Small businesses’ views on payments
Cards are the payment method most commonly accepted by small businesses in the Riksbank’s survey, followed by Swish and cash. At the same time, the acceptance of payment methods depends on the sector and the average amount. For more than one in two small businesses, it is important to receive payment directly into their account, rather than after a few days.
Published: 12 March 2026
Riksbank survey on small businesses’ views on payments
The Riksbank’s survey of small businesses’ views on payments provides a picture of how they perceive payments as payees. In the survey, the Riksbank asks respondents which payment methods they accept, what their contingency plans are and what their payment costs are.
The survey was conducted for the first time in 2024 and repeated in 2025. It was sent to businesses with 0–49 employees and an annual turnover of at least SEK 500,000. The survey targeted five retail sectors, as well as hairdressers and restaurants, and covered payments at both physical points of sale and e-commerce. The survey was conducted between 3 September and 28 October 2025 and 898 companies responded.
The figures for the survey are available at riksbank.se.
Card payments are the most common payment method accepted by small businesses
Debit cards are the payment method most businesses accept, regardless of their sector. 92 per cent accept this payment method, as you can see in Diagram 7. While Swish is accepted by 74 per cent of businesses and to a similar extent across sectors, only 12 per cent of payments to businesses are made through Swish. Cash is accepted by 67 per cent of businesses, but there is considerable variation between sectors. Businesses selling essential goods – food, medicine and fuel – accept cash at a much higher rate than in other sectors. Businesses that accept cash estimate that only 7 per cent of customer payments are made in cash.
The payment methods accepted by businesses are also linked to the average size of the payments. The higher the average amount, the more common it is for businesses to accept invoices or 'buy now, pay later' solutions such as Klarna in-store and Qliro in-store. The lower the average amount, the more common it is for businesses to accept debit cards and cash.
Security risks primary reason for not accepting cash
One in three companies surveyed do not accept cash. Of these, around half say they have stopped accepting cash in the last five years and a third say they have never accepted cash. The main reason for ceasing to accept cash is the security risk, followed by the time needed to handle cash and difficulties in depositing daily takings.
Every second company wants to receive payment immediately
Just over one in two companies, 56 per cent, consider it important to receive payment immediately rather than after one to three working days. This is about the same number as in 2024. Small businesses’ demand for instant payments, i.e. credit transfers that can be made around the clock and reach the beneficiary’s account within seconds, is relatively evenly distributed across sectors.
Companies have difficulty estimating the cost of payments
Many companies have difficulty estimating how large their costs for receiving payments are. One in three companies said they did not know, while 25 per cent said costs were between 0 and 1 per cent of turnover, 31 per cent said they were between 1 and 2 per cent and 8 per cent said they were more than 2 per cent. Of the businesses that also have e-commerce, 35 per cent state that the costs are higher for payments in e-commerce than at the physical point of sale. Only 9 per cent of businesses say they are lower in e-commerce, while 27 per cent think they are about the same.
Cash and Swish are the most common backup solutions for businesses
Digital payments depend on the functioning of data communications, but 86 per cent of businesses said they can accept payments even if their regular internet connection is not working. The most common payment methods in such a situation are cash and Swish – 61 per cent of businesses say they use both as their main solution when their usual internet connection is down.
FACT BOX – New regulations on reporting payment statistics
According to the Sveriges Riksbank Act, the Riksbank shall monitor developments on the payment market. To improve its analytical base, the Riksbank decided in 2025 on the Riksbank’s regulations (RBFS 2025:1) on the reporting of payment statistics.
The regulations apply to payment service providers and payment system operators domiciled in Sweden and to foreign payment service providers with a branch in Sweden. Among other things, firms are required to report certain transactional data, such as credit transfers, instant credit transfers, card payments, ATM cash withdrawals and direct debits. Companies must also report certain other data, such as the number of cards issued and payment accounts.
The regulations will enter into force and begin to apply on 1 October 2026, with the exception of the reporting of payment transfers, which will apply from 1 October 2027.