Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

My first hosting company ( I still use them today for some projects ) let me pay by personal check when I first started with them. Not sure if they still do that, or how many others are willing to do so. All you can do is ask.


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

My first host was local and they accepted cash and checks and could hook you up with a domain name as well.  I like using a local hosting company because you can get face to face with them if  you have questions or need instructions.  I still use them for one of my projects.  Not sure what area you are in but I don`t think it matters from a payment standpoint.  If you`d like contact info for them just PM me and I`ll send it right out to you.

Local hosting companies likely would allow check or money-orders. We use a check with a friend of mine. She`s not local to me, but she`s an individual developer, doing her own hosting.

You can also buy prepaid Visa and Mastercard debit cards now. Not sure where you can find these though... your bank perhaps?

I also have no credit cards... I do however have a Visa business debit card linked to my business checking account, and my personal Visa debit card linked to my personal checking account.

PayPal is another option. PayPal will link directly to your bank account and allow you to add funds, buy things online and accept payments from others without a credit card. They also offer a debit card — MasterCard, I think.

ICDsoft.com is an excellent hosting company (I`ve been using them for years) that will allow you to pay via PayPal.

IMO you`re better off without credit cards. The new regulations give credit card companies the power to legally rob you blind, without the benefit of being able to file bankruptcy in case anything happens to you. Mob bosses everywhere must be consumed with jealousy.

—paula

I use a company called pagebuzz and they take checks. They are a small company that works from home, so they really bend over backwards to work with us small businesses. They have even extended my hosting time when the check was late, you know, in the mail.

I think most companies take paypal now and you don`t need a credit card for that. Just a bank account. Also, using paypal gives you the ability to take credit cards even if your credit is bad and can`t start a business.

Isn`t the web great, all these services that we can use even when we don`t have those prime credit numbers like big businesses.

Thanks for the info about Paypal and pre-funded credit/debit cards.

The last time I checked for the prepaid cards they were not available, one bank told me "There is no such thing!" but that was a few years ago.

You can buy yourself a VISA gift card with cash.

I have a few credit cards, but what I use for my business purchases is my WAMU Business Debit Card ... works like a credit card just fine.