Over the last 36 months, the world has seen significant changes in the way we work. Technological shifts, 4-day workweeks and the rise in remote work have led to an increase in people wanting to move away from the traditional cubicles and work from wherever they want.

As per The World Bank, nearly 47% of all the employees working worldwide are freelancers or self-employed. It has become easier for people to travel the world and keep earning to support their lifestyle.

While freelancers might not have a concrete office to work out of, they are still employees subjected to their country’s rules and regulations. For people wanting to freelance in the UAE or looking to move to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it’s important to be aware of the requirements allowing them to work legally. If you’re not compliant, not only will you have trouble finding clients, you won’t be able to accept payments in your local account.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the requirements needed to work as a freelancer in Middle Eastern countries and how PayTabs can help you with the onboarding process.

Freelancing in the UAE

The rise of digital platforms and a helping hand from the government to promote a knowledge-based economy has helped freelancing gain popularity in the UAE. Freelancers can either obtain a freelance permit from the Dubai Economic Department (DED) or work with various free zones without any hassle.

However, it’s important to note that each Emirate may have different regulations, so it’ll be better to research the one you want to work in.

Dubai Economic Department (DED) Freelance Permit

The DED offers a permit for individuals wanting to freelance across various sectors. The permit must be renewed annually and is usually issued for a specific activity. An individual would require proof of professional qualifications or experience, a no-objection letter from the current sponsor, and a business plan outlining their services.

You should consult legal experts and relevant authorities to understand the requirements, fees, and documentation needed to obtain the freelance permit.

Freelance Permits in Free Zone

Several free zones in the UAE, like Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, and Sharjah Media City, offer freelance permits to individuals to work as independent contractors. They provide legal recognition and various benefits like a bank account, residence visa, and access to business support services.

Freelancing in Saudi Arabia

There is no “freelance permit” in Saudi Arabia, so freelancers need to establish a business entity for work. This is a slightly more complex process as compared to the UAE. Here are the steps involved:

1. Establishing a Eusiness Entity

Individuals need to establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Sole Proprietorship to be able to work as a freelancer. A Sole Proprietorship is suitable for a single owner, while an LLC requires a minimum of two partners.

2. Chamber of Commerce Registration

Next comes registering your business with the local Chamber of Commerce. You’d have to submit the documents needed, pay fees, and obtain a commercial registration or CR certificate.

3. Municipality Registration and Licenses

You might need additional licenses and permissions from the municipality or other relevant authorities depending on your business and where you’re applying.

4. Taxes and Zakat

No matter which country you work in, it’s important to understand the country’s tax obligations and ensure compliance with rules and regulations. In Saudi Arabia, freelancers are subjected to tax and zakat regulations, and you should be aware of this.

Also Read: How to Receive Payments for Freelance Work?

Freelancing in Egypt

Freelancing in Egypt has been gaining momentum quickly in recent years, especially in fields like digital marketing, content creation, software development, and graphic design. While Egypt is one of the most straightforward countries for freelancers in the Middle East, there are still some important considerations you should keep in mind:

Tax Registration

To avoid any compliance or legal issues, a freelancer is required to register for taxes with the Egyptian Tax Authority. As a freelancer, you’d have to declare your income periodically and obtain a tax card called “Form 1” as well.

Business Licensing

Depending on the kind of freelance work you’ll undertake, you may need to obtain a commercial license from the relevant local authority. This license is necessary to legitimize your business activities and ensure compliance with regulations.

Tax Deductions and Expenses

Proper documentation allows freelancers to deduct certain business-related expenses from their taxable income and save on costs for equipment, office space, and other relevant expenditures.

Contracts and Agreements

Freelancers are advised to have clear contracts and agreements before working with clients. The scope of work, payment terms, and other details that’ll help you establish a professional relationship in front of the authorities will be defined in the agreement.

Onboarding on PayTabs

Obtaining a freelancer permit or setting up a business entity is just the first step toward working as a freelancer in the Middle East. You also need to set up a robust payment process for accepting payments from the client.

PayTabs can help you in this regard. It is one of the fastest-growing payment gateway providers in the Middle East, allowing freelancers to get onboarded into their system easily. Once onboarded, freelancers can accept payments in different modes and from different channels with ease. If you’re a freelancer wanting to work in the UAE, KSA, Egypt, or any other Middle Eastern country, here are some things you’ll need to get on board properly.

Also Read: How to Get Paid as a Freelancer

⮚ For UAE

These are the KYC documents needed for a smooth onboarding:

• Freelancer certificate
• Passport, Emirates ID and residence permit or a VISA copy for identification purposes
• Account details through bank account statement or any other document

⮚ For KSA

These are the KYC documents needed for a smooth onboarding:

• Freelancer certificate
• Passport, national ID, or any other government issues identification document
• Extracts of bank statements or bank letters showing the account holder’s details

⮚ For Egypt

These are the KYC documents needed for a smooth onboarding:

• Valid national ID or any other identification document
• Bank account statement or other documents showing bank details

PayTabs, one of the leading payment gateway platforms in the Middle East, is helping freelancers and business owners like yourself to create a sustainable business and accept payments without any inconvenience. Get in touch with us to know more about how PayTabs helps you get onboarded with a freelancer certificate/permit.

Nearly 80% of People today purchase products online from different marketplaces. This shows how important marketplaces have become in the e-commerce landscape. It is especially useful for customers as it brings various buyers selling different products together in a single space. For a business starting to sell products online, just listing them on marketplaces isn’t enough, they need to ensure the transaction process is smooth and secure.

With numerous options available, choosing the right marketplace payment solution can be an overwhelming task. The payment process can make or break the overall experience for the customer hence it’s important to choose the right one. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best payment solutions for marketplaces that provide a seamless and efficient payment experience to buyers as well as sellers.

How to Choose a Payment Gateway

Selecting the perfect payment gateway for your marketplace requires careful consideration of various factors. Here are some essential aspects to keep in mind:

• Security: First thing people look for while completing the payment is security. Choose payment gateways that comply with security standards followed by the industry like Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to make sure that the payment solution will protect sensitive customer information.
• User Experience: A smooth and intuitive user experience is vital for a successful marketplace. Choose a payment solution that offers a seamless checkout process, minimizing the chances of cart abandonment.
• Payment Methods: Cash is no longer the only way customers pay. Several new payment methods have emerged including credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods. Go with the payment solution that offers such different payment methods for the customer to choose from.
• Split Payments: In marketplaces, the payments are split between the seller and the platform owner. This can be a difficult task to do on your own so look for payment solutions for marketplaces that support hassle-free and automated split payments for ensuring timely and accurate transactions.
• Integration and API Support: The payment gateway should integrate smoothly with your existing marketplace platform. Additionally, API support allows for customization and seamless interactions with other systems.

What are the Best Marketplace Payment Solutions?

Here are some of the best payment solutions for marketplaces that’ll help businesses accept payments from customers.

• Stripe Connect: Stripe Connect is a very popular payment solution among marketplaces and is known for its flexibility and robust features. One of the best qualities of Stripe Connect is that it supports split payments and distributes funds to the seller and platform owner automatically. Apart from this, Stripe also enables seamless payment processing and supports different payment methods as well.
• PayPal for Marketplaces: PayPal has long been a trusted name in online payments, and its marketplace-specific solution doesn’t disappoint. With built-in split payments functionality and support for international transactions, it’s an excellent choice for global marketplaces.
• Adyen: Adyen is another popular payment solution for marketplaces that fulfills several needs of the marketplace including a smooth payment experience and supporting multiple currencies and payment methods.
• PayTabs: A payment gateway that is growing rapidly and gaining popularity in the marketplace segment is PayTabs. It is especially popular among marketplaces in the middle east and provides secure payment processing while supporting a wide range of payment options. Customers like its seamless payment process and the convenience it brings to buyers as well as sellers. PayTabs also supports split payments feature making it easier for marketplace owners to distribute funds to each seller.
• Braintree: Braintree is a PayPal service and is very popular among marketplaces. Braintree has an easy integration process, updated security features, and supports split payments as well making it a reliable option for growing marketplaces.

Also Read: Your Guide To Setting Up a PayPal Payment Gateway

Different Ways of Integrating a Marketplace Payment Gateway

• Direct API Integration: Get full control and customization over the payment process by connecting marketplaces directly to the payment gateway’s API.
• Hosted Payment Page: You can also redirect customers to a secure hosted payment page that has a simplified integration process, and reduced PCI DSS
• Payment Plugins or Extensions: Businesses can streamline the setup process by integrating popular gateways with user-friendly plugins or extensions.

Benefits of Marketplace Payment Solutions

Utilizing a dedicated marketplace payment solution brings several benefits to the table:

Enhanced Security

Payment gateways employ advanced security measures to protect and safeguard sensitive customer information from getting into the wrong hands. They reduce the risk of fraud and data breaches by employing encryption and tokenization techniques. A reputable payment solution for the marketplace instils trust in users while completing transactions.

Streamlined Transactions

Nobody likes a jittery and inefficient payment process. It obstructs the user experience and creates a bad impression for the user. A robust marketplace payment solution ensures that customers have a smooth and seamless transaction experience. With more customers completing their transactions, the cart abandonment rate is also going to decrease considerably.

Global Expansion

For sellers having international customers, marketplace payment solutions make it easier to accept payments in different currencies and payment methods. This allows them to expand their reach beyond traditional domestic borders and participate in a global marketplace that fosters growth and diversification.

Automatic Split Payments

For multi-vendor marketplaces, automating split payments is an essential feature. Efficient payment solutions automatically distribute funds to sellers and streamline the financial process for marketplace owners.

Efficient Reconciliation and Reporting

One of the biggest advantages of using a marketplace payment solution is it simplifies financial management and allows marketplace owners to track transactions, analyze payment data, or view sales reports easily. These insights enable better decision-making and financial planning for marketplace owners.

Conclusion

Integrating a reliable and efficient payment solution is essential for the success and growth of an online marketplace but choosing the right marketplace payment solution is also crucial for ensuring this success. The right payment solution like PayTabs will provide benefits that extend beyond secure and efficient payment processing. It can streamline financial management, increase trust and loyalty among customers, enhance user experience, and expand market reach.

Carefully consider your needs and requirements with a marketplace payment solution and choose the payment gateway that ticks most boxes and is within your budget as well.

The Covid-19 pandemic, advancements in technology, and the emergence of FinTech firms around the world have given rise to a cashless economy. The change in payment space is happening so fast that we’ve gone past cash, cards, and cheques and ushered in an era where transactions get completed in one click through our smartphones.

In this changing economic landscape, accepting online payments has become a necessity for small businesses. It enhances customer convenience and enables you to go beyond geographic limitations and add new customers. Payment gateways help you set up a payment page online and let you accept payments seamlessly. It also gives your website a professional look, as customers are more likely to complete payment when they see a familiar name during checkout.

For businesses that are just setting up their online shop or want to integrate online payments into the buying process, this article can be of great help. We’ll explore what payment gateways are, how you can set up custom payment pages for small businesses, and why they are important for your business.

What are Payment Gateways?

Before diving straight into creating personalized payment pages, it’s important to understand payment gateways and how they work. Payment gateways are intermediaries between your website and the financial institution involved in the transaction. They allow the transfer of funds from a customer’s account to the merchant’s account and ensure the process is secured throughout. Payment gateways protect against fraud and unauthorized access by encrypting the customer’s sensitive information, such as credit card details. While some hosted payment gateways have their own payment page, several payment gateways enable you to create a payment page that is reflective of your business and your website.

How to Set up Custom Payment Pages for Your Small Business

A custom payment page can help you increase sales and enhance customer experience. The generic process of setting up a customized payment portal for your website is as follows.

Choose a Payment Gateway Provider

Select a payment gateway provider you can trust and one that suits your business needs. Before choosing the right one, there are several factors to consider, such as transaction fees, security features, ease of integration, and supported payment methods.

Customize the Payment Page Design

After selecting the payment gateway provider, it’s time to design the payment page that aligns with your brand identity. Add logos and graphics, choose colors, and more to personalize the checkout process. This helps in creating a consistent and professional experience for your customer.

Provide Essential Information

While the design of the payment page is crucial, don’t forget to include all the essential information that a customer might need to complete transactions smoothly. Transparency is key in building customer trust, so include information like the product description, pricing details, and shipping options.

Implement Security Measures

The increase in cyber-attacks and information theft has made customers wary of online payments. Before proceeding with the payment, they look for security features like SSL encryption, PCI compliance, and fraud detection. Work with payment gateways that provide security measures to ensure customers’ data and money are safe and secured.

Also Read: Why is It Important to Be PCI Compliant?

Test the Payment Page

Now that the design, information, and security are taken care of, release the payment page. But before making the page live, it’s best if you thoroughly test it and ensure everything is working correctly. Complete some test transactions to look for any drawbacks or limitations that can spoil the customer experience.

Advantages of Custom Payment Pages

Enhanced Branding

Customizing a payment page offers an opportunity to strengthen your brand’s presence and create a consistent visual identity throughout the customer journey. Incorporating your company logo, brand colors, and unique design elements allows you to align the payment experience with the rest of your website or storefront. This branding consistency helps customers recognize and trust your business, fostering a sense of professionalism and reliability.

Improved User Experience

The interface and design of the payment page can greatly impact the user experience. A simple, easy-to-use, and seamless payment process minimizes customer confusion or frustration. A customized payment page makes the transaction process seamless and reduces friction during checkout. This reduces cart abandonment and increases the chances of customers returning to the website.

Personalization and Flexibility

Standard payment solutions don’t provide the level of personalization and flexibility of a customized payment page. You can tailor the page to reflect customer preferences and business requirements. For instance, you can add “request additional customer information” to make transactions faster in the future, offer multiple payment options, including upsell opportunities, and more. This customization enables you to create a payment experience unique to your brand.

Data Collection and Analysis

Custom payment pages can be leveraged as a valuable data collection and analysis tool. They gather valuable insights into customer behavior, purchasing patterns, and preferences. This data is leveraged to form marketing strategies and product offerings and enhance customer relations. Informed business decisions backed by data help optimize the overall sales process.

Seamless Integration

One of the biggest advantages of custom payment pages is that they can be seamlessly integrated into the entire selling network. Payment gateway providers offer Application Programming interfaces, or APIs, for easy integration. This enables you to provide a cohesive payment experience across your existing website or online store.

Conclusion

Setting up a custom payment page for small organizations is essential to accept online payments from customers and optimize the payment process. The brand identity on the payment page demonstrates professionalism, instills trust in customers, and builds credibility. PayTabs is a reliable payment gateway provider that lets you design your payment page and provide a unique experience to the customers while ensuring security measures are in place. Create the design of your payment page that aligns with your brand’s identity and provides the customer with a professional and consistent experience.

E-commerce has made its presence felt all over the world. More than 2 billion people in the world buy products online, and by 2040, it’s estimated that more than 90% of shopping will be done online. In such an economy where online payments have replaced physical cash, payment gateways play a vital role. They facilitate seamless transactions between customers and businesses. These gateways ensure that transactions are secure and convenient, enabling customers to buy products easily. Payment gateways are important for any online business, but not every payment gateway is the same.

Let’s explore the different types of payment gateways, their pros and cons, and which you should choose for your business.

Different Types of Payment Gateways

1. Hosted Payment Gateways

Hosted payment gateways redirect customers to a secure payment page hosted on a third-party platform. Customers don’t stay on the same page and have to complete the payment on a different page. Once the transaction is complete, the customer gets redirected back to the original checkout page.

Pros:

• Quick and easy integration.
• Enhanced security as payment data is handled by the service provider.
• PCI compliance is handled by the service provider, not the merchant.

Cons:

• No control over the interface of the payment page.
• Customers are redirected to another page in the middle of the transaction, disrupting the checkout experience.
• Redirection can raise trust issues for customers and impact conversion rates.

2. Self-Hosted Payment Gateways

Businesses get greater control over their checkout process through self-hosted payment gateways. They can host the payment gateway on their own server, giving a higher degree of customization and integration flexibility.

Pros:

• Creates a seamless customer experience with a customized checkout process.
• Can easily be integrated with inventory management, customer relationship management, and other business systems.
• Store customer payment data securely for future use.

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
• Increased responsibility for ensuring PCI compliance and maintaining security measures.

3. API-Integrated Payment Gateways

Companies can integrate payment functionality directly in their websites or apps with the help of Application Programming Interfaces or APIs. API-integrated payment gateways offer maximum customization and control over the payment process.

Pros:

• Complete control over the user interface and checkout experience.
• Integrates with existing applications seamlessly, allowing for a consistent user journey.
• Allows building unique features that can tailor specific business needs.

Cons:

• Advanced development skills and resources are required.
• Bit complex in terms of implementation and maintenance.
• The merchant is responsible for ensuring proper security and compliance.

4. Local Bank Integration Gateway

Among the types of payment gateways, this is a trustworthy option for companies. Businesses can also integrate their website or e-commerce platform with their local bank’s payment processing system. This integration is beneficial for businesses operating in specific regions or countries where customers prefer using local banking systems.

Pros:

• Increases customer trust as they see a familiar name during payments.
• Provides more support to local payment methods.
• Potentially lower transaction fees for local bank transfers compared to credit card payments.

Cons:

• The reach and availability of the business depend on the supported banks and their reach.
• Higher complexity in integration and setup compared to other payment gateways.
• Customization is limited as compared to other gateways.

How to Choose the Correct Payment Gateway for your Business?

The right type of payment gateway for your business can impact the success of your online operations and is a critical decision. Here are some essential factors to consider when selecting a payment gateway.

Security

One of the biggest priorities while choosing a payment gateway should be security. It should be compliant with the highest security standards, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). Look for features like tokenization, encryption, and fraud detection tools to safeguard sensitive customer data.

Integration and Compatibility

Check whether the payment gateway is compatible with your website. Smooth integration ensures a user-friendly checkout experience that improves customer satisfaction. Look for gateways that offer plugins, APIs, or pre-built integrations with popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento.

Also Read: Top 5 Payment Gateway APIs That Every Developer Must Know

Supported Payment Methods

Evaluate the payment methods supported by the gateway. It should provide options that align with your target audience’s preferences. Common payment methods include digital wallets, bank transfers, credit and debit cards or alternate ways like PayPal, Alipay, and PayTabs. Offering diverse payment options can enhance customer satisfaction and increase conversion rates.

Fees and Pricing Structure

Understanding the fee structure associated with the payment gateway is crucial. Compare the transaction fees, setup fees, monthly fees, and other charges of different gateways to select the best one within your budget and projected transaction volumes.

Customer Support

The payment gateway should provide excellent customer support to resolve issues promptly. Responsive and knowledgeable support available 24/7 via email, phone, or live chat will ensure minimal disruptions to the business.

Scalability and Growth Potential

Unless you want to plateau in growth, consider a payment gateway that grows with you and can handle the increasing transaction volumes without compromising performance or security. Gateways that offer flexible plans and the ability to integrate with additional features or services as your business expands are a safer bet.

Reputation and Reviews

Don’t overlook customer reviews and testimonials. They provide a more personal experience of using and working with the gateway and provide insight into whether it suits your business.

Conclusion

Explore the various types of payment gateways for your online business and choose the right match to ensure smooth and secure transactions. Consider your specific requirements, technical capabilities, and customer preferences when making this decision. Among the multitude of payment gateway options available, PayTabs stands out as a reliable and comprehensive solution. With its user-friendly interface, robust security features, and excellent customer support, PayTabs is worth exploring for businesses of all sizes. Give PayTabs a try and experience hassle-free online payments that will propel your business forward.