Figure out how you want to receive payments (including security deposit and first and last month's rent, if applicable), and try to establish that expectation up front. Aside from getting a check each month, there are a few options for rent collection available:

Direct account transfers:
A simple and free solution if your bank allows it, but you have to give your account and routing number to your tenant.
ACH:
An automated clearing house allows you to withdraw money directly from the tenant's bank account.
PayPal:
Collecting rent via PayPal is fairly easy, but is hard to automate and can come with fees, depending on the source of the funds.
Rent collection services:
These systems can automate collection and even late fees, but you usually have to pay monthly for the service.