MarketPlace Payment Solutions allow platforms to offer MarketPlace participants the ability to accept payments without the need for their own merchant account.
Participants can quickly and easily enroll in the MarketPlace and begin accepting payments for their goods or services. The MarketPlace Payment Platform becomes the Merchant of Record.
There are six major functional components to a marketplace relative to payments and payments monetization. MarketPlace Payment Solutions need to address all 5.
1-Easily create a merchant account when onboarding a new seller to the marketplace
2-Take a percentage of each transaction as a fee while the transaction is occurring
3-Accept payments in the marketplace any way possible but mostly via credit cards or Push Payments
4-Pay out to sellers, once the money has been collected and the marketplace has taken its share, via ACH/bank transfer (cost savings) or Instant Payouts For MarkePlace Platforms
5-Provide reporting tools for marketplace sellers
6-A simple non-obtrusive way to for the platform to monetize payments
MarketPlace Payment FAQ's
1-How do MarketPlace Payments Work
Let's use Etsy as an example. Etsy offers artists, makers and entrepreneurs an easy way to sell their products. Etsy provides a platform that enable users to easily display their goods for sale. So a jewelry maker would upload photos of their creations, set pricing and shipping info and of course collect payment.
Traditionally accepting payments would mean each Etsy user would apply for their own merchant account. This traditional need creates friction for Etsy clients. Many are unfamiliar with merchant accounts and the process of applying and providing supporting documentation is more hassle than having the platform is worth.
Etsy and many other providers [PayPal was first] realized that if they could make payment sign up simple there would be much higher adoption rates. To that end Etsy has a MarketPlace Payment Solution.
This means that Suzy Jones of ABC Jewelry selling handmade earrings can sign up with Etsy, provide some basic information [including bank account] and almost immediately be approved for accepting credit card payments.
For every sale Suzy makes Etsy is acting as the Merchant of Record [MOR]. What does that mean?
- Etsy has the master merchant account. Etsy decides on when Suzy gets funded and VERY importantly “Etsy” appears on the customer’s credit card statement–not “ABC Jewelry”
- Etsy ultimately deals with chargebacks or customer credit card disputes. Etsy terms of service will clearly spell out they get to debit ABC’s bank account to recoup monies already paid out to ABC
- Etsy funds the sale price less their typical 3.5% payment fees
2-How can I add a MarketPlace Payment Solution?
It is important to understand that MarketPlaces are viewed as higher risk than a traditional single-location merchant.
Fraud is a major concern as a bad actor on your platform could potentially charge customers and not fulfill the order, resulting in chargebacks and potential $ loss.
This and additional fraud/compliance concerns ultimately mean that the MarketPlace platform is carefully vetted to ensure that fraud and reputational risks are mitigated.
3-What types of MarketPlace are good fits to easily monetize payments?
For reasons mentioned above the best fits are:
a-Physical goods: A jewelry platform or a PoshMark eg
b-Services like a plumber or landscaper
Platforms selling digital goods or offering a wide variety of services/products are unlikely to be approved. Stripe may be an option.