Online businesses need to accept remote payments via credit, debit, and prepaid cards—these methods are popular with Italian shoppers. Digital spending in Italy reached €481 billion in 2024, up 8.5% from the previous year.
This article will explore what it means to accept remote card transactions, how they work, and how to begin receiving them in Italy.
What’s in this article?
- Why is it important for businesses in Italy to accept card payments?
- Advantages of receiving remote card payments
- How can businesses receive remote card payments?
- How can businesses begin accepting card payments?
Why is it important for businesses in Italy to accept card payments?
Processing credit, debit, or prepaid card payments has become important for businesses in Italy due to several factors, chiefly new regulations and changing customer preferences. Here, we’ll look at the key reasons why businesses in Italy need to accept card payments:
Customer preferences
Overall, Italians prefer to make card payments when buying on the web. Today, most people who use mobile and online shopping services pay via credit, debit, prepaid card, or digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Online businesses will likely miss many sales if they don’t support card transactions.Legal requirements
In Italy, all businesses—including small ones—must legally accept electronic payments. Under Legislative Decree 152/2021, refusing debit or credit cards can lead to a fine of €30 plus 4% of the value of the transaction that was refused.Common practice
If you run an ecommerce site, provide digital services, or offer remote consulting, taking card payments is a common practice and typically expected by clients.Security and trust
Customers generally see card transactions as safe and dependable, especially when the website and payment gateway feature security measures such as SSL and follow the PCI DSS standard. Allowing this method builds buyer trust in your brand.Convenience and speed
Card checkout gives customers a quick way to buy. Typing in card details or using saved credentials is often faster and more convenient than other options, smoothing out the purchase journey and boosting conversions.Potential for expansion
Accepting credit cards lets businesses reach international shoppers, giving access to a broader and more varied market.
Advantages of receiving remote card payments
Accepting card payments remotely has several benefits for businesses, as it allows them to:
- Offer a variety of payment options. The more ways available to buyers, the better you can meet their needs and grow your revenue.
- Reduce fixed costs, as businesses don’t need to buy or rent a physical point-of-sale terminal.
- Take payments from customers anywhere in the world.
- Get paid quickly and easily—often by simply sending a payment link through email, SMS, or WhatsApp.
- Offer customers more flexible ways to pay.
- Manage online sales more smoothly and connect transactions with your ecommerce site, apps, invoicing tools, or CRM.
How can businesses receive remote card payments?
Let’s examine the different methods for receiving remote credit card payments so you can choose the one that best suits your business’s needs:
|
Payment method |
Description |
Use case |
Stripe solution |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Payment link or QR code |
With this approach, businesses generate payment links to share with customers through email, SMS, or social media. When opening the URL, buyers simply enter their card information. Another option is to create a QR code with a set amount or link that can be shared across different channels. The customer scans the code and pays with a card or wallet, and the business receives an instant notification of the transaction. |
A buyer purchases through social media. The seller shares a payment link through chat or email. The customer taps it, enters their card details, and completes the checkout in seconds—right from their phone. Or, a seller has a stall at a craft fair and offers shipping after the event. The vendor puts up a sign with a QR code that the shopper scans to pay. |
|
|
Electronic invoice with online payment |
Some invoicing software lets businesses add a button on the invoice so customers can pay by card. |
In just a few clicks, businesses can send customers a PDF invoice or a link to a billing page hosted by Stripe, where they can pay online. |
|
|
Ecommerce site or web page |
With Stripe Checkout, businesses can either embed a prebuilt, conversion-optimized payment form on their website or direct customers to a Stripe-hosted page to complete their purchase. Businesses can also use Stripe Elements, a set of prebuilt user interface components such as text fields and buttons, to help build smooth checkout flows more easily. |
A shop could have an ecommerce site selling homemade preserves. The buyer browses the products, adds them to the cart, and finishes the purchase with a card using a payment form. |
How can businesses begin accepting card payments?
Getting started with remote card payments is straightforward, but it does involve a few important steps—let’s take a look:
Choose a card payment processor
These specialized providers handle credit, debit, or prepaid card transactions securely.Select the payment methods that best suit your business
Picking the proper payment methods is key to enhancing buyers’ shopping experience and boosting conversions. Think about what your customers prefer, what you’re selling, and how you’re selling it. Cards, digital wallets, and installment payment options offer unique benefits that match your model.Set up a payment gateway
Finally, you need to establish a payment gateway on your website or app to begin receiving transactions. A gateway is the technical link between your ecommerce site and the payment processor and ensures that the relevant data is sent securely.
Choosing the right provider for remote card payments is key to handling transactions quickly and efficiently while offering checkout methods that best fit your business. With its Optimized Checkout Suite, solutions such as Stripe Payments allow you to accept payments globally, both online and in person, boost conversion rates, and ensure compliance—saving thousands of hours of technical work.
The content in this article is for general information and education purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Stripe does not warrant or guarantee the accurateness, completeness, adequacy, or currency of the information in the article. You should seek the advice of a competent attorney or accountant licensed to practice in your jurisdiction for advice on your particular situation.