Payment solution for Swiss associations: A platform for all sections

Swiss umbrella associations can provide their sections with a central payment platform through which each section collects membership fees, event tickets, and course fees independently – with their own branding and their own payout to the section account. The association maintains an overview via an aggregated Dashboard and can automatically deduct an association share (e.g. licence fee or umbrella association contribution) per transaction via split payments before the remainder flows to the section.

This guide explains how such a platform solution works, which architecture variants exist, and shows three specific scenarios for Swiss associations.

1. The Problem: Why decentralised payment solutions slow down associations

In many Swiss associations, each section has its own payment solution – or none at all. The gymnastics club in Zug uses PostFinance E-Finance and QR-bills, the section in Bern works with club management software, and the section in Lausanne collects cash. The umbrella association has no overview of payment flows, cannot provide aggregated figures for the delegates' meeting, and has no way to collect the association share automatically.

This scenario leads to three specific problems. Firstly: the association must manually request and track the contribution of each section – a considerable administrative effort with 40–500 sections. Secondly: the sections offer their members an inconsistent payment experience – some accept TWINT, others only bank transfers. Thirdly: for training programmes, licences, or events that the association offers centrally, uniform processing is lacking.

2. The Solution: Central platform with decentralised accounts

An association platform refers to a central payment infrastructure through which all sections of an association process payments – without the association accepting the payments itself. Each section has its own sub-account (sub-Comerciante account) with its own branding, own products, and its own payout to the section IBAN.

The association acts as the platform operator and manages the onboarding of the sections. In the background, payment processing runs via a Payment Service Provider (PSP), which, as a technical partner, covers the regulatory requirements (KYC checks, Anti-Money Laundering Act) for each section. The association itself generally does not require its own financial market licence because it does not act as a payment intermediary – the funds flow directly from the payer via the PSP to the section.

2.1 Split Payment: Automatically deduct association share

Split payment means that an incoming payment is automatically split into two or more parts. For associations, this is the crucial mechanism: with every transaction of a section, a predefined share (e.g. 5% or a fixed amount of EUR 2) is transferred to the association, and the remainder goes to the section. This way, the association does not have to request its contribution separately – it is automatically deducted with each payment.

Example: A member of the Bern section pays their annual fee of EUR 120 via TWINT. The PSP automatically deducts EUR 6 (5%) as the association share and transfers EUR 114 minus transaction fees to the IBAN of the Bern section. The association share is collected and paid out periodically to the umbrella association. No manual effort, no invoices, no chasing up.

2.2 Reporting: Two levels, one Dashboard

A platform solution generally offers two reporting levels. The association sees aggregated figures: total transaction volume of all sections, association shares, number of active sections, top sections by turnover. Each section sees exclusively its own transactions: incoming payments, payouts, open items. The sections have no access to the data of other sections.

3. Architecture Variants: Which model suits your association?

Depending on the size of the association, technical expertise, and budget, three architecture variants come into question.

Most Swiss associations fare best with Model B: A platform solution via a PSP that handles onboarding, KYC verification, and payment processing. The association configures the platform, onboards the sections, and defines the split payment rules. Providers offering platform solutions in Switzerland include Payrexx, Stripe Connect, and wallee.

4. Three Scenarios: How Swiss associations use the platform solution

4.1 Cantonal sports association with 40 local clubs

A cantonal gymnastics association has 40 local clubs with a total of 6,000 members. Each local club collects its own annual fee (EUR 80–150 per member). The association levies a licence fee share of EUR 5 per member. Previously, each local club had to transfer the licence fee share separately to the association – 20% forgot to do so, 10% paid late.

With the platform solution: The association sets up a sub-Comerciante account for each local club. When a member of TV Aarau pays their fee of EUR 120 via TWINT, EUR 5 goes automatically to the association, and EUR 115 (minus transaction fee) to TV Aarau. The association sees in real time which local clubs have billed how many members.

4.2 Professional association with training programme

A professional association offers central further training courses (EUR 350–800 per course) and has 12 regional sections that host their own networking events (EUR 25–50 per event). Via the platform, the association sells the courses centrally, while each section processes its events via its own sub-Comerciante account. The association has an overview of all bookings – central and regional – in one Dashboard.

4.3 Music association with regional sections

A Swiss music association with 80 regional sections (brass bands, choirs, orchestras) wants to offer the sections a uniform solution for concert ticket sales. Each section receives its own sales page with club logo and colour scheme. Tickets are sold via the section's mini web shop, with revenue flowing directly into the section account. The association receives a fixed amount of EUR 0.50 per ticket sold as a contribution to platform financing.

5. Regulatory Aspects: Does the association need to hold a licence?

When an association processes payments via a platform, the question arises whether it qualifies as a financial intermediary within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) or as a payment intermediary under the Banking Act (BankA). The short answer: generally not, provided the association uses a licensed PSP as a technical partner and the funds do not flow through the association's account.

The crucial distinction: As long as the PSP forwards payments directly from the payer to the section (with an automatic split for the association share), the association does not accept client funds and does not operate payment transaction activities. Regulatory responsibility (KYC, AMLA compliance) lies with the PSP. The association merely acts as an intermediary connecting its sections to the PSP.

Important: If, on the other hand, the association accepts payments itself, collects them in its own account, and subsequently forwards them to the sections, it may qualify as a financial intermediary and require affiliation with an SRO (self-regulatory organisation) or even a fintech licence pursuant to Art. 1b BankA. This model is not recommended for associations. The platform solution via a licensed PSP avoids this problem.

Please note: This section does not constitute legal advice. Regulatory requirements depend on the specific business model. In case of uncertainty, consult a lawyer specialising in financial market law.

6. Costs: What an association platform costs

The costs for a platform solution depend on the model, the number of sections, and the transaction volume. The following table provides benchmark figures for an association with 40 sections and an annual total volume of EUR 500,000.

Additional advantage for the association: By centrally negotiating transaction fees, the association can often secure better conditions for its sections than each section would achieve individually. With a total volume of EUR 500,000+, negotiations for individual conditions are possible with most PSPs.

7. Checklist: Setting up an association platform for payments

• Determine requirements: How many sections? Which payment occasions (fees, events, courses)?

• Select architecture model: Decentralised (A), platform (B), or white-label (C)?

• Evaluate PSP with platform solution and request a quote (Payrexx, Stripe Connect, wallee, or similar)

• Define split payment rules: Percentage share or fixed amount per transaction for the association

• Define onboarding process for sections: What data does the PSP require (statutes, IBAN, board members)?

• Launch pilot with 3–5 sections and test the process

• Clarify reporting requirements: Which figures does the association require, which does the section require?

• Prepare communication to sections: Explain benefits, create instructions

• Clarify regulatory question: Do funds flow via the association or directly via the PSP?

• Plan rollout: Phased onboarding (e.g. 10 sections per month)

8. How to build an association platform with Payrexx

With its platform solution, Payrexx offers a model specifically designed for associations with multiple sections. The association receives a central Dashboard through which it onboards sections as sub-Comerciantes – including KYC checks, which Payrexx handles as a licensed payment facilitator. Each section receives its own account with its own branding, its own products (fees, events, shop), and its own payout to its IBAN account.

Split payments can be configured per section or per product: The association defines which share is deducted automatically. Reporting displays aggregated metrics to the association and individual transactions to each section. The sections pay transaction fees – the association can source these as a buy rate and determine for itself which fees to pass on to the sections. For an individual evaluation, contact the Payrexx platform team for a non-binding consultation.