first time seller

[Sheilsfl]

I have paid for things with PayPal, but this is the first time I will be receiving a payment.  Do I need to make my account a business account?  And what information do I need to give to the buyer so he can send me the payment?

[kernowlass]

@Sheilsfl

If you are not a registered business or high volume seller then you don't need a business account.

The email address you use with paypal identifies your paypal account and is all someone needs to pay you.
Or you can send a money request from your paypal account to their paypal email address for them to pay.

HOWEVER be very careful as lot of scam merchants about. >>>>>>>>>>>>>

1. A lot of scammers encourage you to accept a paypal payment and if you don't have an account ask you to open one.

2. Do not get scammed via spoof emails that look as if they are from paypal.

3. Never send anything unless the funds are showing in your paypal account balance, even if you are a new seller and subject to the new seller hold the funds would still show in your balance but have pending by them.

4. Do NOT send anything to Nigeria or similar.

5. Do not be fooled by you so called buyer and "paypal" telling you that you either have to >>>

a. Send the item and provide a tracking number BEFORE the funds show in your balance.

b. You have to pay the buyers shipping agent via western union or moneygram before his payment that is supposed to include these costs are credited to you.

6. Remember sellers send invoices and not buyers so if you get an invoice "marked as gift / paid" and saying it won't show in your balance for 24 hours or that your payment can't be the subject of a chargeback.....its a scam.

If in doubt come here and ask and also read up on paypals seller protection first so you can risk assess your transactions.

[Sheilsfl]

Thank you so much for your response.  I appreciate your help as I am new at this.  Have a great day.

[Snow-Cat · Accepted solution]

If you're an occasional seller, assuming you have a Personal Account, that will work fine.   You can send the buyer an invoice, a request for money or provide the buyer with your PayPal Account email address which in turn they would use to send you the funds.   Sending an invoice would be the best option as you don't have share your PayPal Account email address and you have better documentation/history of a sale.   And another option would be to setup a PayPal.ME id link and then share that link with the buyer.

[Sheilsfl]

Thank you so much for your response.  I will probably send an invoice.  Have a great day.

[kernowlass]

@Sheilsfl

So my detailed response did not even warrant a kudos let alone a solution that you gave to someone else........cheers.