How to accept credit card payments in quickbooks desktop?

Introduction

Accepting credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop can streamline your business operations and improve cash flow. With the ability to process payments directly within the software, you can save time and reduce manual data entry errors. In this article, we will explore the various options and steps to accept credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop.

Setting up Merchant Services

Before you can start accepting credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop, you need to set up a merchant services account. QuickBooks offers its own merchant services, but you can also integrate with other popular payment processors such as PayPal, Square, or Stripe. To set up merchant services, follow these steps:

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop and go to the “Edit” menu.
2. Select “Preferences” and choose “Payments” from the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the “Company Preferences” tab and select “Learn More” under the “Credit Card Processing” section.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to sign up for a merchant services account or integrate with a third-party payment processor.

Enabling Credit Card Payments

Once you have set up your merchant services account, you need to enable credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to the “Customers” menu and select “Credit Card Processing Activities.”
2. Choose “Set Up Credit Card Processing” and follow the prompts to connect QuickBooks with your merchant services account.
3. Once the setup is complete, you can start accepting credit card payments from your customers.

Accepting Credit Card Payments

Now that you have enabled credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop, you can start accepting payments. There are several ways to do this:

1. Receive Payments: When you receive a payment from a customer, you can select the “Receive Payments” option under the “Customers” menu. Enter the customer’s information, invoice details, and select the credit card payment method. QuickBooks will guide you through the process of capturing the payment details and completing the transaction.

2. Sales Receipts: If you prefer to create sales receipts for immediate payment, you can choose the “Sales Receipts” option under the “Customers” menu. Similar to the “Receive Payments” method, you can enter the customer’s information, products or services sold, and select the credit card payment method.

3. Invoicing: When you create an invoice for your customer, you can include a “Pay Now” button that allows them to make a credit card payment directly from the invoice. To enable this feature, go to the “Customers” menu, select “Create Invoices,” and click on the “Customize Data Layout” button. From there, you can add the “Pay Now” button to your invoice template.

Processing Credit Card Payments

Once you have received a credit card payment, QuickBooks Desktop will process the transaction and deposit the funds into your designated bank account. The processing time may vary depending on your merchant services provider and the payment method used by your customer.

Conclusion

Accepting credit card payments in QuickBooks Desktop can significantly improve your business’s efficiency and cash flow. By setting up merchant services, enabling credit card payments, and utilizing the various payment methods available, you can streamline your payment processes and provide a convenient experience for your customers.

References

– quickbooks.intuit.com
– paypal.com
– square.com
– stripe.com