Swiss online shops today can offer purchase on account in four different ways: 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 terms of cost, risk distribution, and conversion impact — the right choice depends on shopping cart size, target group, and risk appetite.

This guide shows you the four purchase on account models in detail, compares the fees per transaction, and helps you choose the right model for your Swiss online shop.

1. What "purchase on account" means in Switzerland today — and why it is no longer just an invoice

In Switzerland, the term "purchase on account" now encompasses much more than the classic invoice sent by post. Consumers understand it to mean any payment method where they receive the goods first and pay only afterwards — regardless of whether the invoice appears as a QR code in e-banking, is processed via Klarna, or lands as a TWINT notification on their smartphone.

For Comerciantes, this distinction is crucial because behind each model lies a different risk distribution, cost structure, and technical integration. The core question is not "Should I offer purchase on account?", but "Which purchase on account model suits my business?".

According to the online merchant survey by the ZHAW, around 70 % of Swiss online Comerciantes offer some form of purchase on account. The E-Commerce Stimmungsbarometer by the HWZ confirms that purchase on account remains one of the most requested payment types among Swiss consumers, with around 70 % popularity.

2. The four models at a glance: Classic invoice, QR-bill, BNPL with risk assumption, TWINT Pay Later

The four models differ in one key aspect: Who bears the risk if the customer does not pay?

Model 1: Classic invoice (own risk)

You send the goods together with an invoice — by post or as a PDF by email. The customer typically has a payment deadline of 10 to 30 days. You bear the full risk of default and are responsible for your own dunning and collection. There are no transaction fees, but costs arise from payment defaults and administration.

Model 2: QR-bill in checkout

The Swiss QR-bill (Swiss QR Invoice) is offered as a payment method in checkout. After placing an order, buyers receive a QR-bill that they pay using their e-banking app or by scanning it. Payment reconciliation is done automatically via the bank's CAMT.054 notifications. The risk of default lies with you as the Comerciante. The costs via Payrexx Pay are 0.60 % (Free) or 0.50 % (Standard/Premium) with no fixed fee.

Model 3: BNPL with risk assumption (Klarna, CembraPay, POWERPAY)

Buy Now Pay Later providers (BNPL) completely handle the credit check and risk of default. The customer pays the BNPL-Anbieter, and you receive your money guaranteed — minus a transaction fee. For Payrexx, Klarna charges 2.40 % + EUR 0.30 (Free/Standard) or 1.60 % + EUR 0.20 (Premium). CembraPay and POWERPAY are connected as external External providers with separate conditions.

Model 4: TWINT Pay Later

TWINT Pay Later is a Swiss BNPL product operated by Swissbilling. Buyers select TWINT at the checkout and opt for the "Pay Later" option — they receive a payment deadline of 30 days. The credit check runs in the background. Transaction fees are 2.30 % + EUR 0.30 (Free) or 2.30 % + EUR 0.18 (Standard/Premium).

3. Who bears the risk? Own risk vs. guaranteed payment by external providers

Risk distribution is the central difference between the models. With the classic invoice and the QR-bill, you as the Comerciante bear the full risk of default. If a customer does not pay, you must send reminders yourself, potentially initiate debt collection, and in the worst case, write off the amount.

With BNPL providers such as Klarna, CembraPay, or POWERPAY, as well as with TWINT Pay Later, the risk group lies with the provider. You receive the invoice amount minus the transaction fee — regardless of whether the customer actually pays in the end. This protection has its price: the transaction fees are higher than with the QR-bill.

In concrete terms: for a shopping cart of EUR 120, you pay around EUR 0.60–0.72 in fees with the QR-bill via Payrexx Pay. With Klarna (Standard), the fee is EUR 3.18 (2.40 % + EUR 0.30). In return, you bear no risk of default with Klarna. The question therefore is: what is your actual default rate, and does it justify the higher BNPL fees?

4. What purchase on account costs the merchant: fee structure of the different models

The cost structure varies considerably depending on the model. Here is a direct comparison of fees for Swiss transactions:

With CembraPay, POWERPAY, and Ideal Payment, individual conditions apply, which you agree upon directly with the provider. In addition, when connecting via an external payment provider, a Payrexx markup applies: 1.00 % (Free), 0.50 % (Standard), or 0.25 % (Premium).

Calculation example: for an average shopping cart of EUR 150 and 500 purchase on account orders per month, the cost calculation in the Standard plan looks like this: the QR-bill costs you EUR 375 per month (0.50 % × EUR 75,000). Klarna costs EUR 1,950 (2.40 % + EUR 0.30 × 500). The difference of around EUR 1,575 per month is the price for complete risk assumption by Klarna.

5. Providers in Switzerland: Klarna, CembraPay, POWERPAY, TWINT, and others compared

The Swiss market features several established purchase on account providers with different strengths:

Klarna is the most internationally known BNPL provider. In Switzerland, Klarna offers purchase on account (14 or 30 days), instalment payments, and immediate payment. Klarna handles key credit assessment and risk of default completely. Available in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy.

CembraPay (Cembra Money Bank) is a Swiss provider offering purchase on account with and without a partial payment option. CembraPay is aimed at medium to large shops and offers guaranteed payout. The conditions are agreed upon individually.

POWERPAY (MF Group AG) is also a Swiss provider with a focus on purchase on account and partial payments. POWERPAY handles credit checks and collection. It is particularly common in the Swiss fashion and lifestyle segment.

Ideal Payment is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that want to agree on individual conditions and adapt processes to their business model. The entry barrier is lower than with CembraPay or POWERPAY.

TWINT Pay Later is not an independent BNPL provider, but rather a feature within the TWINT app operated by Swissbilling. The advantage: buyers do not need to create a new account — they use their existing TWINT app. The reach in Switzerland is correspondingly high.

6. Which model suits which shop? Decision support by industry and risk profile

The choice of the right model depends on three factors: shopping cart size, target group, and risk appetite.

Small shopping carts under EUR 50 (e.g. groceries, cosmetics): here, the fixed fees of BNPL providers eat up a disproportionately large share. The QR-bill or TWINT Pay Later with no fixed fee are often more economical.

Medium shopping carts from EUR 50 to 200 (e.g. fashion, books, household items): the sweet spot for BNPL. Klarna and TWINT Pay Later offer the best compromise between cost and risk protection here. The conversion impact is particularly strong in this segment because customers want to check the goods before paying.

Large shopping carts over EUR 200 (e.g. electronics, furniture, sporting goods): BNPL with instalment payments (Klarna) becomes a conversion driver. However, the QR-bill with a clear payment deadline also works here — provided you have a functioning dunning system.

Regular customers with a known payment history: the QR-bill or classic invoice is sufficient. The risk of default is low, and the fees are minimal.

New customers with no purchase history: BNPL with risk assumption. This is where the risk of default is highest, and the credit check by Klarna or CembraPay protects you.

Checklist: setting up purchase on account in a Swiss online shop

• Define your risk profile: are you willing to bear the risk of default yourself, or do you want to outsource it?

• Check your average shopping cart size: for small amounts under EUR 50, fixed fees are particularly relevant.

• Compare transaction fees: calculate using your actual order volume, not guidelines.

• Decide whether you want to offer one or multiple purchase on account methods in parallel — e.g. QR-bill + Klarna.

• Clarify integration: is your PSP or shop system compatible with the desired providers?

• Set up a dunning system if you offer a QR-bill or classic invoice (own risk).

• Test the checkout experience: is the purchase on account option displayed clearly and comprehensibly?

• Inform yourself about the credit check: what data is collected, and how does a rejection affect the customer experience?

Payrexx offers Swiss online shops multiple purchase on account models via a single Dashboard: QR-bill and TWINT Pay Later are available directly via Payrexx Pay, and Klarna via Payrexx Pay Plus. Additionally, CembraPay, POWERPAY, and Ideal Payment can be connected as external External providers. All methods can be activated in parallel — Comerciantes do not select the method themselves per order; instead, the customer decides in checkout which option they prefer.