Choosing a Payment Provider for a Training Company in Dublin (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For an accredited training provider, collecting by bank transfer and invoice costs more than it looks: reminders, abandoned enrolments, manual reconciliation. Stripe, Mollie and Adyen all cover cards, SEPA Direct Debit and instalments, with card fees from 1.4 to 2.9 % plus 0.25 EUR depending on the card mix. The real issue is less the provider than the integration with grant schemes, employer invoicing and accounting, costed at 6,000 to 15,000 EUR as a 2026 order of magnitude in Dublin.

2026 fee comparison

The rates below are standard public price lists seen in 2026; above 500,000 EUR a year in volume, all three negotiate. Always check the current price list before signing.

For 2,800 learners at an average 1,200 EUR basket in partial self-funding, the gap between providers rarely exceeds 0.3 points, about 3,000 to 5,000 EUR a year. The difference in integration cost and admin time usually weighs more.

Flows that do not go through cards

An Irish training provider collects three types of funding, and the payment provider handles only one. Skillnet Ireland network funding and Springboard+ or SOLAS-backed places are paid by transfer under programme rules. Employers pay by invoice, often at 30 to 60 days. Only self-funded learners and top-up amounts go through Stripe, Mollie or Adyen.

An integration at 6,000 to 15,000 EUR (Dublin market benchmark) covers the enrolment funnel with payment, payment links for employers, SEPA instalment plans, VAT-correct invoicing and automated reconciliation into Xero, Sage or QuickBooks. At the low end you plug in an existing module; at the high end you connect a training management system (Arlo, Accessplanit) and accounting.

Mini case study

Aoife, director of a training company in Dublin 2 (illustrative example), trains 2,800 learners a year. 18 % of them, 504 learners, pay all or part themselves, at an average basket of 1,200 EUR, so 604,800 EUR collected. Today an administrator spends 2 days a week matching transfers and invoices, about 4,200 EUR loaded cost a month. With Mollie at 1.8 % + 0.25 EUR, annual fees would be about 11,010 EUR. If automation frees 75 % of reconciliation time (37,800 EUR a year) and cuts abandoned enrolments by 10 %, a 12,000 EUR integration pays back in about 5 months.

FAQ

Which provider suits a training company?

Stripe fits if you have a developer and custom needs, Mollie if you want simple setup with SEPA, Adyen only once volume passes about 2 M EUR a year. The fee gap usually stays under 0.3 points.

Can grant funding be collected through Stripe or Mollie?

No: Skillnet and state programme funding are paid by bank transfer under each scheme's rules. Only learner top-ups can go through cards.

Are instalment payments worth it?

For self-funded courses between 800 and 3,000 EUR, they often lift conversion by 10 to 20 %. Fees are higher, around 3 to 4.5 % depending on the partner.

Are there specific compliance requirements?

QQI-validated providers must publish clear fees and refund policies, and consumers have a 14-day cooling-off period for distance contracts. The funnel must show this information before payment.

How long does integration take?

Allow 2 to 4 weeks for a funnel with cards and SEPA, and 6 to 8 weeks with the training management system and accounting links.

Let's scope your project. Tell us your learner volume, funding sources and accounting software: we will scope the payment integration, an indicative budget and a 2 to 8 week timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.