The verdict in three sentences
For a B2B SME in Dublin, online payment is first about cutting DSO (average collection time), not about "doing e-commerce". The right choice depends on average order value: card (Stripe) for small amounts and international, SEPA direct debit (GoCardless) for recurring and high invoices, SEPA transfer for the rest. Budget 2 to 4 weeks to deploy and EUR 3,000 to 9,000 for integration into your customer portal or ERP.
Comparing B2B collection solutions
In B2B, average order value often exceeds EUR 1,000: a commission percentage that looks small adds up fast. Direct debit and bank transfer then beat card.
| Solution | 2026 fees (ballpark) | Settlement time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe card | 2.9% + EUR 0.25 (EU), 3.25% non-EU | T+2 | Baskets < EUR 1,000, international |
| SEPA direct debit (GoCardless) | 1% capped at EUR 2/transaction | T+2 to T+3 | Recurring invoices, subscriptions |
| SEPA transfer | EUR 0 to 0.50 | T+0 to T+1 | Large amounts, deposits |
| Stripe Invoicing | 0.4% per paid invoice | Variable | Automated reminders |
| B2B instalments | 1.5 to 3.5% | Immediate | Large customer investments |
On a EUR 5,000 invoice, card costs EUR 145.25, SEPA direct debit EUR 2, transfer almost zero. Hence the value of offering several methods and steering large amounts to SEPA.
Impact on DSO and cash flow
The real gain is not transaction cost, it is DSO. A manual email reminder takes 45 to 60 days to land; a payment link inside the invoice often drops that to 20 to 30 days.
| Lever | Without online payment | With link + auto reminders |
|---|---|---|
| Average DSO | 52 days | 28 days |
| Overdue invoice rate | 38% | 17% |
| Monthly reminder time | 12 h | 3 h |
| Integration cost (one-off) | — | EUR 3,000 to 9,000 |
| Rollout time | — | 2 to 4 weeks |
On EUR 2M annual revenue, moving from 52 to 28 days of DSO frees roughly EUR 130,000 of tied-up cash.
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Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 40-person industrial SME in Dublin, bills EUR 2.4M/year B2B with a 55-day DSO. She rolls out Stripe payment links on invoices < EUR 2,000 and GoCardless for recurring maintenance contracts. Integration cost: EUR 7,500, three-week rollout. Six-month result: DSO down to 30 days, about EUR 165,000 of cash freed and 9 h/month of chasing saved. Card fees (about EUR 4,000/year) are absorbed by steering invoices > EUR 2,000 to transfer. ROI reached in under 3 months.
FAQ
Which payment method should I favour in B2B? SEPA direct debit for recurring and transfer for large amounts, as they cost under 1%. Keep card for small baskets and international clients who ask for it.
How much does ERP or customer-portal integration cost? Budget EUR 3,000 to 9,000 depending on whether you wire a simple payment link or a full invoice/account-balance sync. A Stripe API connection plus automated reminders sits at the low end.
What is the rollout time? 2 to 4 weeks for a standard integration, more if your ERP is old or bespoke. The bulk of the work is automatic payment reconciliation.
Is online payment secure for B2B? Yes: Stripe and GoCardless are PCI-DSS and PSD2 compliant (strong authentication). SEPA B2B direct debit requires a mandate signed by the client, which limits defaults.
Can I keep classic bank transfer? Absolutely, and it is recommended for high amounts. The ideal is a checkout offering transfer, card and direct debit, routing automatically by amount.
Let's scope your project. Describe your average order value, current DSO and ERP: we price the payment + reminders integration to fit. 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.
