How to Create Payment Method Breakdown Reports in PayHelm

Overview

PayHelm allows you to create detailed reports that break down your sales performance by payment method. This helps you understand customer payment preferences and optimize your checkout experience based on data-driven insights about credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, and other payment options.

What Payment Method Reports Show

Available Metrics

Payment method breakdown reports can include:
• Total Sales: Revenue generated by each payment method
• Total Orders: Number of transactions per payment method
• Total Revenue: Complete revenue breakdown by payment type
• Total Items Sold: Quantity of products sold via each method
• Total Conversions: Conversion rates by payment method

Common Payment Methods Tracked

PayHelm tracks various payment methods including:
• Credit Card transactions
• PayPal payments
• PayPal (Venmo) transactions
• PayPal Pro Later (Buy Now, Pay Later)
• Other payment processors connected to your store

How to Create a Payment Method Report

Step 1: Navigate to Reports

1. Log into your PayHelm dashboard
2. Click on the "Reports" tab in the main navigation
3. Select "Custom Reports" or look for the "Create New Report" button

Step 2: Set Up Your Report

1. Click "Create New Report" to start building your custom report
2. Choose your report type: Select "Sales Analysis" or "Payment Analysis"
3. Set your date range: Select the time period you want to analyze
4. Name your report: Give it a descriptive name like "Payment Method Breakdown"

Step 3: Configure Payment Method Breakdown

1. Add Payment Method as a dimension:
- Look for "Group By" or "Breakdown By" options - Select "Payment Method" from the available dimensions
2. Choose your metrics:
- Total Sales (revenue) - Total Orders (transaction count) - Total Items Sold (quantity) - Average Order Value - Conversion Rate (if applicable)

Step 4: Customize and Generate

1. Apply filters (optional):
- Filter by specific platforms or stores - Exclude refunded orders if desired - Filter by customer segments
2. Preview your report to ensure it shows the expected data
3. Click "Generate Report" to create your payment method breakdown
4. Save the report for future use

Editing and Customizing Your Report

Using the Edit Function

After your report is created, you can modify it:

1. Locate the Edit button in the top right corner of your report
2. Click Edit to access customization options
3. Modify metrics: Add or remove data columns as needed
4. Adjust filters: Change date ranges or payment method filters
5. Update groupings: Change how data is organized or displayed
6. Save changes to update your report

Customization Options

You can adjust:
• Date ranges: Change the analysis period
• Payment method filters: Include/exclude specific payment types
• Additional metrics: Add more data columns
• Sorting: Order results by volume, revenue, or alphabetically
• Export format: Choose CSV, PDF, or other formats

Understanding Your Payment Method Data

Analyzing Customer Preferences

Use your payment method report to:
• Identify popular payment options: See which methods customers prefer
• Optimize checkout flow: Prioritize the most-used payment methods
• Reduce friction: Ensure top payment methods work smoothly
• Plan integrations: Consider adding payment methods that might appeal to your audience

Business Insights

Payment method data helps you:
• Improve conversion rates: Optimize for preferred payment methods
• Reduce abandoned carts: Address payment method limitations
• Understand customer demographics: Different methods appeal to different customer segments
• Plan inventory: Some payment methods correlate with different purchase behaviors

Advanced Report Features

Filtering Options

Create more targeted reports by filtering:
• By platform: Analyze specific sales channels (Shopify, Amazon, etc.)
• By customer type: New vs returning customers
• By order value: High-value vs regular transactions
• By geography: Regional payment preferences

Comparing Time Periods

• Month-over-month: Track payment method trends
• Year-over-year: Identify seasonal patterns
• Custom periods: Compare specific campaign or promotion periods

Automated Reports

Set up automatic report generation:
1. Create your report with desired settings
2. Click "Schedule" or look for automation options
3. Choose frequency: Daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly
4. Set delivery: Email reports to team members
5. Configure alerts: Get notified of significant changes

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Report Shows No Data

• Check date range: Ensure the period includes transaction data
• Verify integrations: Confirm your payment processors are connected
• Review filters: Make sure filters aren't excluding all data
• Wait for sync: Recent transactions may take time to appear

Missing Payment Methods

• Check integration status: Ensure all payment processors are synced
• Review payment processor settings: Verify all methods are enabled
• Contact platform support: Some payment methods may need special setup

Inaccurate Numbers

• Verify sync timing: Recent data may still be processing
• Check for duplicates: Ensure integrations aren't double-counting
• Review refund handling: Confirm how returns affect your numbers

Related Analytics Features

Traffic and Attribution Reports

PayHelm also offers advertising reports that complement payment method analysis:
• Return on ad spend (ROAS) tracking
• Traffic source analysis on the Traffic page
• First-click and last-click attribution data
• Customer journey insights from ad to purchase

Integration with Other Reports

Payment method data works well with:
• Customer segmentation reports
• Product performance analysis
• Geographic sales breakdowns
• Seasonal trend analysis

Best Practices for Payment Method Analysis

Regular Review Schedule

• Weekly monitoring: Track payment method trends during campaigns
• Monthly analysis: Review overall payment preferences
• Quarterly assessments: Evaluate payment method performance
• Annual planning: Use data for payment strategy planning

Actionable Insights

Use payment method data to:
1. Prioritize payment options: Put popular methods first in checkout
2. Test new integrations: Add payment methods your customers want
3. Identify issues: Monitor for declining usage of specific methods
4. Optimize mobile experience: Ensure mobile-friendly payment options work well

Combining with Other Data

Enhanced insights come from combining payment method data with:
• Customer acquisition costs by payment method
• Average order values per payment type
• Return rates by payment method
• Customer lifetime value trends

Exporting and Sharing Reports

Export Options

• CSV format: For spreadsheet analysis and further data manipulation
• PDF format: For presentations and sharing with stakeholders
• Direct sharing: Email reports to team members or stakeholders
• API access: Integrate data with other business intelligence tools

Scheduling Regular Reports

1. Set up automated delivery: Schedule reports to be sent automatically
2. Choose recipients: Send to relevant team members
3. Customize frequency: Match your business review cycle
4. Monitor performance: Track how payment preferences change over time

Payment method breakdown reports provide valuable insights into customer behavior and can significantly impact your checkout optimization and business strategy. With PayHelm's self-service reporting tools, you can quickly generate these insights and make data-driven decisions about your payment strategy.