The verdict in three sentences
For an SME, a reliable online payment integration costs between EUR 4,000 and EUR 12,000 in 2026 depending on scope (simple payment, invoices, subscriptions), on top of PSP fees of 1.4-2.9% plus EUR 0.25 per transaction. The real win is not the cost you avoid but faster collection: moving from a 30-day delay to instant payment directly improves cash flow. PCI-DSS compliance is manageable via an SAQ-A questionnaire when you delegate card entry to the PSP, avoiding a heavy audit.
What the integration budget actually covers
The price quoted by vendors covers very different scopes. A simple hosted payment page ships in a few days; an integration with billing, subscriptions and dunning takes several weeks of development and testing.
| Scope | Integration price 2026 (EUR) | Timeline | Typical content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted payment page | 4,000 - 6,000 | 2 weeks | PSP checkout, 1 currency, email receipt |
| Payment + invoices | 6,000 - 9,000 | 3 weeks | Pay-by-invoice link, reconciliation |
| Recurring subscriptions | 8,000 - 12,000 | 4 weeks | Billing, failure handling, dunning, portal |
| Multi-currency + multi-PSP | 10,000 - 16,000 | 5-6 weeks | Routing, consolidated reporting, robust webhooks |
The items that push the bill up are payment failure handling (expired cards, insufficient funds), reconciliation webhooks and end-to-end testing. A serious quote itemizes them line by line.
PSP comparison for a B2B SME
The choice of payment service provider (PSP) weighs on recurring cost far more than on the initial integration. Here are the 2026 ballpark figures for the eurozone.
| PSP | EU card fee | Fixed fee / transaction | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 1.5% | EUR 0.25 | Subscriptions, rich API | Premium support cost |
| Mollie | 1.8% | EUR 0.25 | Europe, SEPA transfers | Shallower API |
| PayPal | 2.9% | EUR 0.35 | Buyer trust | High fee |
| GoCardless | 1% (capped) | ~EUR 0.20 | Recurring direct debit | No card |
For high B2B baskets, a 2.9% fee quickly adds up to hundreds of euros per transaction: SEPA direct debit via GoCardless then becomes clearly cheaper on recurring revenue.
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of an industrial SME in Lyon, collects 80 invoices a month averaging EUR 3,200, currently by transfer with a 32-day average delay. She integrates a card + SEPA direct debit link for EUR 8,500. On SEPA direct debit at 1%, monthly fee cost is about EUR 2,560 (80 x 3,200 x 1%), but collection delay drops to 4 days. The cash-flow gain on EUR 256,000 collected 28 days earlier, valued at a 6% annual financing cost, is roughly EUR 1,180 per month: the integration pays back in a little over 7 months, before counting fewer unpaid invoices.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How much does integration really cost, excluding fees?
Budget EUR 4,000 to EUR 12,000 depending on scope. A simple payment page stays under EUR 6,000; subscriptions with failure handling reach EUR 12,000.
Do I have to be PCI-DSS compliant?
Yes, but if the PSP hosts card entry you fall under the simplified SAQ-A questionnaire. You avoid a costly audit as long as you store no card data.
Card or direct debit for recurring B2B?
SEPA direct debit (around 1% capped) is cheaper than card (1.5-2.9%) on high recurring amounts. Card remains useful for immediacy and new customers.
How long until the project is delivered?
Between 2 and 6 weeks depending on complexity. A payment page ships in 2 weeks; a multi-PSP subscription system takes 5-6 weeks.
Can I switch PSP later?
Yes, if the integration goes through an abstraction layer. Plan this decoupling from the start to avoid a high migration cost later.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your monthly volumes, average basket and whether you need subscriptions: we price the integration and the optimal PSP. 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.
