Stripe Business Payments: Is It the Best Choice for Your Business?

In today's world, businesses rely heavily on online transactions to manage their sales and revenue. As a result, businesses need secure and reliable payment processors that can help them manage transactions easily and quickly. Stripe Business Payments is one such platform that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of Stripe Business Payments as well as find the answer to the question “Is It the Best Choice for Your Business?”.

Stripe Business Payments: Is It the Best Choice for Your Business?

What is Stripe?

Stripe is a provider of payment services which enables entrepreneurs to receive payments from various sources such as debit or credit cards, digital wallets, ACH payments, and other alternative payment methods. It functions in more than 135 currencies and provides options for billing customers and gathering payments. Stripe Payments is most effective for eCommerce ventures.

How many businesses use Stripe?

As of 2021, Stripe has more than 2 million active users globally. However, the number of businesses that use Stripe is constantly growing as more and more businesses are choosing Stripe as their payment processing provider.

How does it work?

Stripe Payments functions as an intermediary between your business and customers who are making payments. It verifies the payment method, manages the transfer of money, and ensures that the data is secure. The following is a breakdown of how Stripe operates:

Initially, your customer provides their payment information to begin the transaction.

Stripe secures the information by encrypting it.

The encrypted data is sent to the acquiring bank, which processes the payment.

The payment is then directed through a card network to the customer's issuing bank.

The issuing bank either approves or denies the requested transaction.

The customer receives a notification of approval or decline.

Meanwhile, the banks transfer the funds by exchanging information.

This process occurs quickly, typically taking only seconds. Once the customer's bank approves the transaction, Stripe receives the funds within one or two days. After that, you can transfer the funds from Stripe to your account.

Payment Methods and Services of Stripe

Stripe is favored by online and global businesses due to its top-notch features. Several well-known companies, such as Amazon, Shopify, and Zoom, utilize Stripe's payment processing services. Stripe's open API is one of its most desirable features for these large enterprises and other online businesses. 

Developers can utilize this feature to create a tailor-made system that is compatible with Stripe's payment processing. This means that your payment options are limited only by your coding abilities and imagination. These are some of the reasons why Stripe is primarily used by prominent online businesses.

Like any other payment processor, Stripe allows you to accept major credit and debit cards from your customers. Additionally, Stripe offers various preferred local payment options in 34 countries worldwide. You may also add customized options to accept ACH payments.

As you use Stripe, you'll have access to numerous services to help you securely process payments. These include recurring billing, installation support, invoicing, and more.

How much does Stripe charge per transaction?

Stripe's payment processing fees are competitive compared to other similar services like Square. Stripe uses a flat-rate billing structure and a pay-as-you-go model. This means that Stripe deducts its fees directly from your customer's payment before depositing the remainder into your bank account. There are no monthly subscription fees for using Stripe. Here's the pricing structure for Stripe:

• Online payments: 3.4% + $0.30 per transaction
• Face-to-face payments: 2.7% + $0.10 per transaction
• ACH transfers: 0.8% per ACH transfer

Is Stripe safe to use for your business?

Yes, Stripe is a safe payment processor to use. Stripe employs advanced security measures to protect its users and their data. 

To meet the rules for PCI compliance, payment providers must handle and store data in a secure manner. Stripe encrypts data using its gateway, which means that as soon as your customer enters their credit card number into your payment form, it is immediately scrambled before being sent to the relevant banks. This ensures that hackers cannot intercept and access sensitive data. In addition, if your customer chooses to save their payment information for future use, that data is also encrypted and handled securely.

Stripe has implemented various security features to ensure that payment transactions are safe and secure. Some of the features offered by Stripe for security include Address Verification Service (AVS), which verifies that the billing address provided matches the one associated with the card, and CVV/CVV2 verification, which confirms that the CVV code entered matches the one displayed on the card. Furthermore, all checkout windows have HTTPS (SSL security certificate), ensuring that both the transaction data and page are secure. Stripe also conducts regular self-audits to maintain a high level of security.

To prevent fraud, Stripe has integrated tools that detect and alert suspicious transactions. If you desire a higher level of fraud prevention, you can opt for Stripe's advanced fraud prevention tool, Radar. This feature is offered for free to standard Stripe accounts.

What are the pros and cons of Stripe?

Pros:

• Easy to use: Stripe's interface is user-friendly, making it easy for businesses to get started with processing payments.
• Wide range of payment options: Stripe supports a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers.
• Global support: Stripe operates in over 40 countries and supports over 135 currencies, making it an ideal payment processor for businesses with a global reach.
• Customizable: Stripe's API allows businesses to customize payment processing to suit their unique needs.
• Advanced fraud prevention: Stripe has built-in tools to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions, and its advanced fraud prevention tool, Radar, is available for free to standard accounts.
• Transparent pricing: Stripe uses a simple, transparent pricing structure with no hidden fees.

Cons:

• Limited in-person payment options: Stripe's focus is on online payments, so it may not be the best choice for businesses that require in-person payment options.
• High fees for international transactions: While Stripe's fees are competitive for domestic transactions, its fees for international transactions can be higher than other payment processors.
• Account stability issues: Some businesses have reported account freezes or suspensions due to Stripe's fraud prevention measures, causing payment processing disruptions.
• Limited customer support: Stripe's customer support is primarily email-based, which can be frustrating for businesses that need immediate assistance.
• No chargeback protection: Stripe does not provide automatic chargeback protection, leaving businesses vulnerable to financial loss in the event of a disputed transaction.

After considering the advantages and disadvantages of Stripe, the key question is whether it is a suitable option for your business. If you are an online business seeking to create a customized shopping cart, checkout process, or software application for your eCommerce venture, then Stripe could be a viable choice for you. However, if you’re looking for a better option, the DNBCnet app is the best alternative choice for Stripe.

The DNBCnet App is a highly-rated application for transferring funds internationally, offering swift and safe transactions. With this app, users can send money to over 200 countries at reasonable rates and competitive currency exchange prices. The DNBCnet App has been developed to be easy to use and uncomplicated, making it simple to send and receive money through its straightforward interface. 

Additionally, the app provides customer support around the clock to assist with any questions or problems that may arise. Some of the advantages of using the DNBCnet App include attractive exchange rates, low fees for transactions, secure and quick transfers, an intuitive interface, and 24/7 customer service.

About DNBC Financial Group

DNBC Financial Group aims to make global financial transactions easier for its clients. The company has experienced significant growth as it helps businesses and individuals reduce costs associated with international shipping and spending, receive payments from foreign clients, transfer funds between international branches, and manage the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations.