I don’t know about you, but most of the time I get paid for my freelance writing work through Paypal. There are pros and cons to this. If I’m busy, I don’t have to leave the house to cash a check, but on the other hand, if I get a big paycheck, that little 1.9% to 2.9% fee starts to add up. I haven’t really noticed much discussion about this, so I thought I would lay out some of the pros and cons I’ve noticed when using Paypal.

The Pros

Convenience – As I said before, there’s nothing nicer than money gliding directly from your client to your Paypal account to your bank account while you type away in your pj’s. In fact, with Paypal and my area’s many grocery, produce, and food delivery services, I could feasibly stay in the house for years without ever darkening the doorway. Not that I would want to. I get cabin fever in a bad way. And I would be incredibly, terribly, soul-crushingly lonely. Woe.

Accountability – With Paypal, the old “Check’s in the mail” song and dance is a thing of the past. Either they have paid you or they haven’t.  On your end, Paypal also keeps a log of all the payments it handles for you, making monthly reports and tax time just that much easier.

Speed – With Paypal you are not at the mercy of the mailperson, those dreaded mail-less Sundays, check printing mishaps, or any other small nuisances that seem to get in the way of a paycheck landing in your hot little hands.  (As an interesting side note, when we first moved into our new place, we were getting mail twice a day. Then, like a dolt, I made the mistake of mentioning that to a mail man who had knocked on the door to give me a certified letter. He narrowed his eyes, said “No, ma’am, you are mistaken,” and we never got two daily deliveries again. I’m still kicking myself for mentioning it.)

The Cons

Processing Fee – That darn fee really starts to add up. I’m glad Paypal doesn’t keep a tally anywhere of how much money I’ve paid them to handle my payments, because I’m sure I would look at the total, imagine all the delicious gourmet yummies I could have bought at Whole Foods with all that dough, and shake my head sadly while munching on a half-frozen enchilada.

Transfer Time – While some people use a Paypal debit card and thus have instant access to their funds, for accounting and access purposes, I transfer all my payments to a bank account. This takes 3-4 business days. While it’s still great to know that you have the money and won’t be at the mercy of any of the aforementioned check-sending obstacles, this waiting period is similar to the waiting period you would experience if the client simply cut the check and mailed it the day you invoiced.

Customer Service Hoops – I once had someone from China try to hack my Paypal account. Paypal, understandably, quickly took steps to protect me and my money by shutting the account down. I had nothing but respect and gratitude for them for doing that, but when it came time to reactivate the account, I had to jump through some major hoops.  Luckily, I wasn’t using Paypal as a paycheck at the time and it didn’t affect me like it would today, but I can only imagine what would happen if I was barred from my Paypal for almost a month right now.  It would definitely hurt.

So, like everything in life, Paypal has its pros in cons. I suppose there are work-arounds. For example, you could charge a small surcharge to clients who choose to pay you through Paypal. This would recoup the fee, but I suspect it would also encourage money minded clients (and what client isn’t?), to simply cut you a check, thus negating all of Paypal’s wonderful Pros. There’s also the option of the Paypal debit card. But for some freelancers who already have their financial systems in place, adding a new account to the mix could quite possibly upset the delicate balance. Especially if, like me, they are more word minded than math minded.

In conclusion, I think I will continue to treat the Paypal fee as a convenience charge rather than some sort of rapacious thievery. After all, Paypal is a company, and they need to make money, too.  How about you? I’d love to hear your opinions on Paypal vs. Checks, or payment methods in general, in the comments.

More from Jenn Escalona:

Spy vs. Spy: Freelance Writing Codewords Revealed

Testimonials: A Freelance Writer’s Evidence Part 1, Part 2 & Addendum

How I Landed My First Freelance Writing Job