Card Machines for Small Business UK 2026: Best Options, Costs & Which One to Choose Quick answer
The best card machine for a small business depends on how much you take by card each month, where you take payments and whether you need a simple card reader, countertop machine, portable terminal, mobile card machine or EPOS-integrated payment system.
For very small businesses, start-ups, market traders and sole traders, SumUp and Square are often strong options because they offer simple pricing, low upfront costs and no monthly rental on standard card reader plans.
For growing businesses, cafés, salons, restaurants, retailers and service businesses taking regular card payments, providers such as Dojo, Tyl by NatWest, Worldpay, TakePayments, Barclaycard, Elavon and Clover can offer better long-term value through lower rates, better support, portable machines, faster payouts or EPOS features.
The cheapest card machine is not always the best option. A no-monthly-fee reader can be great when you are starting out, but a custom-rate card machine quote may save more once your card turnover grows.
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This quote service is best for UK businesses that want to take card payments in person using a card reader, countertop terminal, portable PDQ machine or merchant account.
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Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: July 2026
Contents
Best Card Machines for Small Businesses UK 2026
Card Machine Costs for Small Businesses
Cheap vs Best Value for Small Businesses
What to Look For in a Small Business Card Machine
Key Takeaways
The best card machine for a small business depends on monthly card turnover, business type and payment method.
SumUp and Square are strong options for start-ups, sole traders and low-volume businesses.
Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay, TakePayments, Barclaycard and Elavon may be better for businesses with regular or growing card turnover.
No-monthly-fee card readers are cheap to start with but often charge higher transaction fees.
Monthly card machine contracts can work out cheaper if you process enough card payments.
Cafés, restaurants, salons and retailers may need portable terminals, receipt printing, tipping or EPOS integration.
Tradespeople, mobile businesses and market traders may prefer mobile card readers or Tap to Pay.
Transaction fees matter more than hardware cost once your business processes regular card payments.
Small businesses should compare total monthly cost, not just the card reader price.
Comparing card machine quotes can help reduce fees by up to 40%.
Compare small business card machine providers and find the best option for your turnover and payment setup.
Card Machine Fees Calculator UK Estimate your monthly and annual card processing costs in seconds. Adjust the fields below to see how much your current setup could be costing you.
Pricing model Flat rate Custom / Merchant account
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You could save money by switching to a lower-fee provider.
This calculator is an estimate only. Actual card machine costs vary by provider, pricing structure, card mix, sector and contract terms.
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Best card machines for small businesses at a glance
Provider Best for Typical pricing style Why compare it
SumUp
Sole traders, market traders and low-volume sellers
Low-cost reader, flat transaction fee
Simple, low-commitment setup
Square
Small shops, cafés, salons and pop-ups
Flat transaction fee, POS app included
Strong all-rounder with useful POS tools
PayPal
PayPal users and simple small businesses
Card reader and PayPal ecosystem
Good if you already use PayPal
Dojo
Growing SMEs, cafés, salons, pubs and restaurants
Blended or custom pricing
Fast payouts and competitive rates for regular turnover
Tyl by NatWest
SMEs wanting card machines and online payments
Clear small-business pricing or custom rates
Good for businesses wanting bank-backed payments
Worldpay
Established small businesses and higher turnover
Custom merchant account pricing
Strong for businesses ready to negotiate rates
TakePayments
SMEs wanting guided setup
Quote-based card machine packages
Useful for local businesses wanting support
Barclaycard
Established SMEs wanting merchant services
Merchant account pricing
Bank-backed card payment option
Elavon
Retail, hospitality and multi-site businesses
Custom pricing
Worth comparing for growing businesses
Clover
Retail and hospitality needing POS
Hardware, software and payments bundle
Strong EPOS and card machine ecosystem
Best Card Machines for Small Businesses UK 2026
Provider Monthly Cost Transaction Fees Best For Best Benefit
SumUp £0
~1.69%
Sole traders
Lowest upfront cost
Square £0
~1.75%
Small businesses
No contract, easy setup
PayPal £0
~1.75%
Retail
POS integration
Tyl by NatWest £0–£19
0.35%–1.5%
Growing SMEs
Lower fees at scale
Dojo £20+
0.4%–1.5%
Higher volume
Fast payouts
Need a card machine for your business? This quote service is best for UK businesses that want to take in-person payments using:
a card reader
countertop card machine
portable PDQ machine
mobile card terminal
Chip and PIN machine
contactless payment terminal
EPOS-integrated card machine
merchant account
It is not the best fit if you only need:
a personal PayPal account
one-off online payment links
website checkout only
casual personal payments
a consumer banking app
general guidance without business payment processing
Compare business card machine quotes
Free quotes • No obligation • Compare leading UK providers
Best card machine by business type
Business type Best options to compare first Why
Sole trader
SumUp, Square, Paypal
Low-cost readers and simple setup
Market trader
SumUp, Square, Paypal
Mobile card readers and no monthly fee options
Tradesperson
SumUp, Square, Dojo
Mobile payments, payment links and portable readers
Mobile hairdresser
SumUp, Square
Simple card reader or Tap to Pay setup
Café
Square, Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay
Fast payments, POS tools and lower rates as you grow
Restaurant
Dojo, Clover, Worldpay, TakePayments
Portable machines, tipping and EPOS integration
Salon
Square, SumUp, Dojo, Tyl
Appointments, card readers and simple checkout
Retail shop
Square, Clover, Worldpay, Barclaycard
EPOS, receipts, reporting and regular card turnover
Pub or bar
Dojo, Worldpay, Clover, TakePayments
Speed, reliability, tipping and portable terminals
Online seller
Stripe, Square, PayPal, Worldpay
Online checkout matters more than card readers
Pop-up shop
SumUp, Square, Paypal
Low upfront cost and portability
High-volume SME
Dojo, Worldpay, Barclaycard, Elavon
Custom rates may reduce long-term costs
Best card machine by monthly card turnover
Monthly card turnover
Under £1,000
£1,000–£5,000
Flat-rate reader vs low monthly card machine quote
£5,000–£10,000
Compare SumUp/Square against Dojo, Tyl and TakePayments
£10,000–£25,000
Merchant account or custom-rate card machine quotes
£25,000–£50,000
Compare multiple custom-rate providers
£50,000+
Negotiate rates with merchant account providers
Seasonal sales
Avoid long contracts unless savings justify it
Low average transaction value
Watch fixed per-transaction fees
High average transaction value
Percentage rate matters most
What Is the Best Option for Your Business? 👉 Choose SumUp if:
You’re just starting
You want zero monthly cost
👉 Choose Square if:
You want simplicity + POS
You don’t want contracts
👉 Choose Dojo or Tyl if:
You process £5k+/month
You want lower long-term fees
Card Machine Costs for Small Businesses Small business card machine costs usually include some combination of:
card reader cost
terminal rental
transaction fees
monthly service fees
PCI fees
authorisation fees
chargeback fees
refund fees
settlement fees
software fees
EPOS fees
contract or cancellation fees
Typical small business card machine costs
Cost type
Card reader
Monthly terminal rental
£0 to £40+
Transaction fees
Around 0.99% to 1.75%+ depending on provider and plan
Setup fee
PCI fee
Chargeback fee
EPOS software
£0 to £100+ per month depending on features
Always compare the total monthly cost.
Example Costs for Small Businesses Taking £5,000/month in card payments:
SumUp → ~£84/month fees
Square → ~£87/month fees
Tyl → ~£25–£60/month (lower % fees)
👉 Lower fees = BIG savings as you grow
No monthly fee vs monthly contract card machines No monthly fee card machines
No monthly fee card machines are usually best if:
you are just starting out
you have low card turnover
sales are seasonal
you want low commitment
you do not need advanced EPOS features
you want quick setup
The downside is that transaction fees are often higher.
Monthly contract card machines
Monthly card machine contracts can be better if:
you process regular card payments
you have growing turnover
you want lower transaction rates
you need a countertop or portable terminal
you need EPOS integration
you need support
you want settlement options
you want custom pricing
The monthly cost can be worth it if the lower transaction fees save more overall.
Card reader vs countertop vs portable vs mobile machines
Machine type Best for How it works
Card reader
Sole traders, pop-ups and low-volume businesses
Connects to phone or tablet
Countertop card machine
Shops, cafés and fixed tills
Stays at the counter, usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Portable card machine
Restaurants, pubs, salons and cafés
Moves around premises, often Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Mobile card machine
Tradespeople, delivery and field sales
Works on the move using SIM/4G
EPOS-integrated terminal
Retail and hospitality
Links payments with POS, stock, staff and reporting
Tap to Pay
Mobile sellers and occasional payments
Uses compatible phone as payment device
Cheap vs Best Value for Small Businesses
Option Pros Cons
Cheapest upfront reader
Low cost, easy setup
Higher transaction fees can add up
No monthly fee reader
Good for low-volume businesses
May lack advanced features
Monthly contract terminal
Lower rates possible
Ongoing rental and contract terms
EPOS-integrated payments
Better business tools
Higher software and hardware costs
Merchant account quote
Potentially lower rates
For example, a business taking £500/month may care most about avoiding monthly fees, but a business taking £15,000/month should care more about transaction rates and total monthly cost.
What to look for in a small business card machine Before choosing a card machine, check:
transaction fee
monthly fee
card reader cost
terminal rental
contract length
settlement speed
contactless payments
Apple Pay and Google Pay
receipt options
battery life
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 4G connectivity
online payment options
payment links
EPOS integration
stock management
staff accounts
tipping
refunds
chargeback fees
customer support
cancellation terms
PCI compliance
reporting tools
Keep it simple if you are just starting, and compare more advanced providers if your business already takes regular card payments.
When to compare quotes instead of buying direct Buying direct from SumUp, Square or Paypal can make sense if you are new, low-volume or only need a simple card reader.
You should compare card machine quotes if:
you take more than £5,000/month by card
your transaction fees feel too high
you need a countertop or portable terminal
you need multiple card machines
you run a café, restaurant, salon, shop or pub
you need EPOS integration
you want lower custom rates
you are nearing contract renewal
you want next-day payouts
your current card machine is unreliable
you have outgrown your basic reader
Compare quotes before choosing a provider, especially if your card turnover is growing.
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FAQs – Card Machines for Small Business UK What is the best card machine for small businesses?
The best card machine depends on your monthly card turnover and business type. SumUp and Square are strong for start-ups and low-volume businesses, while Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay and TakePayments may be better for growing SMEs.
What is the cheapest card machine for small businesses?
SumUp, Square and Paypal are often among the cheapest upfront because they offer low-cost card readers and no monthly fee options. However, monthly contract providers may be cheaper long term for higher turnover.
Can I get a card machine with no monthly fee?
Yes. Several providers offer card readers with no monthly fee, including SumUp, Square and Paypal-style options.
How much does a card machine cost for a small business?
A small business card machine can cost from around £19 for a basic reader, with transaction fees typically around 1.69% to 1.75% on common flat-rate plans. Monthly contract machines may include rental and lower transaction fees.
Do I need a contract for a card machine?
Not always. Many simple card readers are available without long contracts. Traditional card machines and merchant account providers may involve contract terms.
Which card machine is best for a café?
Cafés should compare Square, Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay and Clover. POS tools, speed, receipts, countertop terminals and transaction fees all matter.
Which card machine is best for tradespeople?
Tradespeople should compare SumUp, Square, Paypal and mobile card machine providers. Mobile connectivity, payment links and low upfront cost are important.
Which card machine is best for salons?
Salons should compare Square, SumUp, Dojo and Tyl. Appointment tools, receipts, tipping, POS features and fees may all matter.
Which card machine is best for restaurants?
Restaurants should compare Dojo, Clover, Worldpay, TakePayments and EPOS-integrated providers. Portable terminals, tipping, table payments and reliability are important.
Is SumUp better than Square?
SumUp may be cheaper for simple card reader payments, while Square may be better if you want POS tools, stock features and online payment options.
Is Dojo better than SumUp or Square?
Dojo may be better if your business takes regular card payments and wants lower blended or custom rates, faster payouts and a more professional terminal setup.
Should I choose a card reader or card machine?
Choose a card reader if you are low-volume, mobile or just starting. Choose a card machine if you take regular payments, need reliability, want receipts or process higher card turnover.
Are card machines tax-deductible?
Card machine costs and payment processing fees are usually allowable business expenses, but check with your accountant for your specific situation.
Can I accept contactless payments?
Yes. Modern card machines accept contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Can I accept payments without a card machine?
Yes. You can use Tap to Pay, payment links, QR codes, online checkout or virtual terminals, but regular in-person businesses may still benefit from a card machine.
When should I switch card machine provider?
You should compare providers if your card turnover has grown, your fees feel too high, your contract is ending, your settlement is slow or your machine is unreliable.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. Many small businesses start with SumUp or Square and later switch to Dojo, Tyl, Worldpay, TakePayments or another provider once their card turnover grows.
What should I compare before choosing?
Compare transaction fees, monthly fees, reader cost, terminal rental, contract length, payout speed, connectivity, support, EPOS integration and cancellation terms.
⚠️ Most small businesses overpay on card fees
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
