Personal:
Recommended for individuals who buy and pay online, or who want to submit or collect personal account payments for mutual expenses such as splitting dinner bills or rental charges; for casual sellers or non-businesses who want to be charged online and make online transactions.
Business:
This is a good option for merchants that work under a company/group name. It also includes features including granting up to 200 workers limited access to your account and a customer service email alias for customer problems to be routed for quicker follow-ups.
Fees:
For more information on PayPal transaction fees, see the Fees section of our User Agreement or press Fees at the bottom of every PayPal webpage.
Personal vs. Business PayPal accounts
It feels like a windfall when your small or medium-sized business (SMB) starts making profits. If you’ve launched a startup or converted your hobby of candle-making into a hugely profitable Etsy cottage industry, once your idea attracts buyers, they’ll need a way to pay you.Read it: PayPal Personal Account vs Business Account
Because of its ease of use and ability to facilitate foreign transfers, PayPal has become a go-to payment processing option for SMB owners. However, those looking for a PayPal account have two options: a personal account and a business account. We’ve broken each down to help you determine which account form is better for you.
Significant distinctions
A PayPal business account includes all of the features of a PayPal personal account, as well as additional features that can help both new professionals and established businesses expand and scale.
The following are the main distinctions between the two forms of PayPal accounts.
Personal PayPal account
PayPal personal accounts are intended for people who use PayPal exclusively for online shopping or sending money to friends and family. However, this account form may also be used to sell products and services.
For example, if you’re selling a pair of Manolo Blahniks you’ve never worn on eBay, a personal PayPal account would make it simple for potential customers to pay you. A personal account can also be suitable for an artist who sells their work on occasion.
The customer can see your full name on of purchase if you use a personal account. Furthermore, you won’t be able to accept as many forms of payment as you do with a business account (for example, you won’t be able to enable people to pay through invoicing) or use many of the other features that a PayPal business account provides.
In a nutshell, a PayPal personal account is suitable for vendors who intend to advertise their products and services only infrequently or informally.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started with a PayPal personal account:
Your given name and surname
Phone number and email address
Card details (debit or credit) (optional)
Routing and checking account numbers (optional)
PayPal for Business
PayPal business accounts offer all that a personal account does, and more. Business accounts provide a robust suite of services to anyone from side hustlers to SMB owners looking for a no-hassle, low-cost payment processing solution.
A PayPal business account, in particular, makes it easy to convert your website into an e-commerce platform that automatically redirects customers to PayPal for payment. A business account also enables you to set up subscription programmes, allowing consumers to sign up for regular shipments in a single transaction and complete purchases in person.
Another advantage of a PayPal business account for SMBs with employees is that it allows logins for up to 200 employees, enabling them to access PayPal features such as the ability to set up delivery methods and payments, inventory, and benefit monitoring.
PayPal business accounts also provide a suite of products and services designed to assist companies with the day-to-day operations of online transactions, such as the ability to print labels, monitor purchases, and receive live customer support.
A business account, unlike a personal account, can be registered under a company name rather than your own, which helps protect your privacy when consumers make a transaction.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started with a PayPal business account:
Name and address of the PayPal account holder
Email address of the account holder
Name and address of the company
Contact information for business customer support
Company details in general (e.g., business type, keywords associated with your business, etc.)
Name of the bank Business or personal bank account number
Routing number of a bank
To begin accepting credit cards, additional steps must be taken.
Advantages and disadvantages
Experts on personal finance
Transfers from a related bank account, PayPal Cash, or a PayPal Cash Plus balance are free of charge.
There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or cancellation fees.
It provides a quick and easy way to make online transactions or send money to friends and family.
It is a convenient payment method for those who make occasional purchases on eBay, Etsy, or other websites.
Transferring funds from purchases to a connected personal bank account is free. If you choose, you can pay a 1-percentage-point charge (up to a limit of $10) to have funds transferred to your account immediately.
Personal account disadvantages
PayPal charges fees for online debit and credit card acceptance.
Online sellers of products and services have restricted access to merchant services.
It is difficult to distinguish between business and personal transactions for tax purposes.
Business account benefits
It is easy to set up.
There are no setup or monthly maintenance fees (for PayPal Payments Standard), nor are there any termination fees.
Since you can register the account under a company or business name, you get more protection than with a personal account.
Customers who do not have a PayPal account will make credit card payments to users.
The account can be used by up to 200 employees, and you can specify which account features each employee has access to.
You can keep track of payments, earnings, and other details.
We have access to live customer service.
You will have access to PayPal’s business tools and goods.
PayPal Here allows sellers to accept and process payments in-store.
Cons to using a business account
Any transaction incurs fees for merchants.
There is no automatic way to downgrade from a business account to a personal account once it has been created. You must contact customer service.
Personal account fees vs. business account fees
The great thing about PayPal’s personal and regular business accounts is that there are no fees for setup, servicing, or cancellation. When you sell the first item through your PayPal account, the payment processor just charges transaction fees.
Fees for each are comparable. Here’s how it works:
Personal accounts sales:
Domestic: 2.9 percent of the purchase sum plus $0.30 per sale (with a discounted rate of 2.2 percent + $0.30 per transaction for qualifying charities).
International transactions: 4.4 percent transaction rate plus a fixed fee depending on the currency used in the transaction
Sales from commercial accounts:*
Domestic online sales: 2.9 percent of the purchase sum plus a currency-based fixed charge
International online sales: 4.4 percent of the purchase amount plus a currency-based fixed fee
*Transaction fees differ for retailers using a PayPal card reader in a physical venue, 501(c)(3) organisations, and micropayments.
Here’s an illustration of the transaction fees for a PayPal company account versus a personal account.
PayPal for Companies
Personal PayPal Account
2.9 percent + $0.30 USD for online payments made with a PayPal account in the United States
2.9 percent plus $0.30 US dollars
In the United States, an online purchase made with a credit or debit card.
2.9 percent + 0.30 U.S. dollars
2.9 percent plus $0.30 US dollars
Online payment from a foreign account or card* 4.4 percent + currency-based fixed fee
4.4 percent plus a currency-based fixed charge
2.7 percent for payments made in-store in the United States
The service is not available.
Payment received in-store outside of the United States
4.2 percentage points
*International transactions incur a 3% currency exchange fee and a 1.5 percent fee for accepting payment from a foreign country. Visit also: Finance Guide
