Purchase on account in Swiss online shops: Models, costs and providers at a glance
Swiss online shops can offer purchase on account in four different ways today: as a classic QR-bill with a payment deadline, as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) with risk assumption by providers such as Klarna or CembraPay, as TWINT Pay later, or as a traditional invoice by post. Each model differs fundamentally in costs, risk distribution, and conversion impact — your right choice depends on shopping cart size, target group, and risk appetite.
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Swiss online shops today can offer purchase on account in four different ways: as a classic QR-invoice with a payment deadline, as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) with risk assumption by providers such as Klarna or CembraPay, as TWINT
FAQs on purchase on account in the Swiss online shop
What does purchase on account cost for merchants in Switzerland?
The costs depend on the model. The QR-bill costs 0.50–0.60 % without a fixed fee. BNPL providers like Klarna charge 1.60–2.40 % plus a fixed fee of CHF 0.20–0.30 per transaction, but they assume the risk of default in return.
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Which invoice payment providers are available in Switzerland?
The most important providers are Klarna, CembraPay (Cembra Money Bank), POWERPAY (MF Group), Ideal Payment and TWINT Pay later (Swissbilling). In addition, merchants can offer the QR-bill as an own-risk option via their PSP.
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Is purchase on account still popular in Switzerland?
Yes. According to the e-commerce sentiment barometer of the HWZ, purchase on account is one of the most requested payment methods in Switzerland, with around 70 % popularity. Up to 70 % of Swiss online merchants offer some form of purchase on account.
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What is the difference between purchase on invoice and BNPL?
Classic purchase on account means that the merchant issues an invoice and bears the default risk themselves. With BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later), a specialized provider such as Klarna or CembraPay takes over the credit check and guarantees the payment to the merchant.
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Can you offer multiple purchase on account methods at the same time?
Yes. Many Swiss online shops offer multiple variants in parallel — for example, QR-bill for regular customers and Klarna for new customers. The customers choose themselves in the checkout.
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For which shops is BNPL with risk assumption particularly worthwhile for you?
BNPL is particularly worthwhile for shops with many new customers, medium to large shopping carts (CHF 50–500) and industries with high return rates such as fashion or shoes.
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