Online Payments on Your Therapist Website: Mollie, Stripe, and Alternatives
When online payments lower a barrier and when they do not. Practical choice between Mollie, Stripe, and invoicing through your accountant.
Dit artikel hoort bij: Website for Somatic Therapists: 7 Elements That Convert with Nervous System Safety
The question often comes in this form: "Should I put a payment button on my site?" The short answer: only if you have a product that the client wants to pay for at the moment of purchase. For offering sessions, this is rarely the case, because the relationship and trust are paramount, not the transaction.
When Online Payments Are Suitable
Three situations where a payment link is the right choice: a paid introductory meeting that you charge for in advance to prevent no-shows, an online offering (course, recording, e-book) sold separately from personal sessions, and a deposit for a program that runs over several months. In all these cases, the buyer knows exactly what they are getting at the moment of payment.
When Invoicing Afterward is Better
You should invoice for regular sessions afterward, either per session or in a monthly invoice. Reason: paying in advance for a session where the relationship has yet to develop often feels to many clients like a first signal that it is transactional rather than relational. For somatic work that relies on nervous system safety, that is an unfortunate opening.
Mollie or Stripe?
Mollie is a Dutch company, supports iDEAL as the main option, and has Dutch customer service. For a NL/BE practice that primarily uses iDEAL and Bancontact, this is the natural choice. Rates are around a fixed amount per transaction.
Stripe is international, stronger in credit cards and subscriptions, and has more extensive developer options. For those with international clients or selling an online course with a subscription, Stripe fits better. For pure NL practice purchases, it is slightly less logical.
The Simplest Implementation
You do not need to build a webshop right away. Mollie and Stripe both offer payment links: you create a product page on their platform, get a unique URL, and paste it behind a button on your website. The buyer lands on a Mollie/Stripe payment page, pays, and automatically receives an invoice and confirmation. No plug-in, no webshop software, no development hours.
Accounting Integration
- Mollie integrates directly with e-Boekhouden, Moneybird, SnelStart, and Exact.
- Stripe integrates with the same packages via integrations or import.
- A good integration prevents you from manually retyping every transaction.
- Include your accountant in the choice; they know your existing system.
Points of Attention
State in your terms and conditions how you handle cancellations and refunds for pre-paid services. Mollie and Stripe adhere to these terms, but only if they are stated somewhere on your site. Also practical: a digital service falls under a different right of withdrawal than a physical product; check this with your accountant or lawyer.
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Veelgestelde vragen
Do I need a Chamber of Commerce registration (KVK) and VAT number to use Mollie?
For business use, Mollie indeed requires a KVK registration and in most cases a VAT number or exemption statement. Therapy often falls under the VAT exemption for (para)medical services, provided conditions are met.
Can I continue to use Tikkie or a regular bank transfer as an alternative?
Certainly. For regular session invoices, an invoice with IBAN and payment term is sufficient. Tikkie works for small amounts between people who already know each other, less for unknown first-contact purchases.
How much does Mollie or Stripe charge per transaction?
Mollie charges a fixed amount per iDEAL transaction (around a few tens of cents, check current rates). Stripe charges a percentage of the amount plus a fixed fee. For low volumes, Mollie is usually more advantageous; for credit cards, Stripe is often more favorable.
What if a client wants to cancel their pre-paid session?
Determine clearly in advance: until what moment can someone cancel free of charge, and what happens afterward. State it on the confirmation page and in your terms and conditions. When in doubt: refund, and use the incident to formulate your policy more precisely.
Bronnen en verdieping
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)Standaard voor toegankelijke websites.
- Nielsen Norman Group: UX ResearchEvidence-based UX-onderzoek.
- Google: Core Web VitalsPerformance- en gebruikerservaring-signalen die meewegen in ranking.