Mollie iDEAL transaction fees in hospitality: what do you pay per order?

• You sell online (pickup, delivery, or a deposit) and you are thinking: what does iDEAL via Mollie really cost per order?
• A few cents per order sounds small, but at 500 to 2,000 orders per month it does add up in your margin.
• In 5 minutes you will know your cost per order, plus when it is smarter to set up your payment step differently.

Short answer: what you pay per iDEAL payment via Mollie

If you are reading this article, you probably want just one thing: a clear amount you can factor into your pricing and your margin.

Fixed fee per successful iDEAL payment (Mollie rate)

With Mollie, you pay a fixed fee per successful iDEAL payment. Right now that is usually EUR 0.32 per successful iDEAL payment (excluding VAT). Mollie can change fees, so always double-check their pricing page before you calculate.

What does that mean in plain English?

• One order paid fully with iDEAL = one time EUR 0.32 (plus VAT on those costs).
• No percentage of your revenue, just a fixed fee per payment.

Note: only successful payments count (not "attempts")

Important: you pay this fee only if the payment succeeds. Someone who drops off or does not complete the payment does not count as "successful".

In practice, that is a good thing. The real risk is usually in your checkout: if paying feels messy (too many steps, unclear info, low trust), you lose orders. That almost always costs more than EUR 0.32.

What does "per order" mean in practice? (order vs deposit)

"Per order" sounds simple, but in hospitality you often run into three situations: paying once, a deposit plus the remainder, or refunding after a cancellation.

Scenario 1: pay once when ordering (simplest)

This is the most logical approach for pickup and delivery: the customer orders, pays, done.

• 1 order
• 1 successful iDEAL payment
• 1 transaction fee

For many businesses, this is also the easiest way to protect your margin. Especially if you offer online ordering on your own website and keep the payment moment tight: choose, pay, confirmation.

Scenario 2: deposit + remaining balance (2 transactions)

You see this more often with larger reservations, private dining, catering, or big pickup orders.

Then this happens:

• 1 deposit = 1 successful iDEAL payment = 1 fee
• 1 remaining balance later = another successful iDEAL payment = another fee

So "per order" sometimes becomes two payments in practice. That is not wrong, but you do want to include it consciously in your calculation.

Scenario 3: refund or cancellation: what happens to fees?

Many hospitality owners only realize this later.

• If you refund a payment (for example because an order is cancelled), the original iDEAL payment was still successful.
• In many cases you do not get the transaction fee for that successful payment back.

So: refunding is the right thing to do for your customer, but cost-wise it often means: you paid the fee and kept no revenue.

Calculation examples (so you can see the impact on margin)

We will calculate with EUR 0.32 per successful iDEAL payment (excluding VAT). This makes it easy to compare with your situation.

50 / 500 / 2,000 orders per month (monthly cost)

Assume everyone pays with iDEAL and each order is one payment.

• 50 orders/month: 50 x EUR 0.32 = EUR 16.00 per month (excluding VAT)
• 500 orders/month: 500 x EUR 0.32 = EUR 160.00 per month (excluding VAT)
• 2,000 orders/month: 2,000 x EUR 0.32 = EUR 640.00 per month (excluding VAT)

Do you use a deposit plus a remaining balance? In practice this can move toward double, depending on how often you apply it.

Average order value EUR 15 / EUR 25 / EUR 50 (margin impact)

It helps to view it as a "bite out of the order":

• At EUR 15, EUR 0.32 is a bigger chunk of your proceeds than at EUR 50.
• At EUR 25, it often feels reasonable, as long as your margin is not already razor-thin.
• At EUR 50, EUR 0.32 is usually negligible, unless you have many refunds or you create two payment moments unnecessarily.

Busy months vs quiet months (planning for 2026)

For many hospitality businesses, the pattern is recognizable every year:

• quieter months (fewer orders, costs drop along with them)
• peak periods (more orders, costs rise along with them)

So do not calculate only with your quietest month. For your 2026 planning, for example, use:

• a quiet month (for example 300 online orders)
• a peak month (for example 1,200 online orders)

That way you immediately see whether your payment and ordering setup stays "healthy" during busy periods.

The "hidden" costs hospitality often discovers later

The per-payment fee is clear. On the invoice and in your payouts there are a few details that can affect your feeling of "what does it really cost".

VAT on fees + rounding on the invoice

Transaction fees are usually listed excluding VAT. So your invoice adds VAT on top.

You may also see rounding at line level or total level. It is only cents, but with many transactions you do not want to be surprised by "why is it slightly higher?".

For your own calculations, use "about EUR 0.32 plus VAT" per successful payment, so you do not price too tightly.

Payouts: when does the money hit your bank account? (cash flow)

Practical point: the customer has paid, but when does the money reach your account?

Payout timing can differ by settings and timing. The key things to keep in mind:

• your revenue is not always in your bank account immediately
• a difference of a few days can matter when you pay suppliers and wages

For businesses that do a lot of delivery or pickup, cash flow can be more important than you expect.

Extra payment methods next to iDEAL (when does it pay off, and when not?)

Sometimes you want to offer other payment methods next to iDEAL, for example for tourists or business guests.

That can bring extra revenue, but:

• every payment method has its own fees
• the more choices, the higher the chance your payment page feels cluttered

Rule of thumb: start simple. Get iDEAL right first. Only expand when you truly notice you are losing orders.

Cheaper is not always better: the ROI choice for your situation

This is not only about "the lowest possible fees". It is about what you keep and how many orders you actually complete.

Fewer drop-offs at payment = more orders (conversion)

If a customer has to search, doubts, or does not trust it, they drop off. Then you have zero revenue.

In practice, you often see:

• a simple payment step leads to more completed orders
• more completed orders is almost always more profit, even with transaction fees

When a deposit is smart (no-shows or larger reservations)

A deposit is not only "extra costs". It is also protection.

A deposit is often smart for:

• groups
• special evenings with fixed purchasing
• set menus or packages where no-shows really cost money

You may pay transaction fees twice, but you prevent empty tables and wasted purchasing.

When you should combine iDEAL with other options

Do you have many business customers who want to pay on invoice, or many customers who do not use iDEAL? Then combining can make sense.

Do it intentionally:

• only add something if you actually win orders because of it
• keep it clean, so customers do not start doubting

Checklist: how to keep transaction fees per order low

Make paying "one step" (fewer failed checkouts)

Less friction means fewer drop-offs.

Think about:

• a clear total amount
• no surprises in delivery fees
• immediate payment and confirmation

Avoid double payments (use deposits only when needed)

Deposits are powerful when they prevent no-shows. But do not make them the default.

If 90% of your orders are regular pickup or delivery, you often make yourself more expensive per order without gaining anything.

Make your payment page and checkout logical (trust + fewer questions)

Customers want to feel reassured quickly:

• who you are (business name, address, phone)
• what they get (clear description)
• what happens if something goes wrong (briefly: contact and cancellation)

If you want to know roughly what it costs to have a strong ordering and payment setup built, check pricing and packages.

Frequently asked questions / objections

Is EUR 0.32 per order a lot or not really?
By itself, it is not huge. It becomes "a lot" when your margin is already tight, when you create two payments per order unnecessarily, or when you refund often. At 2,000 orders per month it is real money, so factor it into your pricing.

Do I also pay fees if someone does not check out?
Usually not, as long as the payment did not succeed. A failed attempt is different from a successful payment. The real loss from drop-offs is mainly: you miss the order.

Do I need to be technical to set this up, or do you handle it?
No. The key is that you know: how many orders, average order value, and whether you use deposits. The rest can be handled for you.

How can I be sure I am not paying more than necessary?
By keeping two things clear:

1. do you pay once per order (unless a deposit is truly necessary)
2. do you check your invoice for unusually many refunds or double payment moments

Can I do this without a platform and still accept iDEAL?
Yes. Many businesses switch to a solution on their own site specifically so they have more control over orders, customer data, and the payment moment.

Next step: let me calculate your "cost per order"

You do not have to guess. With three numbers, I can show you in one go what it costs and where it can be simpler (and often more profitable).

What I need from you (3 numbers)

Send me:

1. your average order value
2. the number of online orders per month
3. whether you use a deposit (yes or no)

What you get back: 1-page advice + options (simple)

You will receive:

• your cost per order (and per month) in plain euros
• 2 to 3 simple options to improve margin and reduce drop-offs
• honest advice on whether a deposit makes sense for you, or not

Book an advice call of max 30 minutes: send your average order value + number of online orders per month + whether you use a deposit. I will calculate your "cost per order" and give you 2 to 3 simple options to improve margin and conversion (via WhatsApp or call). You can do that directly here: book an advice call.