E-commerce for Swiss clubs: How do payments, shops and digital membership fees work?

Swiss associations can increase their revenue and drastically reduce the administrative burden on the board by having their own online shop, digital payment methods such as TWINT and QR-Invoice, as well as automated membership fees. The key lies in combining simple association software, a broad payment mix and a legally sound setup – because in Switzerland, association shops are subject to the same obligations as any other online shop.

This guide shows you which e-commerce models exist for associations, which payment methods have established themselves in Switzerland, what you need to look out for regarding data protection and compliance – and how to achieve maximum impact with minimal effort.

1. Status quo: Why associations are selling digitally now

Switzerland has over 100,000 associations – from sports clubs and cultural associations to environmental organisations. There are around 600,000 in Germany and 125,000 in Austria. Almost all of them face the same challenges: a decreasing willingness to use cash, rising expectations for digital services and a chronic lack of time among volunteers.

The pandemic triggered a push towards digitalisation in the association sector as well. According to TWINT and RaiseNow, over 16,000 Swiss associations already rely on their joint payment solution for cashless payments. PostFinance, Raiffeisen and the major Swiss banks actively promote the digitalisation of associations – with dedicated association packages, TWINT integrations and recommendations for association software such as ClubDesk or Fairgate.

At the same time, more and more specialised club shop providers (Fan12, MyTeamShop, Vereinslinie, ClubSolution) are emerging, offering clubs free, branded online shops – complete with production, shipping and a revenue share of up to 25%. The club only provides the logo and colours.

2. The five e-commerce channels for associations

E-commerce for associations does not just mean selling merchandise. It encompasses at least five channels, each of which places different demands on payment processing and technology:

Club Shop (Merchandise & Fan Articles)

Personalised shirts, hoodies, caps, mugs or keyrings in the club design. Either via a specialised service provider (print-on-demand, fulfillment included) or via an own webshop connected to a Payment Service Provider (PSP). The typical order value is EUR 30–80 per purchase.

Membership Fees and Course Registrations

The largest recurring cash flow: annual or quarterly fees, course subscriptions, season tickets. In Switzerland, these are increasingly collected via QR-bill or TWINT. Automated recurring payments via credit card or direct debit generate predictable income and eliminate the tedious task of chasing up defaulting members.

Event Ticketing

Club festivals, tournaments, concerts, general meetings: online ticketing with prepaid payment reduces no-shows, simplifies planning and eliminates cash at the box office. Integrating a payment link (Paylink) in emails or WhatsApp groups is the fastest way.

Donations and Fundraising

Digital donations via QR code, Paylink or donation form on the website. In Switzerland, over 8,000 organisations rely on RaiseNow for digital fundraising. Crowdfunding platforms like lokalhelden.ch (Raiffeisen) or wemakeit offer additional reach for project-based campaigns.

Cashless Payments on Site

At the club festival, in the clubhouse, at cake sales or raffles: TWINT, QR codes, card terminals or smartphone-based digital terminals are increasingly replacing cash. Fees are 1.3–2.5% per transaction (TWINT via RaiseNow), while the association saves time on counting and banking cash, and avoids the risk of theft.

3. Comparison: Payment methods for Swiss associations

Not every payment method is suitable for every channel. The following table shows which payment methods are best suited for typical association use cases:

Recommendation: In Switzerland, TWINT is the all-rounder – it covers all five channels. Supported by QR-bills for fees and credit card/PostFinance for the online shop, this creates a payment mix that reaches virtually all members and visitors.

4. Legal principles: What Swiss associations need to keep in mind

Any association running an online shop in Switzerland is subject to the same legal requirements as any other online Comerciante. This sounds strict, but it can be easily implemented with the right tools.

Legal Notice and Data Protection

Every club shop requires a complete legal notice (association name, address, contact person) and a privacy policy that complies with the revised Swiss Data Protection Act (DPA, in force since 1 September 2023). Particularly relevant: the processing of personal data (name, address, payment details) must be communicated transparently. For associations that also have members in the EU, the GDPR also applies.

Right of Withdrawal and Terms and Conditions

Unlike in the EU, Swiss law does not provide for a general right of withdrawal in e-commerce. Nonetheless, it is advisable to define clear Terms & Conditions with return policies, as this builds trust and avoids conflicts. Providers such as eRecht24 or the Swiss law firm Brüllhardt offer generators and templates for association Terms & Conditions.

Non-profit Status and Taxes

Income from an association shop can jeopardise the tax-exempt status of a non-profit association if it is classified as commercial. The cantonal tax authorities assess whether the economic activity remains subordinate to the non-profit purpose of the association. As a rule of thumb: as long as shop income is subordinate in relation to the total budget and profits flow entirely into the association’s purpose, the tax exemption generally remains in place. However, consulting with the relevant cantonal tax office is recommended.

5. Trends: What is changing for associations

Community Commerce instead of classic E-Commerce

In an association environment, people do not buy because of the price – they buy because of the feeling of belonging. This makes e-commerce for associations fundamentally different from classic online retail: the target audience is small, but extremely loyal. Conversion rates are high, returns are low. Limited editions, anniversary items and personalised products perform exceptionally well.

Mobile-First is a must

Association communication takes place via WhatsApp, Instagram and association apps. Accordingly, the entire payment flow – from the Paylink in the WhatsApp group to the checkout in the club shop – must work smoothly on mobile phones. Payment methods such as TWINT, Apple Pay and Google Pay are not optional, but a basic prerequisite.

Recurring payments as an anchor of stability

The trend towards subscription models is also reaching associations. Monthly training fees, season tickets, course subscriptions – recurring payments create predictable income and reduce administrative effort. A PSP that supports recurring payments natively is a prerequisite for this.

Platform convergence: Everything from a single source

Association software (ClubDesk, Fairgate, Webling, SportMember) is increasingly becoming a platform: member management, website, accounting, shop and payments – all in one tool. The PSP becomes the invisible infrastructure running all payment flows in the background. The API compatibility of the PSP determines how seamless this integration is.

6. Checklist: What to check before starting

Before introducing e-commerce features for your association, clarify these points:

• Check association statutes: Do the statutes permit economic activity (shop sales, ticketing)? If not, the next general assembly must approve an amendment.

• Secure tax-exempt status: Consult with the cantonal tax office to ensure an online shop does not jeopardise non-profit status.

• Create a legal notice and privacy policy: Mandatory for every online shop. The revised DPA (since 1.9.2023) increases the requirements.

• Define-payment methods: Cover at least TWINT + QR-bill + credit card. Check whether the PSP supports PostFinance and Apple/Google Pay.

• Set up an association bank account for payouts: The PSP pays out to the association's bank account – make sure the account is active and complies with the PSP requirements.

• Verify association software integration: Does your association software (ClubDesk, Fairgate etc.) provide an interface to the chosen PSP? Are payments automatically reconciled?

• Define responsibilities on the board: Who looks after the shop? Who monitors incoming payments? Minimal effort is only possible if the processes are clear.

• Test mobile compatibility: Is the shop, the donation form and the checkout usable on smartphones? Do Paylinks work in WhatsApp?

• Establish terms & conditions and return policies: Even though there is no statutory right of withdrawal in Switzerland – clear rules build trust.

• Perform a test order: Before the shop goes live, go through the entire purchase process yourself – including payment, confirmation email and booking entry.

7. How to process payments for your association with Payrexx

Payrexx offers Swiss associations a payment solution that covers all described channels from a single source: TWINT, QR-bill, credit cards, PostFinance, Apple Pay and Google Pay – activatable with just a few clicks, without technical knowledge.

With Payrexx Pages and QR codes, you can send payment requests for membership fees, event tickets or donations directly via SMS, email or as a poster in the clubhouse.

The recurring payment feature automates fee collection. For associations with their own webshop, Payrexx provides integrations for popular shop systems and an API that enables seamless connection to association software.

Payrexx handles KYC checks and regulatory compliance as a licensed PSP – meaning the association does not have to worry about anti-money laundering duties itself. Get started now with a free Payrexx account and set up your first payment page in just a few minutes.