As an aspiring Internet Marketer based outside of the US, my issue is probably quite common to non-US marketers. I’m really a newbie in terms of starting an online business, and essentially I’m looking to get into the affiliate model. So far I’ve done some market research on a few niches and feel ready to dive in one, even if it’s just for learning in the first instance. I’m planning to do this with a Wordpress blog and add a theme to give it a not too bloggy look and feel.

I realize though that I’ve been stuck at this point for a while and the big thing that holds me back is that it is currently totally unclear to me how I will be able to take payments from affiliate programs or even customers further down the line. Being based in Europe in a non-Anglo saxon country, but planning to market to the Anglo-saxon market and then mostly to US purchasers, I will probably be paid in commission checks as an affiliate. This is where I’m stuck. If I want them to send the checks to me in Europe, a few issues come up: 1. Cheques could get ‘lost’ in the post. 2. Cashing in US cheques here means you lose about half the money in fees to the bank. If the cheques are in small amounts it would actually cost more in administrative cost than the cheque is worth.

Could any of you help me figuring out what other options I have?
- Opening a bank account in the US (remote)? It looks unlikely that this will be accepted by US banks (to provide an account to non- residents, I mean). Additionally how do I send them the cheques. Back from Europe to America (invoking shipping costs and risk of loss), or straight to the bank? How? If anyone knows of a bank where this is possible, I would love to hear about it in more detail.
- PayPal: Probably best option. However I’m a total newbie as far as this is concerned as well. Can they create me a credit card that I can then also use to make my business expenses with (hosting, advertising,…)? Do affiliates always offer the possibility to pay you out in a paypal account, or will I be very limited when choosing affiliate programs that do this? Will I pay a lot of commissions? Is there a webpage that explains the PayPal system for dummies like me in this subject?
- Are there other ways of taking the payments especially when based abroad without a US bank account?

I look forward to hear your suggestions or better even to hear about currently working models.

Thanks,
Francis