The best card machines for small businesses

With the decline of cash transactions and the rise of contactless payments, choosing a card reader has become an important decision for small business owners. Card readers seek to offer businesses a competitive edge through ease of payment by enabling them to accept payments by reading debit or credit cards, usually through chip, contactless, or magnetic stripe technology.

Read our article below to explore the top card payment machines available for small businesses, helping you to find a device that suits your needs and budget.

Choosing the right card payment machine for your small business

When selecting a card payment machine for your small business, there are several key factors to consider:

• Find out which types of payment methods your customers prefer, such as contactless, chip and PIN, or mobile payments – this could include asking your customers or looking into what payment methods your competitors offer.
• Assess the integration opportunities of any card payment machines with your existing point-of-sale processes.
• Review the customer service options available to help you set up your machine or with any queries whilst you own the device.
• Compare the initial purchase price, transaction fees, and machine abilities to help you choose a solution that is cost-effective and scalable as your business grows.
• Consider a wireless terminal for its portable advantages if your business operates at markets or offers delivery.

How much does a card reader typically cost?

The cost of a card reader can vary depending on features and functionality. Basic machines start from £19, while more advanced terminals with wireless connectivity or touchscreen features can cost up to £159. In addition to the initial purchase price, consider ongoing expenses such as monthly rental fees, payment processing charges, and any service or maintenance costs.

Why should your business get a card machine?

Purchasing a card machine can offer many benefits for small businesses. Accepting card payments can increase sales, as customers are less restricted by cash on hand. An article from money.co.uk shares how card machines can enhance convenience and security, built with robust security features to protect against fraud and against the risks associated with handling cash. Offering card payments can help build customer trust and a professional business image, providing your business with a competitive edge in an increasingly cashless society.

Card machines for small businesses

Square Reader

Square Reader is a portable contactless card reader which safety and securely accepts chip and PIN cards, contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay anywhere. To use a Square Reader, you need a Bluetooth compatible device, the Square POS app, a power source to charge the Square Reader, and a secure internet connection. If you enable offline payments, you can keep selling for up to 24 hours without internet.

Square Reader pricing

This payment solution has an upfront price of £19 + VAT, with a 1.75% fee per in-person payment. There is an optional fee to access your money instantly with instant transfers, instead of the next working day. 

SumUp Air

SumUp Air accepts all major payment types, including NFC payments, chip and PIN, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, whilst connected to a smartphone’s Wi-Fi or data coverage. The product is easy to set up by downloading and logging into the SumUp app on a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, entering £1.00 into the keypad and tapping ‘Charge’, and then clicking connect on the app, and matching up the number in the app with the serial number on your reader.

SumUp Air pricing

The portable card reader has an upfront price of £25, alongside two payment plans. A pay-as-you-go-plan charges a 1.69% fee per transaction for each card reader payment, or a Payments Plus plan is available to those making more than £3,300 per month in payments, costing £19 per month to reduce your transaction fee to 0.99% for domestic consumer cards.

PayPal Reader

Zettle by PayPal offers the PayPal Reader with flexible payment options, accepting major cards, contactless payments, and digital wallets, and can be connected via Bluetooth or USB-C. To get started, users need to sign up to register, download the PayPal POS app, and then pair your device. This reader is portable and requires an internet connection to use.

PayPal Reader pricing 

The reader costs £29 + VAT per new eligible business users and has a 1.75% transaction fee on all cards, including American Express. 

Tide Card Reader

The Tide Card Reader is a portable card reader allowing small businesses to take payments quickly and securely. Payment types accepted are contactless, chip + pin, and digital wallets, as long as the reader is connected to the internet – the device comes with a SIM card and Wi-Fi compatibility, so you can use its built-in 4G or connect to a Wi-Fi network. Once you have signed up for a free business bank account at Tide and ordered the card reader, simply charge the device when it arrives and you can begin to use.

Tide Card Reader pricing 

Tide offers multiple payment solutions to pay for your small business card reader. You can pay upfront for the device for £159 + VAT, with a 1.39% + 5p card reader transaction fee and a 1.5% + 11p Tap to Pay on iPhone transaction fee. Another option is to pay £99 upfront for the device, with a monthly fee of £12.99 + VAT, and a 0.79% + 3p card reader transaction fee and 0.79% + 9p Tap to Pay on iPhone transaction fee.

Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere 

Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere is a pocket-sized card reader which accepts card and digital wallet payments when connected to a Wi-Fi or mobile data signal. To set up your device, download the Barclaycard Anywhere app and log in, charge your card reader, and then connect to Bluetooth. 

Barclaycard Smartpay Anywhere pricing

The card reader cost is £29 + VAT, with a customised transaction fee which is received in a tailored pricing plan upon application for the reader. You may also incur extra fees like a minimal monthly service charge, chargeback fees, or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) management.

takepayments 

takepayments offer a selection of card payment machines for small businesses which accept cards, contactless, Apply and Google Pay. Specialists in offering card machines for SMEs, their portable card machines work using Wi-Fi and a rechargeable battery.

takepayments pricing

takepayments tailor make pricing packages depending on the model of card reader you choose, the type of card payments you want to take, and your turnover. You can get a free quote by completing their online form and taking a phone call to provide some more details.

Worldpay DX8000

The DX800 mobile card machine accepts chip and PIN and contactless payments, with the option of next-day settlement. The large colour touchscreen, intuitive menus and fast set up are designed to keep payments simple on this portable card machine for small businesses.

Worldpay DX8000 pricing

Worldpay offer payment plans for hiring the DX8000 for 18 months. The Custom pricing tariff is £15 per month with a variable transaction fee on debit Mastercard and Visa transactions, or the Simplicity pricing tariff is £22.50 per month with a 1.50% transaction fee on debit Mastercard and Visa transactions.

myPOS Go 2 

The myPOS Go 2 is a portable card reader that requires no smartphone connection and provides immediate access to your funds. After buying the card machine, the easy starting process involves signing up for a myPOS account and receiving help from their customer service team to start accepting payments.

myPOS Go 2 pricing

The portable card reader has an upfront cost of £29 + VAT, with different transaction fees. If your monthly card turnover is under £10,000 your transaction fees will be from 1.10% + 7p per transaction, and if your monthly card turnover is over £10,000 then you can request a bespoke quote tailored to your exact business needs.

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Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional. The views expressed by websites referenced to are limited to those of the websites, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Markel Direct. Markel Direct is not affiliated with any of the brands, companies or websites mentioned in this article.