The verdict in three sentences
For a services SME billing 400 monthly contracts by bank transfer with 20% late payments, automated subscription collection costs 8,000 to 20,000 TND excluding VAT (about EUR 2,350 to 5,900) to integrate and takes 6 to 8 weeks to set up. The right setup combines a local payment gateway (1.5 to 2.5% per transaction) for cards and bank direct debit for loyal customers, with automatic reminders wired into invoicing. The main gain is not the payment itself but cash flow: late payments usually fall below 5%.
The figures below come from a Tunis project and are kept in TND; in Dubai the same architecture applies with AED gateways, typically charging 2 to 3% per card transaction.
Recurring collection options in 2026
The Tunisian market offers several licensed gateways working with local banks and the interbank card network, plus bank direct debit for regular amounts. The choice depends on your customer profile: companies with an accounts department, professionals, retailers.
| Collection method | Indicative 2026 fees | Activation fees | Settlement time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local gateway, domestic card | 1.5 to 2.5% per transaction | 300 to 1,500 TND | D+1 to D+3 | SMEs, professionals |
| Local gateway, international card | 2.5 to 3.5% | Included or optional | D+2 to D+5 | Foreign clients, subsidiaries |
| Mobile wallet or e-dinar | 1 to 2% | Low or none | D+1 to D+2 | Small businesses, freelancers |
| Monthly bank direct debit | Fixed fee, about 1 to 2 TND per operation | Agreement with the bank | D+2 to D+4 | Stable contracts, large accounts |
| Transfer on invoice (current) | 0% | None | Variable, 20% late | Keep for public bodies |
Integration budget: 8,000 to 20,000 TND excluding VAT
Integration links three building blocks: the gateway, your website (customer area) and your invoicing tool. 2026 orders of magnitude for Tunis, excluding 19% VAT.
| Item | Simple version | Full version |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, gateway selection, bank file | 1,000 TND | 2,000 TND |
| Payment page and customer area (invoices, saved card) | 2,500 TND | 6,000 TND |
| Recurring payment or direct debit mandate | 2,000 TND | 4,500 TND |
| Invoicing integration and automatic reconciliation | 1,500 TND | 4,000 TND |
| Automatic reminders (email, SMS) and service suspension | 500 TND | 2,500 TND |
| Testing, acceptance, go-live | 500 TND | 1,000 TND |
| Total excl. VAT | 8,000 TND | 20,000 TND |
Central bank compliance is carried by the licensed gateway and the bank: your site must never store card numbers, only tokens supplied by the gateway. Allow 2 to 4 weeks to open the merchant agreement, to be started in the first week of the project.
6 to 8-week timeline
| Week | Step |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Gateway selection, merchant application filed with the bank |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Payment page, customer area, test environment |
| Weeks 4 to 5 | Recurring payment, invoicing integration, reconciliation |
| Week 6 | Automatic reminders, suspension rules |
| Weeks 7 to 8 | Acceptance, gradual migration of the 400 contracts in waves of 100 |
Mini case study
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Karim, manager of an IT maintenance company in Tunis, bills 400 contracts at an average of 350 TND a month, 1,680,000 TND a year. He moves 40% of customers to card (2% fees, about 13,440 TND a year) and 50% to direct debit (about 3,600 TND a year). On the other side, his assistant saves 40 hours of chasing a month, about 16,800 TND a year, and bad debt drops from 1.5% to 0.3% of revenue, 20,160 TND recovered. Add about 2,100 TND of overdraft interest avoided. Net gain: about 22,000 TND a year, for a 15,000 TND integration paid back in about 8 months.
FAQ
Do we need a central bank licence to collect online?
No, the gateway and the bank hold the licence. You sign a merchant agreement, usually opened in 2 to 4 weeks with activation fees of 300 to 1,500 TND.
Does recurring card payment work with domestic cards?
Yes, most local gateways offer card tokenisation and monthly charging. Plan an automatic reminder for expired cards, which affect about 3 to 5% of subscribers a year.
Direct debit or card: which should we favour?
Direct debit is cheaper (fixed fee of 1 to 2 TND) for stable contracts above 200 TND. Cards suit small amounts and customers who want to stay in control.
How do we handle customers who still do not pay?
Automatic reminders go out at D+3, D+7 and D+15, then a rule suspends service at D+30. In practice, over 80% of late payments are settled before the second reminder.
Can we keep our invoicing software?
Yes, if the tool offers an API or a regular export. Integration costs 1,500 to 4,000 TND excluding VAT depending on the software.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of contracts, average amount and invoicing tool and we will recommend the right gateway, a budget and a 6 to 8-week timeline. 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.
