The verdict in three sentences
A Berlin SME collecting EUR 1.2 million a year online pays between EUR 15,000 and 22,000 in payment fees in 2026, depending on its provider and the share of cards in its collections. The most profitable lever is not switching providers but moving regular business customers to SEPA Direct Debit (Lastschrift), which costs EUR 0.25 to 0.40 per transaction instead of 1.5% of the amount. Past EUR 1 million of volume, a negotiated Interchange++ rate brings the bill down to around EUR 11,000.
Standard 2026 price lists
The rates below are estimates based on the providers' public price lists. They vary by plan and change regularly: always check the current price list before signing.
| Payment method | Stripe | Mollie | Adyen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard European card | 1.5% + EUR 0.25 | 1.8% + EUR 0.25 | Interchange++ + about 0.6% + EUR 0.11 |
| Premium or non-European card | 3.25% + EUR 0.25 | 2.9% + EUR 0.25 | Interchange++ + about 0.6% + EUR 0.11 |
| SEPA Direct Debit | EUR 0.35 | EUR 0.25 to 0.30 | about EUR 0.35 + EUR 0.11 |
| Monthly fee | EUR 0 | EUR 0 | EUR 0, minimum volume often expected |
| Chargeback fee | EUR 15 to 20 | EUR 15 | EUR 15 to 25 |
| Payout delay | D+2 to D+7 | D+1 to D+3 | D+1 to D+3 |
| Custom negotiation | from about EUR 1M | from EUR 500k to 1M | built in |
SEPA Instant transfers must now be priced the same as standard transfers in the euro area, often EUR 0 to 1 for a business. They become a real alternative for B2B invoices above EUR 2,000. In Germany, PayPal and Klarna remain popular with consumers but are the most expensive options.
Simulation for EUR 1.2 million of annual collections
Assumptions: 10,000 transactions a year at a EUR 120 average basket, a mix of 70% cards (15% of them premium or non-European) and 30% SEPA Direct Debit, 20 chargebacks a year.
| Scenario | Card fees | SEPA fees | Other (chargebacks, fees) | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current setup: 90% card on Stripe | EUR 21,285 | EUR 350 | EUR 300 | EUR 21,935 |
| Stripe standard, 70/30 mix | EUR 16,555 | EUR 1,050 | EUR 300 | EUR 17,905 |
| Mollie standard, 70/30 mix | EUR 18,256 | EUR 900 | EUR 300 | EUR 19,456 |
| Adyen Interchange++, 70/30 mix | EUR 9,842 | EUR 1,380 | EUR 300 | EUR 11,522 |
| Stripe negotiated Interchange++, 70/30 mix | EUR 9,898 | EUR 900 | EUR 300 | EUR 11,098 |
Simply shifting 20 points of volume to SEPA saves about EUR 4,000 a year with the same provider. Negotiating Interchange++ saves another EUR 6,800.
How to negotiate past EUR 1 million
| Step | Action | Expected gain (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Export 12 months of transactions by card type | Quantified negotiation basis |
| 2 | Request Interchange++ pricing from 2 providers | -0.3 to -0.6 points on EU cards |
| 3 | Offer SEPA Direct Debit to recurring B2B customers | -60 to -80% fees on those flows |
| 4 | Enable optimised 3-D Secure authentication | -20 to -40% chargebacks |
| 5 | Set a card ceiling on large invoices | Shift to instant transfer |
| 6 | Renegotiate every year with actual volume | Keep the best rate |
Plan a small technical budget: integrating SEPA mandates into your customer area and updating the checkout usually costs EUR 4,000 to 8,000.
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Julia, CFO of an industrial SME in Berlin selling spare parts online, collects EUR 1.2 million a year, 90% by card on Stripe, which means EUR 21,935 in fees. She moves 30% of volume to SEPA Direct Debit for her 140 regular business customers and secures Interchange++ pricing: the bill drops to EUR 11,098, saving EUR 10,837 a year. The SEPA integration costs her EUR 6,000: payback comes in under 7 months.
FAQ
Which payment provider is cheapest for an SME in Germany?
At standard rates, the gap between Stripe and Mollie is about EUR 1,500 a year on EUR 1.2 million, while Adyen wins on Interchange++ above a certain volume. The card and SEPA mix weighs more than the choice of provider.
From what volume can we negotiate?
Usually from EUR 500,000 to 1 million a year. Interchange++ brings the effective cost of European cards to around 0.8 to 1%.
Is SEPA Direct Debit suitable for business customers?
Yes, especially SEPA B2B, which has no 8-week refund right. It costs EUR 0.25 to 0.80 per transaction regardless of the amount.
Should we offer PayPal?
For consumers in Germany, yes: it remains one of the most used online methods. Its fees, around 2.9% + EUR 0.35, make it the most expensive option on the list.
What does switching provider cost?
Plan EUR 3,000 to 10,000 of development and 4 to 8 weeks, plus migration of stored cards for subscriptions. Only worth it if the gain exceeds EUR 5,000 a year.
Let's scope your project. Send us a 12-month transaction export and your current checkout, and we will price the optimisation (SEPA, Interchange++, integration) within a EUR 4,000 to 10,000 budget. 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.
