The verdict in three sentences
For a service SME billing 1,200 maintenance subscriptions, SEPA Direct Debit is the cheapest collection method (EUR 0.35 to 0.80 per transaction) and the one that cuts unpaid invoices most, by about 30%. Cards remain useful for the first payment and one-off customers, at 1.2% to 1.8% plus EUR 0.25 per European transaction depending on the provider. The real budget sits in the integration with your invoicing tool, between EUR 3,000 and 9,000 excl. VAT for 3 to 6 weeks of work.
The three providers compared in 2026
All three cover cards and SEPA. They differ on pricing, payout speed and subscription tooling. The rates below are 2026 estimates for an SME on standard pricing, to be confirmed for your volume. In Ireland, PayPlug is less common than in France, but it remains an option for groups operating in both markets.
| Criterion | Stripe | PayPlug | Mollie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard European card | 1.5% + EUR 0.25 | 1.2 to 1.4% + EUR 0.25 | 1.8% + EUR 0.25 |
| SEPA Direct Debit | EUR 0.35 | EUR 0.50 to 0.80 | EUR 0.30 to 0.40 + plan fees |
| Payout to bank account | D+2 to D+7 | D+2 | D+1 to D+3 |
| Native subscription module | Yes, Stripe Billing (+0.7% of volume) | Limited, via API | Yes, Mollie Subscriptions |
| Automatic retries after failure | Yes, configurable | Partial | Yes |
| English-language support | Strong, mostly written | Good, team based in France | Good |
| Common invoicing connectors | Many | Moderate | Many |
Stripe is the most complete for subscriptions, but Billing adds a volume-based fee. PayPlug wins on support and low card rates for French-speaking groups. Mollie offers the cheapest SEPA and a fast start.
What collecting 1,200 subscriptions really costs
Assumption: 1,200 customers at EUR 95 excl. VAT a month, or EUR 114,000 collected monthly.
| Scenario | Estimated monthly fees | Annual fees | Observed failure rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% card (average 1.5% + EUR 0.25) | EUR 2,010 | EUR 24,120 | 4 to 6% (expired cards, limits) |
| 100% SEPA at EUR 0.35 | EUR 420 | EUR 5,040 | 2 to 3% |
| 100% SEPA at EUR 0.80 | EUR 960 | EUR 11,520 | 2 to 3% |
| Mix 80% SEPA (EUR 0.35) + 20% card | EUR 740 | EUR 8,880 | 2.5 to 3.5% |
| Adding a 0.7% subscription module | + EUR 800 | + EUR 9,600 | Retries included |
Moving from card to direct debit saves up to EUR 19,000 a year at this volume. The fee gap between providers matters less than the payment method you choose.
Integration with invoicing: what you pay for
| Component | 2026 budget (EUR excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up page and SEPA mandate signature | 1,000 to 2,500 | 1 week |
| Invoice and payment sync | 1,000 to 3,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Failure handling and dunning | 500 to 1,500 | 1 week |
| Bank reconciliation and accounting export | 500 to 1,500 | 1 week |
| Customer portal (invoices, card, mandate) | 0 to 500 if native portal | A few days |
A EUR 3,000 integration is enough with invoicing software that has a native connector. EUR 9,000 covers a line-of-business tool without a connector or variable-price subscriptions.
Mini case study
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Aoife, managing director of a lift and automatic door maintenance SME in Dublin, collects 1,200 contracts at EUR 95 excl. VAT a month, currently by bank transfer. Her failure rate is 5%, or EUR 5,700 a month to chase, of which about 1% ends as a loss, EUR 1,140 monthly. By moving 80% of customers to SEPA Direct Debit, failures drop 30%: the loss falls to EUR 800, saving EUR 4,080 a year, plus about 10 hours of chasing a month, EUR 4,200 a year at EUR 35 an hour. Collection fees of EUR 8,880 a year and a EUR 6,000 integration are offset from year two, with predictable cash on the 5th of each month.
FAQ
Does the customer need to sign a paper SEPA mandate?
No, an electronic mandate is valid and signed online in under 2 minutes. The provider keeps the evidence, and the customer has 8 weeks to dispute an authorised debit.
How long until debit funds arrive?
Expect 3 to 7 business days between debit date and payout depending on the provider. Set the debit date around the 5th of the month to smooth cash flow.
Can we switch provider later?
SEPA mandates can be migrated to another provider in a 2 to 4 week procedure. Stored cards can also be migrated with Stripe and Mollie, subject to PCI DSS conditions.
Is Stripe Billing worth its 0.7%?
On EUR 114,000 a month it costs about EUR 800 monthly. It pays off if you handle add-ons, proration and complex retries, otherwise an existing invoicing module is enough.
Should we offer both payment methods?
Yes, cards reassure for the first month and SEPA takes over. In practice, 75 to 85% of customers choose direct debit when it is presented as the default.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your invoicing tool, subscriber count and monthly ticket: we will recommend the right provider and price the integration between EUR 3,000 and 9,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h at kolonell.com/en/devis-gratuit. 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.
