The verdict in three sentences
For a B2B SME, the right payment method depends on the average ticket: below 400 EUR the card stays simple and smooth, above it SEPA direct debit (GoCardless at 1 % capped at 2.50 EUR) becomes far cheaper. Stripe and Mollie cover 90 % of needs with a hosted integration, keeping compliance at the lightest PCI-DSS SAQ-A level. A custom integration (3,000 to 9,000 EUR) is only justified if you combine several methods, recurring billing and business logic (credit limits, net-30).
The real cost per payment method
Headline fees hide a threshold effect: a percentage hurts on large tickets, a flat fee hurts on small ones. Here are the 2026 rates.
| Payment method | 2026 fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe card (EEA) | 1.5 % + 0.25 EUR | Tickets < 400 EUR, international |
| Mollie card | 1.8 % + 0.25 EUR | SMEs, simple checkout |
| Stripe SEPA debit | 0.8 % capped at 5 EUR | Recurring, large tickets |
| GoCardless SEPA | 1 % + 0.25 EUR, cap 2.50 EUR | Subscriptions, net-30 |
| Bank transfer | ~0 EUR (manual matching) | Very large amounts |
| Stripe card (non-EEA) | 2.9 % + 0.25 EUR | Export clients |
On a 1,500 EUR order, a Stripe card costs 22.75 EUR, GoCardless SEPA 2.50 EUR (cap reached): nine times less. On an 80 EUR order the card costs 1.45 EUR vs 1.05 EUR in SEPA: the gap is negligible and the card wins on immediacy.
Card vs SEPA break-even
The tipping point is simple to compute. Here is the compared cost by ticket.
| Average ticket | Stripe card (1.5 % + 0.25 EUR) | GoCardless SEPA (1 %, max 2.50 EUR) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 EUR | 1.75 EUR | 1.25 EUR | SEPA (slight) |
| 250 EUR | 4.00 EUR | 2.50 EUR | SEPA |
| 400 EUR | 6.25 EUR | 2.50 EUR | SEPA clear |
| 800 EUR | 12.25 EUR | 2.50 EUR | SEPA clear |
| 2,000 EUR | 30.25 EUR | 2.50 EUR | SEPA clear |
| 5,000 EUR | 75.25 EUR | 2.50 EUR | SEPA clear |
From ~400 EUR per order, SEPA direct debit is unbeatable. In B2B, where tickets are high and recurring, offering SEPA alongside the card is the number-one lever on net margin.
Compliance and integration: what it really costs
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The PCI-DSS level depends on who handles card data. With a hosted payment page (redirect), you stay at SAQ-A, the lightest.
| Item | 2026 detail |
|---|---|
| PCI-DSS SAQ-A (hosted redirect) | Annual questionnaire, ~0 EUR technical |
| PCI-DSS SAQ-D (card field on your site) | Heavy audit, avoid for SMEs |
| Technical integration, 1 provider | 3,000 - 5,000 EUR |
| Multi-provider + SEPA + webhooks | 6,000 - 9,000 EUR |
| Automatic accounting reconciliation | +2,000 - 4,000 EUR |
| Tests and failed-payment handling | Included, ~15 % of scope |
Mini case study
Salma runs a B2B SME in Dubai selling consumables to hotels, with an average ticket of 1,800 EUR and 120 orders per month. All on card, her monthly fees reach 120 x (1.5 % x 1,800 + 0.25) = 3,270 EUR/mo, i.e. ~39,000 EUR/yr. By shifting 70 % of volume to SEPA (capped at 2.50 EUR), those 84 orders cost only 210 EUR, and the remaining 36 on card 981 EUR: total 1,191 EUR/mo, ~14,300 EUR/yr. Annual saving: ~24,700 EUR. The 8,000 EUR multi-provider integration pays back in under 4 months.
FAQ
Stripe or Mollie for a B2B SME? Stripe is richer (SEPA, invoicing, API), Mollie simpler and slightly pricier on cards (1.8 % vs 1.5 %). For B2B with recurring billing and SEPA, Stripe or GoCardless take the lead.
Is SEPA direct debit risky for the seller? The debtor can dispute within 8 weeks (13 months without a valid mandate). In B2B with a signed mandate and known clients, risk stays low; you secure it with verified mandates and a capped credit limit.
How much does PCI-DSS compliance cost? With a redirect to a hosted page (SAQ-A), technical cost is near zero: an annual questionnaire suffices. Avoid entering the card on your own site, which triggers SAQ-D and a costly audit.
Can we charge in multiple currencies? Yes, Stripe and Mollie handle multi-currency. Expect ~1 to 2 % conversion fees and plan net/gross price display by client country.
How long to integrate a payment method? A single redirect provider: 2 to 3 weeks. A multi-provider integration with SEPA, webhooks and reconciliation: 4 to 6 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Give us your average ticket, target payment methods and monthly volume: we will cost the integration and the fee saving. 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.
