Payment gateway fees can feel complicated, especially for Swedish businesses that operate in both local and international markets. While the concept seems simple—you pay a fee for every transaction processed—the reality can be more nuanced. In addition to covering the payments service itself, these fees cover the costs of fraud prevention, banking integrations, and currency conversions. The payment market in Sweden is almost entirely digital; card and mobile payments have become the most prevalent payment methods. Because of this, businesses need to balance their fees with maintaining a great customer experience.

Below, we’ll explain gateway fees in Sweden and explore how factors such as transaction size, cross-border payments, and currency conversions influence costs.

What’s in this article?

• What fees are associated with payment gateways in Sweden?
  
• How do transaction fees work for Swedish payment gateways?
  
• How can businesses minimize payment gateway fees in Sweden?
  
• Are there hidden costs with payment gateway fees in Sweden?
  
• What should Swedish businesses consider when evaluating payment gateway costs?
  

What fees are associated with payment gateways in Sweden?

As a Swedish business, you’re likely to encounter a few common types of fees with your payment gateway. While the exact costs depend on the provider you choose, here’s an overview of what to expect.

Transaction fees

These are the most common charges and are typically calculated as a percentage of each transaction (e.g., 1.5%–3.0%), plus a fixed fee per payment—for example, 1–3 Swedish kronor (SEK). This covers processing costs, fraud prevention, and other features on the gateway side.

Monthly or subscription fees

Some gateways charge a recurring subscription fee for access to a platform or premium features. This fee varies by provider and the size of your business.

Setup fees

Some providers charge for initial setup and integration services. These are generally one-time fees but can vary widely in price.

Currency conversion fees

If your customers pay in foreign currencies, you might be charged additional conversion fees, which often range from 1%–3% of the transaction.

Payout or settlement fees

Gateways might also charge fees to transfer money to your bank account. This is typically a fixed fee for each payout or a percentage of the total amount transferred.

Additional fees

• Chargebacks: If a customer disputes a payment, it can cost 200–300 SEK per case to resolve the chargeback.

• Optional add-ons: Some gateways offer premium features such as analytics and advanced fraud protection for another fee.

How do transaction fees work for Swedish payment gateways?

Every time a payment goes through, the payment gateway verifies the card details, obtains bank authorization, and eventually settles the funds in your account. Transaction fees are meant to cover the costs of these steps. In Sweden, transaction fees for payment gateways typically consist of a flat fee plus a percentage-based fee per transaction to scale with the size of the payment.

For example, imagine the fee is 2.9% of the transaction and a flat 1.80 SEK. On a 1,000.00 SEK transaction, here’s how fee would be calculated:

Total fee = (1,000.00 SEK x 2.9%) + 1.80 SEK = 29.00 SEK + 1.80 SEK = 30.80 SEK

If a customer pays with a card issued outside of Sweden, there’s often another processing fee to cover verification and international settlement. Many Swedish businesses that serve international clients also accept foreign currencies, which are subject to currency conversion fees.

How can businesses minimize payment gateway fees in Sweden?

To keep payment gateway fees low, businesses should understand their payment processing needs, choose the right provider, and strategize how to process transactions efficiently. Here are some practical steps businesses in Sweden can take to reduce costs while creating a great experience for customers.

Fine-tune your payment gateway

• Many gateways have tiered pricing plans to match your transaction volume. If your business handles a large number of payments, contact payments service providers to negotiate a custom, volume-based rate.

• Accept multiple payment methods with one gateway to unlock better rates or discounts.

Prioritize local payments

• Process payments in SEK as often as possible to avoid paying extra currency conversion fees. If most of your customers are local, use SEK as the default currency.

• Set up local accounts or use tools designed to reduce cross-border charges for international transactions.

Minimize refunds and chargebacks

• Make refunds easy. Offer responsive customer support to address issues early and prevent disputes before they escalate. This also helps prevent chargebacks, which carry fees for businesses.

• Use your payment gateway’s fraud prevention tools to decrease the chance of major unforeseen costs in the future. Stripe’s payment solutions have a powerful suite of fraud protection tools already built in, and no additional steps are required to integrate them.

Think about payment volume and size

• If your gateway charges for transfers to your bank, consolidate those transfers to reduce fees or search for providers that don’t charge payout fees.

• Because fixed fees apply to every transaction, encourage fewer, larger payments (e.g., by switching your billing frequency from weekly to monthly) to lower costs.

Monitor your fees

• Regularly review your fee breakdown to spot unexpected charges or potential areas to save.

• You should pay for only the gateway features you’re actively using. While extras such as analytics tools and enhanced fraud prevention might be nice to have, they can also increase costs.

Use gateway features to your advantage

• If you sell internationally, use multicurrency accounts to accept multiple currencies with fewer currency conversion costs.

• Use your gateway’s reporting features to analyze which payment methods cost you the most and adjust accordingly.

Shape customer behavior

• Some payment methods, such as Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) bank transfers, are cheaper to process. Highlight those options at checkout to steer customers away from higher-fee alternatives.

• Encourage customers to use your business’s preferred payment methods by offering discounts or other savings.

Are there hidden costs with payment gateway fees in Sweden?

Yes, payment gateways can carry costs that aren’t always obvious at first. While many providers advertise their straightforward pricing, there can often be additional charges based on how you use the service. Here are some hidden costs:

• Low-volume penalties: Some providers charge additional monthly fees if your transactions don’t reach a certain minimum threshold.

• High-volume charges: While they’re less common, some plans impose extra costs if your volume increases dramatically or peaks at certain times of the year.

• Failed transaction fees: If your gateway attempts to process a payment that doesn’t go through due to insufficient funds or card errors, your business might be charged a penalty.

• Stored cards or subscription billing charges: Gateways might also charge by the transaction or user for businesses that store customer cards or use recurring billing.

To keep these costs under control, do the following:

• Read the fine print: Before you sign a contract, carefully review the pricing and terms of service for any payment gateway you’re considering.

• Monitor your usage: Look at your payment patterns (e.g., volume, currencies, payout frequency) to more accurately budget for fees.

• Ask questions: Contact your provider if you’re unsure about specific line item charges on your bill or want clarification about how you’re being charged. Many providers also offer resources to help you realize the full value of their services and ensure you’re not paying for features you don’t use.

What should Swedish businesses consider when evaluating payment gateway costs?

Finding the right payment gateway involves finding a solution that consistently serves your business and your customers well, and you should consider costs in the context of the value that’s offered. Here are some considerations to bear in mind.

Your real transaction costs

While paying a percentage and a flat fee is common, the impact of these costs will depend on your business model. If you process many smaller transactions, a flat fee might hurt your margins. For more expensive purchases, focus on the percentage-based fee. Analyze your typical sales to see the true cost of a gateway and how it impacts revenue.

Cross-border payments

In Sweden, many businesses are global by nature so cross-border charges and currency conversion fees are common. Analyze how often you’re selling to customers who pay in currencies other than SEK. If international transactions are frequent, opening up multicurrency accounts can help you save on fees.

Refunds and chargebacks

Refunds and disputes are a part of doing business, but you need to know how your gateway handles them. Check whether transaction fees are refunded when you process a return and how much chargebacks cost your business to resolve.

Consumer preferences

It’s not practical to accept every possible payment method—and each additional method can come with its own fee structure—so focus on the methods your customers use the most. Customers in Sweden have strong payment preferences and expect multiple options such as Swish, a popular mobile payment method in Sweden with about 8.6 million users as of December 2024. International buyers might prefer credit cards or digital wallets such as Apple Pay.

Payout flexibility

How and when you get paid matters. Gateways might allow you to transfer funds to your bank daily, weekly, or on demand, but payouts might come with fees. If you don’t need daily payouts, batching them can reduce costs. However, a gateway with long payout processing times can hurt your cash flow. Try to find the balance that works best for your operations.

Long-term fit

A payment gateway isn’t something you want to change often so think about your future needs. If you’re planning to scale, will the gateway grow with you? For example, will the provider’s pricing model still make fiscal sense if your transaction volume doubles? If your goal is to expand into new markets, how difficult will it be to accept new payment methods and what will it cost?

Transparency and support

The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to find a gateway that leads with transparency. Look for a provider that clearly delineates all costs—transaction fees, chargebacks, refunds, payouts, everything. Don’t underestimate the value of reliable customer support. If something goes wrong, having responsive, competent support is invaluable.