Non-Business Card reader/Check Scan?

[HarrysMadCash]

My son has a sports fund raising event every summer. Where they go door to door selling products.

Every year more then a few possible donors say "they would buy but have no cash."

So what I'd like to do is setup a Card reader and check scanner to my account, but do I need to change my account to a business account? Or are there rules to being able to use these payment methods on a personal account?

I know outside of this annual event the reader and check scan would not be used.

Think it would be easier for my son and the person buying to have ability for instant  payment and tracking of payments.

Thanks.

[snowshoe · Accepted solution]

Suggest not going the "donor" route as things have changed unless you are a  registered non-profit organization.

As stated by PayPal.

"The Donation feature is intended for fundraising. If you are not raising money for a cause, please choose another option. Nonprofits must verify their status to withdraw donations they receive. Users that are not verified nonprofits must demonstrate how their donations will be used, once they raise more than $10,000."

So. what's work a around for another option. One option is to use a Buy Now item button if you have a web page. You can code it so an amount can be entered right on the PayPal Screen. You can also use the the Shipping Overrides so as not to charge any shipping if you have a shipping method setup for other purposes. Using a Buy Now type button allows people to give you funds without having a PayPal Account. Note, you would still pay the transaction processing fees same as would for selling any item and you have to have either a Premier or Business Account, a Personal Account won't work.

Another option would be to have people use the send money feature. Of course they would have to have a PayPal Account and if they send the funds as a gift assuming they don't use a credit card, there would be no fees.

Note, you can use a product like PayPal Here, have a Business Account and use the Multi-User Access feature.  This way you can use multiple readers associated with one PayPal Account.  Note, a Personal Account will not work for selling or attempting to collect funds.

Thru the use of PayPal Here, your son or group can sell their products door to door and the customes can pay with a credit care or check if desired or PayPal Account if they have one.

[HarrysMadCash]

Thanks, They (Fund Raiser) have not yet setup anything for CC payments, thou they are a Non-Profit.

Thanks for the very quick response, that was what I was afraid of. Just don't think it would be worth it to switch myself over to a Business account.

Maybe next year they might have it setup for payments.

Guess we will just ask if they would like to use their paypal account if they have one.