The verdict in three sentences
For a Dutch SMB processing more than 500,000 EUR a year online, the default payment gateway almost always costs too much. The right setup combines a negotiated card rate around 1.0 to 1.3%, iDEAL and SEPA Direct Debit for local and recurring customers, and instant bank payments for large baskets. An integration project of 2,000 to 8,000 EUR excl. VAT usually pays for itself within twelve months.
What gateways really cost in 2026
The headline rate is only part of the bill. You must add fixed fees per transaction, non-EU cards, refunds, chargebacks and sometimes a monthly subscription. The table below gives 2026 orders of magnitude for an SMB selling mainly in the Netherlands and the EU.
| Provider | Standard European card | Fixed fee | Subscription | Chargeback | iDEAL / SEPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe (public rate) | 1.5% | 0.25 EUR | None | 20 EUR | 0.29 to 0.35 EUR |
| Stripe (negotiated, 1 M EUR+) | 1.0 to 1.2% | 0.20 to 0.25 EUR | None | 15 to 20 EUR | 0.25 to 0.30 EUR |
| Adyen (Interchange++) | Interchange + 0.6% approx. | 0.11 EUR + scheme fees | Minimum invoice often required | 15 to 25 EUR | 0.20 to 0.30 EUR |
| Mollie | 1.2 to 1.8% | 0.25 EUR | None | 15 EUR | 0.29 EUR |
| Bank acquiring offer | 0.8 to 1.2% | 0.05 to 0.15 EUR | 30 to 80 EUR/month | 10 to 25 EUR | Depends on agreement |
| Instant bank payment (open banking) | 0.2 to 0.5% | 0 to 0.30 EUR | Variable | None | Not applicable |
Commercial cards (corporate cards) and cards issued outside the European Economic Area are charged more, often between 2.5 and 3.25%. If a large share of your customers are businesses or foreign buyers, your real blended rate will be well above the headline rate.
Criteria that matter beyond the rate
A finance director rarely compares gateways on the percentage alone. PSD2 requires strong customer authentication (3-D Secure 2) on most card payments, and a poorly configured flow can cut conversion by 3 to 8 points. The gateway must also integrate cleanly with your website, ERP and accounting.
| Criterion | Stripe | Adyen | Mollie | Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSD2 exemptions handled (low value, TRA) | Yes, automatic | Yes, advanced | Yes | Varies by bank |
| SEPA Direct Debit built in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Often a separate product |
| Instant bank payment / open banking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Rare |
| Payout delay | D+2 to D+7 | D+1 to D+2 | D+1 to D+2 | D+1 |
| Reports and accounting export | Very complete, API | Very complete | Good | Often limited |
| Indicative integration cost | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR | 5,000 to 8,000 EUR | 2,000 to 5,000 EUR | 4,000 to 8,000 EUR |
Three points deserve written confirmation before signing: the rate applied to commercial cards, the fund-holding period if chargebacks rise, and whether you can export your card tokens if you switch provider. Without token portability, leaving the gateway forces subscribed customers to re-enter their cards. Note that Adyen usually targets higher volumes and may require a minimum monthly invoice.
Which setup for an SMB processing 1 million euros
The most profitable solution often combines two providers: a bank offer or negotiated Stripe rate for cards, and iDEAL, SEPA Direct Debit or instant bank payments for business customers and amounts above 1,000 EUR. Simple routing in the checkout is enough: the customer picks a method, and the cheapest one is highlighted.
| Payment profile | Recommended method | Cost on 1,000 EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer, basket under 150 EUR | iDEAL or card with PSD2 exemption | 0.30 to 15 EUR |
| Consumer, basket above 500 EUR | iDEAL, 3-D Secure card or instant payment | 0.30 to 15 EUR |
| Recurring business customer | SEPA Direct Debit | 0.30 to 0.50 EUR |
| Business customer, one-off invoice | Bank transfer payment link | 2 to 5 EUR |
| Non-EU customer | International card | 25 to 33 EUR |
Mini case study
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Sarah, CFO of an office supplies SMB in Amsterdam, processes 1.2 million euros a year online across 9,000 transactions. Her current blended rate is 1.8%, or 21,600 EUR in fees. After renegotiation, 60% of volume goes through cards at 1.1% plus 0.20 EUR (7,920 EUR + 1,080 EUR), and the 40% of volume from business customers moves to SEPA Direct Debit at 0.35 EUR (about 1,300 EUR for 3,600 transactions). Total: 10,300 EUR. The saving reaches 11,300 EUR a year for an integration billed at 6,500 EUR, paid back in seven months.
FAQ
Should we leave Stripe for a bank to pay less?
Not necessarily. Above 1 million euros processed, Stripe often agrees to 1.0 or 1.2%, bringing its cost close to a bank's while keeping its tools. Ask for a written offer based on your last twelve months of volume.
Does PSD2 reduce sales?
A well-configured 3-D Secure 2 flow limits the loss to 1 or 2 conversion points. Exemptions for payments under 30 EUR and the gateway's risk analysis avoid authentication on a large share of transactions.
How long does switching gateway take?
Plan 3 to 6 weeks for a standard site, including 1 to 2 weeks of provider onboarding (KYC). Migrating stored cards adds 2 to 4 weeks if subscriptions are running.
Is SEPA Direct Debit suitable for business customers?
Yes, under the SEPA B2B or Core mandate. It costs around 0.25 to 0.50 EUR per transaction regardless of amount, which makes it unbeatable for invoices above 100 EUR.
What budget should we plan for integration?
From 2,000 EUR for a standard plugin on a CMS to 8,000 EUR for a custom integration with ERP, accounting reconciliation and several payment methods.
Let's scope your project. We audit your current payment fees and price a Stripe, Adyen, Mollie or bank integration sized to your volume, with an indicative budget of 2,000 to 8,000 EUR and a 3 to 6 week timeline. 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.
