The verdict in three sentences
For a London B2B SME, integrating online payment (card, bank transfer, SEPA direct debit) costs EUR 3,000-9,000 depending on the PSP and level of automation, with recurring fees of 0.9 to 1.5 % + EUR 0.25 per transaction. The wrong reflex is chasing the lowest rate: on a high B2B basket, fixed-cost SEPA direct debit crushes percentage-based commission. The real gain lies elsewhere: online collection moves your DSO from 45 days to under 10, worth tens of thousands of euros in working capital.
What integration costs in 2026
Budget depends on your stack (brochure site, client portal, ERP) and the number of payment methods to connect. 2026 order of magnitude for the London market.
| Scope | Integration (EUR) | Timeline | Payment methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple payment link | 3,000 - 4,500 | 3 wks | Card, Apple/Google Pay |
| Site checkout + portal | 5,000 - 7,000 | 4-5 wks | Card + transfer + SEPA |
| ERP/accounting integration | 7,000 - 9,000 | 5-6 wks | Card + SEPA + auto reminders |
| Multi-entity + reporting | 9,000 - 14,000 | 6-8 wks | All + reconciliation |
Add PCI-DSS hosting (delegated to the PSP), testing and finance-team training, i.e. a further EUR 500-1,200 depending on scope.
Recurring fees: percentage isn't everything
On a high B2B average basket (EUR 1,500 to 8,000), the payment method matters a lot. Indicative 2026 fee comparison.
| Method | Fees | On a EUR 4,000 invoice | Collection time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card (Stripe) | 1.5 % + EUR 0.25 | EUR 60.25 | D+2 |
| Card (Mollie) | 1.8 % + EUR 0.25 | EUR 72.25 | D+1 to D+3 |
| SEPA direct debit | EUR 0.35 fixed | EUR 0.35 | D+3 to D+5 |
| Instant transfer | 0 - EUR 0.50 | EUR 0.50 | Immediate |
| BNPL / installment | 2.5 - 3 % | EUR 100-120 | D+1 (guaranteed) |
Practical takeaway: for large recurring clients, favour SEPA or instant transfer; cards stay relevant for small orders and new customers.
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Mini case study
Mark, CFO of an industrial trading SME in London, issues 180 invoices/month at an average basket of EUR 3,200. Today everything runs on manual transfers with a 45-day DSO. He rolls out a payment portal (integration EUR 6,500) offering card for small accounts and SEPA for large ones.
Result: 70 % of invoices collected via SEPA at EUR 0.35 (i.e. EUR 44/month in fees) and 30 % by card at 1.5 % (about EUR 260/month). Monthly fee cost: ~EUR 300. But DSO drops to 12 days, permanently freeing ~EUR 630,000 x 33/365 = about EUR 57,000 of working capital. The integration pays for itself in the first month.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget to accept payments online in B2B? Budget EUR 3,000 for a Stripe/Mollie payment link tied to your invoicing. A full client portal with SEPA and reminders starts at EUR 5,000.
Stripe or Mollie in 2026? Stripe charges 1.5 % + EUR 0.25 on European cards and excels for custom development; Mollie, around 1.8 % + EUR 0.25, is simpler to wire and popular in the Benelux. For high-basket B2B, the difference mostly plays out on SEPA, near-free on both.
How long to go live? Between 3 and 6 weeks: 1 week of scoping, 2-3 of development, 1 of PCI testing and acceptance. ERP integration adds 1 to 2 weeks.
Can you avoid percentage fees? Yes, by pushing clients toward SEPA direct debit (EUR 0.35 fixed) or instant transfer. On a EUR 4,000 invoice, fees drop from EUR 60 to EUR 0.35.
Does online payment really improve cash flow? Yes: moving DSO from 45 to 12 days durably frees the equivalent of one month of revenue, often far above the project's total cost.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target payment methods, monthly invoice volume and average basket, and we'll price the integration and real fees. 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.
