How To Use Paypal: In 10 Steps, With Photos

Online payment platforms are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to advancements in technology. These days, you can safely send and receive money online from any part of the world. Businesses also leverage digital payment platforms to expand their market worldwide and provide customers with a secure and efficient way to buy goods and services. PayPal is a popular digital payment platform that millions of people use worldwide. If you are a beginner wondering how to use PayPal for your daily transactions, this guide will simplify it for you. We will walk you through 10 easy steps with accompanying photos to help you understand how to use PayPal, from setting up an account to sending and receiving money.

Here are 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Go to the PayPal website and click Sign Up

To get started with PayPal, you must first create an account. The PayPal home page provides a sign up button for new users to create an account. Click the sign up button and continue to the next step.

Step 2: Choose the type of account you want to create

Paypal provides two types of accounts, business and personal accounts. If you want to purchase goods online or send money to friends and family, a personal account is what you need. However, a business account is the best choice if you accept payments from clients and customers and send invoices for payment. It will help you track your income and keep a record of your invoices. Click on the button beside the personal account if you want a personal account or the one beside the business account if you want a business account. Click ‘Continue’ to move to the next step.

Step 3: Fill in your name and email address and create a password

You must type your legal name on this page, beginning with the first and then the last name, as shown in the fields below. It has to be your legal name because you will be asked personal questions to verify your identity. You must also type in your email address and then the password. Ensure you provide a strong and unique password to secure your account. Press next to move to the next step. 

Step 4: Complete the address details

Here, Paypal asks you to fill in the details of your address, including:

• Nationality
• Date of Birth
• Identity Number
• Billing address
• City/Town
• Code

After accurately filling in all the details, click the button at the bottom to show you have read and agreed to the user agreement. Do not tick the top box if you have doubts about your computer’s security or if someone else could access your account. It should only be selected if you are using your computer in a secure environment where there is no possibility of unauthorized access to your account. Once you have filled in the address details and consented to the user agreement, click Agree and Create Account.

Step 5: Link a card

Paypal will ask you to link a debit or credit card. You’ll need to enter the card number, the expiry date, and the security code in the space provided. The security code is a three-digit number unique to your card and is located at the back. When you link your card, funds will be debited from that account when shopping online. 

Step 6: Navigating through the PayPal dashboard

Now that you have your account ready, you can begin to use it. Inside the PayPal dashboard, you will notice the PayPal balance on the left. Since it’s a new account, the balance will read zero.

To add funds to your PayPal account,

Select ‘Transfer Funds’ to link your bank.

Below is ‘Recent Activity,’ which gives all the details of your recent transactions.

On the right side of your dashboard, you will see the send and request money options. Below it is a ‘More,’ which allows you to :

• Get the PayPal app.
• Create an invoice.
• Create an estimate.
• Go to the ‘Resolution center.’

The resolution center allows you to raise any dispute on your transaction. Paypal helps you resolve any disputes that may arise during your transactions.

If you used PayPal to make a purchase and received an incorrect item, you can request a refund through the resolution center as an option.

Step 7: Sending money via PayPal

To send money, Click ‘Send’ and then enter the receiver’s username, mobile number, or email address in the fields provided. Email is the most commonly used method. Ensure you use the email associated with the receiver’s PayPal account.

Click ‘Next,’ then add the amount and currency.

There’s an option that allows you to provide a note or description. For instance, you can say, “A token for your birthday.”

Click ‘Continue.’

You’ll now need to choose your preferred payment option.

Step 8:  Navigating around your PayPal wallet

Click on ‘Wallet’ at the top of the screen to access the following options.

• Link your bank account by selecting ‘Link a bank account.’
• Link your preferred card by clicking ‘Link a card.’
• Check your PayPal balance
• View the cards currently linked to your PayPal account
• Withdraw funds into your bank account by clicking ‘Transfer funds’

Step 9: How to request money

PayPal is widely regarded as one of the top payment gateways for receiving payments. To receive payments via PayPal, follow these steps: 

• Go to your dashboard and click on ‘Request.’
• Enter the email address associated with the recipient’s PayPal account.
• Click ‘Next.’
• Add the amount you wish to receive.
• Choose the currency you prefer to receive the payment in.
• You can add a note or add another person to receive the payment.
• Click ‘Request a Payment’ to complete the process.

Step 10: How to create an invoice within PayPal

A seller provides an invoice to the buyer to collect payment. This document outlines the total cost of the products purchased or services rendered by the seller. 

To create an invoice in PayPal,  

Click More’ next to ‘Request’ on your dashboard.

• Select ‘Create an invoice.’
• Fill out the necessary details for the invoice on the following page.
• Optionally, choose a template from the drop-down menu if desired.
• You can also select the currency for the invoice next to ‘template.’
• You can add a logo to your invoice on the page’s right side.
• Once you have completed the invoice, save it as a draft, preview it, or send it to the recipient.
• By clicking the drop-down next to ‘Send,’ you can save the invoice as a template for future use or create a link to share directly with your clients.

Conclusion

Paypal is a widely accepted digital payment platform in many businesses. Individuals can also send and receive money from each other with just simple clicks. The good thing about this platform is that it is fast, safe, and efficient. It also accepts different currencies, so no matter where you are in the world, you can transact in your native currency at fair transaction costs. You can shop online, accept payments, transfer funds, create invoices, and more. If you are starting on PayPal, the steps in this post will quickly guide you through setting up and navigating your account within no time.