Swiss online shops can offer invoice purchase today in four different ways: as a classic QR-bill with a payment deadline, as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) with risk assumption by providers like Klarna or CembraPay, as TWINT pay later, or as a traditional invoice by post. Each model differs fundamentally in 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 invoice purchase models in detail, compares the fees per transaction, and helps you choose the right model for your Swiss online shop.

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

In Switzerland, the term "purchase on invoice" now encompasses significantly more than classic invoice dispatch by post. Consumers understand it to mean any payment method where they receive 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 invoice purchase?", but "Which invoice purchase model suits my business?".

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

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 (self-risk)

You send the goods together with an invoice — by post or PDF by email. The customer typically has a payment term of 10 to 30 days. You bear the full default risk and are responsible for dunning and debt collection yourself. 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. Buyers receive a QR-bill after placing an order, which they pay via their e-banking app or by scanning. The payment reconciliation occurs automatically via CAMT.054 messages from the bank. The default risk 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 take over the credit check and default risk. The customer pays the BNPL provider, and you receive your money guaranteed — minus a transaction fee. Klarna charges 2.40% + EUR 0.30 (Free/Standard) or 1.60% + EUR 0.20 (Premium) via Payrexx. CembraPay and POWERPAY are connected as 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 checkout and choose the "Pay later" option — they receive a payment term 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? Self-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 default risk. If a customer does not pay, you must send reminders yourself, initiate debt collection if necessary, and write off the amount in the worst-case scenario.

With BNPL providers like Klarna, CembraPay, or POWERPAY, as well as with TWINT Pay later, the risk 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 default risk with Klarna. The question therefore is: How high is your actual default rate, and does it justify the higher BNPL fees?

4. What invoice purchase costs the merchant: Fee structure of the different models

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

For CembraPay, POWERPAY, and Ideal Payment, individual conditions apply, which you agree 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: With an average shopping cart of EUR 150 and 500 invoice purchase orders per month, the cost calculation in the Standard plan looks like this: 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 invoice purchase providers with different strengths:

Klarna is the most internationally known BNPL provider. In Switzerland, Klarna offers invoice purchase (14 or 30 days), installment payments, and immediate payment. Klarna handles key credit checks and takes over the default risk completely. Available in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, and Italy.

CembraPay (Cembra Money Bank) is a Swiss provider that offers invoice purchase with and without a partial payment option. CembraPay targets medium to large shops and offers guaranteed payout. The conditions are agreed upon individually.

POWERPAY (MF Group AG) is also a Swiss provider focusing on invoice purchase and partial payments. POWERPAY takes care of credit checks and debt collection. It is particularly popular in the Swiss fashion and lifestyle sectors.

Ideal Payment is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises that want to negotiate conditions individually and adapt processes to their business model. The entry barrier is lower than for CembraPay or POWERPAY.

TWINT Pay later is not an independent BNPL provider, but 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. food, cosmetics): Here, the fixed fees of BNPL providers eat up a disproportionately large share. The QR-bill or TWINT Pay later without a fixed fee are often more economical.

Medium shopping carts from EUR 50 to 200 (e.g. fashion, books, household): 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, sports): BNPL with installment payments (Klarna) becomes a conversion driver. But 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 default risk is low, and fees are minimal.

New customers without a buying history: BNPL with risk assumption. This is where the default risk is highest, and the credit check by Klarna or CembraPay protects you.

Checklist: Setting up invoice purchase in a Swiss online shop

• Define your risk profile: Are you willing to bear the default risk 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 with your actual order volume, not with guidelines.

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

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

• Set up a dunning system if you offer QR-bills or classic invoices (self-risk).

• Test the checkout experience: Is the invoice purchase option displayed clearly and understandably?

• 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 invoice purchase models through a single Dashboard: QR-bill and TWINT Pay later are directly available via Payrexx Pay, and Klarna via Payrexx Pay Plus. In addition, CembraPay, POWERPAY, and Ideal Payment can be connected as External providers. All methods can be activated in parallel — Comerciantes do not choose the variant themselves per order; instead, the customer decides in the checkout which option they prefer.