Business bank account to sell online without a website

Selling online or sharing payment links for your products and services is one of the most modern, flexible, and cost-effective ways to get paid.

You no longer need a website, a complicated checkout system, or an expensive card machine. Instead, you can:

• Send a simple secure payment link to a customer by text, WhatsApp, or email.
• Let them pay instantly by debit or credit card.
• See the money arrive directly in your business bank account.

This approach has several benefits for small businesses and self-starters:

• Faster setup. Start selling in minutes, not weeks.
• Low cost. No web hosting or complex e-commerce tools.
• Trustworthy. Customers feel safe with secure card payments.
• Flexible. Works online, on social media, or face-to-face.
• Professional. Invoices and payment records are automatically tracked.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a market seller, a tutor, or an online creator, this method makes it easy to look professional and get paid reliably.

How it works step by step

Selling online without a website is easier than you might think. Here’s the typical flow:

1. Create a payment link
   • Log in to your business banking app (e.g. GoSolo, Tide, Monzo, Starling).
   • Enter the amount and a short description (e.g. “Yoga class – £20”).
   • The app generates a secure payment link.
     
2. Send the link to your customer
   • Share via WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Facebook Messenger, text, or email.
   • Customers click the link on their phone or computer.
     
3. Customer pays
   • They enter their debit/credit card details or pay with Apple Pay/Google Pay.
   • The payment is processed securely through the card networks.
     
4. Money arrives in your business account
   • Funds usually appear instantly or within 1–2 working days (depending on the bank).
   • Both you and the customer get a confirmation.
     
5. Automatic records
   • The payment shows in your business account.
   • Some banks also generate an invoice automatically.

That’s it — no website, no card machine, no checkout system. Just a phone and a business bank account.

💡Pro tip:
For in-person sales (like at markets or events), you can skip the link and use Tap to Pay on your phone. Customers simply tap their card or smartphone against yours, and the money goes straight into your account.

Why you don’t need a website to sell online

Traditionally, businesses needed a website with an online checkout. Today, fintech banks and payment providers make it possible to sell without one.

Examples of use cases:

• A fitness coach posts workouts on Instagram and shares a payment link to book classes.
• A cleaning service invoices clients and collects card payments via link.
• An artist or creator sells through TikTok or Facebook Marketplace and gets paid via payment request.

💡Pro tip:
Customers are used to paying by link — it feels as safe as buying from an online shop.

Business bank accounts with payment links

Some modern business bank accounts let you sell online instantly by generating payment links:

• GoSolo: UK business account + payment links + company formation in one.
• Tide: Simple payment links and invoicing tools.
• Monzo Business: Request money feature with links.
• Starling Bank: Integration with third-party payment processors.

Why this matters:
No website, no card reader, no upfront setup cost — just your phone and a bank account.

Accepting payments in person (without a card reader)

With Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android, your phone itself becomes a card reader.

Providers include:

• Square
• Zettle by PayPal
• SumUp
• Stripe Terminal
• GoSolo

You don’t need a physical machine — just an app. Customers tap their card or phone against yours, and the payment goes through.

💡Pro tip:
This is perfect for market stalls, events, or service-based businesses (like gardeners, tutors, beauticians).

Invoicing and recurring payments

Many business bank accounts also let you create invoices inside the app, which customers can pay by card or bank transfer.

• GoSolo and Tide: instant invoice + payment link.
• Starling and Monzo: invoice templates with reminders.
• Wise Business: recurring invoices and international payments.

Why this matters:
You don’t need a separate invoicing tool when your bank does it all.

Costs and fees

• Payment link transactions usually charge 1%–2.5% per transaction (varies by provider).
• No website hosting or merchant account fees.
• Many digital business bank accounts are free to open with no monthly fee.

💡Pro tip:
If you only take a few payments per month, links are cheaper than running a full e-commerce site.

Real-life examples

Here are some ways self-starters use payment links and Tap to Pay without needing a website:

• Tutor (English lessons online):
  Emma runs one-to-one English lessons via Zoom. Instead of asking for bank transfers, she sends a £25 payment link through WhatsApp before each session. Her students pay by card in seconds, and she gets paid straight into her business account.
  
• Fitness instructor (yoga classes):
  James teaches yoga in a local hall. He doesn’t have a website, but on Instagram he posts class times with “Book now via this link.” Students click, pay £10 by card, and show the confirmation at the class. No messy cash handling.
  
• Gardener (local services):
  Sarah offers gardening services. At the end of each job, she opens her business banking app, generates a £60 payment link, and texts it to the client. They pay by card while she’s still at the property — no invoices, no waiting weeks for bank transfers.
  
• Artist (selling on social media):
  Alex posts paintings on Instagram. When a buyer comments “I’d love this one,” he sends a payment request link. The buyer pays £150 by card, and the funds arrive in Alex’s business account before he ships the painting.
  
• Mobile beauty service (hair & nails at home):
  Maria visits clients at home for haircuts. Instead of carrying cash or a card reader, she uses Tap to Pay on iPhone — clients tap their card or phone against hers, and the money lands in her business account.

💡Pro tip:
These tools are especially powerful for service-based businesses and creatives. If your customers find you on Instagram, TikTok, or by word of mouth, payment links let you turn conversations directly into sales — no website required.

Summary

• Open a digital business bank account (GoSolo, Tide, Monzo, Starling).
• Use payment links to sell directly via social media, email, or messaging apps.
• Use Tap to Pay apps to take contactless payments in person.
• Send invoices with built-in tools and get paid by card.
• Keep your finances clean and HMRC-compliant with a separate business account.

FAQs