Stop Guessing at Checkout: How to Choose the Right Payment Processor

Understanding how payment systems connect to your website for your business.

When a client clicks “Pay Now,” your checkout becomes the moment of truth. Whether you’re selling jewelry, offering design services, or booking classes, the payment processor you choose determines how trustworthy, compliant, and easy that moment feels.

This guide explains how popular systems, including Stripe, PayPal, WooCommerce, and Wix Payments, as well as key European options, work, what they mean for Italian or EU-based businesses, and how to choose one that supports both you and your clients.

Learn more in my Hidden Risks on Your Website: Are You Compliant?

Why Your Payment System Matters

A payment processor is the service that actually moves money from your customer’s card to your business account. Your payment processor isn’t just a button at checkout, though it’s the foundation of your cash flow, client trust, and POS and e-commerce compliance. When it’s set up correctly, it protects data and ensures you get paid quickly.

Your processor should:

• Work with your website platform (Wix Studio, WordPress, Shopify …)

• Use encryption and verified authentication for security

• Support multiple currencies and languages

• Produce receipts or fatture elettroniche (electronic invoices required in Italy)

• Offer customers a smooth, familiar checkout

Protip: Your checkout is your brand’s handshake—make sure it’s quick, polite, and secure.

Stripe – The Professional Standard

Stripe is a favorite among designers, freelancers, and small businesses because it blends flexibility with professionalism. It’s one of the best payment processors for small businesses in Italy, known for its secure checkout systems and simple integration with most platforms. It encrypts card details in accordance with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). This global rulebook ensures card data remains safe and supports PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2), an EU regulation that requires an additional verification step, such as a code or fingerprint. For Italian businesses, Stripe integrates easily with accounting tools that automatically issue fatture elettroniche.

• PCI DSS-compliant (international card-security standard)

• PSD2-ready (EU identity-verification rule)

• Integrates with Wix, WooCommerce, and custom sites

• Handles multiple currencies and languages

• Ideal for freelancers and SMEs

Pros	Cons
Secure, trusted, globally compliant	Some features need technical setup
Integrates with most platforms	Limited transparency on stored user data
Supports multi-currency	Authentication handled by the buyer’s bank, not Stripe

Protip: Connect Stripe to your invoicing software to automate electronic invoices—it saves hours during tax season.

PayPal – Familiar and Fast

PayPal’s strength is trust. Customers know the name, which reduces hesitation. It also follows PCI DSS security standards and supports multiple currencies. The main trade-off is that PayPal redirects users off your site to complete the payment, slightly breaking the seamless experience and sometimes lowering conversions.

• Recognized, easy to start | PCI DSS secure | Redirects off-site | Good for beginners | Higher fees |

Pros	Cons
Quick setup, immediate credibility	Redirects customers off your site
Built-in buyer protection	Slightly higher transaction fees
Simple for freelancers	Limited branding and invoice control

Protip: Start with PayPal for simplicity, then upgrade to an on-site option like Stripe or Wix Payments when you want to keep clients inside your own brand flow.

WooCommerce Payments (WordPress)

WooCommerce turns WordPress into a customizable store. It doesn’t process payments itself—you add gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, or Square. This freedom comes with responsibility: you must maintain SSL certificates (the “https” lock) and update plugins to stay compliant with PCI DSS security standards.

• Customizable checkout | Requires external gateway | Needs SSL | Supports bookings/subscriptions | Good for advanced users |

Pros	Cons
Full design control	You handle security and updates
Works with many gateways	Plugins may conflict
Scales with business growth	Compliance depends on your maintenance

Protip: Set a monthly reminder to update WooCommerce and its payment plugins—most checkout problems stem from outdated extensions.

Wix Payments – Simplified and Integrated

For Wix Studio users, Wix Payments is built in. It’s already PSD2-compliant, accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, and SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) transfers, and keeps all reporting inside your dashboard. Because it’s part of Wix, you don’t need third-party plugins or coding knowledge.

• Built-in for Wix Studio | Accepts cards + SEPA | PSD2-compliant | Centralized dashboard | Great for creatives |

Pros	Cons
Easiest to set up	Limited to Wix platform
Automatically PSD2-secure	Fewer customization options
Centralized reports	Stripe (the backend processor) still handles card data

Protip: Add visible reassurance text—“Your payment is encrypted and secure”—on the checkout page to keep users confident through the payment step.

Alternatives for Italian / EU Businesses

Europe offers regional options that can improve conversions with local audiences. Mollie (Netherlands) supports SEPA and local systems like iDEAL; Satispay (Italy) lets customers pay via smartphone; Square combines online and in-person payments—ideal for cafés or artisans.

• Mollie = SEPA + local methods | Satispay = Italian mobile app | Square = POS + online | EU-trusted | Good for hybrid sales |

Pros	Cons
Local trust and familiarity	Limited cross-border options
Supports EU bank transfers	Integration can vary
Lower regional fees	Fewer automation tools

Protip: Adding Satispay or SEPA options can boost conversions—Italian clients often prefer local payment methods over international gateways.

At a Glance – Processor Comparison

Platform	Ease of Setup	Fees	Compliance	Best For
Stripe	Moderate	Low–Medium	PCI DSS + PSD2	Freelancers / SMEs
PayPal	Easy	Medium–High	PCI DSS	Starters / Service Payments
WooCommerce	Moderate–Complex	Varies	Depends on Gateway	WordPress Shops
Wix Payments	Very Easy	Medium	PSD2	Wix Users
Mollie / Satispay / Square	Easy–Medium	Varies	EU Local Standards	Italian Retail / Hybrid Models

Protip: Don’t judge by fees alone—user trust and compliance often bring the higher long-term return.

Final Thoughts

Your payment processor does more than move money; it shapes client trust. Choosing the best payment processor for small businesses in Italy depends on your specific setup, client base, and how your payments integrate with your website. A transparent and secure checkout demonstrates that your business is ready for the professional stage.

Next in the series: “Is Your Checkout Legally Compliant?” We’ll explore GDPR, cookie consent, and what both businesses and users need to know before proceeding with the 'Pay Now' button in Designing the Checkout Experience.

Glossary

• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): Global security framework for protecting credit-card data.

• PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2): EU law requiring stronger identity checks for online payments.

• SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area): EU system that enables easy euro-currency bank transfers.

• Fattura Elettronica: Mandatory electronic invoice format for Italian businesses.