A dedicated business-to-business (B2B) payment solution allows qualifying merchants to receive significantly lower processing fees and discounts for high-volume transactions. Aside from low, competitive rates, B2B businesses also need payment solutions that handle big-ticket sales, invoicing, and various payment types.
According to our evaluation, the best B2B payment solutions are:
- Helcim: Best overall B2B payment solution
- Braintree: Best for B2B subscriptions
- QuickBooks: Best for B2Bs using QuickBooks
- Stripe: Best for international B2B payments
- Payment Depot: Best for large-volume B2B companies
- Authorize.net: Best for B2Bs needing multiple integrations
- PaymentCloud: Best for high-risk B2B merchants
- PayPal: Best for occasional B2B sales
All the providers considered in this guide offer level 2 or level 3 processing.
If you are a new B2B merchant, read our guide to B2B payments for small business to learn how B2B payments work and the different types of B2B payments methods.
Top B2B Payments Companies Compared
Our Score (out of 5) | Monthly Fee Starts At | Online Processing Fee Starts At | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.49 | $0 | Interchange plus 0.15% + $0.15 |
 | 4.28 | $0 | 2.59% + $0.49 |
 | 4.27 | $15 | 2.99% |
 | 4.26 | $0 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
 | 4.20 | $0 | Interchange plus (0.2% - 1.95%) |
 | 4.07 | $25 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
 | 4.07 | $10 | 2% - 4.3% |
 | 4.03 | $0 | 2.99% + $0.49 |
Why You Can Trust Fit Small Business
The Fit Small Business Editorial Policy is driven by our company mission to “deliver the best answers to people’s questions.” This involves our thorough research and expertise to provide accurate, clear, and authoritative information to meet our audience’s needs and goals.
I have over five years of order and payment processing experience and have been evaluating, testing, and writing about point-of-sale and payment solutions for over two years.
You can learn more about our evaluation in the methodology section below.
- More than five years of combined experience in order and payment processing
- Evaluated 15 providers across 22 data points
- Fact-checked
Helcim: Best Overall B2B Payment Solution
Pros
- Automatic discounted transaction fees
- Free merchant account with no long-term contract or cancellation fees
- Free access to payment processing tools and customer self-service portal
Cons
- Limited business integrations
- Limited customer support hours
- Does not support high-risk merchants
Overview
Who should use it:
- Small to mid-sized B2B companies that prioritize affordable and transparent pricing
- B2Bs needing a wide range of payment processing options such as ACH, invoicing, and recurring billing
Our expert take:
Helcim is a merchant services and credit card processing provider based out of Canada. It supports invoicing, recurring billing, virtual terminal, ACH, and ecommerce payment processing solutions, while also providing level 2 and Level 3 credit card processing for US merchants.
Zero monthly fees, interchange-plus transaction pricing, and automatic volume discounts make Helcim one of the cheapest payment processors ideal for B2Bs. Its free invoicing and customer self-service portal make it easy to use for both merchants and customers. While other providers provide the same B2B payment options, Helcim includes invoicing and a customer portal without any add-on fees.
Helcim gained stellar marks for pricing and free access to its payment tools while limited integrations, customer support hours, and slower deposit speed times prevented Helcim from getting a perfect score. Helcim also does not work with high-risk merchants. If your small business is in a high-risk industry, you may find PaymentCloud a more suitable alternative.
Helcim received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 (20+ reviews)
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 (15)
- Trustpilot: 4.2 out of 5 (400+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly subscription: $0
- Transaction fees:
- Online: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.50% + 25 cents
- Keyed-in: Interchange plus 0.15% + 15 cents to 0.50% + 25 cents
- Domestic ACH/Wire transfers: 0.5% + 25 cents
- Additional 0.10% + 10 cents for all AMEX transactions
- Payment service fees:
- Invoicing: $0
- Recurring billing: $0
- International payments: $0
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Chargeback fee: $15 (refundable)
- All-in-one dashboard for managing all payment processing tools
- Free virtual terminal for remote billing and taking payments over the phone
- Affordable yet advanced invoicing features (similar to Stripe) for estimates, quotes, and automatic accounts receivables reconciliation
- Free recurring billing features with a customer portal for subscription management
- ACH payments for single and recurring invoices, subscriptions, payment requests, and virtual terminals for up to $25,000 per transaction
- Free international credit card payment processing (however, note that a 1% to 3% international service fee may be charged by your bank)
- Back-office tools for organizing and managing administrative tasks including business taxes; tax forms are listed and status is displayed for easy tracking
- Guided chargeback dispute resolution and refundable chargeback fee if the dispute is won
- Deposit speed of one to two days
Braintree: Best for B2B Subscriptions
Pros
- Comes with dedicated merchant account
- Allows creation of custom pricing plans for customers
- Full PayPal integration
Cons
- Complex interface can be challenging to use
- Transaction fees are not returned for refunded transactions
- Slow deposit speeds
Overview
Who should use it:
- B2B companies that rely heavily on recurring billing and subscription models, such as service providers or businesses with regular supply orders
- Businesses that need customizable payment plans and want seamless integration with PayPal
Our expert take:
Braintree is a PayPal-owned payment processor that specializes in online payments and offers full PayPal integration at no extra cost. Its recurring billing tool allows merchants to create custom pricing plans for their customers. Merchants can set up discounts, rewards, add-ons, and promotional periods, making Braintree suitable for B2B subscriptions, such as regular orders of supplies and availments of services. It also includes automatic prorated billing for customers who change subscriptions mid-month.
Braintree’s payment processing fees are also very competitive and come with a dedicated merchant account. It is also one of the B2B payment processors on this list with zero monthly fees. It earned above-average scores for its wide variety of payment types and easy integrations. With its relatively low flat-rate transaction fees and flexible online methods, Braintree is a great option for small B2B merchants needing online payment processing.
Braintree received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 3.9 out of 5 (70+)
- G2: 3.4 out of 5 (80+)
- Trustpilot: 1.1 out of 5 (250+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly subscription: $0
- Transaction fees:
- Online: 2.59% + 49 cents
- Keyed-in: PayPal rates
- ACH direct debit: 0.75% capped at $5
- Payment service fees:
- Invoicing: $0
- Recurring billing: $0
- International payments: 1%
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Chargeback fee: $15
- Easy and free PayPal integration
- Wide range of strong ready-made integrations and developer tools
- Account updater (at extra cost) that updates customers’ Visa, Mastercard, or Discover Card details—such as numbers, expiration dates, and account status changes
- Free basic fraud prevention that can be upgraded (for a fee) to premium, which gives merchants more flexibility and control over their fraud prevention strategy
- Recurring billing tool that lets merchants create custom subscription plans for their customers
- Deposits funds in two to three business days
QuickBooks: Best for B2Bs Using QuickBooks
Pros
- Free instant deposits
- Invoicing and recurring billing
- Automatic bookkeeping
Cons
- No phone customer support
- Must have a QuickBooks Online account
- Does not support international money transfers and high-risk businesses
Overview
Who should use it:
- B2B companies already using QuickBooks Online for their accounting needs
- Businesses seeking a seamless integration between payment processing and bookkeeping, allowing for automatic invoicing, payments, and financial tracking
Our expert take:
QuickBooks offers a payment processing function with strong features and good rates for those already using QuickBooks Online—there are no additional fees and payments are automatically reflected for accounting and bookkeeping. It has slightly lower processing fees for keyed-in and invoiced payments compared to Stripe and PayPal. Also, businesses processing over $7,500 a month can apply for a discount on transactions of up to 40%—making it a good fit for B2B companies.
QuickBooks Payments connects to your QuickBooks account, so you get the features of the complete accounting software, including invoicing, reports, budget tools, and sales tax tracking. You can accept payments online or in person using a mobile device or by sending invoices. It also integrates with many POS and business management systems.
QuickBooks handles all the payment methods we considered but does not have international money transfer capabilities and does not work with high-risk businesses. And, while its transaction fees are competitive, you will end up paying at least $30 a month for a QuickBooks Online account, no matter how much you process in sales.
QuickBooks received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.3 out of 5 (70+)
- G2: 3.6 out of 5 (20+)
- Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 (14.6K+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly subscription: QuickBooks Online: $15 to $100 per month
- Transaction fees:
- Online/Invoice: 2.99%
- Keyed-in: 3.5%
- Domestic ACH: 1%, maximum of $10 per transaction
- Payment service fees:
- Invoicing: $0
- Recurring billing: $0
- International payments: 3%
- Virtual terminal: $0
- Chargeback fee: $25
- Accepts wire transfers, paper checks, and card payments
- QuickBooks platform for creating and sending customizable invoices
- QuickBooks Checking gives you access to free instant deposits, mobile deposits, and paper check payment tools
- Tools for adding a Pay Now button to your invoice to make it instantly payable
- Enables you to accept digital payments with ACH and e-check payment options
- Next-day access to your deposits, or instantly at no extra cost or with a QuickBooks Visa debit card; you can also set up a recurring schedule for depositing your funds
- Seamless integration with Shopify, BigCommerce, and other online platforms so you can accept payments from your website
- Cash Flow Center’s real-time dashboard to track and automatically reconcile online and invoice payments
- Deposit speed of two to three business days
Stripe: Best for International B2B Payments
Pros
- 135+ currencies, 450+ integrations
- Handles recurring payments, invoicing
- Highly customizable payment tools and security features
Cons
- Complex setup and steep learning curve
- Charges extra for accessing invoicing and recurring payment tools
- Lacks a free, built-in virtual terminal
- Does not work with high-risk businesses
Overview
Who should use it:
- B2Bs that operate internationally and require a payment processor capable of handling multiple currencies and payment methods
- Businesses that need highly customizable payment solutions, robust API capabilities, and extensive integrations
Our expert take:
Stripe is an international payment processor that can take payments as small as 50 cents and as large as $999,999.99, making it a good choice for B2B businesses. It offers the widest range of payment processing solutions among all the providers in our list, with both in-person and remote payment processing, and allows you to accept domestic and international payments through wire transfers, ACH/e-checks, and cards.
This provider’s strength lies in its versatility, although you may pay a little more for some features. You can integrate Stripe into your point-of-sale (POS) system or webpage or build your own solution (higher fees may apply). Support for over 135 currencies and more than 47 countries gave it the top spot in our list of best international merchant accounts for small businesses.
Stripe earned high scores for its variety of payment types, highly customizable payment tools, and advanced security management features. Although Stripe’s pricing system is clear, there are a lot of add-ons for specific tools, like invoicing, recurring billing, and fraud protection. Also, Stripe deposits funds in two days unless you pay an extra fee for faster deposits. We also docked points because it does not serve high-risk businesses.
Stripe received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (3.0K+)
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 (320+)
- Trustpilot: 2.3 out of 5 (14.3K+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly subscription: $0
- Transaction fees:
- Online: 2.9% + 30 cents
- Keyed-in: 3.4% + 30 cents (card payment details are manually entered in the Stripe dashboard)
- Domestic ACH debit: 0.8%, $5 cap
- Payment service fees:
- Invoicing: From 0.4% to 0.5% per transaction (on top of transaction fees)
- Recurring billing: 0.5% to 0.8% per transaction
- International payments: 1.5%
- Virtual terminal: Third party
- Chargeback fee: $15
- Local and international payments processing
- Customer support for more than 25 countries
- Built-in tools to create embeddable checkout forms and invoicing templates
- Real-time and unified reporting tools, including deposit tracking and integration with accounting software like QuickBooks and NetSuite
- Option to track payouts and control payout times when depositing to your bank account
- Programmable, automatic dispute handling, with tools to submit documents to card network directly from the Stripe platform
- Unified dashboard to manage your business operations, accessible from any iOS and Android device
- 24/7 customer support including technical support on Discord platform
- Deposit speed of one to two days
Payment Depot: Best for Large-volume B2B Companies
Pros
- Interchange-plus custom pricing
- No monthly fee
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Only for US-based merchants
- Not compatible with high-risk merchants
- No published rates
Overview
Who should use it:
- Large-volume B2B companies in the US looking for a cost-effective payment processor with interchange-plus pricing
- Businesses that prefer to negotiate lower transaction rates based on their processing volume
Our expert take:
Payment Depot is good for large-volume B2B businesses because of its interchange-plus pricing that’s tailored for each business. It is only one of two B2B payment solutions in this guide that offer interchange-plus pricing (the other one is Helcim; Braintree offers it upon request and approval). While Helcim offers automatic volume discounts, Payment Depot has custom rates, allowing businesses to negotiate for a lower rate right from the start.
Although it only has a range of possible transaction fees on its website, its pricing structure is still more cost-effective for businesses processing high transaction volumes every month.
Its services include unlimited access to its all-in-one software. Payment Depot also provides traditional merchant accounts which offer better account stability. Businesses do not have to worry about frozen funds or unexpected account closures.
Payment Depot received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (50+)
- G2: 4.5 out of 5 (2)
- Trustpilot: 3.6 out of 5 (1.2K+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly fee: $0
- Transaction fees: Custom interchange-plus pricing (Interchange + 0.2% to 1.95%)
- Chargeback fee: $25
- No monthly fees
- Interchange-plus pricing
- Unlimited access to all-in-one software which includes the virtual terminal and payment gateway
- Traditional merchant account
- 24/7 customer support
Authorize.net: Best for B2Bs Needing Multiple Integrations
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Over 900 technology integrations and over 400 certified technology partners
- Highly reliable
Cons
- More costly because of the monthly fee and slightly higher transaction fees
- Imposes a chargeback fee
- Limited in-person payment features
Overview
Who should use it:
- B2B companies that only need a payment gateway
- Businesses with their own merchant account and require robust and customizable payment processing solutions
Our expert take:
Authorize.net is a Visa-owned company that offers one of the oldest and most trusted ecommerce payment solutions. Its smooth payment processing and wide and easy integrations make it our top pick for leading payment gateways. Authorize.net’s range of integrations includes everything from ecommerce platforms to shopping carts, sales to accounting, and POS hardware to B2B platforms. It also comes with full level 2 and level 3 payment processing, which are ideal for business or commercial card processing.
Although Stripe also offers a wide range of integrations, Authorize.net requires less coding and developer help. For merchants that need custom-built integrations, Authorize.net also comes with an open API for extra flexibility.
You’ll need a separate merchant account to use the platform. You can sign up for one separately or you can go for Authorize.net’s all-in-one plan that comes with a merchant account through one of its partners.
PaymentCloud: Best for High-risk B2B Merchant
Pros
- Specializes in high-risk merchants
- Same-day setup upon approval
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments
Cons
- No publicly disclosed pricing
- Lengthy and comprehensive application process
- Add-on fees for virtual terminal
Overview
Who should use it:
- B2Bs in high-risk industries
- Businesses that require specialized support
Our expert take:
PaymentCloud specializes in medium- and high-risk vendors and industries. The platform offers both traditional and ecommerce terminals, and users report that customer service is excellent. PaymentCloud is a suitable option for high-risk B2B merchants who find it hard to sign up with payment processors. It supports in-person, online, ACH, e-check, virtual terminal, and even cryptocurrency payments.
Exact pricing isn’t available online, which is to be expected for high-risk processors, but PaymentCloud provided us with a range of rates a merchant may expect. Although pricing is not the best as expected for a merchant provider, PaymentCloud supports a wide range of high-risk merchants. No other provider on this list supports high-risk merchants, except for Authorize.net.
It received mostly average scores for its higher monthly and transaction fees and virtual terminal that comes for an extra fee.
PaymentCloud received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (10+)
- G2: N/A
- Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 (600+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly fee: $10 to $45
- Transaction fees:
- Online/Invoice: 2% to 4.3%
- Keyed-in: 2% to 4.3%
- ACH and e-check: Contact PaymentCloud
- Payment service fee:
- Invoicing: $0
- Recurring billing: $0
- International payments: 1% to 2%
- Virtual terminal: $15 to $45
- Payment gateway: $15 per month
- Chargeback fee: $25
- Specializes in high-risk merchants
- Custom pricing depending on the nature of the small business
- Strong fraud prevention
- Supports cryptocurrency payment processing
PayPal: Best for Occasional B2B Sales
Pros
- Processes payments for over 200 countries
- Seamless online checkout integration
- Known and trusted platform by consumers
Cons
- Unpredictable freezing of funds
- Complex pricing
- High currency conversion spread (4%) when making international payments
Overview
Who should use it:
- Businesses engaging in occasional B2B sales
- B2Bs that handle lower-ticket transactions, operate internationally, and need support for multiple currencies and easy integration with ecommerce platforms
Our expert take:
PayPal is a popular payment solution for small businesses. Its $10,000 cap on transactions makes it suitable for businesses processing lower-ticket sales. PayPal also works for in-person or online businesses of all types and in multiple currencies from over 200 countries, making it a suitable choice for small, international B2B payments.
It accepts payments online with PayPal, Pay Later, credit cards, Venmo, and cryptocurrency. It allows you to set up subscriptions and recurring payments. Also, PayPal can be integrated easily with most ecommerce platforms.
Unlike Stripe, which requires adding a code or using API, PayPal is often integrated with a lot of ecommerce platforms, and you only need to connect it with your PayPal account—making it ideal for B2Bs accepting international ACH payments. PayPal’s fees are higher than Stripe’s, but if you only need it for occasional B2B sales, PayPal is a suitable option.
Braintree offers some of PayPal’s features but will require you to set up a merchant account. If you only need a simple solution for your occasional B2B transactions that will let you start accepting payments in minutes, choose PayPal.
PayPal received the following ratings on top user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 (25.1K+)
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 (2K+)
- Trustpilot: 1,2 out of 5 (30.0K+)
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
- Monthly subscription: $0 to $30
- Transaction fees:
- Online/Invoice: 2.99% + 49 cents (online), 3.49% + 49 cents (invoice)
- Keyed-in: 3.09% + 49 cents (Virtual terminal)
- Domestic ACH: 3.49% + 49 cents, capped at $300
- Payment service fee:
- Invoicing: $10 to $30
- Recurring billing: $10 to $30
- International payments: 1.5%
- Virtual terminal: $30
- Payment gateway: $0 to $25
- Chargeback fee: $20
- Supports credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers, Venmo, and cryptocurrency
- Tools supporting recurring payments and buy now, pay later options for your customers
- Next-day access to your deposited funds, provided your bank account is linked to your PayPal
- Seamless integration with popular accounting, ecommerce, and POS tools
- Accounting tools for calculating taxes for your transactions; also tracks your payment volume and sends you a Form 1099-K if it crosses the IRS calendar year thresholds
Factors to Consider When Choosing a B2B Payment Solution
Choosing the right B2B payment solution is crucial for optimizing your business operations and ensuring smooth financial transactions. Here are key factors to consider:
- Costs: Evaluate the pricing structure of each payment processor. Look for transparency in fees and consider the total cost, including transaction fees, monthly fees, and any additional charges. Solutions that offer clear and predictable pricing can be advantageous for budget planning.
- Transaction volume and value: Assess your business’s transaction volume and average transaction value. High-volume businesses might benefit from interchange-plus pricing models, like those offered by Helcim and Payment Depot, which can provide significant savings. Conversely, businesses with lower transaction volumes may find flat-rate pricing more predictable and easier to manage.
- Integration with existing systems: Ensure the payment solution integrates seamlessly with your existing business systems, such as accounting software, CRM, and ERP systems. Solutions like Stripe, QuickBooks Payments, and Authorize.net are known for their extensive integration capabilities, making them ideal for businesses seeking streamlined operations.
- Payment channels/methods: Determine the types of payment methods and channels you need and what the solution supports, including credit cards, ACH, and mobile payments. If your business relies on recurring billing or subscription models, choose a payment processor with robust subscription management features. Braintree excels in handling B2B subscriptions, providing tools to manage recurring payments efficiently.
- International capabilities: If your business operates internationally, choose a payment processor that supports multiple currencies and offers favorable exchange rates. Stripe is renowned for its international payment capabilities, making it a strong choice for businesses with a global presence.
- Customer support: Reliable customer support is critical for resolving issues quickly and maintaining smooth operations. Opt for payment solutions that offer 24/7 customer support to address any concerns promptly.
- Flexibility and scalability: As your business grows, your payment processing needs may change. Choose a solution that offers scalability and flexibility to accommodate your evolving requirements. Solutions like Helcim provide comprehensive features that can scale with your business.
Methodology—How We Evaluated B2B Payment Companies
We looked for merchant services that offer affordable B2B payment processing with transparent fees and minimal contracts. Then, we narrowed our evaluation to eight of the most affordable and reputable payment processors and considered the different types of payments each solution can accommodate.
For example, many B2B businesses accept payments via invoice, card-not-present, e-check, and automated clearing house (ACH) instead of a traditional payment terminal or online checkout. So, we prioritized processors that can handle those types of payments and awarded extra points for those that include invoicing or recurring payment software.
We also favored solutions that offer interchange-plus rates for Level 2 and Level 3 processors and processors that offer negotiable rates for high-volume businesses. Next, we looked for specific use cases like high-risk businesses. Finally, we considered real user reviews and ease of use.
At the end of our evaluation, Helcim came out on top as the best B2B payment solution for small businesses because of its price point, variety of payment types, and breadth of features. It also works for both international and domestic businesses.
Click through the tabs below for our specific evaluation criteria:
30% of Overall Score
We gave the most points to payment processors that offer low or zero monthly fees and interchange-plus rates, and did not require contracts or monthly fees, nor impose account cancellation charges.
30% of Overall Score
We assessed whether each solution could process e-check, ACH, virtual terminal, payment gateway, in-person, and international money transfer payments. We also considered if the processor offers level 2 or level 3 processing.
30% of Overall Score
Here, we considered a range of functions important to B2B companies such as invoicing and accounting tools, customer management features, support hours, ecommerce integrations, deposit speed, and whether or not high-risk businesses could use the payment service.
10% of Overall Score
This combined our overall evaluation of price and ease of use with scores from real-world users on trusted third-party review sites.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few of the most common questions we encounter about B2B payment processing companies.
B2B payments refer to transactions between two businesses for the exchange of products or services. These are usually made through purchase orders and invoices and settled via credit card, check, or ACH.
B2B payments through card-not-present (CNP) transactions require Level 2 or Level 3 processing which involves more stringent data verification, though it comes with lower transaction fees.
Business clients often prefer remote payment methods such as CNPs, wire transfers, or electronic fund transfers (EFT), over the phone through virtual terminals, payment links through payment gateways, e-checks, and ACH. And, because B2B transactions almost always involve large volumes of sales, merchants will need a payment processing service that provides the most savings.
The best payment gateway for B2B companies is Helcim. It does not charge any monthly fees and offers interchange plus transaction rates. It can handle almost any payment type, such as ACH and card payments.
The key concern for a B2B company is to look for a payment processor that offers the lowest transaction fees, the most versatile payment methods, and the most secure transaction processing tools. And while interchange plus pricing is ideal, merchants should also consider add-on costs for managing transactions.
Depending on your sales volume, you may find providers using flat-rate fees with free merchant services more affordable than payment processors offering interchange-plus rates with a monthly fee. Lastly, merchants should take into consideration additional features specific to their business, such as the availability of support for accepting cross-border payments or high-risk merchant transactions.
Bottom Line
Businesses doing B2B sales have a lot of strong options for payment processors. Start by assessing your own needs, including the kind of processing (online, eCheck, card swipe, invoicing) and the average amount per sale. Consider if you need hardware or software—and what software you may want to integrate with. Then, look at pricing and contracts.
Overall, we chose Helcim primarily for its automatic discounted transaction fees, versatility in features and payment types, competitive pricing, and free recurring billing tools for B2Bs.