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Adding one of these popular BNPL apps to your store may make it easier for customers to make larger purchases, reduce cart abandonment, and generally increase your sales.
Shannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.
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Shannon VissersShannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.
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Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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Erica SeppalaErica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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Buy now, pay later allows your customers to pay for a purchase in installments — without your business taking on any of the risks of in-house financing. When small businesses accept buy now, pay later (BNPL) payments from a service like Klarna or Afterpay, they provide an alternative payment option that lets the customer pay over time. Whether your business lives online or you provide in-person services, buy now, pay later can help you achieve a sale even when the customer isn’t able to pay in full.
But what are the best buy now, pay later services for merchants? Below, we’ll take a look at the best BNPL apps for different types of small businesses and talk about how merchants can get started with BNPL.
Different BNPL apps come with different terms, fees, and features, so it’s important to choose carefully when selecting the best BNPL for your business. Below, you can compare our top picks:
Merchants can control minimum qualifying customer spend
Merchants can control loan terms
Cons
Available only for shoppers who live in the U.S.
Confusing payment process for merchants
Late payments on larger loans may be reported to Experian
Why We Chose Affirm Buy Now Pay Later
Affirm is our choice for the best buy now, pay later app for any type of business, thanks to its versatile loan repayment offerings. Merchants have complete control over the minimum amount customers must spend to qualify for installment payments. You can also choose to offer 0% interest loan financing, how long customers have to repay their loans, and where to show Affirm payment messaging.
We also like Affirm's dynamic Adaptive Checkout technology, which allows customers to see their total purchase amount broken down into personalized installment payments throughout the shopping experience. At checkout, your customers won't feel shocked at their total, which will reduce cart abandonment rates.
Loan offering amounts and repayment timelines set by merchants
Installment payments update in real time as cart balance changes
Online, in-person, and telesales businesses can use this BNPL option
Customers are never charged late fees for missed payments
Customers can apply for up to $25,000 in a single transaction
Affirm Rates & Fees
Affirm’s standard merchant fee is 5.99% + $0.30 per transaction, although that fee can vary (depending on business size, risk profile, and program options).
Customers are not charged any late fees, interest, or other fees on Affirm’s standard 4-installment loans. On monthly loans, the APR is 0–36%.
Eligibility Requirements
Customers must meet the following requirements:
18+ US resident
Have an SSN
Have a US phone number that receives SMS
To apply for a loan at checkout, first-time Affirm users enter some personal information, including debit or credit card information. Affirm also does a soft credit check, which does not affect their credit score. Existing Affirm users just need to log onto their accounts. The loan application and approval process takes only seconds.
Repayment Terms
Installments are due either biweekly or monthly, depending on the repayment plan. If customers do the standard four-installment plan, the total loan term is six weeks. Monthly financing offerings range from three months to as long as 60 months.
Your customers will never be charged late fees, but late payments may impact their credit score and delinquent accounts may be sent to collections. To avoid such consequences, your customers can set up an automatic payment schedule.
When To Use Affirm
You sell any type of high-ticket, non-essential item or service
“Try before you buy” option ideal for fashion retailers
Integrates with POS systems including Zettle and Lightspeed
Doesn’t report late payments to credit bureaus
Cons
Some complaints about customer service
Merchant fees not disclosed
High late fees for customers
Why We Chose Klarna BNPL
Klarna is a great option for businesses selling "nonessential" or luxury items online, in-store, or both. That's because Klarna's unique Pay in 30 Days financing option allows customers to try their items out for free, keep what they love, and return what they don't within 30 days of receiving their items. This low-pressure option makes customers more likely to complete their orders.
Klarna also offers express checkout buttons so that you can create a one-click checkout experience for your customers, minimizing the amount of time customers have to change their minds.
Merchants have the choice to offer several types of repayment options
Customers can earn rewards whenever they shop with the Klarna app
Express checkout buttons make the shopping experience fast and easy
Pay In 30 option lets customers “try before you buy“
Klarna partners with merchants to amplify their brands
No maximum loan amount — customer purchasing power depends on payment history and other factors
Klarna Rates & Fees
Klarna merchant fees vary depending on what payment option your customer chooses and their location. Unfortunately, these fees are no longer disclosed on Klarna’s website. However, a Klarna rep has told us that the fee is 5.99% + $0.30.
As for customer fees, with the 4 Installments option, late fees are $7 per late payment, with compounding fees adding up to 25% of the purchase price. On longer-term consumer loans with monthly repayment, customers could be charged up to $35 per late payment, though the fee will not exceed the minimum amount due.
Eligibility Requirements
Customers must meet the following requirements:
18+
Don’t have a lot of debt
Linked bank account
Klarna does a soft credit check on customers who choose to pay in four installments or 30 days. This will not affect their credit score. Customers who apply for long-term financing may undergo a hard credit check that shows up as an inquiry on their credit report.
Repayment Terms
Like many BNPL providers, customers have the option to pay in four interest-free installments charged every two weeks for a total term of six weeks, Klarna also has an interest-free 30-day financing option that gives customers up to 30 days to submit a single payment, as well as long-term financing (up to 36 months) with 7.99-29.99% interest. Customer financing installments are paid monthly.
When To Use Klarna
You sell any type of high-ticket, non-essential item or service
While PayPal was a little late to the pay later game, Pay Later has the clean, straightforward functionality that other BNPL companies sometimes lack. Pay Later is free for sellers who offer PayPal as a payment option in their online stores. US-based sellers who already have a one-time PayPal payment integration simply add Pay Later messaging. You also add a PayPal "Pay Later" button as another payment option at checkout.
From there, customers with an existing PayPal account can apply for Pay In 4 financing on purchases between $30 and $1,500, or Pay Monthly financing on transactions between $199 and $10,000. Customers who don't have PayPal can sign up and apply for financing. Customers are redirected to PayPal to apply and view loan terms. They are then approved or denied for a loan and redirected back to your site. This entire process takes only seconds.
PayPal Pay Later Features For Merchants
Pre-made PayPal financing marketing present throughout the shopping experience
Straightforward fees & repayment structure
Different payment options for smaller purchases (Pay-In-4) and larger purchases (Pay Monthly)
Includes purchase protection for your customers
Easy for existing PayPal Business users to add to payment options
Maximum borrowing amount of $10,000 (PayPal Credit can also be used for purchases $99+)
Customers are never charged late fees or interest (though as with some other BNPL apps, late payments may be reported to credit bureaus).
Eligibility Requirements
Customers must meet the following requirements:
Must be of legal age in your state of residence
Not available in certain states (check PayPal website to see if Pay In 4 is available in your state)
PayPal does a soft credit check on loan applicants and ensures that existing PayPal users are in good standing before approving them. Late payments can disqualify customers from PayPal Pay In 4 loans in the future.
Repayment Terms
For PayPal Pay-In-4, customers pay 25% of the purchase amount at checkout, and the remaining three installments are automatically charged to their PayPal account every 15 days, for a total repayment term of six weeks.
With PayPal Pay Monthly, customers can choose from 6, 12, or 24-month terms. Pay Monthly APRs range from 9.99-35.99% (4.99% APRs may also be available).
When To Use PayPal Pay Later
You already offer PayPal as a payment option on your website
Integrates directly with Square POS & Square Online
Easy to add to Shopify store
Quick, easy setup
Does not report late payments to credit bureaus
Cons
Customers charged late fees
Some merchants may be denied
Why We Chose AfterPay Buy Now Pay Later
Afterpay is one of the easiest BNPL apps for merchants to implement in their store or on their website, especially for Square merchants. Afterpay has seamless built-in integration with Square, making it a piece of cake to offer BNPL right from your Square point of sale.
Square merchants can even order a free Afterpay marketing kit to let their customers know that they accept this BNPL payment option.
Afterpay is simple for customers to use and it's aimed at those who may have tarnished credit or no credit. Customers start out with a spending limit of $600 which is meant to encourage responsible spending habits. Learn more about how Afterpay works for small businesses.
AfterPay BNPL Features For Small Businesses
Easy to implement in-store or integrate with your eComm website
Pay-In-4 and Monthly Payment options
Customers can reschedulepayments, shifting them up to 7 days (with Pay-In-4)
Spending limits start at $600 and increase with responsible spending behavior
Customers with bad credit are eligible
Digital card makes it easy for customers to make repeat purchases
Afterpay Rates & Fees
Afterpay merchants are charged a flat fee of 6% + $0.30 on each BNPL transaction.
Users are charged late fees if they forget to pay or are unable to pay. The fee is capped at 25% of the purchase amount. Users may also get charged insufficient funding fees from their banks if automatic Afterpay payments put them over their available account balances.
Eligibility Requirements
Afterpay requires the following from consumers applying for a loan:
18+ US resident
Valid email, delivery address & phone number
Link a credit card, debit card, or bank account
Afterpay may perform a soft credit check for new customers.
Repayment Terms
Afterpay’s standard term is 6 weeks, divided into four bi-weekly payments. Afterpay also has a Pay Monthly option that offers 6- and 12-month payments, plus interest, for purchases over $400.
When To Use Afterpay
You use Square as your POS and/or have a Shopify online store
Customers can reschedule payments up to three times
Sezzle Up option to improve customer credit scores through BNPL
Merchants may qualify for interest-bearing savings accounts
Cons
$15/month fee for businesses that process less than $300 in 30 days
Some lack of transparency regarding customer and merchant fees
Late payments can damage credit score
Why We Chose Sezzle BNPL
Based on the brands Sezzle partners with and the features they offer, Sezzle is ideal for online retailers targeting Gen Z customers. The company is a certified B Corporation because it focuses on offering transparent BNPL services, as well as financial education, with the mission to empower the next generation of shoppers. Customers who sign up for Sezzle Up also get their on-time installment payments reported to credit bureaus and increase their Sezzle credit limit over time.
Sezzle gives customers every opportunity to avoid late fees, is highly responsive when customers have any issues, and allows younger shoppers to build their credit with their Sezzle Up program. Sezzle also works with all major eCommerce platforms.
Sezzle BNPL Features For Small Businesses
Free integrations with WordPress, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Salesforce, Shopify Plus, and more
Multiple payment options include Pay In 4, Pay In Full, Pay In 2 (for monthly subscriptions), & long-term installment loans
On-time payments reported to credit bureaus to help customers build credit
Customers’ Sezzle credit limit increases over time (individual credit limits vary)
Named #1 Installment Payment Software by G2 in Fall 2021 for excellent customer service
Sezzle charges merchants a flat fee of 6.1% + $0.30 on each BNPL transaction. Businesses may also be charged a $15 monthly fee if they process less than $300 using Sezzle during a 30-day period.
If a customer can’t make a payment on time, they can change one due date for free. If needed, the next two due date changes will incur a fee. Customers may also be charged fees for using a credit or debit card to make their payment or if a payment fails because there isn’t enough money in their banking account to pay an installment. Fee amounts are not disclosed.
APRs on long-term installment loans (which may be available for some larger purchases) range from 5.99-34.99%.
Eligibility Requirements
Sezzle eligibility requirements are as follows:
18+
Valid email & US or CA phone number that receives texts
Link credit or debit card
Applicants are subject to soft credit checks that will not affect their score, and loan applications are approved in seconds.
Repayment Terms
Following the standard BNPL four-payments model, Sezzle Pay-In-4 customers pay 25% of their purchase upfront and the next three interest-free installments over the span of six weeks.
Other payment options for larger orders may be available through third-party lenders, with terms ranging from 3-48 months.
When To Use Sezzle
You run a busy retail or restaurant business with a lot of younger customers
Specifically catered to in-person businesses, especially auto repair shops
Works with merchants to create a customized BNPL solution
No late fees
Cons
Down payment is required
Merchants don’t know how much they’ll pay in fees until speaking to a Sunbit rep
Some merchants charged a monthly technology fee
Why We Chose Sunbit BNPL
Most BNPL apps are geared toward retailers selling "nonessential" items. Sunbit distinguishes itself by offering easy customer financing options for in-person services such as optical appointments, car repairs, or veterinary procedures. In fact, one in four auto dealership service centers in the US offers Sunbit.
Sunbit's BNPL solution softens the financial blow of essential services for customers. It also gives Sunbit-equipped business owners a competitive edge and the ability to offer services to customers who may not have the best credit scores.
If you're interested in offering Sunbit to your customers, you can reach out to the company for a personalized quote.
Sunbit Buy Now Pay Later Features
Customers have access to larger essential purchases and add-ons
Dedicated account manager training on how to offer Sunbit services
Huge range of installment offerings available to suit your customers’ needs
Loans as large as $20,000
Customizable BNPL solution can include all or only part of purchase
Sunbit Rates & Fees
Since each BNPL solution is customized, you won’t have an idea of how much you’ll be paying in Sunbit merchant fees until you speak to a customer representative. Generally, though, businesses are charged a flat fee of 5% of the transaction amount.
Interest rates on Sunbit consumer loans range from 0%-35.99%. Rates depend on where the customer lives, their credit situation, their loan amount, and their repayment timeline.
Eligibility Requirements
Customers may apply for a Sunbit loan at your store, online, or with the Sunbit app. Customers must meet the following requirements:
18+
Have state-issued license or ID
The approval process does include a soft credit check and takes less than one minute.
Approximately 90% of customers are pre-approved for some amount of credit. Customers then enter how much of that credit they’d like to use toward their purchase. For example, a customer may be approved for $2,000 but only needs $600 to cover a car repair. They choose a loan repayment plan to pay off that $600, pay some amount of the purchase up front, and then pay the rest in monthly installments.
Repayment Terms
Customers may apply for a Sunbit loan ranging from $50-$20,000, with 3-72 month repayment options available.
When To Use Sunbit
You own a service business such as an automotive shop or veterinary clinic
Specifically catered to home service providers & service industries
Cons
Requires customers to have a mobile phone
Reports late customer payments to credit bureaus
Why We Chose WiseTack BNPL
Wisetack is a unique BNPL solution for home service providers (as well as other service industries) to offer their customers 3-60 month financing plans, without taking on any financial risks. Wisetack sets you up with your own merchant portal, where you can see approved applications and check payment notifications. Wisetack pays you directly and works with your current order management software.
After the customer confirms their loan, you provide the service. Once the work is done, Wisetack sends your customer an email asking them to confirm that the job is done. You receive funds directly to your bank account within one to two business days after the client confirms the service is complete.
Wisetack Buy Now Pay Later Features For Small Business
Features include:
Fast & easy application process for customers
Funds sent to your bank account next business day after work is complete
Wisetack takes on all financial risks that come with getting paid after a service is finished
Works with home service software including HouseCall Pro
Customers can pay off loans early
Wisetack Rates & Fees
Loan interest rates are 0-35.9% depending on the customer’s credit situation and loan repayment structure. Three-month loan repayment plans are interest-free.
On the merchant side, Wisetack takes out a 3.9% commission fee.
Eligibility Requirements
Wisetack doesn’t list any specific eligibility requirements on its website, but there is an application with a soft credit check, and customers with bad or fair credit may be accepted. Wisetack says they approve, on average, 88% of applicants with credit scores as low as 540.
Repayment Terms
Wisetack offers 3-60-month consumer financing plans. Your customers have the ability to set up automatic loan payments and pay off their loans early. They will not have to pay compound interest or late fees. They can also reschedule their monthly pay dates if needed.
When To Use Wisetack
You own a home services business, auto shop, dental practice, or vet clinic
Customers must have a Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover credit card with available credit
Somewhat complicated implementation
Businesses must have $10 million in annual sales volume to qualify
Why We Chose Splitit BNPL
Many existing credit card users charge large purchases to their credit cards but rack up interest fees when they don't pay off their balances in full by the end of the month. Splitit offers credit card users a way to buy larger items now, but get their credit card charged in smaller, more manageable increments. Then, they'll be able to pay their monthly credit card balance off in full while building their credit.
When your customer checks out, they'll see Splitit as a payment option. They may choose to pay in installments through Splitit, and pay for some of the purchase up front.
Companies selling big-ticket items or services, such as high-end furniture, health and wellness treatments, jewelry, and travel packages stand the most to benefit from offering Splitit online and in-store.
Splitit BNPL Features For Merchants
Merchants set minimum and maximum qualifying purchase amounts
Customers can earn credit card rewards on their purchases
No application — customers with an eligible credit card can simply select Splitit as a payment option
Integrates with major eCommerce platforms such as Magneto, Shopify, & WooCommerce
POS integration with Ingenico terminals
Short- and long-term repayment plans
Splitit Rates & Fees
Splitit charges merchants 1.5-6.5% per transaction, plus a flat fee of $1.50.
Splitit does not charge customers any fees. However, if customers don’t pay their balance in full at the end of the month, they could be charged interest fees from their credit card issuer, as with any credit card balance.
Eligibility Requirements
Customers must meet the following requirements
18+
Have an eligible credit card
Have enough available credit to cover full purchase amount
Customers do not have to undergo a credit check during the loan application process. However, Splitit does make sure that they have enough available balance on their credit card to cover the full balance of their transaction before being approved for a loan.
For example, if your customer wants to buy a $1,000 laptop, they must have at least $1,000 available on their credit card to cover the cost of the purchase. They may have to pay $200 upfront, and Splitit will put a preliminary hold of $800 on their card. Once they pay the next $200 installment, the hold reduces to $600, and so on, until the purchase is paid off.
Repayment Terms
Splitit installment options range from 3-24 months, depending on the retailer. These are monthly installments and the customer must pay off their credit card balance every month.
When To Use Splitit
You have a high-volume business that sells high-ticket items or services
Our Methodology For Choosing The Best BNPL For Merchants
To select the best buy now pay later services for businesses, we evaluated the leading BNPL services and selected those BNPL apps with wide popularity, useful small business integrations, and reasonable fees for both merchants and consumers. We also further narrowed the list of vendors by choosing to include only services that have largely positive reviews.
How Does Buy Now, Pay Later Work For Merchants?
For merchants, buy now pay later works similarly to accepting a credit card payment. Customers use a BNPL app to take out a small loan for a purchase at a business or online. The merchant accepting the BNPL payment at their store gets paid from the BNPL provider upfront, minus some merchant fees.
One way accepting BNPL differs from accepting credit cards is that merchants will need to sign up with a BNPL company in order to offer buy now, pay later as a payment option. Integrating buy now, pay later with your eCommerce website is easy, and some BNPLs can integrate with your POS system for in-person purchases.
What Are The Benefits Of Buy Now, Pay Later For Merchants?
BNPL has many benefits for merchants. Some of these include:
Encourages higher customer spend
Encourages customer loyalty
Popular with younger shoppers
Drives online sales
More convenient and accessible than credit cards
Are There Drawbacks To Buy Now, Pay Later For Business?
There are also certain disadvantages to buy now, pay later apps for merchants. Some of these include:
Higher merchant fees compared to credit cards
Merchants have to apply to use service (and may not be accepted)
Slower checkout compared to credit card or contactless payment
Not all BNPL apps integrate with all commerce platforms
Carries some risk of fraud and chargebacks
The Bottom Line On BNPL For Small Businesses
Buy now, pay later allows customers to make large purchases at your business, even if they don’t have a credit card. BNPL statistics show that this increases your customer base, your average customer spend, and your bottom line.
Fortunately, BNPL is easy to implement — eCommerce software can integrate seamlessly with BNPL services, and some POS systems even allow you to take BNPL payments at your brick-and-mortar store. Learn more about the best multichannel POS systems that offer modern selling features such as BNPL.
Shannon has been writing for Merchant Maverick about small business software and financing since 2015. She started writing professionally about business topics in 2005. Shannon has been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, US News, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and other publications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from San Diego State University and currently resides in San Diego, California.
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The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
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