In an more and more cashless society, for those who don’t have card cost machines, you threat dropping out on gross sales.
A survey carried out by UK Finance in 2023 discovered that debit card funds made up greater than half of all funds made within the UK, funds anticipated to achieve over 30 billion cases in 2033.
There are numerous card machines for small companies in the marketplace at present, and most allow you to take chip and PIN, contactless, and cellular funds.
However there are variations in options, charges and upfront prices which can make some roughly appropriate for your small business than others.
This text will break down the {hardware} and performance of the very best cost machines at present in the marketplace that can assist you select the one which’s best for you.
You may leap straight to a selected card machine or learn on to search out extra data on the ten (plus one bonus!) finest card cost machines for small UK companies in 2024.
40% of the UK’s micro companies don’t settle for card funds – That is regardless of digital funds being the popular strategy to pay for 47pc of consumers
Card cost machines
Sq. Reader
SumUp Air
Zettle Reader 2
MyPOS Go
Dojo Go
Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
TakePayments
Tyl (by Natwest)
Shopify
Tide Card Reader
Small Enterprise Professional
With Small Enterprise Professional, monitor your invoices in addition to getting in-person and on-line transactions at one of many lowest charges in the marketplace. It’ll additionally assist with the heavy lifting of managing prospects, insurance coverage, finance and HR, plus you’ll get a bunch of non-public wellbeing advantages.
Yow will discover out extra about Small Enterprise Professional right here.
How a lot does a typical card cost machine value?
Card cost machine prices are made up of the price of the gadget and the price of cost processing charges.
Machine value
Cell card readers usually value between £15 and £30, countertop card machines value between £150 and £200.
You may both purchase the gadget outright or hire the gadget for a month-to-month value. This adjustments from supplier to supplier.
How one can optimise money circulate with cashless funds – The phrase ‘money is king’ has by no means been more true, however how can small companies like yours guarantee a wholesome influx of cash to cowl prices and make earnings?
Charges
Transaction charges are taken by your card cost supplier as a proportion of each cost made by means of your card machine. They’re sometimes between 1.5 per cent and a pair of per cent of the worth of the transaction.
So, if the client buys an merchandise costing £25, and your transaction payment is 1.75 per cent, you’ll be charged round 43p by your card cost supplier.
Card cost suppliers can even promote a card not current (CNP) transaction. A CNP transaction happens when neither the cardholder or their card are current for the transaction – in different phrases, an internet or cellphone cost, or a recurring cost.
CNP charges are normally round 2.5 per cent. They’re greater for the easy cause that there’s a larger threat of fraud throughout these sorts of funds.
Countertop vs moveable vs cellular card readers
There are three varieties of card cost machine: countertop, moveable, and cellular.
Countertop card machines are designed for use at designated until factors in your retailer. Though they don’t supply any portability, they’re normally very dependable by way of their connectivity. They’re finest for companies with a hard and fast cost level corresponding to a grocery or small retailer.
Transportable bank card machines are battery-powered gadgets that use Wi-Fi to take card funds anyplace in your website. They’re finest for cafes and eating places.
Cell card readers are much more compact, battery-powered gadgets that use a GPRS (3G or 4G) sign to take card funds wherever you’re. Additionally they normally have Wi-Fi performance as properly. They’re nice for pop up outlets, markets, festivals, avenue meals vans – anyplace actually.
This text will predominantly concentrate on cellular card readers, as they’re essentially the most reasonably priced and supply essentially the most flexibility to rising small companies.
A lot of the suppliers beneath additionally promote different {hardware} corresponding to charging docks, receipt printers, countertop methods and tills.
You solely want the cardboard cost gadget to start out taking funds, however these things assist you to improve your POS system as your small business grows.
8 cost methods for festivals, pop-ups and avenue meals markets – Check out this rundown of cost methods that are perfect for festivals, avenue meals markets, pop-ups and promotional occasions
Card cost machines – the choices
The ten card cost machines beneath are nice choices for small companies, providing aggressive charges and nice options.
Sq. Reader
Machine value£19 + VAT
Transaction fee1.75%
CNP fee2.5%
Key options● All day battery● Weighs simply 56g● Accepts chip and PIN playing cards, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay● Funds deposited the subsequent enterprise day
The Sq. Reader is essentially the most glossy, easy and reasonably priced card reader in the marketplace. This appropriately square-shaped gadget prices simply £19 + VAT, a lot decrease than opponents.
And weighing in at simply 56g, it’s not simply the worth that’s low. All it’s important to do is sync it to your cellphone by way of Bluetooth and begin promoting. You may then monitor and handle all of your gross sales from Sq.’s free app. All funds are deposited the subsequent working day.
Nifty options embody specially-designed POS dashboards for eating places, eating places and cellular companies who have to make appointments, corresponding to hairdressers or masseurs.
And Sq. additionally has an entire arsenal of different funds package you should buy to create a full POS setup together with terminals, registers, and different {hardware} and equipment.
And companies that take greater than £200,000 a 12 months in card gross sales pay a decrease transaction payment.
Get began with Sq.
SumUp Air Card Reader
Machine value£39 (£49 with charging dock, £79 for Solo standalone card reader)
Transaction fee1.69%
CNP fee2.5%
Key options● 500 transactions per cost ● Contactless & Chip & PIN● Funds settled in 1 day● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership● E mail and SMS receipts
Because of its ease of use and practicality, this fashionable and light-weight moveable card reader is at present one of many well-liked card readers for small companies.
It’s straightforward to arrange and begin utilizing. All it’s worthwhile to do to start out accepting contactless, chip and PIN, and cellular funds from all main suppliers is to pair the gadget together with your smartphone, which takes minutes.
You may then begin utilizing the SumUp Air anyplace with Wi-Fi or knowledge protection, and it could actually course of 500 transactions on a single cost – at 12 hours, it’s most likely the very best battery life in the marketplace.
Obtainable for a one-off value of simply £39, and with a lowered 1.69 per cent transaction payment, it’s additionally very reasonably priced. And so they have additionally sped up the size of time for funds to seem in your account to only sooner or later.
You additionally get entry to a helpful smartphone app, with a dashboard that lets you view your product catalogue, monitor gross sales, and ship digital receipts.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Zettle Reader 2
Machine costfrom £29 + VAT (with Zettle Dock 2 £68)
Transaction fee1.75%
CNP fee2.5%
Key options● 8 hour battery life (100 transactions)● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless● Funds settled in 1-2 enterprise days● E mail and print receipts
The Zettle Reader 2 is one other light-weight (simply 130g) gadget which you can pair together with your Apple or Android smartphone and begin utilizing inside minutes utilizing the Zettle app.
It accepts all main debit and bank card cost varieties and has a good eight-hour battery life – although this solely lasts for round 100 transactions, which is not any match for SumUp’s 500.
The place the Zettle Reader 2 actually seeks to distinguish itself is in its concentrate on safety. Claiming to be one of many most secure card readers in the marketplace, Zettle’s tamper-proof gadget adheres to the very best business requirements, and is totally encrypted by HSMs cryptographic servers.
And for those who do spot a suspicious cost, Zettle’s transaction safety covers as much as £250 in chargebacks monthly.
As with the SumUp Air, there are not any month-to-month charges – you simply pay a flat price per transaction, although at 1.75 per cent, that is barely greater than its rival.
However at £29 + VAT, the Zettle Reader 2 is cheaper than the SumUp Air, except you purchase the in-dock charger will value £68 + VAT for the reader and charger.
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myPOS Go 2
Machine value£39 + VAT
Transaction fee1.1% + 7p (Amex 2.45% + 7p)
CNP fee1.3% + 15p (Amex 2.5% + 15p)
Key options● Digital receipts by way of e-mail or SMS; potential to pair with the myPOS Go 2 Printing Dock● Instantaneous entry to funds at no added charges● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and native cost strategies corresponding to JCB, UnionPay and Bancontact, plus contactless and Chip & PIN ● Tracks particular person employees efficiency and splits ideas● Tactile keyboard
Weighing 180g, its design isn’t as glossy and trendy as rivals, however beneath the hood, myPOS Go 2 is one other extremely useful and compact cellular card reader.
The gadget prices £19 + VAT and its transaction payment is 1.59 per cent + 5p and could be a lot decrease (relying on the quantity you’re taking).
The Linux-driven myPOS Go 2 card reader has a number of different options that set it other than opponents. You get a free e-money service provider account, with a devoted IBAN in 14 currencies, making it straightforward to take worldwide funds.
6 of the very best cost methods for accepting US {dollars} – If in case you have loads of prospects Stateside, you’ll need them to have the ability to pay in US {dollars}. We take a look at the very best cost methods for USD
Not like the times you might need to attend with different suppliers, card funds are settled in your account in lower than three seconds, and also you get immediate entry to funds by way of your free VISA enterprise card.
We additionally just like the multi-operator mode, which lets you monitor particular person employees efficiency and cut up ideas accordingly.
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Dojo Go
Machine value£20pm + VAT month-to-month rental
Transaction fee0.75% + 5p on all debit card transactions1.2% + 5p on all bank card transactions
CNP fee0.75% + 5p
Key options● 10-hour battery life● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless● Funds settled the subsequent day● Level-to-point encryption constructed into the Dojo Go
Dojo Go describes itself because the “final all-rounder”, a small enterprise card machine that’s simply as helpful as a cellular (working on 3G/4G connectivity) and a conveyable (utilizing Wi-Fi) gadget.
Dojo Go’s massive promoting level is its pace: the corporate claims its gadget can take card funds in round two seconds – over 50 per cent quicker than the business common. And you may maintain monitor of all these funds in actual time utilizing the Dojo Go app.
Dojo is supremely assured in its product – a lot in order that, for those who’re switching from an current supplier, it should pay your exit charges as much as a worth of £3,000. (It’s important to share your current statements with one other supplier with Dojo earlier than it decides on the switch worth.)
Dojo’s assist and assist is obtainable 24 hours a day. And for those who can’t get issues mounted over the cellphone, Dojo can take over your gadget remotely to analyze.
All funds are transferred in your account the subsequent day, which it claims is quicker than another supplier as customary.
There are two tiers of charges: 1.4 per cent + 5p per transaction plus £20 monthly terminal rental, in case your annual card turnover is beneath £150,000; for those who’re above £150,000 then your credit score and debit card price and the month-to-month terminal rental payment are negotiable. In case your card turnover is beneath £150,000, there’ll be a month-to-month £10 platform payment to pay per location.
Since you’re tied right into a six-month contract in case your card turnover is beneath £150,000, Dojo Go is healthier for scaling small companies with persistently excessive month-to-month takings.
And, if your small business wants money shortly, Dojo presents a service provider money advance powered by YouLend, which is repaid by means of a proportion of your card takings. Dojo fees a hard and fast one-off payment for this money facility.
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Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever
Machine value£29 + VAT
Transaction fee1.6% on pay as you go, however personalised pricing plans obtainable to satisfy greater enterprise wants
CNP feen/a
Key options● Contactless and Chip & PIN● Accepts main cost suppliers together with Visa, Mastercard, Google, Apple Pay, Diners Membership (Uncover), Union Pay, JCB and Amex ● Funds settled the subsequent enterprise day for transactions taken earlier than 7pm● E mail receipts● Free FreshBooks account● Powered by a function packed app for iOS and Android optimised for each cellular and pill● Consists of entry to an online portal giving actual time entry to gross sales experiences and dashboards
Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever is geared toward hospitality and retail companies, with the “app” turning it right into a POS resolution. It doesn’t join with money drawers, or barcode scanners – however does connect with wi-fi printers and an app and internet portal.
It has next-working-day settlement and, along with the usual Mastercard and Visa, accepts Amex and Diners Membership (Uncover).
The transaction payment is 1.6 per cent, among the many lowest of any main supplier.
It’s additionally powered by a function stuffed app in addition to entry to an online portal offering actual time knowledge and perception into your small business efficiency. When you want assist there’s a 24/7 buyer assist group, and it’s PCI compliant with out charges or the necessity for attestation.
Nevertheless, not like some rivals, when making use of for Smartpay Wherever, it’s important to undergo an internet vetting course of checking monetary and borrowing historical past to be accepted for a tool, which Barclays says ensures the gadget is appropriate for your small business earlier than you pay for it.
The professionals are that it’s a compact and reasonably priced card reader at £29 + VAT with low transaction charges and funds settled the subsequent day (if transactions are finished earlier than 7pm).
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TakePayments
Machine costfrom £7.50 + VAT
Transaction feeBased on enterprise turnover however between 0.3%-2.5% + flat payment
CNP feeDependent on cost service supplier
Key options● Shorter contract lengths● No setup or exit charges● Funds settled subsequent working day● Customisable dashboard● Realtime stock monitoring● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless
Stockport-based TakePayments has offered card terminals and on-line cost options for over 30 years. It is among the fastest-growing card cost corporations within the UK with over 70,000 prospects.
takepaymentsplus card reader
A quick and dependable Android terminal that allows you to take each card and money funds.
Some key options embody:
Speedy 4G and WiFi connection
Inventory and pricing administration from the gadget
Means to separate funds
Detailed transaction reporting to see how your small business is performing
Entry to a Administration Portal to deal with your small business remotely
takepaymentsplus pricing: £25 + VAT month-to-month (18-month contract)
Or, for those who’re simply trying to take funds shortly, their A920Pro card machine and DX8000 terminal take solely 4 easy steps to arrange. Keep related with 4G and WiFi, and settle for Apple and Google Pay as customary.
Terminal rental from £15 + VAT.
The transaction payment based mostly on enterprise turnover and the CNP (card not current) payment depends on cost acquirer.
Personal POS system
TakePayments makes use of its personal EPOS system known as tPOS, which can’t be downloaded onto an iPad or different pill and has its personal pill register.
tPOS is obtainable in two varieties, Counter and Full. Plus, their devoted group will present full coaching and buyer assist seven days per week.
tPOS begins from £45 a month.
Some key options embody:
Product administration and inventory stock
Means to separate funds and serve a number of prospects directly
Mounted reductions and presents
Means so as to add notes and configure orders
Enhanced reporting
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Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
Machine value£16.99 + VAT month-to-month
Transaction fee1.39%-1.99% + 5p depending on gross sales quantity
CNP feeN/A
Key options● 12-month contract● 8-hour battery life● Funds settled inside one enterprise day● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless
Weighing in at 453 grams, Tyl’s Clover Flex card reader is on the chunkier finish of the cellular card reader market.
Though it nonetheless utilises Wi-Fi and 4G, permitting you to make use of it anyplace, it’s nonetheless considerably heavier than the opposite gadgets, which does have an effect on its portability.
Nevertheless, extra does on this case imply extra. The Clover Flex acts as an all-in-one POS system that lets you each take funds and handle your small business from one gadget, together with stock and buyer administration, itemised receipts and extra.
It has a good eight-hour battery life and a high-res 5’’ touchscreen, which lets you use a wide range of the 150 apps on the Clover App Market. Nevertheless, whereas it’s helpful to have this performance in a single place, we’d wager most individuals don’t thoughts switching to their cellphone for these features if it means having a smaller gadget.
Additionally, it’s not essentially the most reasonably priced possibility for small companies. You’ll pay £16.99 monthly for the 4G cellular model earlier than transaction charges are even factored into the equation.
Nevertheless, NatWest is providing to waive rent charges for brand new prospects for 3 months, as soon as they decide to a 12-month contract.
Tyl can also be waiving its month-to-month charges on its e-commerce gateway for 12 months, up till the top of September 2024. Usually, it fees £14.95 + VAT monthly.
4G utilization is charged as much as £9.99 + VAT monthly relying on how a lot you utilize.
Clover Flex is healthier for bigger small companies with a big, constant gross sales quantity.
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Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
Machine value£49 + VAT
Transaction fee1.5%-2% on-line + 25p/1.5%-1.7% in particular person
CNP fee2.5%
Key options● Totally built-in with Shopify POS● Fee inside 3 working days● 4-hour full cost for 500-600 transactions● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless
Though solely obtainable for Shopify prospects, we expect it’s price highlighting Shopify’s WisePad 3 Reader.
It’s light-weight (130 grams) and accepts all main cost playing cards and kinds. It’s important to subscribe to Shopify although to have the ability to use it and it solely works with an iPad or by means of your iPhone.
Shopify subscriptions
Shopify has three subscription ranges for its Wisepad 3 card reader: Primary, Shopify and Superior. Primary prices £25 a month, Shopify £65 monthly, and Superior £344 a month. All are billed yearly.
Primary (£19pm)
Card charges
2% + 25p on-line
1.7% + 0p in particular person
2% third-party suppliers
What’s included in Primary
Localised world promoting (three markets)
10 stock places
24/7 chat assist
Shopify (£49pm)
Card charges
1.7% +25p on-line
1.6% + 0p in particular person
1% third-party cost suppliers
What’s included in Shopify
Localised world promoting (three markets)
10 stock places
5 further employees accounts
Superior (£259pm)
Card charges
1.5% + 25p on-line
1.5% + 0p in particular person
0.6% third-party suppliers
What’s included in Superior
Customized experiences and evaluation
10x checkout capability
15 further employees accounts
Nevertheless, there isn’t any contractual obligation it’s important to signal with Shopify, so you aren’t tied in for months or years. Plus there’s a 14-day free trial interval so that you can check out the Wisepad 3 card reader.
There are additionally slick add-ons to the Shopify Wisepad 3, together with a pill stand (£120), a barcode scanner (£279) and a Bluetooth receipt printer (£259).
Nevertheless, with a £49 buy value, plus month-to-month subscription charges, Shopify Wisepad 3 works out as one of the costly readers in the marketplace.
That stated, if already use Shopify as your POS system, this might be a no brainer.
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Tide Card Reader
Machine value£89 + VAT
Transaction fee1.50%
CNP feeTBC
Key featuresLifetime free 4G connectivity (price £5 pm)
Settle for Contactless, Chip + Pin, Digital wallets
Smooth and compact gadget to allow each in-store and cellular funds
The Tide Card Reader is designed for mobility, so you need to use it for in-store or on-the-go transactions. It’s your ticket to seamless funds, anytime, anyplace.
With Tide Card reader, you possibly can settle for card and cellular funds on the go together with no month-to-month contracts and minimal transaction charges. You even have limitless 4G knowledge, eliminating the necessity for Bluetooth connectivity. With a lifetime of free 4G connectivity and compatibility with Visa, Mastercard, ApplePay, and GooglePay, it’s time to unlock a brand new stage of cost comfort.
The gadget has a one-off value of £89 + VAT with a transaction payment of 1.50 per cent. From August to October 2024, you will get £200 cashback once you purchase a Tide card reader through the use of code CARDREADER200 once you enroll right here. T&Cs apply.
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Small Enterprise Professional
Machine costWisePad 3 Terminal (£49 one off value) OR WisePOS E (£179.00 one off value) + month-to-month membership payment (£39.99 sole merchants and £49.99 for companies)
Transaction feeFrom 1.25% transaction charges for traditional playing cards, premium playing cards (corresponding to company playing cards) are 2.25%
CNP feen/a
Key options● No month-to-month cost charges● No minimal spend quantities ● Constructed-in fraud detection● PCI compliant● Built-in with buyer administration instrument to observe transactions● Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days
And eventually… we are able to’t neglect our very personal cost processor, which varieties a part of our Small Enterprise Professional membership.
How a lot does it value?
WisePad 3 terminal (£49 one off value) OR WisePOS E (£179.00 one off value) + month-to-month membership payment (£39.99 sole merchants and £49.99 for companies)
All-in-one reader and POS service
Month-to-month subscription value (£39.99 for sole merchants and £49.99 for companies)
From 1.25 per cent transaction charges for traditional playing cards, premium playing cards (corresponding to company playing cards) are 2.25 per cent
It has:
No month-to-month cost charges
No minimal spend quantities
Constructed-in fraud detection
PCI compliant
Built-in with buyer administration instrument to observe transactions
Financial institution deposits in 3 enterprise days
Professionals: Our transaction payment is the bottom in the marketplace for any cost facilitator ranging from 1.25 per cent.
Cons: It’s not obtainable as a standalone funds service, so that you’ll have to buy a month-to-month membership from us.
Greatest for: Foods and drinks, retail, well being and wonder and service-based companies that need to streamline a number of instruments and platforms.
Strive SB Professional
Which is the very best card cost gadget?
By now you’ve both found the cardboard reader that’s proper for your small business, otherwise you’ve left bamboozled by a dizzying vary of various card cost machines, payment constructions and extra options.
If it’s the latter, don’t fear. For many small companies, we’d advocate SumUp. It’s an reasonably priced gadget with one of many lowest transaction charges in the marketplace, and because it’s a flat price, it’s predictable and clear. We had been additionally impressed by its lengthy battery life, which might course of greater than 500 funds on a single cost.
MyPOS Go additionally actually stands out to us as one other nice possibility for small companies. In addition to very aggressive transaction charges, it has nice added options like multi-operator mode, which make it an awesome selection for cafes and eating places. It’s additionally nice which you can entry funds immediately.
That stated, we’ve chosen all of the above card cost machines for his or her flexibility, simplicity and practicality, and each could be an awesome possibility in your small enterprise. Completely satisfied promoting.
Want a card cost gadget quote?
Wish to evaluate costs from all the very best card cost gadgets we’ve listed above? Why not use our free comparability instrument to be matched with essentially the most appropriate supplier in your wants.
Merely fill in our free quote-finding type, and reply a number of questions on your small business (it takes lower than a minute). We’ll match you with essentially the most acceptable card cost supplier.
Additional studying
Greatest cost processors for UK small companies – 11 of the very best – What’s the very best cost system in your small enterprise? 11 of the very best cost processors for UK SMEs reviewed
