Disclosure: no links on this page are paid or affiliate links, and no provider has paid to be included. We are not affiliated with GOV.UK, HMRC, Companies House or the ICO. Prices were checked on each provider’s own website on 29 October 2026 and can change. How we make money · Affiliate disclosure
Not financial advice: this page is general information to help you understand your options. It is not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice, and we don’t offer or arrange credit or insurance. Check the linked official pages and speak to a qualified adviser about your situation.
Most customers now expect to pay by card or phone. This page brings together everything on New Business HQ about taking payments: our card reader comparison, the quiz, the break-even calculator and our guide to payout speed and cash flow.
Start with how your customers want to pay
Before you compare providers, write down how and where you will actually take money. A market trader working outdoors needs a reader that works on mobile data and holds its charge all day. A salon needs a reader on the counter and perhaps online booking deposits. A consultant may never need a reader at all, just invoices with a "pay by card" link. The right setup depends on the job, not on which brand advertises most.
Think about four things: where you take payments (one place, on the move, online, or a mix), how much you expect to take each month, the typical size of a payment, and how quickly you need the money in your bank account. Those four answers decide which pricing model suits you.
Fees: monthly plan or pay as you go?
Card payment providers usually charge in one of two ways. Some charge a percentage of each payment with no monthly fee, which suits businesses that are just starting or that take card payments only occasionally. Others charge a monthly subscription with a lower percentage, which can work out cheaper once your card takings reach a certain level. Hardware is usually bought separately.
The point at which a monthly plan becomes cheaper is different for everyone. Our break-even calculator lets you put in your own monthly card takings and see what each pricing model would cost you, using fees we have checked on each provider's own website.
Our card reader tools
- Our card reader comparison: no-contract readers side by side, with fees and hardware costs checked on each provider's site and dated.
- The Find my card reader quiz: answer a few questions about your business and get a shortlist.
- Our break-even calculator: compare monthly costs at your own level of takings.
- Payout speed and cash flow: why next-day or same-day payouts can matter more than a small difference in fees.
- American Express fees: what to check if your customers use Amex.
Cash flow matters as much as fees
New businesses often run short of cash even when they are making a profit on paper. If you pay suppliers before your customers pay you, a few days' delay in card payouts can hurt. When you compare providers, look at when money lands in your bank account, whether faster payouts cost extra, and whether payouts happen at weekends.
Taking payments online and by invoice
If you sell online or invoice clients, you may not need a physical reader. Many website builders include a checkout, and several card payment providers let you send payment links by text or email. If you invoice, accounting software (see our accounting and bookkeeping page) can add a pay-now link to each invoice and match the payment automatically when it arrives.
Keep payments separate from personal money
Whatever provider you choose, have payouts sent to a dedicated business account rather than your personal one. It makes bookkeeping and your tax return far simpler. Our business banking page compares account features, and our guide to separating business and personal money explains why it matters.
Questions to ask any provider
- Is there a contract or minimum term, and what does it cost to leave?
- Are there monthly fees, and what exactly do they include?
- What is the fee per transaction for in-person, online and invoice payments, and is it different for American Express or international cards?
- When will payouts reach my account, and is there a charge for faster payouts?
- Does the reader need a phone, Wi-Fi or its own mobile data?
- Can it print or email receipts, and does it connect to my accounting software?
Security and your customers
Card payment providers handle the security of card data for you, which is one reason most small businesses use them rather than setting up their own card processing. Never write down customers' card numbers or take them over email. If someone wants to pay remotely, send a secure payment link from your provider instead.
Paying for your setup and claiming costs
Card readers and the fees you pay to card providers are normal business costs. Keep the receipts and the monthly statements from your provider, because you will need them for your records. GOV.UK explains what records you must keep and for how long: GOV.UK: Business records if you're self-employed.
If you are not sure where to start, take the Find my card reader quiz. It takes a couple of minutes and gives you a shortlist based on how you trade.
Official sources
More tools & services
- Business banking
- Accounting & bookkeeping
- Websites & domains
- Marketing
- Printing
- HR & payroll
- Insurance (info only)
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Last checked 29 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.