How to Collect Payments With Google Forms
Do you have a new business idea or something you want to sell online?
Maybe you are ready to take your first order, but there is one problem. You do not have a website. You also do not know how to connect your business to a payment system.
That can feel like a big roadblock.
But what if you could start with a tool you may already know how to use?
If you know how to create a Google Form, you can use it as the starting point for collecting payments online.
In this guide, I am going to show you how I use Google Forms with the Payable Forms add-on. This setup can help you sell services, products, subscriptions, and extras without creating a separate website first.
The best part is that you can keep much of your setup inside Google Forms.
That means fewer tools to manage and a much simpler workflow.
My goal is always the same: less time, less stress, and better results.
Let’s look at how this works.
Start With a Simple Google Form
You do not need a complicated form to get started.
In my first example, I have created a very basic Google Form.
I ask for only a few pieces of information:
- The customer’s name
- The customer’s email
- The training package they want
- Any optional extras they want to add
That is it.
The important part is how I list the products and prices.
For example, I might have several training options. Each option has a price written beside it.
This keeps things easy for the customer because they can see exactly what they are choosing.
It also keeps things easy for me.
I do not need to maintain another spreadsheet or database just to keep track of these prices.
If my prices change later, I can edit them right inside the Google Form.
That gives me one simple place to manage the choices I am giving my customers.
Add Prices Directly to Your Form
The key to this system is very simple.
I add the dollar value to the choices inside my Google Form.
For example, I can list a training package followed by its price.
Payable Forms looks for that dollar value and uses it to identify something that should be included in the customer’s order.
I like to separate the item name and price with a dash. You could also use another clear format, such as putting the price in parentheses.
The important thing is that the price is easy to see.
This also makes updating your business much easier.
Imagine that one of your services changes from one price to another. You do not need to update a separate store, product table, and order form.
You can simply edit the price in your Google Form.
For a small business owner who wants to keep things organized, that can make a big difference.
Increase Each Order With Optional Extras
Your main product or service does not have to be the only thing you sell.
You can also offer extras.
In my training example, I include optional add-ons such as rentals, VIP parking, and hot chocolate.
The customer does not have to choose these items.
But if they want them, they can add them to their order.
Each extra has its own price.
This gives customers more choice while also creating a simple way for me to increase the total value of an order.
Think about your own business.
What could you add to the main purchase?
You might offer:
- An upgraded package
- An extra service
- Equipment rental
- Premium access
- An additional session
- A related product
The exact extras will depend on what you sell.
The idea is to give customers useful options without making the form confusing.
Turn Google Forms Into a Payment Workflow
Adding a price to a Google Form does not make Google Forms collect money on its own.
For that, I am using a Google Forms add-on called Payable Forms.
This is the tool that connects the information in the form to the checkout experience.
From the customer’s point of view, the process is simple.
They open the form and answer the questions.
They enter details such as their name and email address.
Then they select the product, service, or package they want.
If there are optional extras, they can select those too.
When they finish the form, they do not just see a standard confirmation message.
Instead, they can see their order details.
That includes the items they selected, any taxes that apply, and the total amount they need to pay.
They can then enter their payment details and pay using a debit or credit card.
This turns a basic Google Form into a much more useful business workflow.
Let Customers Review Their Order
One thing I like about this setup is that the customer gets a clear view of what they selected.
In my example, I choose an adult training program.
I also choose rentals as an extra.
At checkout, I can see both items.
I can also see taxes and the full amount due.
That is important because customers should know what they are paying for.
It also creates a smoother experience.
They do not have to remember which boxes they checked or calculate the total themselves.
The payment page brings those choices together for them.
That makes the process feel more like a checkout system instead of a plain form.
Use Promo Codes for Discounts
Payable Forms can also work with promo codes.
This gives you another way to run offers through your Google Form.
For example, I can create a code that gives the customer 10% off.
When the customer enters the code and applies it, the discount is reflected in the total.
That opens up several possibilities.
You might use a promo code for:
- A special sale
- A customer reward
- A limited promotion
- A partner offer
- A special event
- A returning customer
You can decide when a discount makes sense for your business.
The useful part is that you do not need a full ecommerce website just to offer a promotional code.
It can be part of the same payment workflow.
Sell Services and Consulting
Google Forms payments are not only useful for physical products.
You can also use this setup for services.
In another example, I use a Google Form as if I were a consultant.
First, I ask what type of business the customer is running.
Then I ask what they would like to purchase from me.
I can list several services and put a price beside each one.
Once again, I can change those prices whenever I need to.
This can be useful for a consultant, coach, trainer, or other service-based business that wants a simple way to collect information and payment together.
Instead of asking a customer to complete one form and then sending them somewhere else to pay, I can build those steps into one connected process.
That helps me keep the workflow simple.
And you deserve to work without feeling overwhelmed.
Collect Recurring Subscription Payments
Not every business purchase happens only once.
Sometimes I may want to charge a customer every month or on another repeating schedule.
Payable Forms can help with that too.
In my consulting example, I can offer an additional monthly or bimonthly session.
To do this, I list the price in a recurring format.
For example, I might offer one option for $149 per month and another for $279 per month.
If the customer selects one of those options, it can become a repeating payment.
The customer continues to be charged based on the schedule I have specified until they decide to cancel.
This is useful because it means the same Google Form can support more than one type of offer.
I can sell a one-time service.
I can also offer an ongoing subscription.
That gives me more ways to build a payment system around the way my business actually works.
Sell Physical Products With Google Forms
You can also use this setup if you sell physical products.
In another example, I use candles.
My Google Form includes pictures of the candles I am offering.
I can ask the customer which candles they want.
I can also ask about things such as:
- Product size
- Package choice
- Quantity or option
- Preferred scent
The exact form will depend on what you sell.
That is one of the useful things about Google Forms. You can build the questions around your own products.
Payable Forms is mainly looking for the prices attached to your payable choices.
So you are free to organize the rest of the form in a way that makes sense for your customers.
Add Shipping or Handling Fees
Physical products create another question.
What about shipping?
If I am selling something that needs to be mailed to the customer, I may want to add a shipping fee automatically.
I can do this in the Payable Forms checkout settings.
There, I can add a handling fee.
The fee can be based on a percentage, a flat amount, or a combination of the two.
I can also change the label.
For example, I may want to call it a shipping fee.
Another business may prefer to call it a processing fee.
The label you choose should match the way you are using the charge.
Once I have set it up, I do not need to manually add the shipping fee to every order.
It can be applied during checkout.
That saves me from adding another question or calculation to the Google Form.
Add Taxes at Checkout
Taxes can also be included in the payment setup.
In my first example, the checkout page shows the taxes along with the products and extras I selected.
That means the customer can see the full amount before paying.
Again, the goal is to keep the experience clear.
I want the customer to know:
- What they selected
- What each item costs
- What extra charges apply
- What discount was used
- What the final total will be
Putting this information together creates a much cleaner checkout experience.
Why I Like This Simple System
What I like most about this workflow is that it starts with something familiar.
I do not need to begin by building a complete website.
I do not need to create a large online store before I know whether people even want what I am selling.
I can begin with a Google Form.
Then I can add the products or services I want to sell.
I can attach prices to those choices.
I can add Payable Forms.
From there, I can build a checkout experience around the form.
Depending on what I sell, I can also add discounts, subscriptions, taxes, shipping fees, and optional upgrades.
That gives me a flexible system without spreading the basic setup across many different tools.
For a business owner who already feels overwhelmed by too many apps, that simplicity matters.
A Simple Google Forms Payment Checklist
If you want to create a similar workflow, here is a simple way to think about it.
- Create your Google Form.
- Ask for the customer information you need.
- Add your products or services.
- Put a dollar value beside payable items.
- Add optional extras if needed.
- Set up the Payable Forms add-on.
- Configure taxes or other checkout fees.
- Add promo codes if you want discounts.
- Set recurring prices for subscription offers.
- Test the form from the customer’s point of view.
That final step is important.
Open your form the same way a customer would.
Choose an item.
Add an optional extra.
Review the order details.
Make sure the prices and fees appear the way you expect.
A simple test can help you catch problems before you share the form with customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I collect payments with Google Forms?
Google Forms itself is where I build the questions and choices. In this workflow, I use the Payable Forms add-on to create the payment and checkout experience connected to the form.
Do I need a website first?
No. The example in this guide is designed for someone who wants to start collecting payments without first building a website.
You can share the Google Form with customers and use it as the starting point for the order.
Can I change my prices later?
Yes. One of my favorite parts of this workflow is that I can change the prices right inside the Google Form.
I do not have to manage a separate table or spreadsheet just for the prices shown in the form.
Can I sell more than one item?
Yes. You can offer several products, packages, or services.
You can also offer optional extras to increase the value of an order.
Can I offer discount codes?
Yes. Payable Forms can support promo codes.
In my example, I apply a code that gives the customer a 10% discount.
Can I charge customers every month?
Yes. You can set up recurring choices such as a monthly service or another repeating schedule.
In my consulting example, I offer monthly and bimonthly options.
Can I sell physical products?
Yes.
My candle example shows how a Google Form can include product images, sizes, packages, scents, and other choices.
You can also configure a shipping or handling fee for products that need to be delivered.
Can I add shipping fees?
Yes. In the checkout settings, I can add a handling fee and label it as a shipping fee if that fits my business.
The fee can use a percentage, a flat amount, or both.
Can I include taxes?
Yes. Taxes can be configured so they appear as part of the order total at checkout.
Start Simple and Build From There
You do not need a complicated online store to test a new business idea.
You do not need dozens of apps just to see if someone is willing to buy your product or service.
Sometimes the best place to start is with a tool you already understand.
For me, that is what makes the Google Forms and Payable Forms combination so useful.
I can create a form.
I can add my prices.
I can offer upgrades.
I can sell one-time services or recurring subscriptions.
I can sell physical products and add shipping.
I can offer promo codes.
And I can bring those choices into a checkout experience where the customer can review the order and pay.
Most importantly, I can keep the workflow simple.
If you want the full setup process, including how to add the Payable Forms add-on to Google Forms, check out my complete Payable Forms tutorial.
And remember: you deserve to work without feeling overwhelmed.