PayPal Setup Instructions
Step 1: Set Up a Verified PayPal Business Account
Customers who don't have an existing PayPal account:
- Go to http://www.paypal.com
- Click Sign Up Today.
- Set up an account for Business Owners.
- Follow the instructions on the PayPal site.
Customers who already have a Personal or Premier account:
- Go to http://www.paypal.com
- Click the Upgrade your Account link.
- Click the Upgrade Now button.
- Choose to upgrade to a Business account and follow instructions to complete the upgrade.
- If you haven't already, add a bank account to become a Verified member. Follow the instructions on the PayPal site. This process may take 2-3 business days.
Step 2: Apply for Website Payments Pro
This step is only required for Website Payments Pro.
- Go to https://www.paypal.com.
- Click the Merchant Services tab.
- Click Website Payments Pro (U.S. Only).
- Click Sign Up Now.
- Fill in your information, and submit your application. Approval takes between 24 and 48 hours.
- Once approved, accept the Pro billing agreement. Check the Getting Started section on the upper left of your account overview page.
Step 3: Setup API Access
First-party authentication: Download API certificate
- Log in to your PayPal account and click the Profile subtab.
- Click the API Access link under the Account Information column.
- Click the Request API Credential link.
- Select the type of credential.
- If you selected API SSL client-side certificate, click Download Certificate on the Download or Remove API Certificate page. You will be prompted to download a file called cert_key_pem.txt. This file is your API Certificate. Be sure to write down the name and location of the certificate.
Third-party authentication: Grant your cart the appropriate API authentication permissions
- Log in to your PayPal account and click the Profile subtab.
- Click the API Access link in the Account Information column.
- Click the Grant API Permission link.
- In the Enter an API Partner Username field, enter "insert your API Partner Username".
- Check Express_Checkout and any other APIs the customer needs to access:
- Direct_Payment
- Express_Checkout
- Admin_API
- Auth_Settle
- Click the Save button.