Collections · 11 min read · Updated:
Ways to accept online payments: how a small business in Türkiye takes card payments online
Your customer doesn't need to visit a branch or copy an IBAN to pay you. There are several ways to take payments online; which one suits you depends on what you sell and who your customers are.
In short
- The main ways to accept payments online are payment links, a payment page on your website (virtual POS), an online shop, a marketplace and bank transfer (havale/EFT).
- To accept credit card payments online you need a virtual POS agreement with a bank, or a merchant agreement with a payment institution licensed under Law No. 6493.
- The cost of online card payments is made up of the transaction commission, the time until funds reach your account, instalment charges and the refund and chargeback process.
- For businesses that sell services and issue invoices, a payment link usually fits better; for those selling products, an online shop checkout with a basket.
- Never ask for card details over WhatsApp, email or phone; card details should only be entered in the payment institution's secure, 3-D Secure-enabled form.
You've delivered the work and sent the invoice. The customer is ready to pay but asks "could you send the IBAN again", or wants to pay by card and you don't know how to offer that. The more hassle a payment is, the later the money arrives.
There are several ways to accept payments online: a payment link, a payment page on your site, an online shop, a marketplace and bank transfer. Each differs in setup, cost and the kind of business it suits.
In this article we compare the ways to take payments online, explain what you need to accept credit card payments and list what to know about costs and security. For the detailed setup of a payment link see what is a payment link, and for how a virtual POS works see what is a virtual POS.
Part 1 · Options What are the ways to accept online payments?
Accepting online payments means the customer pays by card or bank transfer without meeting you face to face. The main routes small businesses use are:
| Route | How it works | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Payment link | A link is created for a set amount; the customer opens it and pays by card | Service sellers, businesses that invoice, those selling by phone or WhatsApp |
| Payment page on your site | The customer pays on your site through a connected virtual POS | Those selling fixed-price services or packages |
| Online shop | The customer adds products to a basket and pays by card, transfer or cash on delivery | Businesses selling products |
| Marketplace | The sale happens on the marketplace; it collects the payment and passes it to you | Those who want to reach a wide audience without their own site |
| Bank transfer (havale / EFT) | The customer sends money to your IBAN from their banking app | Large B2B payments; no commission, but matching work is needed |
With bank transfers the money arrives quickly and there's no commission, but the customer has to copy the IBAN, type the amount and add the invoice number to the description; when one of these steps is skipped, matching the payment to the invoice is left to you. With a card payment the customer presses one button and the payment is linked straight to the invoice. Most of these routes are used together. For example, a business can take transfers from corporate customers and card payments by payment link from individuals. The real question is which route your customer finds easiest.
Part 2 · Infrastructure What do you need to accept credit card payments?
Both a payment link and a payment page on your site rely on a payment infrastructure behind them. It's this infrastructure that verifies the card, takes the money and passes it to you. In Türkiye there are two options.
- A bank's virtual POS: You sign a virtual POS agreement with your bank. The bank assesses your application, your business and your website.
- A licensed payment institution: You sign a merchant agreement with a payment service provider. Applications are usually online and faster; with one agreement you accept cards from different banks.
Applications usually ask for your tax certificate, ID and signature documents, the company's bank account and details of the website or business you'll sell through. The documents required vary by institution and company type.
What your website is expected to have
- Contact details such as company name, address, phone and email
- A clear description and price of the product or service sold
- If you sell products online, a distance sales contract and pre-contract information text
- Return, cancellation and delivery terms
- A privacy notice on the protection of personal data
- A secure connection (https) on the payment page
Part 3 · Cost What does accepting online payments cost?
Bank transfers usually reach you free of charge, but you take on the job of working out which payment belongs to which invoice. Card payments have direct costs. When comparing offers, don't look only at the commission rate.
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Transaction commission | A percentage or fixed fee deducted from each successful payment |
| Time to your account | How long it takes for the money to reach your bank account; a shorter time usually comes with a higher commission |
| Instalment charge | The extra cost on instalment sales; it can be passed to the customer or absorbed by you |
| Setup and fixed fees | Some agreements include application, yearly or monthly fees |
| Refunds and chargebacks | Payments the customer disputes with their bank can be reversed; this takes time and sometimes a fee |
Example: an education consultant sells monthly packages by payment link. If the customer pays in one go, the money reaches the account within a few days; if they choose instalments, the instalment charge is passed to the customer. The consultant has built the commission into the price and tracks payments against invoices. When applying this to your business, go by the rates and timings in your own agreement. Think ahead about how you'll reflect the commission in your prices. Commission is an expense; don't forget to record the commission invoice from the payment institution as an expense.
Part 4 · Choosing Which online payment route suits my business?
The right route depends on what you sell and how your customers buy. The examples below give a general direction.
- If you invoice and sell services (consulting, design, maintenance, training): a payment link. You offer card payment alongside the invoice; the customer doesn't have to type the amount.
- If you sell products: an online shop with a basket. The customer picks the product and pays, and the order lands with you.
- If you want to sell products to a wide audience but don't want to run a site: a marketplace. The commission is higher, but the traffic is already there.
- If you make large corporate sales: bank transfer is usually enough; you can offer card payment as an extra convenience.
- If you sell by phone or WhatsApp: a payment link. Instead of taking card details over the phone, you send a link.
- Invoice — Issued and sent
- Pay by card — Customer opens the link
- 3-D Secure — Bank approval
- Payment — Recorded on the invoice
- Your account — Funds transferred
Part 5 · Product How do you accept online payments with Heyşirket?
In the Heyşirket company panel, online payments work in two places: for collecting invoices you issue in pre-accounting, and in the shop on your website.
Card payment for invoices: the payment link
In pre-accounting you connect your own iyzico account on the Ayarlar › Tahsilat (kartla ödeme) (Settings › Collections, card payment) screen. From then on, the invoice email to your customer shows a Kartla öde (Pay by card) button. From the invoice detail you can also create a link with Ödeme linki oluştur (Create payment link) and send it by WhatsApp or SMS; each link is valid for 60 days. When the payment is approved, it's recorded against the invoice and the invoice is marked paid. The money goes straight to your iyzico account, not to Heyşirket.
Payments in the shop
If you've opened a shop on your website, you choose payment methods in the Ödeme yöntemleri (Payment methods) step of the shop settings: card payment (Heyşirket's iyzico infrastructure, your own iyzico account, or PayTR), bank transfer, and cash on delivery. Card payments use 3-D Secure, and the order can be invoiced in pre-accounting. For setting up the shop see starting e-commerce, and for step-by-step help in the panel Help › Setting up the shop.
Matching bank transfers
For payments that arrive by bank transfer, you can upload your bank statement as Excel or CSV and match the transactions to invoices. A live bank connection (open banking) is coming soon. To record a payment manually, see the how to record a payment guide.
Pre-accounting and the shop are in the Profesyonel and Premium packages; they aren't in the Başlangıç package. A summary of the feature is on the virtual POS integration page.
Part 6 · Security How do you keep online payments secure?
Because of fraud with fake payment links, customers are rightly cautious. Building trust protects both you and your customer.
Secure payment rules
- Never ask for the card number, expiry date or security code over WhatsApp, email or phone.
- Card details should only be entered in the payment institution's secure form, with the transaction approved by the cardholder's bank through 3-D Secure.
- The payment page should clearly show your company name, the amount and what is being paid for.
- Send the payment link through a channel the customer knows, from your own number or email address.
- Log in to your payment institution panel with two-step verification and never share your API keys.
- If you see a suspicious payment or dispute, talk to the payment institution before shipping the goods.
Making payment easy is half the job. The other half is terms, reminders and follow-up; for that see speeding up receivables collection.
Do I need to set up a company to accept online payments?
Payment institutions and banks usually sign merchant agreements with businesses registered for tax; a sole proprietorship can be enough for this. Ask the institution you want to work with which documents it requires, and your mali müşavir about your tax situation.
Can I accept payments online without a virtual POS?
Card payments always need a payment infrastructure; that can be a bank's virtual POS or a licensed payment institution. For payments by bank transfer you don't need a virtual POS, just an IBAN.
What's the commission on credit card payments?
Commission depends on the bank or payment institution you agree with, how quickly funds reach your account, instalment options and your transaction volume. When comparing offers, look at fixed fees and payout time as well as commission.
What's the difference between a payment link and a virtual POS?
A virtual POS is the infrastructure that lets you accept card payments online. A payment link is a link created for a set amount that uses this infrastructure. The customer opens the link and pays by card; a virtual POS or payment institution still works behind it.
How do I take card payments for invoices in Heyşirket?
In pre-accounting you connect your own iyzico account on the Settings › Collections (card payment) screen. Invoice emails then show a Pay by card button, and you can create a payment link valid for 60 days from the invoice detail. When the payment arrives, it's recorded against the invoice automatically.
What happens if a customer disputes a card payment?
If the cardholder disputes with their bank, the payment institution asks you for the transaction documents; if the dispute is upheld, the amount can be reversed. Keeping the invoice, the delivery record and your messages with the customer makes this process easier.
Add card payment to your invoices Connect your iyzico account; every invoice email gets a Pay by card button, and payments are recorded automatically when they arrive. Open collection settings
Author: Heyşirket Editorial Team