Digital commerce is rapidly reshaping how small and medium businesses operate across the United States and Canada. SMBs are increasingly placing their operations on digital platforms to streamline processes, manage orders, and reach customers beyond traditional markets. A PayPal survey indicates that many medium-sized sellers opened up to online channels within just a few years, and the vast majority credit their online presence with driving measurable growth. In response to this shift, PayPal has introduced PayPal Complete Payments, a secure solution designed to handle a wide array of payment methods while scaling for local and cross-border commerce.
Access to new payment methods
With PayPal Complete Payments, small businesses gain access to a broad spectrum of payment options and secure data storage designed to reduce exposure to online threats. The system tokenizes payment details and stores them securely, so sensitive data does not traverse the internet, giving customers greater confidence in online transactions. PayPal highlights these capabilities as central to enabling business growth while protecting shoppers.
PayPal’s latest data show that active accounts in North America are in the tens of millions, and global accounts exceed several hundreds of millions, underscoring the growing importance of online payments for modern commerce. In 2024 and 2025 e-commerce across North America continued to expand as consumer confidence in digital payments rose, even as security remains a priority for brands seeking to minimize cart abandonment and lost sales.
Another finding cited by PayPal is that payment flexibility helps businesses reach new customers and supports repeat purchases. A broad mix of accepted methods empowers merchants to tailor checkout experiences to local preferences, improving conversion and loyalty.
Ultimately, the new PayPal solution addresses a crucial need for North American SMBs by modernizing payments, reducing risk, and broadening international reach.