Card machines for small businesses

If you have an occasional pop-up or stall, or only take card payments intermittently, it probably doesn't make sense to pay for a monthly contract.

Additionally, you'll want a card payment machine that works over a mobile network - either by connection to your phone or directly.

If you've got a fixed pitch, plot or more - but lack a dedicated till - extra features can come in handy.

The right card machine can offer a full point-of-sale service you can fit in your hand - including a product library, receipt printing and more.

If your business operates from a fixed location, having a freestanding card machine at the point of sale - or that you can take to a customer's table - works well.

If your business means travelling to clients – taking payments on the go or similar - you'll want a machine that either connects to your mobile or directly to a network.

The cost of card, contactless and digital wallet payments depends on the number of transactions you process and the average value of each sale.

Percentage-only and fixed + percentage are the two main types of fee structure.

1. Customer presents their card

When a customer presents their card or phone, the transaction details are sent to your merchant bank account. This sits aside from your business bank account and holds the funds.

2. Payment request is sent

The merchant bank sends the payment request via broadband or a phone line to the customer’s card provider – usually Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

3. Customer's account is contacted

The card provider transmits a request for payment authorisation to the customer’s bank or credit card provider.

4. Payment is made, or declined

If the card details are all correct and there’s enough money in the account, the transaction will go through.

The payment is declined if the card details aren’t correct or the customer doesn’t have enough money to cover the transaction.

The time it takes for a payment to appear in your account can vary depending on several factors.

Typically, payments may take up to three business days to register, especially if the transaction occurs late in the day, over a weekend, or on a bank holiday.

Keep in mind that weekends and holidays may cause delays, as payments are processed during business hours on weekdays.

You don’t always need a new account for card payments, but having one could save you money in the long run.

When you accept card payments, the payment service provider — like Mastercard, Visa, or American Express — sends the funds to a merchant account.

If you already have your own merchant account, you can use that to receive payments, but setting one up may take longer and incur additional fees.

However, this option can be more affordable if you process many transactions. Alternatively, some card payment providers offer to manage the account for you, allowing you to set up quickly, but they often come with higher transaction fees.

So, while a new account is not strictly necessary, it may be a worthwhile consideration depending on your business's sales volume and transaction costs.

Most card payment machines accept payments from major card issuers like Visa and Mastercard. However, some machines may not support American Express, so it's important to check this before choosing your payment solution. Additionally, mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are commonly accepted by many modern card machines. To ensure full compatibility, always verify the list of supported card issuers and payment methods for the specific card machine you're considering.

Yes, UK card payment machines can accept foreign cards, as long as the payment provider is supported, such as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. However, it's important to note that processing foreign card transactions may take longer than domestic ones due to additional verification steps or currency conversion. Always check with your payment provider to ensure compatibility with international cards.

Card payment machines are built with robust security features to protect against fraud. When payments are made using chip and PIN or contactless methods, both debit and credit card transactions are highly secure. In these cases, once the payment is approved, the seller is generally not liable if the card later turns out to be used fraudulently.

However, some methods carry greater risk. Manually entering card details, swiping the magnetic stripe, or accepting a signature as verification can expose your business to fraud — and you may be held liable for any losses.

To reduce the risk of fraud, always prioritise secure methods such as chip and PIN or contactless payments whenever possible.

Nearly all modern card payment machines support contactless payments. However, be sure to check that your chosen card payment terminal supports this feature.