Nearly everyone who buys or sells online has a PayPal account. Most PayPal users have a standard PayPal Personal account and use it to pay for online purchases or transfer funds to friends and family.
*Updated 9/26/2024
PayPal is also useful for business owners who deal with a great number of transactions for ecommerce products. So which one is best? PayPal Business or Personal?
Shortcuts:
- Difference Between PayPal Business and PayPal Personal
- PayPal Business Account Features
- Step-by-Step Guide for Creating a PayPal Business Account
- Which PayPal Account Is Best For Me?
- FAQ: PayPal Business vs Personal
Source: PayPal
While small-time entrepreneurs can get away with using PayPal Personal to receive payments, bigger businesses greatly benefit from a PayPal Business account.
It allows payment integration (like with our PayPal Button Generator), flexible payment options, finance management, and more.
So what exactly are the differences between the two types of PayPal accounts—and which one should you choose for your business?
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Difference Between PayPal Business and PayPal Personal
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PayPal Business
Source: PayPal Business
PayPal Business is a step up from PayPal personal, designed to cater to small and medium businesses that process multiple payments. If you’re wondering, “does PayPal business cost money?” know that it does.
Transactions incur a small fee, and if you want full access to the platform’s wealth of features, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan.
That said, if you’re gunning for the most seamless transaction experience for both you and your customers, the price is well worth it.
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PayPal Personal
Source: PayPal Personal
PayPal Personal is the account most people have on the platform. It’s what they use for personal payments, sending and receiving money between family and friends, and for online shopping and other online transactions.
With PayPal Personal, you can link your bank account for easy transfers and connect your credit or debit cards. This way, it can automatically fill in your details when you buy from shops that support PayPal payments.
Small business owners, freelancers, or casual sellers (like small-batch entrepreneurs or artists) can also use PayPal Personal to accept payments from customers or clients.
However, since you’d be using a personal account that includes your personal details, this could have privacy implications.
Additionally, using PayPal Personal for business limits the payment options you can offer and incurs a fee for credit and debit card transactions, so it's best you apply for a business credit card that gives you the most flexibility.
PayPal Business Account Features
PayPal Business accounts offer solutions tailored for small businesses, allowing easy management of recurring payments, invoicing, and cross-border transactions.
With tools like PayPal Business Debit Cards, you can also access instant funds from sales and earn cashback on purchases.
PayPal Business offers the same services as PayPal Personal accounts, but it’s packed with much more powerful features, including:
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Payment Integration
Businesses can integrate the PayPal payment system into their e-commerce shops. With a designated PayPal button, customers can complete transactions, whether via PayPal, debit, or credit card, in just a few clicks.
If the business also has a brick-and-mortar shop, it can integrate the same platform into its point-of-sale (POS) system.
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Flexible Payment Options
PayPal is available in over 200 markets online, and with a PayPal Business account, merchants can accept payments in a wide variety of international currencies.
Customers can use PayPal to pay via a number of payment options, even if they don’t have a PayPal account. They can also pay for several shipments in a single transaction.
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Finance Management
PayPal Business is more than just a bulked-up payment processing method.
It also comes with a suite of finance management features, helping business owners to easily keep track of payments and perform basic bookkeeping, oversee inventory, view marketing insights, and more.
For even more robust invoicing and expense tracking, consider a third-party application like Zintego Invoice Template to request payment for your product/services and monitor incoming sums.
If the included tools aren’t enough for you, feel free to use a third-party invoice app to request payment for your product/ services and monitor incoming sums.
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Account Sharing
Up to 200 people can access a single PayPal Business account. This is helpful for large businesses that require multiple people to monitor transactions at the same time.
Account owners can provide unique logins and levels of access to relevant employees for an added layer of security.
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Subscription Services
PayPal Business allows businesses to set up subscription services. This enables customers to conveniently pay for services in recurring bills instead of all in one go.
Step-by-Step Guide for Creating a PayPal Business Account
To sign up for a PayPal Business account:
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- Go to the PayPal sign-up page
- Select Business Account
- Click 'Get Started'
- Provide first name, last name, email, and select a password After reading the
- After reading the PayPal's User Agreement, Privacy Statement and E-Sign Disclosure, and you consent to receive all communications electronically.
- Click "Agree and Create Account'
- Set up your payment preferences, and you're ready to start accepting payments.
Which PayPal Account is Best For Me?
Choosing between PayPal Personal and PayPal Business depends on the size of your business and its specific needs.
For small businesses, freelancers, and casual sellers, the features of PayPal Personal may suffice for receiving payments.
But for businesses that transact with many customers in several currencies, upgrading to a PayPal Business account allows for more seamless transactions and makes finance management much simpler.
With a PayPal payment button from POWR integrated into your site, you make the checkout process more effortless with multiple payment options.
This can give your customers a better shopping experience, leading to more completed transactions and helping you generate more sales.
The additional features that come with PayPal Business also make managing orders, numbers, and insights much easier, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture and scaling up your ecommerce business.
Regardless of which PayPal account you choose, just be mindful when making PayPal payments, as identity theft and fraudulent debt are often tied to such transactions.
FAQ: PayPal Business vs Personal
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What is the difference between PayPal personal and business accounts?
PayPal personal accounts are designed for individual use, while business accounts offer features for businesses like invoicing, multiple user access, and customer service options. Business accounts also allow you to accept payments under your business name, providing more professionalism to customers.
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How do I create a PayPal business account?
To create a business account, go to PayPal’s sign-up page, choose 'Business Account,' and provide your business information. Make sure to link your bank account or credit card to start receiving payments securely and track your transactions.
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Is a PayPal business account free?
A PayPal business account is free to set up, but transaction fees apply when receiving payments. There are no monthly fees for standard features, but advanced options like recurring billing or website integration may come with additional costs.
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What is the PayPal Business transfer limit?
PayPal business accounts may have higher transfer limits than personal accounts, depending on account verification. Verified accounts generally have access to larger transactions, ensuring smoother operations for businesses handling frequent or large payments.
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Can I have more than one PayPal account?
Yes, you can have both a personal and business account. Each account must be linked to a different email address, and PayPal allows users to switch between accounts based on their personal or business needs.
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What are the benefits of a PayPal business credit card?
The PayPal Business credit card allows businesses to manage their finances with perks like cashback and business-oriented rewards. It also offers flexible payment options, which can be beneficial for managing cash flow or making large purchases for your business.
About the author:
Mick Essex is the Head of Growth + Partnerships at POWR. POWR makes no-code apps and plugins for e-commerce shop owners globally.
Mick's career spans two decades, primarily in growth marketing and advertising with stints in broadcast television, healthcare marketing, and copy editing.
Mick attended the College of Journalism at the University of Louisiana - Monroe. His wife Elizabeth, son Gavin, and pup Jolene call Lafayette, Louisiana, their home.
