18.06.2026
Anyone opening a shop or upgrading their checkout system is soon faced with a key question: which payment solution is right for my company? This may sound simple, but it’s often complex in practice. Terminals, fee models, TWINT, cards, various providers and lots of new terms. This guide will help you to keep track of things and make decisions that work in your day-to-day life.
Payment collection at the point of sale (POS) must be quick, reliable and simple – even with high customer volumes. At the same time, customers expect flexible payment options. The choice of payment provider therefore not only influences the technology at the checkout, but also:
Many problems arise when several providers are involved. Multiple contracts, different contact persons, separate payments, confusing invoicing and fee models that are difficult to compare can make payment transactions unnecessarily complicated. If technical problems arise, it’s not always immediately clear who is responsible. Making structured decisions reduces this complexity and saves time and costs in the long term.
Which payment provider is right for your business? Our practical checklist will help you to compare terminals, payment methods, fees and services in a targeted way.
In practice, several parties work together in many set-ups: terminal providers, payment processors, acquirers and banks. This works in theory, but it often leads to several contracts, different invoicing processes and different contact persons.
To better understand how these elements fit together, it helps to look at the three basic components of a payment solution:
The terminal is the visible part of the solution. Depending on the shop, it can be mobile, stationary or integrated directly into a checkout system. Many companies start their search here – but the other components are also crucial.
Customers expect options when it comes to payment methods. In Switzerland, the main ones include TWINT, debit and credit cards, the PostFinance Card and mobile wallets.
To process a payment, you need an acquirer, among other things. Acquirers accept the payment, forward it for verification and ensure that the money is reliably paid out to your business account.
For retailers, this infrastructure usually remains invisible, but it nevertheless affects fees, invoicing and payment processes.
Many SMEs opt for integrated one-stop solutions, such as those offered by PostFinance. When the terminal, payment processing and account are fully integrated, payment processes are often much easier to manage. When the terminal, payment processing and account are fully integrated, payment processes are easier to manage. As a result, invoices are more transparent, responsibilities are clearer and support requests are resolved more quickly. You also have a central point of contact for any questions or problems.
When companies compare payment providers and solutions, they face similar questions. The following criteria will help you to check offers in a structured way and identify more quickly which solution is best suited to your business model.
The payment terminal should be able to accept the payment methods that customers expect: TWINT, debit cards, credit cards and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. The PostFinance Card also plays an important role in Switzerland, as many customers have an account with PostFinance and use this payment method regularly. In most cases, the PostFinance Card is also the most inexpensive payment method for retailers. If important payment methods are missing, this can have a direct impact on the completion rate at the checkout.
With some payment providers, the PostFinance Card must be integrated separately. But if you choose PostFinance as your payment provider, this payment method is part of your own payment infrastructure. For retailers, this means that they don’t need an additional contract for the PostFinance payment method, which reduces complexity and costs.
The cost structure is a key decision-making factor for many SMEs. In addition to transaction fees, there may also be monthly fixed costs, service fees or additional costs for individual payment methods. The price of the terminal itself is often less decisive than the total costs over a longer period of time. A transparent price structure will help you to better estimate the actual costs.
A straightforward start is important, especially for smaller companies. Many retailers want the easiest way to get started: order the terminal, set it up and start collecting payments directly. The fewer technical steps or integrations required, the sooner the solution can be used in everyday life.
How time-consuming is it to set up the solution?
Can I set up the terminal quickly, without much technical knowledge?
Is there any support if I have questions at the start?
In some payment set-ups, several providers – such as a terminal provider, an acquirer and a bank – work together. This can work, but it often leads to multiple contracts and, as a result, to separate payments with different deadlines. This makes accounting more complicated and reduces transparency about cash flows. Many companies therefore prefer solutions that integrate these components as seamlessly as possible.
The terminal itself should also suit your day-to-day business. Depending on the sector, it may make sense to have a mobile device, a stationary terminal or a terminal that’s integrated into the checkout system.
Mobile terminals are often used in hospitality or service businesses, whereas stationary devices at checkout points are common in the retail sector.
Is the terminal right for my business model and my day-to-day work?
Do I need a mobile device or a stationary terminal?
Can the terminal be integrated into my existing checkout system?
Payment systems need to function reliably in everyday life. If a terminal goes down or a payment isn’t processed, this has a direct impact on revenue. That’s why easy-to-reach support is an important aspect of every payment solution. In addition to accessibility, the support speed also plays a role. Finding a solution quickly is crucial, especially during ongoing operations.
In the event of terminal emergencies, PostFinance offers special support to customers who use a Checkout payment solution: if a card terminal fails unexpectedly, the SOS service ensures rapid assistance. Replacement devices are available free of charge at over 50 My Post 24 locations throughout Switzerland.
The right payment provider isn’t the one with the most functions, but the one that suits your business model. Important factors include:
If these criteria are met, it’s much easier to choose a payment solution.
PostFinance combines the most important aspects of a POS payment solution in an integrated infrastructure: terminal, payment processing, acquiring and business account work together. For companies, this means fewer interfaces, transparent invoicing and a direct route for payments to their business account. For SMEs in particular, this integrated structure can simplify payment transactions considerably – from payment collection to outpayment. And if you’re looking for a combined payment solution for your POS business and your online shop, PostFinance offers attractive payment solutions.
An acquirer ensures the proper processing and forwarding of transactions and credits the appropriate amount to your account. An acquirer is also responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly and securely.
Due to TWINT’s huge popularity and high market share in Switzerland, it is now practically the standard.
Many retailers expect onboarding at the POS to happen in a similar way to online purchases – depending on the provider, it ranges from “immediately” to a few days.
Many customers now expect several payment options. In Switzerland, these include debit cards such as the PostFinance Card, credit cards and TWINT in particular. Mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are also frequently used. It’s therefore worth checking whether the most important payment methods are directly integrated or whether additional providers are required.
The costs are usually made up of several components, including transaction fees per payment, possible monthly fixed costs and fees for certain payment methods. Therefore, the decisive factor isn’t just the price of a terminal, but the total cost of the solution.
When comparing payment providers, it’s worth taking various criteria into account, such as:
The number of providers involved can also play a role: one-stop solutions often reduce administrative costs.
Transaction fees are costs that arise with every card payment. They cover aspects such as payment processing, authorization by the card issuer and technical infrastructure. The exact amount may vary depending on the payment method, provider and contract model.
This depends on the payment solution selected. With integrated solutions, retailers benefit from having a central point of contact in many cases.
