The verdict in three sentences
Automating invoicing and dunning in London costs between EUR 9,000 and EUR 22,000 in 2026, deployed in 4 to 7 weeks. The most tangible gain is not admin time, it's cash flow: a DSO dropping from 55 to 40 days mechanically frees up cash. Every day of DSO gained is immobilised money recovered, which makes the project profitable within a few months.
How much invoicing automation costs in 2026
The budget depends on the accounting connector, the number of dunning channels and reconciliation complexity. 2026 orders of magnitude in London.
| Scope | Functions | Budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated issuance | Invoices + email send | EUR 9,000 - 13,000 | 4 wks |
| Multichannel dunning | + email/SMS + scenarios | EUR 14,000 - 18,000 | 5 - 6 wks |
| Full cycle | + reconciliation + bank connector | EUR 19,000 - 22,000 | 6 - 7 wks |
| Maintenance (support) | — | EUR 300 - 600/mo | ongoing |
A senior finance integrator's daily rate sits between EUR 450 and 600 in 2026.
Online payment fees: the real variable cost
Offering online payment speeds up collection but introduces a fee. 2026 comparison of the main methods.
| Payment method | 2026 fee | Settlement time |
|---|---|---|
| Bank card | 1.4 - 1.8% | D+1 to D+2 |
| Instant SEPA transfer | 0 - 0.5% | Immediate |
| International card | 2.4 - 2.9% | D+2 |
| SEPA direct debit | 0.25 - 0.9% | D+2 to D+5 |
| Payment link | 1.5 - 2.0% | D+1 |
On EUR 500,000/year collected online, moving from a 2.5% fee to 1.6% saves EUR 4,500/year.
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Mini case study
Sophie, CFO of a 60-person services SME in London, shows a DSO of 58 days on EUR 6M revenue. Each day of DSO immobilises ~EUR 16,400 of cash. By cutting DSO by 15 days through dunning automation, she frees ~EUR 246,000 of cash. The project, quoted at EUR 18,000 with EUR 450/month support, also saves ~4 hours/week of admin (~EUR 13,000/year). Payback: under 12 months from the cash effect alone.
FAQ
What is DSO and why cut it? DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) is your customers' average payment delay. Every day gained frees cash: on EUR 6M revenue, one day is worth ~EUR 16,400 immobilised.
Does automation replace my accountant? No, it removes repetitive tasks (sending, dunning, reconciliation) and frees your team for steering and disputes. Expect ~4 hours/week saved.
How does it connect to my accounting? Via an API connector to your accounting software and possibly your bank (aggregation). Integration represents 30 to 40% of the project budget.
What fees on online payment? Between 1.4% (domestic card) and 2.9% (international card) in 2026. Instant SEPA transfer is almost free and increasingly adopted in B2B.
How long to see the DSO effect? First effects appear in 2 to 3 months, the stabilised regime (12 to 18 days gained) in 4 to 6 months depending on dunning discipline.
Let's scope your project. Share your current DSO, your accounting software and your monthly invoice volume, and we'll quantify the expected cash gain. 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.
