QR-bill as a payment method in Swiss online shops: How it works

The Swiss QR-bill (Swiss QR Invoice) can be used as a full-fledged payment method in e-commerce checkout — not just for billing by post. Buyers receive a QR code after placing their order, which they scan and pay directly via their e-banking app. For comerciante, the QR-bill is the most cost-effective form of purchase on account, with transaction fees starting at 0.50% (at least EUR 1.50 per transaction), albeit without credit checks and without risk assumption.

This guide shows you step-by-step how the QR-bill works in online checkout, how you automate payment reconciliation, and which shops this model is particularly suitable for.

1. What the QR-bill is in the e-commerce context — and what it is not

The QR-bill was introduced in 2020 by the Swiss Bankers Association (SwissBanking) and SIX Group to replace the old payment slips (red and orange) with a uniform, digitally readable format. At its core, it is a standardized payment part with a Swiss QR Code containing all payment information: creditor IBAN, amount, reference number, and structured payment information.

In the e-commerce context, this means: The QR-bill is not sent on paper, but provided as a digital payment part in checkout or via email after the order. Buyers scan the QR code with their mobile banking app and initiate the payment. The QR-bill is not a BNPL solution — no credit check takes place, and the default risk remains entirely with you as the comerciante.

Important: The QR-bill as a payment method in checkout is not the same as traditional invoice dispatch. With traditional invoice dispatch, you create an invoice manually and send it — the process is decoupled from the shop. With the QR-bill as a checkout payment method, the process is integrated into the ordering flow, and payment reconciliation can be automated.

2. How the QR-bill works in online checkout: process for buyers and comerciante

The process is divided into five steps:

Step 1: The buyer selects "Purchase on account" or "QR-bill" as the payment method in checkout. The PSP or shop system generates a QR-bill with a unique QR reference (QRR) or SCOR reference.

Step 2: The order is confirmed. The buyer receives the QR-bill as a PDF via email or directly on the order confirmation screen — with the Swiss QR Code and the payment deadline.

Step 3: The buyer opens the e-banking or mobile banking app and scans the QR code. All payment information is filled in automatically. The payment is initiated with a single click.

Step 4: The buyer's bank transfers the amount to the creditor IBAN. Depending on the bank, this takes 1–2 business days within Switzerland.

Step 5: You as the comerciante receive a CAMT.054 credit advice notification from your bank. This contains the QR reference, with which the payment can be automatically assigned to the order.

3. Payment reconciliation: CAMT.054, reference number, and automatic assignment

Automatic payment reconciliation is the greatest efficiency gain of the QR-bill compared to the traditional invoice by post. It works via three components:

The QR reference (QRR) is a 27-digit reference number based on the QR-IBAN. It is uniquely generated for each order. Alternatively, the Structured Creditor Reference (SCOR) according to ISO 11649 can be used, which also works Outside Switzerland.

The CAMT.054 notification is an XML file in the ISO 20022 standard that your bank automatically provides to you. It contains all credit entries with the respective reference number. Your ERP system, your accounting tool, or your PSP can import this notification and automatically assign the payment to the correct order.

In practice, this means: If a customer transfers EUR 89.00 to una cuenta and it contains the QR reference 21 00000 00003 13947 14300 09017, your system automatically assigns the payment to order #13947. Without manual reconciliation, without sifting through bank statements.

Prerequisite: You need a QR-IBAN (not just a standard IBAN), which you apply for at your bank. In addition, your software must be able to process CAMT.054 notifications. Most modern ERP and accounting solutions (bexio, Abacus, Run my Accounts, Klara) support this natively. If you use the QR-bill as a payment method via Payrexx Pay, Payrexx handles the reconciliation: The payment is automatically assigned to the transaction and transferred with the weekly payout.

4. Payment terms and dunning: When is the invoice due, what happens in case of default?

Unlike BNPL providers that specify a fixed payment term of 14 or 30 days, with the QR-bill you determine the payment term yourself. Typical terms are 10, 14, or 30 days from the invoice date.

If the payment term has expired and no payment has been received, your dunning process begins. In Switzerland, there is no statutory dunning requirement — in principle, you can initiate debt collection immediately after the deadline expires. In practice, however, a stepped process is recommended:

Payment reminder after 5–7 days of overdue status, formulated politely. First dunning notice after 14 days overdue, with a new payment term of 10 days. Second dunning notice after an additional 10 days, with notification of debt collection proceedings. Request for debt collection at the competent debt collection office (Art. 67 DEBA), if payment continues to fail.

The costs for a debt collection request range between EUR 7 and EUR 400 depending on the claim amount according to the Schedule of Fees under the DEBA (GebV SchKG). You as the creditor must advance these costs.

5. QR-bill vs. traditional invoice by post: What changes for online shops

Switching to the QR-bill as a checkout payment method brings several advantages compared to traditional invoice dispatch:

6. Which shops and industries the QR-bill is particularly suitable for

The QR-bill as a checkout payment method is particularly suitable for:

B2B shops and ordering platforms where corporate customers are accustomed to paying by bank transfer. The QR-bill makes this process digital and automatable.

Shops with a high proportion of regular customers where the default risk is known and low. If you know that 95% of your customers pay reliably, you do not need expensive BNPL risk assumption.

Shops with large shopping carts (over EUR 200), where the percentage fee of the QR-bill (0.50%, min. EUR 1.50) is significantly cheaper than the BNPL fee (2–3%).

Clubs, associations, and non-profit organizations where membership fees and donations are collected via QR-bill.

The QR-bill is less suitable for shops with a high share of new customers and small shopping carts in the fashion or lifestyle segment — here the default risk is high, and BNPL with risk assumption is the better choice.

Checklist: Setting up the QR-bill as a payment method in your online shop

• Apply for a QR-IBAN at your Swiss bank if you do not already have one.

• Check whether your PSP or shop system supports the QR-bill as a checkout payment method.

• Ensure that your accounting software can process CAMT.054 notifications.

• Define the payment term (10, 14, or 30 days) and communicate it clearly on the QR-bill.

• Set up an automated dunning process: payment reminder, 1st dunning notice, 2nd dunning notice.

• Decide whether you offer the QR-bill alongside BNPL methods — both at the same time is possible.

• Test the process: Place an order in your own shop, scan the QR code, and verify whether the assignment works.