The verdict in three sentences
For a subscription services company in Dublin or anywhere in the eurozone (maintenance, software, equipment rental) billing 200 to 5,000 business customers every month, SEPA Direct Debit remains the cheapest and most stable method, whether through GoCardless or directly through your bank. Stripe Billing makes sense if your customers mostly pay by card or if you need very flexible subscription management, but its fees climb fast on large invoices. A clean integration costs EUR 3,000 to 12,000 excl. VAT and typically cuts late payments by 30 to 50%.
Comparing real fees in 2026
Public price lists change and become negotiable above certain volumes, but the 2026 order of magnitude in the eurozone is as follows. The key point is the GoCardless cap: on an EUR 800 invoice, it changes everything.
| Solution | Per-transaction fee | Billing or subscription fee | Cost on an EUR 120 invoice | Cost on an EUR 800 invoice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe European card + Billing | 1.5% + EUR 0.25 | 0.7% of billed volume | EUR 2.89 | EUR 17.85 |
| Stripe SEPA debit + Billing | EUR 0.35 (capped) | 0.7% of billed volume | EUR 1.19 | EUR 5.95 |
| GoCardless SEPA debit | 1% + EUR 0.20 capped at EUR 4 | Included in standard plan | EUR 1.40 | EUR 4.00 |
| SEPA debit via your bank | EUR 0.10 to 0.40 | EBICS or bank channel EUR 20 to 60 per month | EUR 0.10 to 0.40 | EUR 0.10 to 0.40 |
| Manual transfer with reminders | EUR 0 | Reconciliation and chasing time | EUR 0 (excluding internal time) | EUR 0 (excluding internal time) |
Direct bank debit is unbeatable on unit cost, but you have to manage mandates, SEPA XML files, returns and chasing yourself. GoCardless and Stripe automate these steps and retry failed payments intelligently, which explains much of the drop in late payments.
What integration costs
The budget depends mostly on your starting point: an existing invoicing tool, an ERP, or a custom customer portal. You need to link the mandate or card to the customer account, generate a compliant invoice (soon electronic in many EU markets), send the payment instruction, handle returns and reconcile in accounting.
| Integration scope | 2026 budget (excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| GoCardless or Stripe connector to an off-the-shelf invoicing tool | EUR 3,000 to 5,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Customer area for mandate or card signup + webhooks | EUR 4,000 to 7,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Proration, plan changes, multi-site accounts | EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Direct bank debit (SEPA files, returns, bank channel) | EUR 6,000 to 12,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Automatic reconciliation in ERP or accounting | EUR 2,000 to 5,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Migration of existing mandates | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
One point often missed: existing SEPA mandates can be migrated to GoCardless or Stripe without customers re-signing, provided you follow the transfer procedure and notify debtors.
How to choose for your profile
If your average invoice exceeds EUR 400 and your customers are eurozone businesses, GoCardless or direct bank debit almost always win. If you sell software with free trials, online upgrades and international customers, Stripe Billing brings flexibility worth its 0.7%. Many companies combine both: SEPA by default, card as an option.
Mini case study
Nathalie, CFO of an equipment maintenance company based in Rennes with a growing Irish customer base served from Dublin, bills 1,200 customers an average of EUR 350 per month, i.e. EUR 420,000 monthly. Today 70% pay by transfer, with 6% overdue beyond 30 days and a half-time accountant chasing payments.
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Stripe card + Billing option: 1.5% + 0.7% = 2.2% + EUR 0.25 per invoice, i.e. EUR 9,540 per month. GoCardless option: EUR 4 cap reached above EUR 380, on average EUR 3.70 per invoice, i.e. EUR 4,440 per month. Direct bank option: EUR 0.25 x 1,200 = EUR 300 plus EUR 40 for the bank channel. She chooses GoCardless for EUR 8,000 of integration because automated retries matter: overdue payments fall to 3%, freeing 0.3 FTE, about EUR 1,100 per month. Direct bank debit, cheaper per transaction, would have required EUR 12,000 of integration and more in-house return handling.
FAQ
Stripe or GoCardless for B2B subscriptions in Europe?
Above EUR 380 per invoice, GoCardless is capped at EUR 4, while Stripe card + Billing costs about 2.2% of the amount. Stripe remains better for international customers paying by card.
Is bank SEPA debit really cheaper?
Yes, EUR 0.10 to 0.40 per transaction plus EUR 20 to 60 per month for the bank channel. However, you manage mandates, returns and chasing yourself, which requires EUR 6,000 to 12,000 of integration.
How much do late payments drop?
The observed order of magnitude is 30 to 50% fewer late payments, thanks to fixed-date collection and automatic retries. The effect is stronger when starting from manual transfers.
Do all mandates need to be re-signed?
No, existing SEPA mandates can be migrated by notifying debtors. Budget EUR 1,000 to 3,000 excl. VAT to prepare it properly.
How does this relate to e-invoicing?
In France, businesses must be able to receive e-invoices from September 2026 and SMEs must issue them from 2027, and other EU countries are following. Your recurring payment flow should therefore plug into your e-invoicing platform.
Let's scope your project. We compare your Stripe, GoCardless and bank debit fees on your real volumes, then price the integration with your invoicing and ERP. 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.
