How to find the first businesses to use your payments app
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
If your app helps businesses get paid, your first customers are shop owners, traders and online sellers. Winning the first ten is mostly about showing up and being useful.
Start with businesses you know
Your barber, the shop on your street, a friend who sells online. People who already know you are the easiest to try something new.
Pick one kind of business
Hair salons, food stalls or online clothing sellers all have different needs. Focus on one type first so your pitch and your app fit them well.
Visit in person
A short visit beats a long email:
- Go at a quiet time of day.
- Ask how they get paid today and what annoys them about it.
- Show your app on your phone in under a minute.
- Offer to set them up there and then.
Be there for the first payments
Check in after their first day and first week. Fixing a small problem quickly is what turns a trial into a loyal customer.
Ask for introductions
Happy business owners know other business owners. Ask each one who else they think would like it.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
How do I work with local businesses?
The partnerships guide covers teaming up with shops and traders.
Partner with local businesses →What will I earn from each business?
The earnings calculator shows what your fees could bring in.
Platform earnings calculator →Can I call it a bank?
In most countries "bank" is a protected word you can only use with a banking licence. Call it an account, a wallet, an app or a platform. The accounts and payments behind a SendPay Business platform are powered by licensed partners.
Is there a step-by-step plan I can follow?
Yes. The free launch checklist takes you from picking your people and naming your app to setting fees, going live and winning your first ten customers.
Digital bank app launch checklist →How do I start?
Pick a template, name it and preview every page before you pay. Your platform can be live on your own domain within 24 hours of confirmation.
Build my platform →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.