Choosing a payment provider that supports online course
Online course is a specialist category. Mainstream processors such as Stripe, and Shopify Payments which runs on Stripe, restrict or review it more closely under their terms, so many UK online course businesses take card payments through a specialist provider instead.
A specialist provider looks at your business on its own facts, with experienced people deciding rather than an automated score. eCom Pay works with online course businesses, and approved accounts get next working day settlement with no rolling reserve.
How to start taking card payments, step by step
- Decide where customers will pay. Your website checkout, a payment link, the phone, or in person. Most online course businesses need two or more.
- Choose a provider that supports your business. Check the provider accepts online course before you build around it. Applying to one that restricts your sector costs time.
- Get your website reviewed before you apply. Our payments team will look at your site in the context of what you sell, for free, and tell you what, if anything, your business needs to change. See the payments ready website review.
- Have your documents ready. Having them to hand is what keeps approval fast. The list below covers what most businesses are asked for.
- Connect and test. The gateway is connected to your Courses or Memberships checkout, a test payment runs end to end, then you go live.
Payment methods online course customers expect
Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay are the baseline. Beyond that it depends how your customers buy.
- Courses. Connected to eCom Pay, settled to you next working day.
- Memberships. Connected to eCom Pay, settled to you next working day.
- Payment plans. Connected to eCom Pay, settled to you next working day.
- Pay by Link. A secure payment link sent by text or email, ideal for deposits, quotes and phone orders.
- Recurring payments. Memberships, subscriptions and instalments billed automatically with eCom Pay recurring payments.
Documents to have ready
Most businesses are asked for the same core documents. Having them ready is the single biggest thing you can do to speed up approval.
- Your company registration details, or sole trader details
- Photo ID and proof of address for each director or owner
- Business bank account details for settlement
- Recent card processing statements, if you already take card payments
Your business may need more than this, and every business is looked at individually. We tell you exactly what your business needs when you apply, so nothing is a surprise. Approved and taking payments in 24 hours* once we have your documents.
Website and payments from one team
eCom Pro has built ecommerce websites since 2007 and eCom Pay has handled payments since 2010. We build online course websites with card payments built in, checked by our payments team before launch. The website is free for ecommerce businesses processing £5k a month or more through eCom Pay, and pay monthly from £50 a month plus VAT below that.
Already have a website? Keep it and have card payments built into your existing site, or read more about specialist payments on eCom Pay.
*Approval time depends on how quickly we receive your documents.
