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#108 · How to Lose a 170,000 Subscriber Instagram Channel

youtube ↗Other

I'm reluctant to pick a niche and have no capital left beyond the first month. What can I do, and which payment processor should I use if I'm in a country without Stripe?

I don’t know exactly which processor I’d pick for you, but there are several options depending on your location. In Southeast Asia many people use Payoneer. There are also some Middle‑East‑specific platforms. In the EU you have a wide range of alternatives, though Stripe works in most European countries. Ultimately the best choice depends on where you are, but I’d still go with Stripe in the majority of cases—about nine times out of ten.

payment processorstripepayoneer

Related answers

youtube ↗Other

Are there alternatives or workarounds for using Stripe in countries where it's not available?

Yeah, there are definitely alternatives. You can't use Stripe in a country where it isn't offered. Take Bangladesh—without a verified business, getting Stripe to work is pretty low, but you can use Payoneer, PayPal, or other platforms like W (a competitor to School). Stripe is just a payment processor; it's great and I use it all the time, but it's only one piece of a functional business. Not having Stripe access doesn't prevent you from running a business.

stripepaymentalternativespayoneer
youtube ↗Sales

How can I improve my sales skills, and how can I receive payments from clients in Egypt given Stripe/PayPal limitations?

To get better at sales, the straightest path is to do a lot of it, but not in a vacuum—pair extensive practice with regular progress reviews to maintain a true feedback loop. Without that review, you just hit a feedback plateau. Regarding receiving payments from clients in Egypt, since Stripe doesn't support Egypt and PayPal holds funds, you'll need to use a local payment processor, which typically charges around a 5% fee. It's a hefty premium, but it's part of doing business there; Stripe is expected to add support for Egypt soon.

salespayment processingegypt
youtube ↗Agency Operations

If I use a US-based friend's Stripe account (I'm in a country where Stripe isn't available, he's a normal employed person), what's the tax situation if the money goes into his account? Is there any way to reduce it, e.g. treating me as an employee? Also, what kind of business do I need to start in the US, and do I need all that when just starting out?

I'm not American and don't know US tax law well enough to help with the Stripe/tax question directly — my honest recommendation is to put the details into ChatGPT with the most capable model available; it'll genuinely give you better guidance on this than I can right now. On the broader 'what do I need to start' question: you don't need a formal business or an accountant to take your first dollars — you just need a way to receive money (PayPal, Payoneer, or a platform like Upwork works well too). I don't actually recommend starting a business until you already have some money coming in — sell your first ~$5,000 in automations first, then form a business afterward. Starting the business ahead of time puts the cart before the horse.

taxespaymentsstripestarting a business