The verdict in three sentences
For a B2B SME in London, the ideal gateway must orchestrate three payment methods: cards for instant collection, SEPA transfer for large amounts and payment on terms (credit or B2B BNPL) to respect professional buying habits. Fees vary widely: 1.5-2.5% on cards, near-free on SEPA (0.25 EUR fixed), 1.5-3.5% for a B2B BNPL that guarantees payment. Integration costs 6,000-20,000 EUR over 3-7 weeks, with maintenance of 350-800 EUR/month.
B2B payment fees by method 2026
In B2B, the high average basket changes the equation entirely: a percentage quickly becomes more expensive than a fixed fee. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Method | Commission | Fixed fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card | 1.5-2.5% | 0.25 EUR | baskets < 1,000 EUR |
| SEPA transfer | ~0% | ~0.25 EUR | large amounts |
| SEPA direct debit | 0.35% | 0.25 EUR | subscriptions, recurring |
| B2B BNPL (guaranteed payment) | 1.5-3.5% | by offer | secured terms |
| Internal credit (30-60 d) | 0% | cash-flow cost | loyal customers |
Credit management and integration
The real B2B challenge is credit: granting payment terms while protecting cash flow. The gateway must handle limits, dunning and ERP reconciliation.
| Item | Detail | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-method integration | card + SEPA + BNPL | 6,000-20,000 EUR |
| Implementation time | dev + testing | 3-7 weeks |
| Credit limits per customer | per account | included / 3,000-6,000 EUR |
| Automatic dunning | email, schedule | 2,000-5,000 EUR |
| ERP reconciliation | auto matching | 3,000-8,000 EUR |
| Monthly maintenance | monitoring | 350-800 EUR/month |
| Developer day rate | integration | 480-680 EUR |
Mini case study
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Elodie is CFO of a B2B SME in London, 1.5M EUR collected online, 60% by card at 2.3% (900,000 EUR = 20,700 EUR in commission) and 40% by near-free transfer. By redirecting 400,000 EUR of large card baskets to SEPA transfer, she saves about 9,200 EUR/year in commission. In parallel, a B2B BNPL at 2.5% on 200,000 EUR of term sales (5,000 EUR) guarantees payment and removes 6,000 EUR/year of doubtful receivables. Her 14,000 EUR integration plus 600 EUR/month maintenance pays back in roughly 18 months from the commission and bad-debt saving alone.
FAQ
Do I really need SEPA transfer in B2B? Yes, absolutely. On baskets of several thousand euros, a transfer at 0.25 EUR fixed is ten to a hundred times cheaper than a card at 2%. It's the preferred method of professional buyers.
Is B2B BNPL risky? No, with a provider that guarantees payment: you're paid immediately, they carry the default risk for 1.5-3.5% commission. It's often cheaper than a doubtful receivable.
How do I manage credit without straining cash flow? Set per-customer limits, automate dunning and track DSO. A guaranteed BNPL transfers the risk while offering the terms your customers expect.
How much is multi-method integration? Budget 6,000-20,000 EUR depending on the number of methods and the ERP connection, over 3-7 weeks. Automatic reconciliation adds 3,000-8,000 EUR but removes hours of entry.
Is automatic dunning worth it? Yes: for 2,000-5,000 EUR, it cuts DSO by several days and reduces unpaid invoices. On a large credit book, a few days of DSO frees significant cash.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your current payment methods, your customer credit book and your ERP, and we'll price the gateway and the saving on fees and bad debt. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
