Online payments: how to choose a provider
What to compare between payment providers, and the questions to ask before signing anything
Choosing a payment provider is a decision you live with for years: it sets not only the commission but the settlement times, the refund process, and who your fiscalisation runs through. Wlaunch integrates with several, so technically any of them will connect; the difference is in the terms, not in whether it is possible.
This article names no commission rates and no settlement times. They change, they depend on turnover and activity, and they are negotiated individually, so any figure here would be out of date faster than you could read it. What follows is the list of things to ask, including the ones people forget.
What online payment actually buys you
Three different things, and it is worth knowing which one you need:
- A deposit at booking, which holds the client and cuts no-shows.
- Payment in full up front, for services whose time you cannot resell.
- Card payment on the spot, which is convenience, not protection against a no-show.
If you only need the third, an ordinary card terminal is enough. The first two require online payment tied to the appointment.
Seven questions for a provider
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the commission and what does it depend on? | It often differs by card type and by turnover band |
| When do funds reach the account? | This affects your daily till reconciliation, not just cash flow |
| How are refunds processed and how long do they take? | Cancelling an appointment with a refund is routine, not an exception |
| Is the commission retained on a refund? | If yes, every cancellation costs you money |
| Is fiscalisation supported, and how? | This decides who your fiscal service runs through |
| What documents are needed to connect? | Your launch timeline depends on exactly this |
| What about international cards? | Critical if you have clients from abroad |
The commission-on-refund question is the one most often skipped, and remembered after the first month of cancellations.
Do not leave fiscalisation until later
In a service business the provider choice and the fiscal receipt question are linked: in Wlaunch, fiscalisation is connected through the payment provider. So settle it before signing rather than after, or you may find the provider is chosen and the fiscal service has to be sourced separately.
The order of connection
1 Choose a provider and register with them
Registration, paperwork and verification all happen on their side.
2 Connect them to Wlaunch
After this, payment becomes part of the booking rather than a separate action for your staff.
3 Configure the payment rules
This is where you decide who and which services must pay, and for whom it stays optional.
4 Run a test payment and a test refund
The refund is the one people rarely test, and learn the quirks of at the worst possible moment.
What the system can do besides a card
Online payment is not the only way to settle an appointment. When one is created, the system checks price and discounts, then a membership or certificate, then the client balance, and only then offers payment. For regulars a balance is often more convenient than a card at every visit.
Common questions
Can several providers be connected at once?
The question is organizational rather than technical: several providers mean several reconciliations and several accounts to check every day.
Do I need online payment if I already have a card terminal?
No. But a terminal does not protect you against a no-show, because it only works once the client has turned up.
What happens if a client does not pay in time?
If payment is mandatory, the appointment moves to Cancelled automatically and the slot is freed.
Can I refund partially?
That is the provider's decision, not Wlaunch's. Worth asking before you connect.