E-commerce
Online Payments: What Businesses Need to Consider
Gateways, fees, settlement times and trust — how to choose and set up online payments for a Sri Lankan business.
On this page
Payments are the moment your store earns or loses the customer. Here is what actually matters when setting them up.
Gateway Options in Sri Lanka
PayHere, PayPlus, Onepay and direct bank integrations each differ in setup cost, transaction fees (typically ~2.5–3.5%) and settlement time. Compare on total monthly cost at your volume, not headline setup fees.
Give at Least Two Methods
Cards plus cash on delivery covers most of the market. COD builds trust for first-time buyers; cards reduce your delivery risk. Whichever you lead with, show all options early — not just at final checkout.
The Fees Reality
A 3% fee feels painful until you compare it with the cost of the sale it enables: delivery, packaging, your time taking phone orders. Price your products knowing the fee — do not discover it after.
Trust Signals at Checkout
- Show the gateway's logo and secure-badge at payment
- Display exact totals with shipping before the payment step
- Send instant confirmation — silence reads as failure
Practical Setup Notes
- Test with small real transactions before launch day
- Keep refund policy and support contact one tap from checkout
- Reconcile gateway settlements against orders weekly — mismatched amounts are almost always timezone or refund timing, but only weekly checks catch them
International Cards
If you sell beyond Sri Lanka, confirm your gateway supports international cards and price in USD as well. Many local gateways enable this with a toggle — many stores forget to flip it.
Payments are plumbing: invisible when right, fatal when wrong. Set them up carefully once, then leave them alone.
Written by
Thamilnilavan
