Which card payment machine should I get for my small business?

You might be mulling over a new card reader – one that’s faster, has more features or has in-built fraud detection, for instance.

Here, we’ll be talking about the benefits of taking card payments along with some of the best card payment machines on the market.

You can jump straight to the section that you’re interested in using the links below:

1. Benefits of taking card payments
2. What card payment machines are out there?
3. Which card payment machine should I go for?

Benefits of taking card payments

Taking card payment could very well enhance your business in ways you don’t expect. Let’s consider a few.

It makes things easier

Card payments make things much simpler for both you and your customers. On a very basic level, you’re no longer having to check the authenticity of the cash and then spend time counting out the change. With a card transaction, you just type the cost into your terminal and you’re good to go.

It’s even quicker if you have contactless capabilities. This allows for a much smoother transaction time between you and your customers. These types of payment also lower the need for bank visits, to either deposit or change cash, saving you valuable time away from your business.

Boosts your business credibility

Taking card payments increases your credibility as a business because of the shorter queues and the easier payment option for customers.

Encourages higher spending

How many times have you been out with a budget in mind but then thrown it out of the window when you see something that you like and justify it by saying “just putting it on the card”? Well, you’re not alone.

A 2022 from UK Finance report showed that 83 per cent of consumer payments were spontaneous, with the other 17 per cent for regular bills and payments. By 2024, 50 per cent of all payments are forecasted to come from debit cards whereas 65 per cent of UK adults already currently own a credit card. This just goes to show how taking card payments in person, online or over the phone can help boost inflowing cash to your business.

Increase your customer size

As mentioned, cash is becoming a thing of the past, and as a result, more and more electronic methods of payments are emerging. Although traditional companies such as Visa and Mastercard are still extremely common, companies such as Google, Apple and Android have their own dedicated payment services that are growing in popularity.

It is now even possible to pay directly with your phone on contactless systems, and with 8.5m people registered with mobile payments, this can increase your customer base massively.

Improve cashflow

Card payments provide a much more streamlined process than taking cash. Those taken from card payments are much more likely to be settled quickly and the proceeds are deposited into your business bank account within a matter of days. This cuts out all the hassle surrounding cash, bouncing cheques and invoice collection from customers. This can result in a higher rate of efficiency for day-to-day running of your business.

Security

There’s always that anxiety of leaving a large sum of money on the premises.

No matter how good the venue’s security is or how heavy the safe that’s housing all the cash is, it still sits there, wondering, “what if”? This also eliminates any possibility of accidental loss or damage to cash reserves, giving you one less thing to worry about at night.

What card payment machines are available?

You’ll find a wide variety of card payment machines on the market, but here they are in a bit more depth.

ProviderDevice CostIn-person FeeUSPTide£59–£79 (one-off)0.9%–1.39% + 5pLow per-transaction fees with free 4G; linked to Tide bankSquare£19–£149 (one-off)1.75%Feature-rich POS and analytics; quick setupTakepayments£7.50–£25/month (rental)0.3%–2.5% + flat fee (custom)Tailored packages with UK support and next-day settlementSumUp£25–£39 (one-off)1.69% (0.99% with subscription)Low fees, no contract; great for mobile and occasional useZettle (PayPal)£29–£149 (one-off)1.75%POS tools + PayPal integration with quick payoutsMyPOS£14.90–£29 (one-off)1.10%–2.45% + 7pInstant settlement to merchant account; free multi-currencyBarclaycard Anywhere£29 (one-off)Custom (per transaction)No contract; next-day settlement + free FreshbooksTyl by NatWestFrom £13.99/month + VAT1.39% + 5p (UK/Europe personal cards)No extra fee for refunds or international cardsShopify£39–£199/month (POS subscription) + reader (£49–£69)1.5%–1.7% (Shopify Payments UK rate)All-in-one e-commerce & POS ecosystemDojo Go£15/month or £179 upfront1% (or flat £39.99/month up to £3,999 turnover)Next-day settlement + built-in Wi-Fi/4G and long battery

Which card payment machine should I go for?

It’s worth taking time to deliberate over this decision – after all, a card machine is such an integral part in the day-to-day running of your business.

Security

Your card machine should have encryption or tokenisation to safeguard you and your customers’ security. Encryption means that payment information is encoded and must be decoded back into the real payment information using the encryption key to finalise the payment. With tokenisation, meanwhile, the payment information is replaced by a token that can’t be reverted back to the original data.

Costs

Budget is an ever-present issue for small business owners, so having a PCI (payment card industry) compliant card machine means you won’t incur any extra costs for checks and reporting. It goes without saying that you should check the terminal price and any monthly costs involved to see how they fit in to your budget.

Features

Features also play a role so take stock of your business’ needs first.

For example, if you run a restaurant, it’s good to have a bill splitting function. The tricky balance here is not to get a machine that has loads of features that you don’t need. Basically, ensure that it’s easy for you and your staff to use.

Reviews

If you’re in need of some outside help, look for good reviews on sites like Trustpilot to gauge their reliability in terms of performance, customer service and connectivity. Oh, and make sure that it will scale with your business if you plan to grow or that it works with your ebbs and flows if you’re a seasonal business.

Take advantage of free trials as this could be the difference between you going for one machine over the other.

5 top card payment machines

Here are 5 card payment machines that deliver on every one of the four factors listed above.

Tide

• Device cost: £59 + VAT (basic) or £79 + VAT (Reader Plus with printer)
• Transaction fee: From 0.9% + 5p, or flat 1.39% + 5p
• No monthly fees

The Tide Card Reader is a lightweight, portable device with lifetime free 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, designed for Tide business account holders. Payments clear in one to three business days, and you get instant reporting via the Tide app. It’s a cost-effective option for small businesses that want low per-transaction fees and no ongoing charges.

Square

• Device cost: £19 + VAT (reader) or £149 + VAT (terminal)
• In-person transaction fee: 1.75%
• Online UK cards: 1.4% + 25p
• Non-UK: 2.5% + 25p
• No monthly fees

Square offers an easy, fast setup with contactless, chip & PIN, and mobile wallet acceptance, plus a free POS app with analytics, inventory tools, and offline mode. Funds settle next day (or instantly for a fee).

With clear, flat pricing and no contracts, it’s ideal for small businesses wanting to get trading quickly with a professional, feature-rich system.

Takepayments

• Device rental: £7.50–£25 + VAT per month
• Transaction fees: 0.3%–2.5% + flat fee (customised per business)
• No setup fees for most plans

Takepayments tailors its pricing and packages to each business, offering countertop, portable, and mobile card machines alongside online and POS solutions. All plans include UK-based support, next-day settlement, and integration with major eCommerce platforms. It’s a good choice for growing businesses wanting a personalised service and robust support, though hardware is rental-only and contracts tend to be longer.

SumUp Air

• Device cost: £25–£39 (Air)
• Pay-as-you-go: 1.69% per transaction
• Subscription: (£19/month) 0.99% per transaction
• No setup fees or contracts

SumUp’s card readers are simple, portable, and quick to set up, accepting all major cards and mobile wallets. With no hidden fees, free business account payouts, and optional subscription pricing for lower rates, there’s a solution for businesses with both small and large volume sales.

It’s a budget-friendly option with one of the lowest fee structures available for small merchants.

Zettle Reader 2

• Device cost: £29 + VAT (reader) or £149 + VAT (terminal)
• In-person transaction fee: 1.75%
• No monthly fees

Zettle by PayPal has strong POS tools, inventory management, analytics, and compatibility with popular eCommerce platforms. Payments typically reach your PayPal account within minutes, giving fast access to funds. With no contracts, a decent arsenal of features, and easy setup, it’s a solid choice for small businesses, especially those already using PayPal.

Read more

Five tips to get started taking card payments – Andy Macauley, chief operating officer of Handepay, gives some concise pointers to taking card payments

How to set up a POS system for your small business – Find out how to set up and get the most out of a POS system for your retail or hospitality business

15 EPoS systems for restaurants and cafés – Having the right ePoS system in place can boost your business in far more ways than just payments. Here are 15 ePoS systems to check out

Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by finopulse.
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