The characteristics of B2B transactions—such as the amount, due date, or setting—vary greatly and determine the choice of payment method. This explains why there are so many payment methods used in this field. B2B payment methods range from the most traditional methods—such as checks or transfers—to other more modern ones, such as digital wallets or reverse factoring.

In recent years, Spain has introduced significant legislative changes regarding face-to-face B2B payments. These include limits on cash payments for transactions involving at least one business or professional, which was introduced in 2021. As a result of this limit, the use of less restrictive electronic methods has become more prominent in face-to-face B2B payments.

Furthermore, online B2B payments have also changed because of the enormous growth of B2B ecommerce. According to data from the Payments Observatory published by the Spanish Marketing Association (AMKT), B2B ecommerce in Spain has grown at a faster rate than B2C ecommerce for years.

Regardless of the form—online or face-to-face—a key aspect of B2B transactions is the use of payment methods that offer traceability and security. In this article, we analyze the main payment methods of face-to-face and online B2B transactions in Spain and their key features.

What’s in this article?

• Main B2B payment methods in Spain
  
• Key features of B2B payment methods
  
• How Stripe facilitates B2B payments
  
• FAQs about the main B2B payment methods in Spain
  

Main B2B payment methods in Spain

In Spain, businesses can use various methods to accept B2B payments and make payments to suppliers. Below, we include a summary of the most popular B2B payment methods with a brief explanation of each option. This can help you choose the best fit for your company.

Bank transfers

Bank transfers move funds between bank accounts. The funds are received in the recipient business account within a specific time frame. This is determined by the transfer method: ordinary or instant.

Ordinary bank transfers

With these transfers, the clearing, settlement, and crediting of funds to the business recipient’s account typically happen within one business day. However, this time frame depends on the cutoff time and day on which the order is issued. For example, funds will be received later if the transfer is ordered on a public holiday.

Bank transfers generally do not involve additional costs. Many companies encourage their use by offering discounts for their business customers. These transactions can increase business liquidity and improve net cash flow.

Instant bank transfers

With instant bank transfers, the funds reach the recipient’s account seconds after issuing the order, as outlined in Regulation (EU) 2024/886. Because they are real-time payments that are available 24/7, they have become the preferred choice for many businesses. They also can improve treasury management while reducing operating costs and increasing customer satisfaction.

Although the European Payments Council (EPC) removed the amount limit on instant transfers, many instant bank payment providers in Spain maintain their own limits for security reasons. Therefore, instant transfers might not be feasible for large B2B payments. For these, traditional bank transfers will be necessary.

Bank cards

Cards are a widely used payment method in B2B transactions due to their practicality, convenience, and traceability. In addition to guaranteeing instant payment, they simplify bank reconciliation of both face-to-face and online transactions.

Debit and credit cards

In Spain, traditional debit and credit cards are typically used for small payments. According to the latest data from the Bank of Spain, the average amount of card payments is approximately €32. However, some businesses prefer their customers to use other methods, as some payment providers charge quite high card processing fees.

In addition, these cards have daily operating limits that each bank sets by contract. Although these limits can be increased on a case-by-case basis, they might be insufficient for businesses that make large B2B payments.

Corporate cards

A corporate card is a specific type of credit or debit card linked to a company bank account. Once issued, businesses make them available to their employees to cover their work-related expenses. According to the Bank of Spain, almost 100 million transactions were recorded with corporate expense cards during the first quarter of 2025. Many of these were for B2B transactions.

When using a corporate card, employees don’t have to request reimbursement after paying out-of-pocket for business expenses. Instead, the amount is deducted directly from the company account. The main advantage of this card over other B2B payment methods is that it facilitates control and monitoring and can help prevent the use of funds for unjustified expenses.

Direct debits

Unlike transfers where the customer initiates payment to the recipient, direct debits allow companies to automatically debit amounts from business customers’ bank accounts. The customer must issue an order to authorize the payments. This authorization is valid for multiple payments, so SEPA Direct Debits are ideal for automating B2B payments. Their use is widespread in companies with recurring revenue models, such as SaaS platforms.

Cash

Cash offers a lower level of convenience and security compared to other methods. In addition, there has been a €1,000 limit for cash payments in Spain for several years. While paying in cash remains practical for small, one-time transactions, many businesses prefer to promote digital payment systems.

The use of physical money also creates traceability problems. Cash makes it easier for transactions to go undocumented. Traditionally, this has been associated with “B accounting,” which favors the underground economy. In order to prevent it, the government has approved various measures, such as mandatory electronic invoicing and the anti-fraud law. Failure to comply with these regulations usually results in fines of €50,000–€150,000. This amount can be multiplied for each year in which the infringement takes place.

Reverse factoring

Some companies prefer to outsource the management of B2B payments to financial institutions that offer reverse factoring.

In this process, the customer sends received invoices to the bank before their due dates. Then, the institution informs each supplier of the amount owed and offers two options: wait until the due date or receive payment in advance. If they choose advance payment, the bank sends the funds and assumes the risk of nonpayment. In this case, the bank charges a fee for the service, and the amount the supplier receives will be slightly less than the total amount of the invoices.

Although reverse factoring is not a well-known payment method, it is quite common for large transactions between major Spanish companies. In fact, this system recorded transactions in Spain worth more than €136 billion in 2023.

This amount is similar to the figure for factoring. This payment method works in the exact opposite way from reverse factoring. Instead of helping to manage payments a company must issue, it allows them to advance the collection of their invoices. In 2023, factoring accounted for more than €133 billion.

When combined, these two systems accounted for 18.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which places Spain as the country with second highest use of these payment methods. Only Belgium had more, with over 23% of its GDP. Spain is also 5 points ahead of the average of the 10 countries that use them the most.

Promissory notes

A promissory note is a document issued in writing by a debtor to commit to paying a certain amount to the supplier on an indicated date.

Similar to other forms of paper-based B2B payments, a promissory note must be managed manually and has limited traceability. Even so, it remains a common method for many transactions in traditional businesses. More modern businesses have opted for digital installment payment methods instead.

Checks

A printed check is a written order from the account holder authorizing their bank to pay a specific amount of money from their account to a business customer’s account. The recipient can deposit the check or cash it at their bank. Then, their bank requests the funds from the issuing company’s bank. Lastly, the funds are transferred from one account to the other, and the transaction is complete.

Paper checks are a viable and, in some cases, preferable in-person payment method—especially for large B2B transactions or those requiring greater financial flexibility—because they take time to clear. However, the time required to issue, deposit, and process the check can become a disadvantage because it carries a higher risk of the check being returned. In 2024, there was a 12% year-on-year decrease in transactions involving checks, bills of exchange, and promissory notes.

This downward trend is also seen in other countries. For example, their use fell by 7% from 2022–2025 in the US and Canada. These payments are much more widespread in Spain, where 26% of B2B payments are still made using checks.

Bills of exchange

A bill of exchange guarantees the future payment of a sum of money on a specific date. It is similar to a promissory note, but it is issued by the creditor, not the debtor.

In a B2B context, the supplier is responsible for issuing this document on paper, which must include the customer’s signature to ensure that the customer is legally required to pay the debt. To have full legal validity, the document must indicate the total amount and meet the requirements set forth by Law 19/1985, such as including the label “bill of exchange,” identifying both parties, and specifying the due date.

This payment method is ideal for businesses that do not have the liquidity required to make payments to suppliers but want to reassure business partners about the effective collection of the amounts owed. The advantage of using bills of exchange is that, in case of nonpayment, the creditor can claim the debts plus interest and expenses through a bill of exchange collection proceeding. This is typically much faster than ordinary proceedings.

Installment payment methods

Installment payments allow business customers to purchase products and services without having to pay the full amount at the time of purchase. Generally, payment terms are negotiated individually with the supplier, and the amount due is paid on the date using the agreed upon payment method.

Instead of reaching individual agreements with each customer to split the payment, some companies choose to offer payment methods such as BNPL. By using these services, payments are deferred immediately and without interest. In Spain, fees are usually only charged if the customer is late with payments. This payment method is especially relevant in Spain, a market with a high dependence on credit. For example, in Spain in 2024, 47.7% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had bank financing needs.

Digital wallets

Digital wallets provide convenient and easy transactions. They can be used to pay online without entering card details. They can also be used in physical stores with a mobile device equipped with near-field communication (NFC) technology. In the latter case, the store must have a compatible card reader.

Most digital wallets—such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal—allow business owners and employees to save their digital balances or card details. They can use this data to complete business transactions with just one touch or click. This capability facilitates the use and management of corporate cards because it allows companies to issue them in the form of virtual cards employees can use on their mobile devices. While employees enjoy greater convenience with making payments, companies enhance their transactions with a faster and more affordable process than managing physical corporate cards.

Bizum

This payment method is integrated into online banking applications. It allows for instant transactions between bank account holders in Spain. When it began, Bizum was mainly aimed at transfers between individuals. However, it has been progressively increasing in popularity with businesses.

While it imposes some restrictions—such as maximum amounts—it offers many advantages to businesses, such as immediate payments and payment completion via phone number. Furthermore, it is one of the local payment methods with the most competitive fees. This has also contributed to the great success of Bizum for businesses in Spain.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that allow the transfer of funds without intermediaries. After the cryptocurrencies are purchased through an exchange platform (e.g., Blockchain.com), their main use is to issue decentralized payments.

In Spain, B2B payments with stablecoins are more prevalent among technology companies and businesses in other industries that maintain business relationships with international suppliers. These cryptocurrencies are highly stable because they are linked to the value of a traditional fiat currency. For example, USDC—which is the most widely used stablecoin—is linked to the US dollar. This advantage makes them a strategic tool for business customers operating in markets with poor banking infrastructure or highly volatile local currencies. Therefore, more and more companies are choosing to accept payments with stablecoins.

Key features of B2B payment methods

Due to the specific characteristics of each B2B transaction, it is advisable to use the payment methods most appropriate for each specific situation. Below, we provide factors companies value most when issuing or receiving B2B payments and indicate which payment methods best meet each need.

Speed

The speed at which transactions are processed is important, especially when receiving B2B payments that improve cash flow. By making the funds available instantly, companies ensure the liquidity needed to make their own payments to suppliers without difficulty.

In this sense, instant transfers are the ideal method because they are settled in less than 10 seconds. The recipient company can immediately check the updated balance of its account with the amount of the instant transfer. On the other hand, cash is also an effective method for smaller transactions. Because there are no intermediaries, the transfer of funds occurs instantly.

Traceability

The traceability of B2B payments is one of the most important aspects because it facilitates accounting reconciliation and ensures compliance with various tax obligations for businesses in Spain. This includes the anti-fraud law and the Create and Grow (Crea y Crece) Law.

In this regard, one of the most recommended B2B payment methods for Spanish companies is bank transfers. They generate a record that identifies the transaction, sender, and receiver. Corporate cards also offer even more complete traceability information because expense management programs automatically record and reconcile each transaction.

Large transactions

In various industries in Spain, B2B transactions can reach high amounts, such as the purchase of industrial machinery or the supply of raw materials.

For these transactions, bank transfers are the ideal payment method. They are much less restrictive and avoid the high fees associated with other payment methods.

Flexibility

Flexibility in B2B payments is another key factor because it allows companies to meet their obligations to suppliers without compromising liquidity.

Installment payments help businesses manage the costs of B2B transactions by dividing them into several installments. On the other hand, direct debits in installments significantly reduce nonpayments, which are common for companies with recurring billing. Nonpayments are often due to administrative oversights by the customer.

Security

In a B2B context, it is important for companies to guarantee maximum security in their business transactions. This is key for regulatory compliance, strengthening the trust of business customers, and increasing the durability of B2B relationships.

Fortunately, companies in Spain have several secure payment methods available. These include digital wallets—which tokenize saved card information so it cannot be exposed—and Bizum, which uses each bank’s mechanisms to authenticate the customer.

Spending control

For Spanish businesses, effectively tracking expenses is important for improving business management. Furthermore, companies that allow their employees to pay corporate expenses directly must adopt tools that guarantee full visibility and control over those transactions.

For this purpose, corporate expense cards are the perfect payment method because they allow the addition of highly customized spending limits and reduce the risk of unexpected bills. On the other hand, the reverse factoring system allows companies to send financial institutions orders with the list of invoices it wishes to pay and their due dates. This can help facilitate treasury management.

B2B payment methods grouped by business priorities

How Stripe facilitates B2B payments

In Spain, ensuring the security and traceability of B2B payments is fundamental. It can be difficult to implement methods that combine both of these characteristics, but Stripe Payments offers a simple process. Stripe’s payment gateway allows your business customers to pay using their preferred payment methods.

Beyond facilitating the receipt of payments, Stripe also simplifies cost management through Stripe Issuing, a solution that allows you to develop customized corporate card programs. With Issuing, you can quickly generate physical, virtual, or tokenized cards customized for your business needs.

Issuing also allows you to personalize the cards with your brand identity and set custom limits, such as maximum monthly spending amounts, blocks on certain types of businesses, and maximum spending amounts at different business types. From the Stripe Dashboard, you can access detailed data about transactions with each card to monitor their use and ensure they are used for B2B payments.

FAQs about the main B2B payment methods in Spain

Which B2B payment methods are most secure in Spain?

Direct debit payments offer a high level of security because the customer must explicitly authorize the charge before it is performed. Similar to transfers, these transactions take place within the European banking infrastructure, which applies measures such as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). In the case of bank transfers, this allows verification that the recipient matches the account holder. Using cards for B2B payments is also secure, especially if payment platforms implement additional measures and protocols, such as Know Your Customer (KYC).

Are paper-based payment methods recommended for B2B payments?

Yes, paper-based payment methods—such as checks, promissory notes, and bills of exchange—can be a valid option, especially among traditional companies that have solid business relationships. Otherwise, it is preferable to opt for other B2B payment methods because physical documents have little traceability and must be managed manually, increasing the administrative burden.

Are corporate expense cards recommended for B2B payments?

Yes, corporate cards are a useful tool for achieving greater control over company spending. This is especially true if the business sets custom limits for each card or business type. Some card-issuing platforms allow businesses to define the time period or category of each limit. For example, with the advanced spending control in Stripe Issuing, businesses can set up cards so employees can only use them in restaurants and gas stations. They can also set a weekly or monthly limit for each of those categories.