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Step 1
Open an account. To use PayPal, first open an account by visiting PayPal.com and completing the online form. The company offers a variety of services. To pay for online purchases via credit card or check, you'll need to link your account to either a credit card or checking account. To receive payments or pay using funds received in your PayPal account, all you need to do is open the account.
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Step 2
Pay for online auction purchases. PayPal is the No. 1 payment service for online auction buyers, both in volume of payments and in popularity. The company facilitates sending instant, secure payments from your credit card or checking account to sellers all over the world. In addition, PayPal offers buyer protection on most purchases. For eBay purchases, you simply click on the PayPal icon from the email notifying you of your auction win to pay for your item.
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Step 3
Receive secure payments for services and online sales. PayPal is also useful to sellers, both on auction sites and via their own websites. Buyers trust PayPal's secure system; they might hesitate to send payment via your own payment link or via check. PayPal will send you an email announcing the funds when a payment is received.
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Step 4
Get cash back on PayPal debit-card sales. It's easy to spend the money that you collect in your PayPal account. You can apply for a debit card that is similar to a MasterCard, but deducts the funds from your PayPal account. PayPal credits your account a percentage of each purchase you make.
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Step 5
Send payments to service providers. PayPal simplifies sending payment to individuals anywhere in the world. Freelancers no longer have to wait weeks for overseas payments or worry about exchange rates. Companies hiring writers, translators, artists and other service providers can pay them instantly via PayPal. A small fee is deducted from payments sent by non-business account holders. To send funds via PayPal, visit the site and click on the "send money" tab.
