The verdict in three sentences
For a New York CFO, choosing a payment gateway isn't about the headline rate: you must add variable commission, fixed per-transaction fees, international surcharges and reconciliation cost. Stripe and Mollie offer fast integration (2-6 weeks, 4,000-15,000 EUR) and delegated PCI-DSS compliance, while a bank PSP may negotiate lower rates at high volume. A single point of commission saved on 2M EUR of flow is 20,000 EUR/year handed back to margin.
Real 2026 fees: the comparison
Advertised rates often hide fixed fees and international markups. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for an SME.
| Method / provider | Commission | Fixed fee | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card Stripe | 1.5% | 0.25 EUR | +1.5% outside region |
| Card Mollie | 1.8-2.9% | 0.25 EUR | +by card |
| Bank PSP (volume) | 0.8-1.6% | 0.10-0.20 EUR | +1.0-2.0% |
| SEPA transfer | ~0% | ~0.25 EUR | n/a |
| SEPA direct debit | 0.35% | 0.25 EUR | n/a |
| Wallet (Apple/Google Pay) | as card | 0.25 EUR | +1.5% |
Security, integration and project cost
Beyond fees, the gateway must guarantee security (3-D Secure, PCI-DSS) and automatic accounting reconciliation. These building blocks shape the integration budget.
| Item | Detail | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Technical integration | API, webhooks, checkout | 4,000-15,000 EUR |
| Implementation time | dev + testing | 2-6 weeks |
| 3-D Secure v2 | strong authentication | included with PSP |
| PCI-DSS compliance | SAQ A if PSP-hosted | included / audit |
| Auto reconciliation | bank matching | 3,000-8,000 EUR |
| Monthly maintenance | monitoring, updates | 300-700 EUR/month |
| Developer day rate | integration | 450-650 EUR |
Mini case study
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Sophie is CFO of a trading SME in New York, 2M EUR collected online per year, 70% card and 30% transfer. Her legacy PSP charges 2.4% + 0.25 EUR on cards, roughly 33,600 EUR in annual card commission plus fixed fees. Switching the card share (1.4M EUR) to a 1.5% + 0.25 EUR offer, she drops to 21,000 EUR in variable commission: 12,600 EUR saved per year. The 9,000 EUR integration plus 500 EUR/month maintenance (6,000 EUR/year) pays back in under 15 months, and in following years the net saving exceeds 6,000 EUR annually.
FAQ
Stripe or Mollie for an SME? Both are solid. Stripe shines on international reach and the developer ecosystem (1.5% + 0.25 EUR on regional cards); Mollie appeals through simplicity and European payment methods. The choice depends on your share of sales outside the region.
Does 3-D Secure scare customers away? In B2B the abandonment rate stays low because the buyer is committed. Strong customer authentication is required, but exemptions (low amounts, recurring transactions) limit friction.
Who's responsible for PCI-DSS compliance? If you never store card numbers and delegate entry to the PSP, you fall under SAQ A, the lightest questionnaire. The PSP carries most of the compliance burden.
How much is automatic reconciliation? Budget 3,000-8,000 EUR to connect the PSP webhooks to your accounting or ERP. The ROI comes from the manual matching hours removed.
Does one point of commission really matter? Yes: on 2M EUR of flow, 1% is 20,000 EUR per year. For a low-margin SME, that's often the equivalent of half a headcount.
Let's scope your project. Share your annual volume, your card/transfer split and your accounting tool, and we'll price the commission saving and the integration. 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.
