How payout speed affects small business cash flow
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When a customer taps their card, the money doesn't reach you straight away. The gap between the sale and the money landing in your account is the payout (or settlement) time. For a small business buying stock or paying suppliers, that gap matters.
Published payout times
| Provider / plan | Payout | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lopay Essential | Free weekly payout on Thursdays | 0.79% |
| Lopay Standard | Free next-day, weekly or monthly payouts (Mon–Fri) | 0.99% |
| Lopay Instant to bank | Free instant payouts 24/7, including weekends and bank holidays | 1.79% |
| SumUp | Next day by 7am, 'even on weekends and bank holidays' (SumUp Business Account) | 1.69% PAYG |
| Square | Next working day free; instant transfer for a fee (limits apply, and Square's pages give different limits, so check) | 1.75% |
| PayPal POS | 'Typically' within minutes into your PayPal Business account; automatic bank transfers with no added fee | 1.75% |
| Tide | Next-day settlement into your Tide account (its FAQ also says 'within 3 business days') | 1.5% + 5p PAYG |
A simple way to think about it
With weekly payouts, a whole week's card takings can be waiting to arrive. On £2,000 a month (about £460 a week), that's roughly £460 you can't spend yet. With next-day payouts it's about one day's takings. Faster payouts sometimes cost more: Lopay charges 0.99% for next day and 1.79% for instant, compared with 0.79% for weekly.
Cash-flow checklist
- List your regular outgoings (stock, rent, suppliers) and the days they're due.
- Check whether your provider pays out at weekends.
- Work out what faster payouts cost per month at your takings.
- Keep a small buffer so a delayed payout doesn't cause problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is instant payout worth paying for?
Only if you regularly need the money before the next payout. Compare the extra cost per month (for example 0.79% vs 1.79% on Lopay) with what a delay would cost you.
Do payouts arrive at weekends?
SumUp says yes, including bank holidays. Lopay's instant option includes weekends and bank holidays. Others pay on business or working days.
SumUp offers: SumUp runs time-limited hardware offers. On 26 Oct 2026 we saw sale prices below its usual reader prices. Offers may end without notice, so check SumUp's card reader page for the current price (usual prices Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 ex VAT, checked 28 Oct 2026).
Last checked: 20 Oct 2026. Prices ex VAT unless stated. Figures come from each provider's official UK page. Check it before you buy, because fees and offers change. Tide says its fees go up on 1 Dec 2026. General information, not financial advice.
My notes
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