{"id":263,"date":"2019-03-01T11:31:39","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T11:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/?p=263"},"modified":"2019-03-01T11:31:39","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T11:31:39","slug":"the-best-merchant-card-machines-for-small-businesses-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/the-best-merchant-card-machines-for-small-businesses-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Merchant Card Machines for Small Businesses in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In today&#8217;s complicated and developing business environment <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/merchantcards.co.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">merchant card machines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help give your business that badly needed boost. For those who are wondering how these payment terminals achieve this, read on to find out more about how your business can profit with a PDQ machine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless of the size of your business, statistics have shown that merchant card machines can help increase your customer base by as much as 70 percent. Business has become more dynamic than ever before, and if businesses don\u2019t upgrade to the usage of these machines, they fail to benefit from these transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.americanmerchant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Credit-Card-Payment-Processing-Machines1.jpg\" width=\"4000\" height=\"2650\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s face it, this is a consumer&#8217;s market, and customers need ease of transactions, and large cash transactions are way too inconvenient. Here, we\u2019ve outlined everything you need to accept card payments, including the best card machine options for small businesses in the UK:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How do I Accept Card Payments in My Small Business?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to accept card payments, you\u2019ll not only need a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Payment_terminal\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">payment terminal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 there\u2019re other things you need to sort out first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>Merchant Account<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The merchant account is a protected account where money from clients sits while the payment is approved. It\u2019ll be provided by your payment service provider or bank and is a requirement for receiving card payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>Payment Gateway<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The payment gateway is the part of the chain that authorizes the payment. Your payment service provider or bank provides this together with your merchant account.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>Card Machine<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, you need the payment terminal. There&#8217;s a range of PDQ machine options for small businesses on the market, from inexpensive budget options to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.business.com\/articles\/features-of-pos-systems\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feature-heavy full point-of-sale systems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following is a roundup of the best merchant card machines for small business in the UK: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Top 5 Merchant Card Machines<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you on the hunt for an affordable way to start accepting card payments? Then have a look at the following 5 merchant card machines:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>iZettle Reader<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iZettle is a well-liked card machine option for small businesses in the UK. This card reader is sleek, small, and is one of the most inexpensive options on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battery life of up to eight hours <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accepts magnetic stripe, contactless and chip, and pin payments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12-month warranty<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Money deposited within 1-2 business days<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connects through Bluetooth with your tablet or smartphone <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free POS App<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s incredibly fast.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can send receipt through Email or SMS<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>PayPal Here<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though not as competitively rated as the iZettle payment terminal, it does benefit from integration with PayPal, one of the best online payment methods. If you already have a PayPal account set up for your business, this payment terminal might be a good option. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept contactless and card payments with no monthly fees<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payments reach your PayPal almost instantly <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Works with Android Pay and Apple Pay <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UK-based customer support team<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No fixed contract<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The machine is cheap<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>SumUp<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although SumUp may be less recognizable than the two previous options, it\u2019s the most economical app-based card machine in the UK. SumUp is the best alternative to iZettle for businesses, but their current transaction fees are slightly higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lowest fixed fee: 1.69% per transaction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very simple payment app<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept all credit and debit cards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No fixed monthly costs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">100% online application with no paperwork and no contract<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allows Bluetooth connection and is compatible with Android and iOS phones and tablets<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>Square <\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This PDQ machine is the smallest, most lightweight card reader on this list. It\u2019s literally a square-shaped plastic payment terminal that is white all over, but the technology makes it just as reliable as bigger card readers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most comprehensive free app<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keyed-in payments possible<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accepts contactless cards, chip and PIN cards, and other mobile payments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept American Express, MasterCard and Visa <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comes with a free point-of-sale app <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can also be used to sell by phone, online and collect payments via invoices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><b>WorldPay <\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WorldPay is the UK\u2019s biggest card processing company and also offers an assortment of other PDQ machines and merchant services for both online and offline payment processing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compatible with all iOS and Android devices <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24\/7phone support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fees depend on turnover and more<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accept payments over the phone or face-to-face <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues receipts via SMS or email <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keypad comes with a 12-month warranty<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is the Cheapest Card Reader for Small Businesses in the UK?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lowest priced card reader in the UK, in terms of upfront cost, is the iZettle reader which goes for \u00a319 + VAT. It also offers very competitive card transaction fees (1.75% flat fee), but not the absolute lowest. To get that you either have to go SumUp (1.69% flat fee) or PayPal Here (as low as 1.00%).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Which is the Best Card Reader for Small Businesses in the UK?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While all of the 5 PDQ machines highlighted above are great and allow your small business to accept card payments, the iZettle card reader is perhaps the best choice. Not only is it the well recognized, but at just \u00a319 + VAT it\u2019s very cheap to try out. And they offer transparent pricing and among the most affordable fees.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Final Verdict<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IZettle: Ideal if you just need a card reader.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Square: Ideal if you need more than just a payment terminal. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SumUp: perfect for getting started. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PayPal Here: Best if you need online integration with PayPal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WorldPay: Best suited for businesses that need to accept phone payments or those who want to work with a recognized brand. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is clearly a lot to process when it boils down to payment processing and card readers. Pat yourself on the back for making it this far; hopefully, you\u2019re more confident about your knowledge of merchant card machines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure you\u2019ve understood what each company charges for different transactions and what may be the ideal option for your business. Also, don\u2019t ignore things like customer service repute. It\u2019s a very competitive market, and you can make sure you get a payment terminal that can best help your small business flourish.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today&#8217;s complicated and developing business environment merchant card machines can help give your business that badly needed boost. For those who are wondering how these payment terminals achieve this, read on to find out more about how your business can profit with a PDQ machine. Regardless of the size of your business, statistics have &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/the-best-merchant-card-machines-for-small-businesses-in-the-uk\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Best Merchant Card Machines for Small Businesses in the UK&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":264,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions\/264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedfinances.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}