Card payment machines, also known as PDQ machines, Chip and PIN or card readers, allow you to accept credit cards at your small business. They are available as countertop, portable or mobile devices, and can be linked to an app to help you manage your payments.
They can be a great choice for small businesses that aren’t yet ready to commit to a dedicated merchant account. However, they are usually more expensive than dedicated card processing companies and may not offer all the flexibility you need.
iZettle
iZettle offers a range of card payment machines for small businesses, including the iZettle Reader 2 and iZettle Terminal. These devices are available at affordable prices, and are an excellent choice for businesses that want to accept payments in a variety of situations.
The iZettle app is easy to use and provides users with a comprehensive set of features that make it a great option for small businesses. The platform features an organized product library and reporting tools that let you identify sales trends in a well-presented manner.
With the iZettle app, you can add items to your cart, create and manage loyalty cards, scan gift cards and make on-the-fly changes before asking for a payment. This saves you time and effort when processing transactions.
There are also a number of other useful functions, such as the ability to create a payment link that doesn’t expire and send to customers via text or a social media account. These links are a great way to collect payments and encourage repeat business from your customer base.
Another interesting feature is the fact that iZettle’s card readers support contactless and chip cards. These are both much more convenient for customers than standard swipe or insert cards, and they’re much cheaper to process because the reader physically captures the data from the customer’s card.
iZettle’s card readers are secure and comply with all European card industry standards. This means that you can trust that your customer’s card details are safe with iZettle and that your business won’t suffer from any fraud or data breaches.
The iZettle terminal is compatible with a wide range of credit and debit cards, including American Express, UnionPay, JCB and Diners Club. It’s also compatible with e-wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, meaning that you can accept even more payment methods.
iZettle’s pricing has changed recently in the UK, so businesses can expect a flat transaction fee of 1.75%. This is in line with the cost of other UE countries and compares well to other mobile card payment companies. iZettle also offers no setup costs and no monthly fees, which means that it is an ideal alternative to traditional card processing for small businesses.
Square
Square is one of the most popular mobile card machines in the UK, and it’s also a very competitively priced option. In fact, the reader itself costs just PS16+ VAT – making it a great deal for small businesses who don’t have huge sales volumes.
The Square reader accepts chip & pin, contactless, and keyed-in payments, and has one of the lowest transaction fees in the industry – at just 1.75%. It also has a number of useful features, including an online account that lets you view your sales and see how you’re performing.
It’s easy to use, too – all you need is a device and the Square app, and your customer can pay with their phone or card. It’s a great option for those who haven’t used a POS system before, as the process is straightforward and doesn’t require any specialist knowledge.
You can also integrate Square with your ecommerce website if you want to take payments directly through your site – it’s very simple, and you can do this with the help of a Square API. This is a great option for ecommerce merchants, as it saves you a lot of time and money on the back end, allowing you to focus on your business.
There’s no yearly fee for this service, and Square’s customer support is very good. It’s also available around the clock, so if you have any problems, you can always get in touch with someone.
However, as with all payment processing services, there are a few issues that could impact your experience. These include account stability and holds on funding, which can cause a lot of hassle if you need to access your funds.
Other than those issues, though, there are lots of positive aspects to using Square. The platform is very user-friendly, and it’s easy to train your staff to use it effectively. In addition, it’s easy to integrate with a range of payment systems and is compatible with all major credit cards, debit cards, and American Express. It’s also highly secure, ensuring that your data is protected and never sold to third parties.
Barclaycard Business
Barclays Business offers a range of card payment machines UK suitable for small businesses and micro-merchants. These can be desktop, portable or mobile and come with a lease period of 18 months.
These machines work by plugging into your POS or cash register and accept debit and credit cards, which can be used to pay for goods and services online. They are a good option for businesses that don’t need to take payments in person, and can also be useful if your business operates internationally.
Alternatively, Barclays has a Virtual Terminal service that allows you to take payments over the phone. You can access the system through a secure webpage that you log into from a computer or tablet, and simply enter your customer’s card details to complete the transaction.
The downside to this service is that it’s only suitable for businesses with a fairly predictable turnover and monthly sales. But if you’re a relatively stable business and want to save money on your merchant services, this could be worth looking at.
Its rates are some of the best in the industry and there’s no monthly rental fee, though you do need to sign up for an 18-month contract. However, it does require a bank account for settlements and costs can rack up.
If you’re looking to make payments in different currencies, Barclays Business can also offer a Foreign Currency Account, which will save you on international transfers. This can be especially useful if you have international customers and are likely to make a lot of money abroad.
Finally, Barclays Business offers an e-commerce solution called Web Payments that is ideal for online sellers. It’s one of the largest online payment gateways in the world, and the fees are competitive.
Overall, Barclays is a popular acquiring bank that offers a range of options for businesses of all sizes and needs. You can also get help with PCI compliance, which is a must for any company that processes card transactions.
Worldpay Zinc
Card payment machines UK are a great way for small businesses to increase their sales, improve their financial management and provide a better customer service. Using the latest technology, they can be used wherever you are, whether your business is in a shop, on a market stall or out and about.
Worldpay Zinc is a simple, secure and affordable mobile pay as you go card machine that offers small businesses a simple, cost-effective solution for accepting payments with a credit or debit card on the move. It provides a convenient, hassle-free way to process payments and takes the burden off small business owners, who can focus on running their business rather than worrying about their finances.
The Worldpay Zinc app and keypad enable business owners to take payments on the move, wherever they are in the UK. This makes it easier to create a great customer experience as payments can be taken from the comfort of a customer’s home or office.
A free app and branded keypad are included in the Worldpay Zinc kit, along with 24/7 helpdesk support and a free bookkeeping dashboard for easy tracking. The Zinc device also supports PCI DSS standards for increased security, generating receipts and enabling fast secure payments.
It is simple to use and accepts all major credit cards, with the money usually appearing in the business bank account within 3-4 working days of the transaction. Combined with the easy-to-use Worldpay Zinc dashboard and round-the-clock customer support, it makes it simple for small businesses to get started.
With a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing plan and no lengthy contracts, Worldpay Zinc is ideal for start up businesses. This is particularly true of those that operate seasonal businesses or take face-to-face card payments.
Unlike other card readers, Worldpay Zinc has no fixed monthly fees, with users only paying a flat 2.75% per payment. It also offers round-the-clock support and a range of features, including daily, weekly and monthly summaries.
The service is available to both start up businesses and existing businesses who want to reduce their transaction costs. However, if your business is likely to generate large amounts of transactions or require extra services like refunds, you will need to consider the additional charges.
