Help Centre Sending & receiving payments

Why might 3S Money be the best B2B payment solution for me?

At 3S Money, we facilitate quick and secure high-value international business payments.

In fact, we’re trusted by directors and shareholders in 190+ countries to send and receive global payments in 65+ foreign currencies.

Discover more about B2B payments - and why we're the right international payment solution for you - below.

If you want to cut to the chase and apply for our International Business Account immediately, start your application here.

What is a B2B international payment? 

 

A B2B international payment is a payment made between companies for goods or services across the world, from one country to another.

If, for example, you're a wholesaler who pays out to a supplier in one country and sells to a customer in another, you’ll be looking for a B2B international payment solution.

This includes an efficient, fast and secure way of sending and receiving funds across the world without interruption. In turn, this gives you that all-important peace of mind that everything will run as smoothly as possible.

Factors to consider when choosing a B2B payment solution

 

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a B2B payment solution that fits your business including:


The volume of payments

 

Payment volumes are usually higher within the B2B sector compared to B2C. With this in mind, it’s important to ensure that the payment rails used are safe, secure and can support the transaction.

Many consumer-focused companies like Wise and Revolut offer a business product, but choosing a company that specialises in business bank accounts typically works better for high-value transactions.


The frequency of payments

 
If the frequency of your high-value payments is high, it's worth investing in a payment solution that has the expertise to deliver your payments on time and securely.

Many payment providers don't have the required infrastructure to frequently deliver high-value payments. It's important to establish how quickly your money can be sent internationally and with what limits, if any.

What types of B2B payments are there?

  • Cash

  • Checks

  • Wire transfers 

  • Credit cards 

  • Payment gateways e.g. Stripe

  • Digital payment platforms 

What are the developing trends within B2B payment solutions? 

 

While the market continues to grow at extreme rates, specific benefits are arising from the B2B payment solutions. This will help to gain a competitive edge for businesses, some aspects to consider are:
 

Fast (and sometimes real-time) processing

 
Companies increasingly require speed, ease, convenience, security, and always-on processing for their payments. This is driving more innovation within the payments industry. Service users now benefit from high-value, same-day payments, with support of traditional payment rails such as SEPA, SWIFT and FasterPay. 
 

Peer-to-peer payments

 
By far the biggest trend within the B2B payments space is following the path of peer-to-peer payments. All of this starts with speed and reliability. After all, companies need to be paid on time to keep running. 
 

Mobility


Using mobile devices has long been a trend in the B2C world and it is quickly rubbing off onto the B2B space. Companies will start rolling out more mobile capabilities and portals such as the 3S Money client portal, as the demand continues to rise. This, in turn, gives a business more flexibility and automation in the process

What B2B payment solution providers are there?

 

When it comes to making B2B payments, gone are the days of paper checks. Automation is the driving force behind how we get paid. Business-to-business payment options are starting to evolve. That means there are many brands to choose from and finding the perfect one can be tricky. 
 
Here is a quick overview of some of the B2B payment solutions available today:
 

3S Money (that’s us!)

 
We’re a bank challenger that enables corporates to accept and manage bank transfers in foreign markets, specalising in global payments for small to medium-sized businesses. 
 
Additional features:

  • Handles large transfer amounts.

  • Multi-currency account for collections.

  • Simple transfers from one account to another.

  • Virtual IBANs
     

Pricing:

A 3S Money Global Business Account typically has a monthly cost of £250 (or £500 for holding companies), which includes your own Personal Client Manager on hand to answer any questions you may have. It also gives you the option to convert collections within the account when transacting. 
 
Strengths:

  • The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate.

  • Transfers are fast and efficient.

  • Each client receives a dedicated client manager.

 
 

PayPal

 
Perhaps the most popular B2B payment platform in the world, PayPal has been a player in the P2P financial space since 2003. In addition to accepting payments online, the system offers barcode scanning, inventory tracking, and ecommerce.
 
Additional features:

  • Online invoicing 

  • Credit card reader

  • Express checkout

  • Mobile card reader

  • 'Bill me Later' financing

 
Pricing:

It’s free to open a basic PayPal account. However, there is an additional cost depending on how you send or receive a payment. Business accounts start at $30/month.
 
Strengths:

  • Accepted worldwide with international transactions.

  • Fully customized online checkouts.

  • P2P with no cost for an account.

 
Weaknesses:

  • Long holds can be put on funds for a variety of reasons.

  • Customer service can be impossible to contact (chatbot only).

  • Not all online shops are integrated.

 

Wise

 
Wise (formerly Transferwise) is a UK-based company that believes money should have no borders. They specialize in global payments at a mid-market rate with no unexpected fees. It’s fast, secure, and simple to pay online without entering details.
 
Additional features:

  • Handle large transfer amounts.

  • Multi-currency account for spending, accepting, and holding money.

  • Simple transfers from one account to another.

 
Pricing:

A Transferwise account is free. There is, however, a fee to add funds and convert currency. The site has a calculator so you are never guessing rates. This includes international money transfers.
 
Strengths:

  • The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate.

  • Transfers are fast and efficient.

  • One of the more affordable platforms for rates.

 

Payoneer

 
A global payments solution, Payoneer boasts a mass payout service that allows companies to pay employees with a single click—regardless of where they are located. The software promotes an accommodating and secure payment process with top-notch services. Payoneer also offers round-the-clock support in 35 languages and free services in selected currencies. 
 
Additional features:

  • Worldwide member service provider of Mastercard.

  • Cross-border payments.

  • Fast and seamless billing.

  • Connect platforms through API integration.

 
Pricing:
 
The platform adds a currency conversion charge of 2% to 2.75%. Between 0.5% to 0.9% of the transfer volume is charged. The transaction fee is $2.99 for a local bank transfer and $15 for a USD SWIFT transfer. Payoneer charges fees of $4 or 1% of the overall amount, but fees can’t exceed $10.
 
Strengths:
 

  • Supports over 200 countries with 150 local currencies.

  • Directly withdraw funds with a debit card.

  • Send and receive funds domestically and internationally.

 

Stripe

 
Perhaps one of the most popular B2B payments systems around, Stripe is headquartered in San Francisco and focuses on ease of use. Any small business owner can learn the ropes in minutes. They offer an open API, which helps to customize the platform, streamline the payment process, and avoid bottlenecks.
 
Additional features:

  • Stripe Radar for advanced fraud management tools.

  • Stripe Connect for marketplace and platform building.

  • Embeddable checkout with multiple payment options.

 
Pricing:

Stripe is a pay-as-you-go platform with no signup fees. This makes it an affordable option for a business of any size. A basic transaction costs 2.9% + 30 cents.
 
Strengths:

  • Easy to install, manage, and update.

  • Customers are never redirected away from the page.

  • System is customisable in many different ways.

If you're assessing your options for making global B2B payments, we'd love to talk to you. Our friendly Sales team are available via [email protected] or +44 2038 079645 to discuss your business's needs.
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