Fee Comparison Calculator
Receiving $10,000 from US Client
See how much you actually receive depending on your payment setup:
| Payment Method | FX Markup | Processing Fee | Bank Fee | You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (USD → EUR) | ~0.5% (~$50) | $0 | $0 | ~€9,100 |
| Stripe (USD card) | ~1% (~$100) | 2.9% ($290) | $0 | ~€8,740 |
| PayPal (USD → EUR) | ~3% (~$300) | 2.9% ($290) | $0 | ~€8,500 |
| Bank Wire (SWIFT) | ~2% (~$200) | $0 | $30-50 | ~€8,900 |
| Receive in USD (Wise) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,000* |
* Keeping USD avoids FX fees until you need EUR. Convert only when needed. Rates assume 1 EUR = 1.09 USD. Actual rates vary.
Best for Wire Transfers
Receiving bank transfers from clients (B2B invoicing)
Wise Business → Get local USD account details, receive in USD, convert when needed
Best for Card Payments
Accepting credit cards (SaaS, e-commerce)
Stripe → Lower processing fees for EU cards (1.4% + €0.25)
EU Card Payment Fees
Processing €10,000/month in Card Payments
| Processor | EU Cards | Int'l Cards | 70% EU Mix | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe (EU) | 1.4% + €0.25 | 2.9% + €0.25 | ~€210 | Baseline |
| PayPal | 2.9% + €0.35 | 2.9% + €0.35 | ~€340 | -€130 |
| Stripe (US) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~€325 | -€115 |
Key insight: An EU company (Estonian OÜ) gets Stripe's EU pricing. US LLCs get Stripe's US pricing. For businesses with mostly EU customers, this difference adds up to €1,500+/year in savings.
Multi-Currency Strategy
Step 1: Open Multi-Currency Account
With Wise Business or Revolut Business, you get local account details in:
EUR
SEPA IBAN
USD
US Routing
GBP
UK Sort Code
+40 more
Currencies
Step 2: Invoice in Client's Currency
Send USD invoices to US clients with your USD account details. They pay domestic, you receive domestic. No FX on their end or yours.
Step 3: Convert When Favorable
Hold currencies until you need them or rates are favorable. Wise charges 0.35-0.5% for conversions. Convert weekly or monthly based on your expense needs.
Potential Savings
On $100k annual USD revenue, avoiding FX markups saves €1,500-3,000/year compared to automatic conversion at bank rates.
Fee Comparison by Scenario
Scenario: US SaaS Customers
$5,000/month in subscription payments from US customers
US LLC + Stripe US
Processing: 2.9% = $145
FX to EUR: ~2% = $100
Total: ~$245/month
Estonian OÜ + Stripe EU
Processing: 2.9% = $145
Keep in USD: $0
Total: ~$145/month
Scenario: EU B2B Consulting
€8,000/month from EU clients via bank transfer
Estonian OÜ + Wise
SEPA transfers: Free
No FX needed
Total: €0/month
US LLC + Mercury
Wire receive: ~$15
FX EUR→USD: ~2%
Total: ~$175/month
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before getting started
All information verified as of December 2025. Prices and features subject to change. Always verify current pricing with providers.
