In the past, maintenance was reactive or scheduled at best, often leading to unnecessary downtime or, worse, breakdowns on the road. Now, imagine your vehicles telling you they need attention before a problem arises.

Machine learning algorithms analyze data from various sensors on the vehicle, learning from patterns and predicting issues before they occur. It’s like having a crystal ball for each truck, ensuring they’re always in top condition and rarely out of action.

Optimized routes

Routing used to be about maps, experience, and a bit of guesswork. Not anymore. AI examines countless variables in real-time—traffic conditions, weather, vehicle type, and even driver preferences—to map out the most efficient route.

It’s a dynamic process, adjusting on the fly as conditions change. This isn’t just about saving fuel; it’s about timely deliveries, happy customers, and less stress for drivers.

Enhanced safety

Safety is paramount in fleet operations, and AI is like having a guardian angel for each vehicle. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) powered by AI monitor the road and driver behavior, offering warnings or taking corrective action to prevent accidents.

Meanwhile, machine learning sifts through data to identify risk patterns, helping managers make informed decisions about training and interventions. It’s a proactive approach to safety, reducing risks and protecting lives.

Automated administration

The administrative burden of fleet management can be overwhelming. Enter AI, which automates tasks from scheduling and compliance reporting to fuel tax calculations. It’s like having an ultra-efficient assistant who never makes a mistake, freeing up human managers to focus on strategic decisions.

Smarter decisions

AI and machine learning turn data into insights. By analyzing patterns in everything from fuel consumption and idle times to delivery success rates, these technologies provide actionable intelligence. ​

The human Touch

Amid all this talk of AI, it’s crucial to remember the human element. AI in fleet management is not aimed at replacing people; instead, it is designed to enhance their abilities. It enables the staff to be relieved of tedious tasks, provides them with better decision-making tools, and ultimately makes their work more fulfilling.

The objective is to establish a collaborative relationship between humans and machines to attain optimal outcomes.

Conclusion

As we look to the future, the role of AI and machine learning in fleet operations is only set to grow. From predictive maintenance and optimized routing to enhanced safety and smarter decision-making, AI is not just changing the fleet operations; it’s setting a new standard for what’s possible.

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5 tried and tested ways to respond to professional ghosting

5 tried and tested ways to respond to professional ghosting

5 tried and tested ways to respond to professional ghosting

June 29, 2024

Responding to proffesional ghosting

As Jamie McCann, Founder of 3AM Marketing Services says, for whatever reason, professional ghosting is much more commonplace today. Why is that? I contend prior to desktops/laptops starting taking hold, all meetings were either scheduled in person or via the phone. Rare was the meeting missed or needing to be re-scheduled. Today, with all the technological advances (Outlook, Calendly, Jobber, Acuity, and a myriad of other scheduling software), people are too reliant on technology to keep themselves organized.

Remember the Franklin Planners? Meetings occurred regularly with few hiccups. Or, how about the old-fashion paper calendar method where we just scribbled reminders that we had a budget meeting at 3 on the 17th? Very seldom were meetings missed. Professional ghosting never happened. Today, with all the technology at our fingertips, we’re often double-booking ourselves and our cohorts, thereby overlooking meetings scheduled elsewhere or by others without our knowledge.

At a minimum, professional ghosting can be frustrating. And, can often lead to a reprimand, or worse, if it occurs often.

5 way how to respond to professional ghosting

Let’s see how to respond to professional ghosting whether it’s from clients or partners. The key point is to not take it personally.

Humour is key

My first two attempts are your typical easy to ignore attempts. By the third time, I responded in a way that was pretty tough to ignore. Humor is key. 

I’ll send a video of Lionel Richie’s Hello or a meme. This will continue where each email gets more outrageous. After about 6 or 7 attempts you either get the theme song from the old Hulk TV show where Bruce is walking away while the credits roll which means I’ve given up on you. 

Or, if I REALLY want your attention, I’ll either send something like a remote control helicopter with my phone number as a banner, a pizza in a custom box with my logo on it, or a singing telegram. Eventually, you’ll respond by then.

Marc Ensign, The Big Cheese at LoudMouse

Be understanding and ask for the reason

When someone professionally ghosts you, it’s important to realize that there is probably a pretty good reason and that they aren’t doing it deliberately just to frustrate you. We are all busy people and the last thing that is going to make them want to talk with you, and perhaps work alongside you (or pay you money for that matter), is if you get angry at them. 

Instead, come from a place of understanding asking them saying you understand they probably have a lot going on, and that you would wish to constructively move forward, while figuring out how that is most likely to happen.

John Davis, CMO at Check4Lead

The three stages of recovery

Ghosting is very easy to take personally but is an important experience to learn from. When I get ghosted, I go through several stages of recovery. 

The first is frustration. I let myself feel irritated for no more than 5 minutes. The second stage is analysis. I think about the potential reasons the individual ghosted me (e.g. personal situations, lack of buy-in to an opportunity, poor communication/lack of transparency). The third stage is reflection. I reflect on the things that I can do differently to encourage open and clear communication between myself and the candidate. 

The amount of ghosting I experience has decreased significantly because of improved communication and transparency with the people I work with.

Hannah Kuspira, Co-Founder and Recruiter at KNOWLEJOBLE

Reach out one in a while

Ghosting is increasingly happening in the workforce as Generation Z becomes more prominent. It oftentimes comes from a weak connection built and from someone not feeling comfortable to express how they really feel. It’s best to just reach out every once in a while and maybe try to add some humour to it. 

For example, “Hey – are we giving up on this?”. Those kinds of messages tend to get the best response rate.

Kyle Pavlich, CEO & Founder of ZedConsults

Send one final email

This happens more often than I would like to admit. You receive an inquiry for a quote, then you respond, maybe exchange a couple of emails and just when you get your hopes up, crickets. 

I completely dislike playing the waiting game, so to have control of my reaction I send one final email to the client thanking them for their time and letting them know that due to no response, I will be closing their file in 24 hours. This includes deleting their information, and archiving any quotes. Any coupons or price guarantees are no longer valid. 

Abby Herman, Director of Strategy at Snap Agency

Conclusion

When it comes to professional ghosting, fight the urge to send an angry email or to call and scream at them. More often than not, there’s a sensible reason for the ghosting and the communication can be continued with a little bit of patience. However, there would be cases when it’s best to sever ties and move on. Hopefully, the above examples will help you decide on your response.

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4 tips for supercharging your corporate career progression

4 tips for supercharging your corporate career progression

In the world of business, there’s no other way to go but up! As enterprises grow, it’s only important for corporate leaders to step up their game by acquiring new skills and learning new tools. Career progression is the only logical route to take, so you must know...

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