Now that your company’s products have begun to be sold online, a strategically organized company-wide shipping procedure is necessary.  In addition to your website’s shopping cart and internal monetary transaction system, it is also best to accept customer payments through PayPal.

By now almost all online shoppers have come to recognize and trust paypal, while some online shoppers will only make an online purchase if PayPal is accepted.  Recently PayPal has recently launched a Plug-In that allows online shoppers to utilize PayPal features quickly from their web browser. Online shoppers can use their secure cards to shop anywhere online, save and print their receipts, enter shipping addresses with just one click during checkout, avoid fraudulent websites and check their balance right from their browser.  > https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_vdc-plugin-intro
 
Furthermore, PayPal's Instant Payment Notification (IPN) allows your company to integrate PayPal payments within your websites back-end operations.  Additionally, you can customize Paypal’s Thank You page to match your company’s website, and Auto Return and bring your buyers back to your website immediately after their purchase ends.

To begin, you will need to set up a PayPal account for your company.  Make sure that you have your correct company name listed upon sign-up, with the correct bank account information for the company used.  No matter the size of the company, always use the company name and bank account as opposed to someone’s personal name and bank account.  It may even be a good idea to set up a company bank account directly within PayPal.  This will ensure accuracy is in place and relieve headaches from employees and developers who are working within your account and need to speak with PayPal directly. (If you need to change this information later, it’s possible but you’ll have to keep checking in with PayPal as it will take a little over a month for them to verify and complete the requested changes.)

Then utilize your company’s shopping cart within PayPal.
1.    Set up paypal shop directory within your website.
2.    Add shipping addresses and verify bank accounts.
3.    Write your own Customer Service Message for your customers.
4.    Initiate Seller eligibility with ebay.
5.    Set up your website’s Payment Preferences to Auto Return for your website’s payments and bring your buyers back to your website immediately after a payment’s completion.
        a.        Per the user agreement, you must provide verbiage on the page displayed                         by the Return URL that will help the buyer understand that the payment                             has been made and that the transaction has been completed.
        b.        You must provide verbiage on the page displayed by the Return URL that                             explains that payment transaction details will be emailed to the buyer.
        c.        * Example: Thank you for your payment. Your transaction has been                                         completed, and a receipt for your purchase has been emailed to you. You                         may log into your account at www.paypal.com/us to view details of this                             transaction.
6.    Customize your paypal payment pages.
7.    Create Virtual Terminals to allow buyers to buy over the phone, mail or fax.  You’ll have to complete an application, but it could be worth it depending on your business.
8.    Paypal Pro Merchant Account – Helps to keep people on your site – $30/mos


Additionally, there are still many optional features available through PayPal.  Two of my favorites are the customized invoice templates and auction tools for Ebay.
1.    Create customized invoice templates -
2.    Auction Tools for Ebay -

I've listed some general guidelines to help streamline your company’s internal PayPal analytics and shipping procedures.   Once purchases have begun to be made, your company should use a dedicated customer service email address to be used as the official email address for customer concerns, shop inquiries & customer service complaints.  To begin…
1.    Log into www.paypal.com
        a.    Enter Logon;
        b.    Enter Password;
2.    Scroll down to “Recent Activity” and take count of how many orders/products.
3.    Click “Print Shipping Label” on the order to ship.  Select USPS Priority Mail. Print up to 50 usps paypal shipping labels at once using paypal’s multi-order shipping.  
        a.    Service: Priority Mail (2-3 days)
        b.    Package Size: Depends on your product.  I recommend a Flat Rate Envelope.
        c.    Mailing Date: Should be shipped same day label is printed
        d.    Signature Confirmation: no
        e.    Display value on label: no
        f.    Purchase Insurance: Depends upon your product
4.    Confirm and Print Label
5.    Package your product in your selected packaging
6.    Place printed label on packaging
7.    Ship Immediately
8.    Paypal can provide you with analytics to Record Results in the Excel Document by going to - Merchant Services > Reporting.  For both your accounting department and to understand your audience, it is best to keep track of the following:
        a.    Date
        b.    Service Transaction
        c.    Product
        d.    Total Purchase
        e.    Shipping Cost
        f.    Service Fees
        g.    Customer Name
        h.    Customer Email Address

If you need any assistance from PayPal, have fun contacting PayPal’s customer service.  After dialing, you’ll want to run some errands and enjoy a movie.  By the time you are relaxed, PayPal’s customer service will best be able to supply as minimal account information to you as possible.

Good luck!

-Anthony