Here’s an experiment you can do next Sunday.
Every week, millions of folks head to Mass on a Sunday. We go most weeks too, though we’re not hardcore fans in the traditional sense.
photo credit: anitakhart
How The Catholic Church Generates Funds Thru Small Payments
One of the occupation hazards of running your own business, it that you see everything else through the lens of starting, running and developing a business. Even when your neighbors are lining up to receive the Eucharist.
And it was while they were receiving the Eucharist that I began to count the different ways the church was receiving funds.
- Collections basket – First, by accident, I knocked over the Collections basket. This is passed around during Mass and everyone chips in. The amount you donate is up to you. Most donate a few Euros and their children, who want to be involved, are also given some loose change to drop in.
- Special Events – At special times of the year, the Collections basket is circulated twice during Mass raising the small dilemma of how much to give to each cause without others thinking that you’re stingy. Running out of small change can be slightly embarrassing.
- Post Box – Next, I saw the Collection Post Box behind me. It’s like a traditional post box and let’s folks drop in an envelope with their donations, for example, during the week or if they can’t get to Mass on Sunday. Collection Boxes are placed in different parts of the Church.
- Partners – Outside, there are two other collection baskets: one for when you enter (it’s actually on the steps) was for St Vincent’s De Paul (helps children in Africa, I believe) and a second inside the doors (for another cause, I didn’t get the name).
- Candles – You can buy a candle and pray for the souls of those who have passed away. There is no fixed amount, though most give one or two euros.
- Newsletter – During the Mass, the priest also reminded us about the Newsletter. I’m not sure if it’s free. I think there was a small subscription fee.
- Refreshments – After Mass, we went to the Little Flower Hall for a chat with our friends. The coffee and biscuits are free, though a small donation is expected.
What I want to share here is the multiple ways the church, as a business organization, helps it’s members make small payments.
Small payments add up, especially if you can create a large customer base.
Applying the Small Payment Model to Your Business
The takeaway is this. Instead of trying to hit your customers with single large payments, look for ways to break out the payments into smaller, more affordable options.
Look at how others do it both online and offline.
Why?
The focus of this site is to help you setup an online business and develop passive income streams.
Most blogs haven’t figured this out. But, offline, traditional businesses have. And these are the best place to look for examples of business models that have been setup, tested, and refined.
Do these sound familiar?
- Pay 0% today.
- 10 easy payments.
- No interest until 2012.
- 100% Refund.
- Try it for 30 days.
All of these are designed to convert you (no pun intended) from a prospect to a customer. The size of the payment doesn’t really matter. It’s getting you to make the commitment to use the product that matters.
And that’s what you need to do with your online business. Find ways to get your product on the customer’s PC, iPhone or in their home. Once you have them as a micro-customer you can offer them more incentives and get to to try more of your products.
How the Church does it is one example.
Can you think of others?