Offering multiple payment methods: which ones should you offer your customers?
Introduction
Your customers have different preferences when it comes to paying. Some favour traditional bank transfers, others prefer the speed of TWINT, and many opt for bank cards out of habit. Limiting your payment options means risking slower collections or even losing business opportunities.
Offering multiple business payment methods is no longer a luxury, it's become a necessity to remain competitive. Each solution has its particularities: transaction costs, collection delays, ease of integration. Mobile payment like TWINT is experiencing explosive growth in Switzerland, whilst online payment by card remains essential for remote transactions.
But how do you choose the right options without getting lost in technical complexity or exploding your fees? This guide presents the main payment methods available in Switzerland, their real costs, and above all how to implement them concretely. You'll also discover a comparison table to quickly identify solutions suited to your customer type and business volume. The objective: make life easier for your customers whilst optimising your cash flow management.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Diversifying your payment methods improves customer experience and accelerates your collections. Main options in Switzerland include bank transfer with QR-invoice (free but slow), bank card (2-3% fees), TWINT (0.5-1.5%), PayPal (approximately 3.4%) and direct debit LSV/DebitDirect. The choice depends on your customer type, average amounts and business sector. The essential thing is to combine 2-3 complementary solutions and integrate them clearly into your invoicing.
📚 Table of contents
Why offer multiple payment methods?
Diversifying your payment methods directly improves your cash flow. A customer who can pay via their preferred channel settles faster and more willingly.
The concrete benefits:
- Reduction in payment delays of 5 to 15 days on average
- Increased conversion rate (fewer abandonments)
- Improved customer experience
- Adaptation to varied habits according to age and sector
The choice of payment method directly influences your cash flow management. Combining transfer, card and TWINT covers 90% of preferences in Switzerland.
Traditional payment methods in Switzerland
Classic payment methods remain essential for any Swiss business. They offer reliability and compliance with local standards.
Bank transfer dominates B2B transactions, whilst bank cards prevail in B2C. These traditional options guarantee broad coverage of your customer base.
Their main advantage: universal acceptance and established trust. Even if new players are emerging, these solutions remain the foundation of any payment strategy.
Bank transfer and QR-invoice
Advantages: Mandatory Swiss standard, virtually no costs, guaranteed compliance, accepted by all customers.
Disadvantages: Processing delays of 1 to 3 working days, depends on customer action, no instant payment.
Costs: Generally free or minimal bank charges (0.10-0.50 CHF per transaction depending on the bank).
Implementation: Use compliant invoicing software like BePaid to automatically generate valid QR-invoices. Sending timing also influences payment speed.
Bank card payment (debit and credit)
Advantages: Instant payment, familiar to all customers, secured via international standards, high acceptance rate.
Disadvantages: Transaction fees of 1.5% to 3% depending on provider and card type, requires physical terminal or online gateway.
Costs: Commission per transaction + possible monthly fees (20-50 CHF) for terminal.
Implementation: Choose between physical terminal (Sumup, Zettle) for in-person payments or online gateway (Stripe, Datatrans) for e-commerce.
Digital and mobile payment methods
Digital solutions are transforming payment habits in Switzerland. Mobile payment now represents more than 40% of proximity transactions.
These methods combine speed and simplicity. A scanned QR-code, a confirmation, and payment is completed in a few seconds.
Growing adoption, particularly among those under 50, makes these options indispensable for B2C-oriented businesses and services. Ignoring digital means losing customers.
TWINT: the Swiss mobile standard
Advantages: Used by more than 50% of the Swiss population, instant payment, simple and secure interface, no terminal required.
Disadvantages: Limited to Switzerland only, variable transaction fees depending on volume, requires technical integration.
Costs: Approximately 1% to 2% per transaction depending on your monthly volume.
Implementation: Integration via TWINT QR-code on your invoices or via online payment gateway (Datatrans, Six Payment). Simple configuration with support in French.
PayPal and other electronic wallets
Advantages: International recognition, buyer and seller protection, fast payment, ideal for foreign customers.
Disadvantages: Higher fees (2.5% to 3.5% + 0.55 CHF per transaction), less popular in Switzerland than TWINT, sometimes complex interface.
Costs: Commission per transaction, decreasing according to monthly volume.
Implementation: Creation of free professional account, integration on website or sending payment links by email. 30-minute configuration.
Direct debit (LSV/DebitDirect)
Advantages: Ideal for recurring payments (subscriptions, rent), collection rate above 95%, total automation, cash flow predictability.
Disadvantages: Requires signed customer authorisation, initial administrative setup, processing delay of 2-5 days.
Costs: Variable bank charges (0.20-1 CHF per debit) depending on your bank and volume.
Implementation: LSV/DD agreement with your bank and debit authorisation signed by each customer. Standardised but rigorous process.
Payment methods comparison table
| Method | Delay | Costs | Implementation | Recommended usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer/QR-invoice | 1-3 days | ~0 CHF | Easy | B2B, all sectors |
| Bank card | Instant | 1.5-3% | Medium | B2C, retail |
| TWINT | Instant | 1-2% | Medium | B2C, Switzerland only |
| PayPal | Instant | 2.5-3.5% | Easy | International, e-commerce |
| Direct debit | 2-5 days | 0.20-1 CHF | Complex | Subscriptions, recurring |
How to choose payment methods suited to your business
The choice of payment methods depends on three main factors: your customer type, your transaction volumes and your business sector.
No need to multiply options. Three well-chosen methods generally suffice to cover 95% of your customers' needs.
Analyse your current transactions: who pays how, what are the average delays, where are you losing customers? The answers guide your implementation priorities.
According to your customer type
B2B: Favour bank transfer/QR-invoice (standard) + direct debit for recurring contracts. Businesses prefer bank traceability.
B2C: Imperatively add TWINT and bank card. Individuals want to pay immediately and simply.
B2B/B2C mix: Combine 3-4 options: QR-invoice + TWINT + card covers the essentials.
International customers: Integrate PayPal or Stripe to facilitate payments from abroad without currency complications.
According to your volume and average amounts
Small frequent amounts (< 100 CHF): TWINT and bank card are essential. Customers want to pay quickly without delay.
Large occasional amounts (> 1000 CHF): Bank transfer remains favoured. 2-3% card fees become prohibitive.
Recurring subscriptions: Direct debit optimises your cash flow and reduces non-payments by 70%.
Always calculate: commission × monthly volume versus time saved and reduction in payment delays.
According to your business sector
E-commerce: Card + TWINT + PayPal are essential. Without them, you lose 40% of potential conversions.
Professional services/consulting: QR-invoice by transfer often suffices. Your customers are businesses accustomed to this process.
Retail: Card + TWINT as priority. Instant payment improves in-store customer experience.
SaaS/subscriptions: Direct debit + card to secure your recurring revenue and automate invoicing.
How to implement these payment methods concretely
Implementing new payment methods follows a structured four-step process. Each phase requires attention and planning.
Don't rush anything. Gradual implementation avoids costly errors and allows adjustment according to customer feedback.
Allow 2 to 4 weeks between decision and complete operationalisation, depending on the complexity of chosen solutions and your existing infrastructure.
Step 1: Assess your needs and priorities
Start by analysing your customers' current preferences. Ask them directly or observe recurring requests.
Calculate the impact of fees on your margin: 2% on a turnover of 100,000 CHF represents 2,000 CHF annually. Is this acceptable?
Identify your existing payment delay problems. If 30% of your invoices are paid late, diversifying methods can solve this problem.
Start with 2-3 options maximum to avoid complexity.
Step 2: Choose your providers
Compare fees and conditions: Stripe (1.9% + 0.30 CHF) versus Datatrans (negotiable rates according to volume), Sumup (1.95%) versus Zettle (1.75%).
Check compatibility with your existing tools. Some gateways integrate directly with your invoicing software.
Favour solutions with support in French and compliance with Swiss standards (PCI-DSS, data protection).
Read cancellation conditions: some contracts impose minimum durations or exit fees.
Step 3: Integrate options into your invoicing
Use invoicing software that centralises payment methods. This simplifies management and tracking.
With BePaid: native compliant QR-invoices + possibility to add clear instructions for TWINT, card or other methods.
Explicitly mention available options on each invoice. An informed customer pays faster.
This approach improves customer relationships by offering them flexibility and comfort.
Step 4: Communicate to your customers
Inform your customers of new available options by email, newsletter or on the next invoice. Explain the benefits for them.
Clearly indicate accepted methods on your invoices, website, email signatures and commercial materials. Visibility encourages adoption.
Train your team on new processes: how to verify TWINT payments, manage card refunds, process debit failures.
Monitor adoption for 2-3 months and adjust if necessary. Some methods may prove unnecessary.
Mistakes to avoid
Offering too many options complicates choice and slows decision-making. Limit yourself to 3-4 relevant methods.
Not calculating the impact of fees on your profitability. A 3% rate can destroy your margin on certain products or services.
Forgetting to test processes before full deployment. Carry out test transactions for each method.
Not training the team creates confusion and errors. Everyone must know how to verify and process payments.
Neglecting security and PCI-DSS compliance for card payments exposes you to major legal and financial risks.
Offering multiple payment methods to your customers is no longer an option, it's a necessity. Bank transfer with QR-invoice remains essential in Switzerland, but adding it to TWINT, bank cards or PayPal concretely improves your collection rate and accelerates your payment delays.
The essential thing is to choose according to your customers and your business, without unnecessarily multiplying fees. Start with the most relevant options, test, then adjust according to your customers' feedback.
With BePaid, you create compliant QR-invoices in a few clicks and track your payments in real time, whatever method your customer chooses. The platform centralises your invoicing and simplifies your collection management. Test free up to 10 invoices and 5 customers, no bank card required.
