How do I choose the right payment methods for my online store?

Where are your customers from? 

This is your starting point for choosing your payment methods. In the Netherlands, people are used to paying with iDEAL | Wero whenever they can. Around 71% of payments in the Netherlands are made with this payment method. In Belgium, Bancontact is the most widely used payment method, while in Germany PayPal is popular. You naturally want to reach as many customers as possible, so it makes sense to look at where your customers come from and which payment methods they use most there. The more options you offer, the more likely it is that your customer's preferred method is among them and that the purchase is completed. While iDEAL | Wero remains popular in the Netherlands, other payment methods are growing too, such as Klarna, Riverty and Google Pay. Curious which payment methods Buckaroo offers in Europe? On our pricing page, you can see which payment options we offer per country and what they cost.

Pay-later methods

Pay-later methods are also known as buy now, pay later (BNPL). Customers buy a product but pay for it later. Many consumers like not having to pay until they have actually received the product. That way they can check, for example, whether the quality is good or whether a piece of clothing fits before they pay. Well-known BNPL providers in the Netherlands are Klarna, Riverty and Billink.

Credit cards

Credit cards are used for reasons similar to BNPL. Well-known payment methods in this category are Visa, Mastercard and American Express (AMEX). Here too, the purchase is better protected. In addition, some brands run loyalty programs to encourage consumers to use their card as much as possible. Depending on the type of card, purchases can also be paid for later. This makes it easier to decide to buy a product.

Wallets

Finally, there are wallet payments. Well-known examples are PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. With this payment method, you first load a certain amount onto an online card so you can spend it. One reason wallets are popular is that they are often accepted worldwide. They are also extra secure, because card details are replaced with unique tokens at the time of payment. Merchants never receive the user's card number.

Choose a mix that suits your target audience

When you start with Buckaroo, we set up the most widely used payment methods for you by default, so you can get started right away. Take a close look at your target audience: where are they from and how do they prefer to pay? Based on that, you can put together your mix of payment methods. The more methods you offer, the more likely it is that your customer's preferred method is among them and that they choose your store. Do make sure your checkout looks organized, though. Showing customers too many options often doesn't help either. Make sure the most widely used payment methods appear first, so customers can choose quickly.

Additional conditions

Keep in mind that some payment methods come with additional conditions. For example, not every industry is eligible for buy now, pay later payment methods. Rates can also vary per payment method. Also consider specific delivery terms and other obligations for you and your customer.

Need advice?

We're happy to help you move forward. Our website has more detailed information on each payment method. You can also ask our chatbot which payment method suits your industry best. Still not sure? You can always contact our helpdesk.