Also called: Business-to-business payments, B2B transactions
What B2B payments are
B2B payments are transactions in which one business pays another for goods or services. A supplier sends an invoice, the buyer approves it against the order or contract, then sends payment by a method such as ACH, card, wire, or check. B2B describes who is paying, not a particular payment rail or fee schedule.
The payment is only one part of the process. The buyer also needs to send remittance details, such as invoice numbers and amounts, so the supplier can match the deposit to open invoices. Missing or unstructured remittance information turns a paid invoice into manual reconciliation work.
B2B describes who pays, not what the payment costs. The method, card data, and processor markup determine your bill.
How the payment method affects your business
Your customer’s accounts-payable team chooses a payment method based on the agreement, its internal approval process, and the supplier’s options. ACH, wires, cards, and checks each use different payment instructions and create different records. A supplier that accepts cards can receive payment through card processing, while a check requires handling and deposit before the funds are available.
Payment terms also affect cash flow. “2/10 net 30” means the buyer gets a 2% discount for paying within 10 days of the invoice date; otherwise, the full amount is due within 30 days. On an illustrative $10,000 invoice, taking the discount saves the buyer $200, while the supplier receives less revenue in exchange for earlier cash.
How 2/10 net 30 changes a $10,000 invoice
| Pay within 10 days | $200 discount |
|---|---|
| Pay by day 30 | $10,000 due |
Illustrative calculation using the 2/10 net 30 terms: 2% of $10,000 is $200.
What B2B payments mean for your costs
A B2B card sale carries the same three card-cost layers as other card sales: interchange paid to the issuing bank, network fees, and your processor’s markup. The card network sets interchange categories, and the transaction details determine which category applies. Only the processor markup is negotiable.
For eligible commercial-card transactions, passing complete Level 2 / Level 3 data can qualify the sale for a lower interchange category. Missing invoice or tax details can cost you that opportunity. ACH, wire, and check costs follow their own pricing and handling arrangements, so compare the full cost of each method rather than treating every B2B payment as a card sale.
Where card costs appear on your statement
Look for entries such as “Visa assessment,” “Visa APF,” “Mastercard assessment,” or “NABU.” As of 2026, Visa’s assessment is 0.14% on credit sales and 0.13% on debit and prepaid sales. Visa’s US Acquirer Processing Fee is $0.0195 per credit authorization and $0.0155 per debit authorization. Mastercard’s assessment is 0.14% on sales, plus 0.01% on transactions of $1,000 or more; its NABU fee is $0.0195 per authorization.
These network fees are distinct from interchange and processor markup. Compare each fee with the matching card activity, then identify the processor markup separately. If your statement bundles all card costs into one rate, you cannot see which part is the negotiable markup.
What you can actually change
- Separate payment rails. Track card, ACH, wire, and check payments separately. Compare processing charges and handling work by method before changing what you offer customers.
- Capture invoice data. For commercial-card sales, send complete Level 2 / Level 3 data where your systems support it. Check whether invoice and tax details are reaching your processor.
- Review card fees. Identify interchange, network fees, and processor markup as separate amounts on your statement. Focus negotiations on the markup, the part you can negotiate.
- Match deposits promptly. Include invoice references in remittance details and reconcile deposits against open invoices. This reduces manual searches when a payment covers multiple invoices.
Frequently asked questions
Are B2B payments always bank transfers?
No. Businesses pay by ACH, card, wire, or check, among other methods. The buyer and supplier agree on the method and terms, and the method affects processing costs, records, and reconciliation.
Do B2B card payments have different processing fees?
B2B card sales use the same three cost layers as other card sales: interchange, network fees, and processor markup. Commercial-card category and transaction data affect interchange, while only the processor markup is negotiable.
What does 2/10 net 30 mean?
The buyer gets a 2% discount for paying within 10 days of the invoice date. If the buyer does not take the discount, the full invoice amount is due within 30 days.
Why does remittance information matter?
Remittance details tell the supplier which invoices a payment covers. Without invoice references, staff must match deposits manually, which can delay reconciliation and leave invoices incorrectly marked as unpaid.