Merchant services
How to take a payment from a customer.
Taking a card payment is simple once the set-up is right. Here are the four ways UK businesses take a payment, what each costs and how to start, with prices read 26 October 2026.
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Taking a card payment is simple once the set-up is right. Here are the four ways UK businesses take a payment, what each costs and how to start, with prices read 26 October 2026.
Published rates from every major UK card machine provider, plus the quoted rates that only come on request. You see them side by side, on your own takings.
The short answer
To take a payment by card, you need an account with a card payment provider and a way to read the card: a card machine, a small reader linked to your phone, Tap to Pay on the phone itself, or a card number keyed in over the phone. Published in-person rates run from 0.8% + 2p (Revolut) to 1.75% (Square and Zettle), read 26 October 2026.
Published prices read 26 October 2026 from each provider's own pricing page. Quote only means the provider gives rates on request; we obtain those for you.
| Provider | In-person card rate | Monthly fee | Card machine | Contract | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Source | 1.69% pay as you go, or 0.99% on Payments Plus (domestic cards) | £0, or £19 on Payments Plus | Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 (ex VAT), bought outright | None, cancel anytime | Next day, 7am, weekends included |
| Dojo Source | 1.2% blended under £100k a year; custom above | £0 Essential; Plus £11.99 new customers (£25 list) | Go Max £149 or £25 a month; Pocket £239 or £20; Wired £179 or £15 | 30-day rolling or 12-month fixed (custom rate) | Next day |
| Square Source | 1.75% UK cards; +1.5% non-UK cards | £0, or Plus £29+ | Reader £19; Terminal £149 (ex VAT) | None, cancel anytime | Next day free; instant for 1.95% |
| Zettle Source | 1.75% all major cards | £0 | PayPal Reader from £29; Terminal £149 (ex VAT) | None | Within minutes to PayPal balance |
| Flatpay Source | 1.49% all cards (terminal, under £200k a year) | £0 | Payment terminal free to start | Not published | Daily |
| Revolut Source | From 0.8% + 2p (UK consumer Visa and Mastercard) | £0 for the reader | Reader £49; Terminal £169 + VAT | None | Within 24 hours |
| myPOS Source | From 1.10% + 7p (under £10k a month) | £0 | Device prices not on fees page | Not published | Instant to myPOS account |
| Tyl by NatWest Source | 1.39% + 5p personal cards (under £50k a year) | Machine hire from £13.99 + VAT | PAX A920 Pro £19.99, A50 £14.99, A80 £13.99 a month + VAT | 12 months | Next business day |
| Teya Source | Quote only | Not published | Not published | No lock-ins stated | Next day, weekends included |
VAT is excluded where the provider states it. Rates are for in-person UK consumer cards unless stated. Our service is free to you. We may receive a fee from the provider you choose; it never changes the price you pay.
Tell us about your business. We compare the whole market, including the providers that only quote on request, and come back with the lowest total cost for your takings and the right machine. You keep a named account manager who looks after you after setup.
Our service is free to you. We may receive a fee from the provider you choose; it never changes the price you pay.
Every card payment needs two things: an account with a payment provider, the company that processes the card and pays the money into your account, and a way to read the card. There are four ways to read it, and most businesses use one or two of them.
The right one depends on where you serve customers. A shop or café with a counter usually wants a card machine. A tradesperson or mobile beautician often starts with a phone. A business that takes orders by phone needs a way to key in card details. Many providers let you mix these on one account, so you can start with one and add another later without changing provider.
Once your account is approved and the machine is set up, taking a payment takes a few seconds. The steps are much the same on every brand of machine.
At the end of the day, takings are sent to your provider and paid out. Most providers pay the next day. SumUp pays into its business account by 7am the next day, weekends included. Teya pays the next day, weekends and bank holidays included. myPOS pays instantly into a myPOS business account. Some older contracts need you to run an end-of-day banking step, so check how yours works.
You pay a fee on each payment. Some providers charge a percentage only. Others charge a percentage plus a few pence per payment, and the pence matter more on small sales. Some also charge a monthly fee or rent for the machine.
Here is a business taking £4,000 a month at an average sale of £25, which is 160 payments a month. Card fees only, at published rates read 26 October 2026.
Every provider has to check who you are before it lets you take payments. This is a legal requirement, not a choice. Have these ready and most applications take minutes to fill in.
Approval can be quick for a simple business. It can take longer if your business type is unusual, if you expect large single payments, or if you take payments in advance, such as deposits for events. Some providers pay takings into their own business account. SumUp includes a free business account, Zettle pays into a PayPal Business account and myPOS into a myPOS account. Teya adds 0.10% to its fees if you use a bank account that is not a Teya account. Check where the money goes before you sign, because it affects how quickly you can use it.
Start with how much you take by card each month, because published prices change at set levels. Dojo's 1.2% applies under £100,000 a year. Flatpay's 1.49% applies below £200,000 a year. Tyl by NatWest's 1.39% + 5p applies under £50,000 a year. myPOS's published rate applies under £10,000 a month, and SumUp offers bespoke fees from £10,000 a month. Above those levels, you need a quote.
Then think about your average sale. A café selling £3 coffees should avoid large fixed fees: at 1.10% + 7p, a £3 sale costs 10.3p, or 3.4%. A builder taking £400 jobs barely notices them. Finally, think about contracts. SumUp, Square, Zettle and Revolut state no long-term contract. Tyl and takepayments state 12 months. Worldpay states a minimum of 18 months. A short contract keeps you free to switch when a better rate appears.
Published prices are a starting point, not the full picture. We compare the whole UK card payment market, including Dojo, SumUp, Teya, Flatpay, Paymentsense, Square, Worldpay and others, on your real takings, average sale and card mix. Where a provider only quotes, we get the quote for you and negotiate the rate, so you compare real numbers. We also check the extras outside the headline rate, such as authorisation fees, PCI charges and minimum monthly charges.
We then set up the account, handle any switch from your current provider so you never stop taking payments, and give you a named account manager who stays with you after setup. If your takings grow or a better offer appears, your account manager tells you and handles the change. You pay us nothing. We may receive a fee from the provider you choose.
Open an account with a card payment provider, then use a card machine, a reader linked to your phone, or Tap to Pay on your phone. Enter the amount, let the customer tap or insert their card, and wait for approval. Takings are usually paid out the next day.
On published rates read 26 October 2026, Revolut starts lowest at 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer Visa and Mastercard. Dojo charges 1.2% under £100,000 a year and Flatpay 1.49% with a free terminal. The cheapest for you depends on your average sale and card mix.
Yes. Tap to Pay lets an iPhone or Android phone take contactless payments with no extra device. SumUp lists Tap to Pay at £0 hardware cost with its 1.69% rate. You can also take a payment over the phone or send a payment link, though these usually cost more.
Many providers approve simple businesses quickly once you have given your ID, business details and bank account. Unusual business types, large single payments or payments taken in advance can take longer. Tap to Pay can work as soon as your account is approved, because no device needs posting.
Most providers pay the next day. SumUp pays into its business account by 7am the next day, weekends included. Teya pays the next day including weekends and bank holidays. myPOS pays instantly into a myPOS account. Square offers instant transfers for a 1.95% fee.
Not always. SumUp, Square, Zettle and Revolut state there is no long-term contract. Dojo offers 30-day rolling terms on its custom-rate plan. Tyl by NatWest and takepayments state 12-month contracts, and Worldpay a minimum of 18 months, read 26 October 2026.
Tell us what you need and where you operate.