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In an more and more cashless society, in the event you don’t have card cost machines, you threat shedding out on gross sales.
There are numerous card machines for small companies available on the market in the present day, and most allow you to take chip & pin, contactless, and cell funds.
However there are variations in options, charges and upfront prices which can make some kind of appropriate for your small business than others.
This text will break down the {hardware} and performance of the perfect cost machines presently available on the market that will help you select the one which’s best for you.
You may bounce straight to a specific card machine or learn on to seek out extra information on the ten greatest card cost machines for small UK companies in 2023.
>See additionally: 40% of the UK’s micro companies don’t settle for card funds
Card cost machines
- SumUp Air
- Zettle Reader 2
- Sq. Reader
- MyPOS Go
- Dojo Go
- Barclaycard Smartpay Anyplace
- TakePayments
- Tyl (by Natwest)
- Paymentsense
- Shopify WisePad Reader 3
With Small Enterprise Professional, monitor your invoices in addition to getting in-person and on-line transactions at one of many lowest charges available on the market. It’s going to additionally assist with the heavy lifting of managing clients, insurance coverage, finance and HR, plus you’ll get a number of non-public wellbeing advantages.
You’ll find out extra about Small Enterprise Professional right here.
How a lot does a typical card cost machine price?
Card cost machine prices are made up of the price of the system and the price of cost processing charges.
Gadget price
Cellular card readers typically price between £15 and £30, countertop card machines price between £150 and £200.
You may both purchase the system outright or lease the system for a month-to-month price. This adjustments from supplier to supplier.
>See additionally: Learn how to optimise money circulation with cashless funds
Charges
Transaction charges are taken by your card cost supplier as a share of each cost made by 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 shopper 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 may 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 telephone cost, or a recurring cost.
CNP charges are normally round 2.5 per cent. They’re increased for the straightforward purpose that there’s a larger threat of fraud throughout these sorts of funds.
Countertop vs transportable vs cell card readers
There are three forms of card cost machine: countertop, transportable, and cell.
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 when it comes to their connectivity. They’re greatest for companies with a set cost level reminiscent of a grocery or small retailer.
Moveable bank card machines are battery-powered gadgets that use Wi-Fi to take card funds wherever in your website. They’re greatest for cafes and eating places.
Cellular card readers are much more compact, battery-powered gadgets that use a GPRS (3G or 4G) sign to take card funds wherever you might be. Additionally they normally have Wi-Fi performance as effectively. They’re nice for pop up outlets, markets, festivals, road meals vans – wherever actually.
This text will predominantly give attention to cell card readers, as they’re probably the most reasonably priced and supply probably the most flexibility to rising small companies.
Many of the suppliers beneath additionally promote different {hardware} reminiscent of charging docks, receipt printers, countertop techniques and tills.
You solely want the cardboard cost system to begin taking funds, however these things let you improve your POS system as your small business grows.
>See additionally: 8 cost techniques for festivals, pop-ups and road meals markets
Card cost machines – the choices
The ten card cost machines beneath are nice choices for small companies, providing aggressive charges and nice options.
SumUp Air Card Reader
Gadget price | £39 (£44 with charging dock) |
Transaction payment | 1.69% |
CNP payment | 2.5% |
Key options | ● 500 transactions per cost ● Contactless & Chip & PIN ● Funds settled in 1 enterprise day ● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless ● E mail and SMS receipts |
Because of its ease of use and practicality, this fashionable and light-weight transportable card reader is presently one of many in style card readers for small companies.
It’s straightforward to arrange and begin utilizing. All you want to do to begin accepting contactless, Chip & Pin, and cell funds from all main suppliers is to pair the system along with your smartphone, which takes minutes.
You may then begin utilizing the SumUp Air wherever with Wi-Fi or knowledge protection, and it might course of 500 transactions on a single cost – at 12 hours, it’s in all probability the perfect battery life available on the market.
Out there for a one-off price of simply £39, and with a diminished 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 look in your account to simply in the future.
You additionally get entry to a useful 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
Gadget price | from £59 + VAT (Zettle Dock 2 £39) |
Transaction payment | 1.75% |
CNP payment | 2.5% |
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 SMS receipts |
The Zettle Reader 2 is one other light-weight (simply 130g) system that you could pair along 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 give attention to safety. Claiming to be one of many most secure card readers available on the market, Zettle’s tamper-proof system adheres to the very best business requirements, and is totally encrypted by HSMs cryptographic servers.
And in the event you do spot a suspicious cost, Zettle’s transaction safety covers as much as £250 in chargebacks per 30 days.
As with the SumUp Air, there are not any month-to-month charges – you simply pay a flat fee per transaction, although at 1.75 per cent, that is barely increased than its rival.
However at £59 + VAT, the Zettle Reader 2 is dearer than the SumUp Air, and the in-dock charger will price one other £39 + VAT on prime.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Sq. Reader
Gadget price | £19 + VAT |
Transaction payment | 1.5% |
CNP payment | 2.5% |
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 probably the most modern, easy and reasonably priced card reader available on the market. This appropriately square-shaped system prices simply £19 + VAT, a lot decrease than rivals.
And weighing in at simply 56g, it’s not simply the value that’s low. All it’s a must to do is sync it to your telephone 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 cell companies who must make appointments, reminiscent of hairdressers or masseurs.
And Sq. additionally has a complete arsenal of different funds equipment you should purchase to create a full POS setup together with terminals, registers, and different {hardware} and equipment.
Sq. is providing new clients a diminished 1.5 per cent transaction for the timebeing.
And companies that take greater than £200,000 a yr in card gross sales pay a decrease transaction payment.
Examine card cost machine quotes
myPOS Go
Gadget price | £39 + VAT |
Transaction payment | 1.1% + 7p (Amex 2.85% + 7p) |
CNP payment | 1.3% + 15p (Amex 2.5% + 7p) |
Key options | ● Digital receipts by way of e-mail or SMS; skill to pair with the myPOS Go 2 Printing Dock ● Immediate entry to funds at no added charges ● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and native cost strategies reminiscent of 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 modern and trendy as rivals, however beneath the hood, myPOS Go 2 is one other extremely purposeful and compact cell card reader.
The system prices £39 + VAT and its transaction payment is simply 1.10 per cent + 7p and will 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 aside from rivals. You get a free e-money service provider account, with a devoted IBAN in 14 currencies, making it straightforward to take worldwide funds.
>See additionally: 6 of the perfect cost techniques for accepting US {dollars}
Not like the times you may 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.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Dojo Go
Gadget price | £20pm + VAT month-to-month rental |
Transaction payment | 1.4% + 5p on all transactions |
CNP payment | 1.9% + 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 by 10am the subsequent working day ● Constructed-in thermal reader |
Dojo Go describes itself because the “final all-rounder”, a small enterprise card machine that’s simply as useful as a cell (working on 3G/4G connectivity) and a conveyable (utilizing Wi-Fi) system.
Dojo Go’s large promoting level is its pace: the corporate claims its system can take card funds in round two seconds – almost 60 per cent quicker than the business common. And you may hold 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, in the event you’re switching from an current supplier, it would pay your exit charges as much as a price of £3,000. (You need to share your current statements with one other supplier with Dojo earlier than it decides on the switch worth.)
We additionally admire Dojo’s assist and assist, which is obtainable 24 hours a day. And in the event you can’t get issues mounted over the telephone, Dojo can take over your system remotely to research.
All funds are transferred in your account at 10am the subsequent working day, which it claims is quicker than every other supplier as commonplace.
There are two tiers of transaction charges: 1.4 per cent + 5p per transaction plus £20 per 30 days terminal rental, in case your annual card turnover is beneath £150,000; in the event you’re above £150,000 then your credit score and debit card fee and the month-to-month terminal rental payment are negotiable.
Professional tip: Dojo units a minimal £24.95 month-to-month cost for patrons who haven’t taken card funds earlier than, which is the minimal price it’s essential to pay in transaction charges every month – even you probably have zero takings. That is on prime of the month-to-month £20 terminal rental. After six months, the contract flips to month-to-month rolling.
Since you’re tied right into a six-month contract in case your card turnover is beneath £150,000, Dojo Go is best for scaling small companies with constantly excessive month-to-month takings.
And, if your small business wants money shortly, Dojo gives a service provider money advance powered by YouLend, which is repaid by a share of your card takings. Dojo fees a set one-off payment for this money facility.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Barclaycard Smartpay Anyplace
Gadget price | £29 + VAT |
Transaction payment | 1.6% on pay as you go, however personalised pricing plans out there to fulfill larger enterprise wants |
CNP payment | n/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 characteristic packed app for iOS and Android optimised for each cell and pill ● Consists of entry to an internet portal giving actual time entry to gross sales experiences and dashboards |
Barclaycard Smartpay Anyplace is aimed 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 characteristic crammed app in addition to entry to an internet portal offering actual time knowledge and perception into your small business efficiency. In case 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 Anyplace, it’s a must to undergo an internet vetting course of checking monetary and borrowing historical past to be permitted for a tool, which Barclays says ensures the system 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 with low transaction charges and funds settled the subsequent enterprise day.
Examine card cost machine quotes
TakePayments
Gadget price | from £7.50 + VAT |
Transaction payment | Primarily based on enterprise turnover however between 0.3%-2.5% + flat payment |
CNP payment | Depending 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 supplied card terminals and on-line cost options for over 30 years. It is likely one of the fastest-growing card cost firms within the UK, with almost 64,000 clients signed up.
Its cell card reader is a rebadged PAX A920 card machine that accepts playing cards by way of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 4G with a 10-hour battery life with a countertop dock for when it’s not in your hand. There’s additionally a built-in receipt printer.
Takepayments pricing
TakePayments gives two month-to-month subscription packages:
- Straightforward Deal: £7.50pm + VAT (month-to-month contract)
- Takepaymentsplus: £25 + VAT month-to-month (18-month contract)
Straightforward Deal is aimed toward small companies on the transfer with solely primary card cost software program however not stock monitoring .There’s a £150 + VAT setup payment however a shorter, 12-month contract.
Takepaymentsplus waives the setup payment and contains an built-in product library, gross sales and stock experiences and itemised receipts. Nevertheless, there’s a month-to-month £20 + VAT base account payment.
Even in the event you go for the 18-month Takepaymentsplus contract, that is nonetheless shorter than the business norm of something as much as 60 months.
Nevertheless, due to the way in which its transaction charges are structured, TakePayments is best suited to small companies with larger ticket costs, reminiscent of automotive dealerships, white good sellers and eating places, versus, say, nook outlets.
Personal POS system
TakePayments makes use of its personal EPOS system referred to as tPOS, which can’t be downloaded onto an iPad or different pill and has its personal pill register.
To get the complete bundle, there’s a model for retail (£45-£55 + VAT month-to-month) or hospitality (£55-£65 + VAT) plus a £250 + VAT setup payment.
One disadvantage although is that not like competitor Dojo, it can’t be used for funds remodeled the telephone or by way of e-mail. And it doesn’t embed into your web site both, which implies you possibly can’t use it for on-line gross sales, simply in particular person.
However, it’s also possible to use the Epos Now POS system, which is appropriate for magnificence, hospitality and retail.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Tyl (by NatWest) Clover Flex
Gadget price | £14.99 + VAT month-to-month (Wi-Fi solely), £16.99 + VAT month-to-month (4G + Wi-Fi) |
Transaction payment | 0.2%-3.5% + 20p-40p depending on gross sales quantity |
CNP payment | N/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 cell card reader market.
Though it nonetheless utilises Wi-Fi and 4G, permitting you to make use of it wherever, 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 system, 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 useful to have this performance in a single place, we’d wager most individuals don’t thoughts switching to their telephone for these capabilities if it means having a smaller system.
Additionally, it’s not probably the most reasonably priced possibility for small companies. You’ll pay £16.99 per 30 days for the 4G cell model earlier than transaction charges are even factored into the equation. The transaction payment is a flat 1.5 per cent on all playing cards, excluding American Specific.
Nevertheless, NatWest is providing to waive rent charges for brand new clients 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 December 2023. Usually, it fees £14.95 + VAT per 30 days.
4G utilization is charged as much as £9.99 + VAT per 30 days relying on how a lot you utilize.
Clover Flex is best for bigger small companies with a big, constant gross sales quantity.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Paymentsense
Gadget price | Costs out there upon request |
Transaction payment | Costs out there upon request |
CNP payment | Costs out there upon request |
Key options | ● Day-long cost ● Paid subsequent working day ● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless |
Paymentsense is a well-established model with greater than 70,000 UK clients. It makes sturdy and purposeful cell card readers.
Not like most of its rivals, Paymentsense’s cell gadgets solely have GPRS SIM and never Wi-Fi connectivity, which is okay for many customers when out and about. It accepts all main card and cost varieties, and it is best to see funds deposited in your account the subsequent working day.
Paymentsense’s pricing is all tailor-made to your small business – what number of gadgets you want, how a lot you’ll be taking in card funds and many others – so the one approach you will discover out pricing is to investigate for a free personalised quote.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Shopify WisePad 3 Reader
Gadget price | £49 + VAT |
Transaction payment | 1.5%-2% on-line + 25p/1.6%-2.2% in particular person |
CNP payment | 2.5% |
Key options | ● Totally built-in with Shopify POS ● Cost inside 6 working days ● 4-hour full cost for 500 transactions ● Accepts all main cost varieties together with Google and Apple Pay, Amex and Diners Membership, and contactless |
Though solely out there for Shopify clients, 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. You need to subscribe to Shopify although to have the ability to use it and it solely works with an iPad or by your iPhone.
Shopify subscriptions
Shopify has three subscription ranges for its Wisepad 3 card reader: Fundamental, Shopify and Superior. Fundamental prices £25 a month, Shopify £65 per 30 days, and Superior £344 a month. All are billed yearly.
Fundamental (£25pm)
Bank card charges
- 2% + 25p on-line
- 1.7% + 0p in particular person
What’s included in Fundamental
- Fundamental experiences
- As much as 1,000 stock areas
- 2 employees accounts
Shopify (£65pm)
Bank card charges
- 1.7% +25p on-line
- 1.6% + 0p in particular person
What’s included in Shopify
- Skilled experiences
- As much as 1,000 stock areas
- 5 employees accounts
Superior (£344pm)
Bank card charges
- 1.5% + 25p on-line
- 1.5% + 0p in particular person
What’s included in Superior
- Customized report builder
- As much as 1,000 stock areas
- 15 employees accounts
Nevertheless, there isn’t any contractual obligation it’s a must 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 addons to the Shopify Wisepad 3, together with a pill stand (£120), a barcode scanner (£199) and a Bluetooth receipt printer (£259).
Nevertheless, with a £49 buy value (in contrast with, say, £39 for the SumUp Air card reader), plus month-to-month subscription charges, Shopify Wisepad 3 works out as one of the crucial costly readers available on the market.
That stated, if already use Shopify as your POS system, this could be a no brainer.
Examine card cost machine quotes
Which is the perfect card cost system?
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 buildings and extra options.
If it’s the latter, don’t fear. For many small companies, we’d suggest SumUp. It’s an reasonably priced system with one of many lowest transaction charges available on the market, and because it’s a flat fee, it’s predictable and clear. We have been additionally impressed by its lengthy battery life, which may 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 incredible alternative for cafes and eating places. It’s additionally nice that you could 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 can be an incredible possibility in your small enterprise. Comfortable promoting.
Want a card cost system quote?
Need to examine costs from all the perfect card cost gadgets we’ve listed above? Why not use our free comparability instrument to be matched with probably the most appropriate supplier in your wants.
Merely fill in our free quote-finding type, and reply a couple of questions on your small business (it takes lower than a minute). We’ll match you with probably the most applicable card cost supplier.
Additional studying
Finest cost processors for UK small companies – 11 of the perfect
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