With the eCommerce market share touching trillions, and billions of people turning to the internet for shopping, accepting credit cards in your stores is necessary.
However, WooCommerce does not have a built-in solution for this problem. Which means you will have to integrate payment gateways, extensions, or plugins for it to work.
In this article, you will learn how you can accept credit card payments in WooCommerce with WC Shop Sync with a step-by-step guide. And finally, offer tips to ensure a smooth and secure checkout experience for your customers.
Why Accept Credit Card Payments in WooCommerce?
You may think enabling debit card payments is ample, and credit cards may be unnecessary. But that’s simply not enough. Back in 2021, in the U.S., 190.6 million of the 253.8 million adults had credit cards, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s biennial report on the market. And the number has greatly risen ever since.
Here’s why you can not neglect accepting credit card payments in WooCommerce:
- Wider customer reach. Many customers prefer using credit cards for online purchases due to rewards, cashback, and flexible payment options. By not supporting credit cards, you’re potentially excluding a large portion of your audience.
- Higher average order value. Studies have shown that customers spend more when using credit cards than debit cards or digital wallets. Accepting credit cards can directly boost your store’s revenue.
- Builds trust and credibility. Offering secure and familiar payment methods like Visa and MasterCard increases consumer confidence and reduces cart abandonment.
- Improves conversion rates. Credit card payments are quick, reliable, and universally accepted. Providing this option at checkout reduces friction, leading to more completed purchases.
- Essential for international sales. If you sell internationally, credit cards are often the preferred payment method in many countries. Supporting them ensures smooth global transactions.
Choosing the Right Payment Gateway
Earlier, we learned that accepting credit card payments in WooCommerce without a payment gateway is not possible. Therefore, it is imperative to choose the right payment gateway that does not have hidden charges and is transparent in its charges.
Usually, we have three popular options, including:
Stripe
Stripe is a developer-friendly gateway that supports a wide range of currencies and payment methods. It’s widely used due to its flexibility and ease of integration. However, it can be overwhelming for beginners, and certain advanced features may require custom development.
PayPal
A globally recognized brand, PayPal allows customers to pay via their PayPal balance or linked credit cards. It’s trusted and convenient, but it often redirects customers away from your site, which can hurt conversions. Additionally, fees can add up, especially for international transactions.
Square —Best Choice!
Square is a fast-growing payment gateway known for its transparent pricing, ease of use, and excellent integration with both online and in-person sales. Ideal if you’re also running a physical store alongside WooCommerce.
However, you must note that choosing a payment gateway goes beyond just its transparent pricing. Here is why and how we chose Square:
Factors To Consider Before Choosing a Payment Gateway
First and foremost, the pricing should not come with surprises. And Square definitely checks this box. Square offers a simple, flat-rate fee structure with no monthly fees or hidden costs. This transparency is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to manage finances effectively.
Secondly, the gateway should be easy to set up and beginner-friendly. Compared to most other technical gateways, Square is incredibly beginner-friendly. You can accept credit card payments in just a few steps without dealing with complex configurations. Especially, with WC Shop Sync, you can get the ball rolling in no time!
Thirdly, the gateway should be suitable for businesses offering both online and brick-and-mortar shops. And Square checks this box as well, as it allows you to unify your payment processing, customer data, and sales reports in one ecosystem, making it relatively easier to run your business.
4 Easy Steps to Set Up Credit Card Payments in WooCommerce
Now that you understand why to accept credit card payments in WooCommerce and how to choose the best payment gateway for your store, let’s jump into the solution.
Please note that we will be using WC Shop Sync for this article. It is a widely known plugin for connecting Square with a WooCommerce store, enabling you to accept credit cards, plus many other payment options, such as Apple Pay, AfterPay, Google Pay (GPay), Cash App, and ACH Debit.
Step #1. Install and Activate WC Shop Sync
First and foremost, download and install the WC Shop Sync plugin.
Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, go to the Plugins ⇒ Add New Plugin ⇒ search “WC Shop Sync” using the “Search Plugins” search box.
Once the plugin is installed, click Activate.
Afterwards, an additional tab will appear on your WordPress dashboard.
Step #2: Connect With Square
Enter the WC Shop Sync’s settings, and here is how it should look.
Using the Connect with Square button, initiate the connection process.
Once you click the button, you will be redirected to the Square login screen.
Using your login credentials here, log in to your profile.
That will take you back to the WC Shop Sync screen but now, you will see the “THUMBS UP! You have done it” message.
That indicates a proper connection with WooCommerce, and now, your store is ready to accept credit card payments!
Step #3: Enable Square
After a successful connection, access the Plugin Module using the navigation bar…
Or use the “Access your Module” and get to the Addons page.
This is how the page looks.
Enable the Square Payment Gateway using the toggle button.
Once you switch it on, a subtab named Payment Settings will appear under the WC Shop Sync Settings.
Head inside, and you will see a screen just like this:
Here, check the Enable Square checkbox and add a title and a description that customers will see on the checkout. You can add something enticing here or just go with something generic like “Pay with Credit Card.”
After tweaking the settings, save progress using the “Save Changes” button.
You have done it! Now you are free to go and test it at the checkout.
Step #4: Test Payments
Before enabling credit card payments in WooCommerce, it is recommended that you test payments by switching to the Sandbox test account. This account is intended for testing purposes, enabling you to test credit cards or other digital wallets and find potential errors to prevent your audience from encountering them.
To do so, use the underlined seller test account, which will take you to the Square login screen.
After successful login, you will be redirected to the Sandbox test accounts.
Create a new Sandbox test account if you do not have one already.
Select Square Dashboard.
Let this tab rest. Using another tab, go to WC Shop Sync settings and click the Connect with Square button.
Square will ask for the necessary permissions. Click Allow.
Click the “THAT’S MY SITE – REDIRECT ME” button.
THUMBS UP! There you go.
You can now easily test payments to find potential errors before your audience runs into them.
WC Shop Sync | Comprehensive Solution For WooCommerce Stores
WC Shop Sync offers much more than just credit card payments. Earlier, while accessing the module, you can see a bunch of other helpful features, including product synchronization, product logs, and much more.
Although the free WC Shop Sync offers ample synchronization features, upgrading to Plus can enhance it further. Enabling you to sync orders, customers, and more.
Considering the simple interface, easy navigation, affordability, and reliability, WC Shop Sync is an ideal choice for businesses running both eCommerce and brick-and-mortar stores.
So, what are you waiting for? Download WC Shop Sync now and accept credit card payments easily!