Alternatives to Google Checkout for your pet business

This coming November 20th, 2013, Google will shut down its Google Checkout product.

For pet businesses currently utilizing Google Checkout, perhaps in addition to Paypal, here’s how this may affect you according to Google:

- Merchants selling digital goods may transition to Google Wallet for digital goods Merchants selling through Google-hosted marketplaces (e.g. Google Play) will be unaffected
- Merchants selling physical goods will need to switch to third-party alternatives.

We've investigated a few alternatives to Google Checkout for a few of our pet business clients and here are our recommendations:

Amazon Payments - Our number one alternative to Google Checkout. Why? Because Amazon has a wonderful brand awareness, and trust within the consumer community. Amazon charges the standard 2.9% + .30 per transaction. Transaction volume above $3,000 per month carries less percentage. Here's what Amazon says about their Payments product:

Checkout by Amazon is a complete checkout and payment solution for ecommerce retailers. You can offer it as a checkout or payment option on your retail website to enable millions of Amazon customers to use information stored in their Amazon.com accounts to buy on your site. Your customers use shipping addresses and payment methods stored in their Amazon.com accounts to checkout on your website.

Braintree - Google recommends Braintree as one of their alternative payment products. Braintree charges 2.9% + .30 per transaction for transaction fees, fairly standard in the industry. Here is what Braintree says about their product:

A free, easy, and completely customizable platform for splitting payments between you and your providers. With zero additional fees, easy compliance, and flexible escrow, payouts are about to get a lot better for your market-style business.

Stripe - Another option for payment transactions, also at the standard 2.9% + .30 per transaction. Stripe is utilized by some heavy hitters on the web including PopSugar and Mashable. Here's what Stripe says about their product:

Stripe is the easiest way to accept credit and debit card payments online. With Stripe, you can create exactly the payment experience you want in your website or mobile app, and (we) they handle everything from security to daily transfers to your bank account.

These recommendations should help you in providing alternative payment systems for your pet business customers.