7 best card machines and mobile card readers for small businesses

Card machines can initially seem deceptively simple, but there’s a number of crucial factors to consider before choosing the best one for your small business – especially if you want to avoid hurting your bottom line with costly ongoing transaction charges.

As well as fees, you’ll need to weigh up the price of the card machine itself, the security measures it comes with, and how quickly it transfers money to your bank account, as well as the suitability of the card reader model for your environment. The Square Terminal, for example, is suited to being left on the countertop of a cafe or salon, whereas the takepaymentsplus is easier to carry around a restaurant.

Using in-depth data and analysis from our dedicated research team in conjunction with hands-on user testing conducted in summer 2024, we’ve put together a list of the top seven best card machines and readers to help your business flourish.

Comparison table

Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks of the best card machines, with essential need-to-knows including key features, prices, and credit card transaction fees:

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FEATURED PROVIDER	BEST OVERALL
Tide Card Reader Plus	takepaymentsplus	Barclaycard Smartpay Touch	Square Terminal	Zettle Reader 2	Clover Flex	SumUp Air
Best for Best for data and reporting	Best for All-round card reader	Best for If you’re already banking with Barclays	Best for Those who need an all-in-one solution	Best for Integrating with a POS system	Best for Sleek, modern hardware	Best for A quick and easy setup
Card machine score Not yet rated	Card machine score 4.7	Card machine score 4.3	Card machine score 4.1	Card machine score 4.0	Card machine score 3.9	Card machine score 3.8
Lowest transaction fee 1.5% 1% for the first 3 months and £150 cashback with the code EARNMORE	Lowest transaction fee Quote-based	Lowest transaction fee 1.6% (but bespoke quotes are available for businesses with a high sales volume)	Lowest transaction fee 1.75%	Lowest transaction fee 1.75%	Lowest transaction fee 0.2%	Lowest transaction fee 1.69%
Monthly cost None	Monthly cost £25 + VAT	Monthly cost £15 + VAT	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None	Monthly cost None
Payout time One to three business days	Payout time Next business day	Payout time One to two business days	Payout time One business day (barring Friday and Saturday)	Payout time One to two business days	Payout time One business day (with Clover’s “faster funding”)	Payout time One to three business days (barring Friday and Saturday)
Contract length No contract required	Contract length One month minimum	Contract length 12 months	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required	Contract length No contract required

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1. takepaymentsplus: best all-round card reader

The takepaymentsplus card machine. Source: takepayments.com

How much does it cost?

takepayments stands out from its competitors by offering to tailor a bespoke transaction fee quote – as opposed to a standard fee – based on your business’ turnover and the kind of transactions you’ll be accepting. This will be hugely beneficial if you want more control over your spending.

You’ll have to keep in mind, though, that takepayments charges a flat £25 per month fee for using the platform. To put this into context, only one other card reader provider on this list, Barclaycard, charges a monthly fee and it’s £15 per month, so takepayments’ fees are comparatively high. That said, if you can negotiate good bespoke transaction fees, it might be worth paying the monthly fee to save money on each sale.

• Contract length: One month minimum
• Highest processing fee: Quote-based
• Lowest processing fee: Quote-based
• Monthly fees: £25 + VAT
• Card machine price: Quote-based (terminal rental rates start from £7.50 per month)
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: None

What you need to know about the takepaymentsplus

The takepaymentsplus impressed us straight out the gate with how light and easy to handle it was, especially compared to some competitor card machines like the beefier Tide Card Reader Plus. We found that this makes it ideal for using over longer periods of time, so if your staff members are having to carry it around a busy cafe all day, we think they’ll find its form-fitting ergonomic design comfortable to work with. Staff at restaurants and bars will also appreciate the gratuity feature, which makes giving the option to add a tip to the transaction a breeze.

The comprehensive dashboard gave us access to in-depth reports on all our transactions, which is helpful if you want to access this type of detailed information straight from the card machine. We were also pleased to find how fast and painless it was to make any necessary adjustments or back-end changes, which could be done straight from the card terminal. In particular, we liked how fast and easy it was to issue a refund. All you need to do is navigate to the feed of transactions on the device, and then simply click on the relevant sale to instantly issue the refund, which feels very natural and user-friendly.

Another thing that stood out to us about the card reader compared to its competitors was its clean and colourful interface, with a unique burgundy colour scheme that creates a warm and friendly aesthetic. This might be a welcome change for those who are tired of the colder, more characterless look of most modern card readers.

A further aspect that makes takepayments stand out from its competitors is that it offers extremely fast next business day payouts for its merchants, and is the only card reader on this list that does so. The majority of the competitors on this list take from one to two days to process payouts, with some taking up to three business days.

We did discover some small quality of life issues during testing, such as a difficulty in printing off reports. All of our users reported some confusion that you couldn’t do this directly from the “reports” section, which felt like it would be the most natural process to them.

One of the other few downsides of the takepaymentsplus card reader is that, unlike the vast majority of its competitors, takepayments doesn’t offer a dedicated mobile app alongside the card machine itself. For those who aso want a mobile app to take payments from and access sales reporting while out and about with no access to the reader itself, this could be a sticking point. In addition to this, a number of our users did not like that the reader provided no audio or haptic feedback to indicate an action was successfully completed. If you would prefer a reader that can provide audio effects, you might want to look at the Clover Flex.

The takepaymentsplus ticks a lot of boxes – it’s a fully-integrated POS (point of sale) system that you can carry around in the palm of your hand, so could be the ideal solution for almost any business that needs a card reader.

What our researchers think

I loved the takepayments plus card reader. It was super lightweight which made it easy to carry round and serve customers and with the built-in printer I could do everything portably. The interface was really easy to operate and adds items to a basket similar to how you would do online shopping. This is perfect for any sector and can be used with their countertop POS system too!

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

2. Barclaycard Smartpay Touch: best if you’re already banking with Barclays

The Barclaycard Smartpay Touch. Source: barclaycard.co.uk

How much does it cost?

For newer businesses who are taking mostly low-value transactions, Barclaycard starts its processing fees at a very reasonable 1.6% per transaction, which is on the lower end. They do also offer a bespoke variable monthly cost plan for more established businesses who are taking in a higher volume of sales.

You do need to bank with Barclays in order to use its card machines, however if you are looking to switch over from your current bank, Barclays can offer up to a very generous maximum of £3,000 to assist with any exit fees you’ll incur.

• Contract length: 12 months
• Processing fee: From 1.6% (bespoke quotes are available for businesses with a high sales volume)
• Monthly fees: £15 + VAT
• Card machine price: £29 + VAT per month (rental cost)
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: None

What you need to know about the Barclaycard Smartpay Touch

If your business is already banking with Barclays and is now looking to take card payments in person, this card reader would be the most seamless option for your payments ecosystem. The reader has the nifty ability to accept credit and debit card payments using a connected smartphone or tablet’s mobile data. This makes it a top choice for businesses that spend the bulk of their operating hours out and about – food trucks, stalls, and travelling workers who need to process payments out in the wild.

If your business is mostly dealing with high-value transactions – for example, if you sell jewellery or vehicles – Barclaycard can help relieve some of the inevitable stress that comes with these high-risk sales by providing active fraud security monitoring that operates 24/7. In addition to this, Barclaycard can also work out bespoke transaction fees for your high-value sales.

If you work in the food and beverage industry, this is a card machine you’ll want to consider, as it functions as a fully integrated handheld POS system. We particularly liked that it offers the ability to divide between different courses, separating starters, mains and snacks into separate areas on the interface making it very simple to navigate to these categories and add them to an order.

The Smartpay Touch is not without its drawbacks, though. In our testing, we discovered the inventory function was worryingly time-consuming, and we had to contend with some frustratingly slow response times from the interface. If you’re operating in a fast paced, high pressure environment, this might not be the ideal reader for you. You may want to consider something slicker, like the Zettle Card Reader 2. We also noted that it doesn’t offer any form of offline functionality, so if taking payments in areas where there will be poor or no signal is vital for your business, you might consider something like the Clover Flex instead.

What our researchers think

I was a huge fan of the Barclaycard device thanks to its capacity as a miniature POS device. I could add my products in and have these ready to select when a customer ordered them. The use of colours on their interface was really smart and made it easy for me to navigate through the screens. As well as this the device itself was lightweight and easy to hold in the hand, which meant I could use this on the go all day

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

3. Tide Card Reader Plus: best for data and reporting

How much does it cost?

Tide offers a free plan to help you get started without any upfront costs, and when processing payments, it currently only charges a flat 1% transaction fee for 3 months (when you use the code EARNMORE at the checkout). This is at the cheaper end of the spectrum with regards to what you can expect to pay in processing fees, and so if you’re particularly budget-conscious, Tide’s free plan and reasonable fees are definitely worthy of consideration.

• Contract length: No contract required
• Processing fee: 1.5% 1% for 3 months with the code EARNMORE
• Monthly fees: None
• Card machine price: £99 + VAT upfront
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: Free plan

What you need to know about the Tide Card Reader Plus

Tide offers two options for its card reader: the standard Tide Card Reader, and its big brother, the Tide Card Reader Plus. The major difference between the two is that, with the standard card reader, you need to use the Tide app on a mobile device to set up payments and other processes, whereas the Plus version allows you to set up payments directly from the device, and also comes equipped with a printer function.

We took the Tide Card Reader Plus for a spin ourselves, and we were pleased to discover that actions like charging customers and inputting costs were user friendly and intuitive. However, to our testers’ frustration, we discovered that if you want to make a quick adjustment to a price once it’s been inputted, you have to cancel the entire payment and start again from scratch. If you’re working in a fast paced environment, this is the type of cumbersome design that could really slow down your checkout process. You might want to consider the Square Terminal as an alternative for faster and more intuitive transactions.

We also discovered the refund process to be something of a pain. It’s a rather lengthy process in which you have to go through the mobile app and request that Tide issues the refund, rather than processing one immediately. In our testing, this took three days to complete.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that Tide can take between one to three business days to provide payouts, which is slightly longer than most providers on this list, which tend to take up to two days, and especially the takepaymentsplus, which offers next day payouts.

That said, a major benefit of using the Tide Card Reader Plus is that you’ll gain access to its extensive dashboard. This will provide you with a selection of advanced reporting tools that allow you to view sales categorised by items, card type, or employee. So if you’re keen to see and act on in-depth data and reporting, the Tide Card Reader will be a great fit for your requirements.

The Tide Card Reader Plus’s major strength, though, is its stripped down simplicity. If you want a minimalist card reader that isn’t cluttered up with an overly complicated interface, and also won’t lock you into monthly fees, then this card reader is a strong and simple option.

What our researchers think

I liked that it didn’t have any other apps to make the process harder and kept it simple. I also liked that they went for a dark mode theme throughout and this might suit bars and nightclubs well, so there isn’t a bright screen lighting up. The hardware itself had a really big screen and gave really clear visual feedback when a payment was authorised or refused.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

4. Square Terminal: best for those who need an all-in-one solution

The Square Terminal in action at Got That Crystal Healing, a shop in Shoreditch, London. Source: Startups.co.uk

How much does it cost?

Square offers a free plan that includes a 1.75% transaction fee for any payment taken by contactless, chip and PIN, or swiped – in other words, any card-present sale. Fee-wise, this is roughly on par with Zettle by PayPal, but not quite as competitive as Barclaycard’s rates. Essentially, it’s about average compared to the other card machine providers on this list.  

That said, you’ll want to take note that transactions that are manually keyed-in via the Square Point of Sale app will be subject to an aggressive 2.5% fee, so be careful not to get caught out by this. 

• Contract length: No contract required
• Highest processing fee: 2.5% for payments manually keyed-in to the Square Point of Sale app
• Lowest processing fee: 1.75% for each contactless, chip and PIN or swiped card-present transactions
• Monthly fees: None
• Card machine price: £149 + VAT upfront
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: Free plan

What you need to know about the Square Terminal

During our testing, the Square Terminal performed impressively in a range of different areas. The sleek, modern interface combined with some stellar hardware design results in a pretty first-rate card machine that’s user-friendly and quick to set up. We think that the Square Terminal has a slight edge over competitors like the Clover Flex, especially in areas such as simplicity and ease of use.

Our testing group was particularly impressed with the card reader’s consumer-centric design. The wide display in particular makes it nice and easy for patrons to see their transaction total during the payment process. 

While this makes the Square Terminal a good fit for cafes and shops, it might be slightly too unwieldy to expect wait staff to carry it around with them to take payments at tables. Its natural home is on the countertop rather than in hand, so if you’re going to ask your staff to carry a reader around for the majority of the working day, the smaller and lighter takepaymentsplus would be a more suitable option. 

There were some other minor concerns that we picked up on during testing. We had some difficulty when trying to find sales reports, and we also found that the touchscreen wasn’t quite as responsive as we’d hoped it to be. These are only negligible complaints though, and overall the Square Terminal is easy to use and smooth to navigate around. 

In particular, being able to make quick sales amendments on the fly is incredibly helpful, and we loved how easy it was to switch back and forth from the price input screen to the product. If you come across any major issues when using the Square Terminal, you’ll at least have the peace of mind of Square’s 24/7 phone support. 

The bottom line on the Square Terminal is that, if you need a device that’s quick and easy to get to grips with while also fitting neatly into a wider payment ecosystem, this card terminal is one we can strongly recommend for your business. 

What our researchers think

I loved the Square Terminal as I think it can truly suit any business! The interface is really modern and easy to navigate around and if you’ve used any Square products before you’ll find it really easy to learn. The hardware itself is probably the most modern and sleek of any on the market and makes a great countertop device for any retail or food & drink business.”

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

5. Zettle Reader 2: best for integrating with a POS system

The Zettle Reader 2. Source: zettle.com

How much does it cost?

Zettle by PayPal charges a 1.75% transaction fee for standard payments via credit or debit card (and PayPal QR codes), but it bumps up the cost to a more painful 2.5% for payment links and Zettle Invoices. So, make sure you take your business model into account when considering this card reader.

Zettle by PayPal’s standard transaction fee of 1.75% isn’t too bad – it’s about average for these kinds of costs – but it’s not quite as affordable as SumUp, Square, or Barclaycard. Ultimately, if you think the Zettle Reader 2 is the perfect card reader for your business, the transaction fees shouldn’t be a deal breaker – but they’re nothing to write home about either.

It’s also worth noting that if you’re taking £10,000 in card payments every month year-round, Zettle by PayPal will offer to create a custom plan for you.

• Contract length: No contract required
• Highest processing fee: 2.5% for payment links and Zettle Invoices
• Lowest processing fee: 1.75% for standard card payments and PayPal QR Codes
• Monthly fees: None
• Card machine price: From £59 + VAT upfront (the Dock 2 costs an additional £19)
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: Free plan

What do you need to know about the Zettle Reader 2

The immediate strength that jumped out at us while using the Zettle Reader 2 was how intuitive and easy to use its payment app was. The well-designed interface made navigating the app extremely efficient, allowing for quick and easy payments. The Zettle Card Reader 2 would be a solid option for a business that’s in need of a clean and clear reader that’s cheap and cheerful.

It can also quickly and easily link to your PayPal account, so you can hit the ground running and start taking payments immediately for no initial costs. Having the card reader linked up to your PayPal app also gives you a fair amount of control, as you’re able to input the amount you want to charge on either the reader itself or the app.

The reader did fall under some criticism from our testing team, who flagged some navigation issues, such as confusing naming conventions that didn’t make it clear what they were clicking on, and befuddling browser redirections. One concern that was also raised is that the card reader lacks privacy when a customer is inputting their PIN information, with our testers noting a lack of a “secure feeling” while using it. If you’re dealing with an older clientele that might be more security conscious, this could be an issue for you. However, you can take some comfort in the fact that Zettle by PayPal offers 24/7 fraud protection and transaction monitoring.

Due to the simplicity of the card reader, it would mainly be suited to smaller-scale setups like little coffee shops, but for larger scale operations that need, for example, printable receipts, it might not be the most suitable card reader. For slightly more advanced businesses, a more complete device like the Square Terminal or Tide Card Reader Plus would be more suited to your needs.

What our researchers think

The Zettle Reader is a brilliant low cost choice and is especially great for businesses on the move or who don’t want to risk too much money at first. I managed to connect to my Zettle app in less than a minute and then I was ready to start taking payments. The Zettle app itself is really modern and has a really simple menu so you won’t spend ages looking around. I also really liked that the Reader had actual buttons rather than a touchscreen as these gave really nice feedback when entering a pin.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

6. Clover Flex: best for sleek, modern hardware

The Clover Flex. Source: uk.clover.com 

How much does it cost?

Clover charges a range of transaction fees, the cheapest of which is a miniscule 0.2% on the vast majority of payment methods. This is by far the cheapest transaction fee on this list, but bear in mind that it’s not guaranteed – what you’re charged will depend on your turnover, so you should always read your card machine service agreement with diligence before signing up.

Another point you’ll want to be mindful of: payments with specific card types will incur different fees. For example, an eye-watering 2.25% transaction fee is charged on any payments taken via Mastercard Business Debit cards.

The only other thing to keep in mind is the expensive price of the Clover Flex itself, which costs a pretty steep £450, and so may not be ideal for businesses who want to avoid large upfront costs.

It’s also worth knowing that, if you want to switch over from your current bank, they can offer up to £1000 to assist with covering any exit fees you’ll incur.

• Contract length: No contract required
• Highest processing fee: 2.25% for Mastercard Business Debit cards
• Lowest processing fee: 0.2% for most card payment methods (including Mastercard and Visa)
• Monthly fees: None
• Card machine price: £450 upfront
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: Free plan

What you need to know about the Clover Flex

User confidence and speedy payment processes came out at the top of the list of what we liked most about the Clover Flex. The merchants who used it for themselves also highlighted how helpful they found the terminal’s robust inventory management system (making it useful for the hospitality and retail sectors), as well as its detailed sales reporting. Some of our users also particularly liked the extra details, like the sound effects given when clicking on the reader, giving them confidence they had selected an item successfully.

While the Clover Flex only boasts an eight-hour battery life, we did like how fast and easy it was to charge up the terminal using its base. It’s one of the larger devices we tested though – it felt slightly too large to hold in one hand – so you’ll need to bear that in mind if you want your staff to carry it around.

It also offers a highly useful automatic offline mode, meaning you can still take payments with no signal available. This is a feature that should make the Clover Flex an attractive option for merchants on the move who serve customers in areas with little to no connectivity.

However, we do want to shine a light on the Clover Flex’s frustrating design issues. The cluttered home screen layout in particular was overwhelming, and we also found navigation to be a little tricky. Moving between selling and refunding, for example, was quite a fiddly process. Some of our users wished for more customisable options so they could tidy up the look of the screen, removing some of the more unnecessary or complex icons. The simpler SumUp Air is a more minimalist option if you don’t like the overly busy look of the Clover Flex interface.

What our researchers think

The Clover Flex is a sleek and modern bit of kit that doesn’t just act as a payment device but essentially as a mini POS. The device has loads of apps that you can take advantage of for reporting and selling and the interface itself is relatively modern. It’s quite a large device which will suit most but not all sellers, so that may be something to bear in mind, but if you want top of the range hardware, this is the one for you.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

7. SumUp Air: best for a quick and easy setup

We observed a SumUp card reader taking payments at Jerry’s, a food and drink kiosk in London. Source: Startups.co.uk

How much does it cost?

SumUp charges a flat 1.69% charge on all transactions, which is cheaper than Zettle by PayPal and Square’s transaction fees – which are already quite competitive – but not quite as cheap as Barclaycard’s, which makes it about average compared to the other readers available.

If you want the option to buy a card reader outright for a low price and avoid monthly fees, SumUp is a very strong choice for your business considering its fairly reasonable transaction fees too.

• Contract length: No contract required
• Processing fee: 1.69%
• Monthly fees: None
• Card machine price: £39 + VAT upfront (£49 + VAT when bought with the charging station)
• Setup fees: None
• Free trial or plan: Free plan

Why you need to know about the SumUp Air

In our testing, a preference that arose from our merchants was a desire for a “unified device” that offered a versatile range of options for taking payments. The SumUp Air provides just that, as it fits into a larger ecosystem that consolidates POS features, payments, and ecommerce into one platform. The card reader itself can easily sync up to your phone, connecting via Bluetooth, for a fast and easy setup.

The SumUp Air hit the ground running, fully charged and ready to start taking payments in under an hour, which left us pretty impressed. We also liked that you don’t have to void a transaction in order to amend a price – you can simply edit the amount in the current transaction. We also appreciated how small and sleek this card machine is, especially when compared to chunkier devices like the Clover Flex. However, the monochrome interface might not appeal to everyone, especially if you find bright colours easier to navigate.

One of our users suggested that there was a need for more clarity in how to change the price of a transaction. There was also a delay in receiving confirmation of a refund, which left one of our testers in doubt as to whether they had successfully completed the process or not. The lack of physical buttons on the card reader is also something we want to flag as a feature some older customers might not warm to, so do bear your clientele in mind when considering this reader.

Something else to be aware of is that SumUp can take from one to three business days to provide their payouts, whereas the standard for many other providers is just one to two days. In addition to this, SumUp does not transfer funds on Fridays and Satrudays, which could be a real issue if your business takes a lot of payments leading up to those particular days.

If you think you’ll prefer using a device with a built-in touchscreen interface rather than a connected smartphone app, the takepaymentsplus or the Square Terminal might be more useful to you. The SumUp Air also lacks any form of offline mode – if you think your business will be operating in areas that are at risk of signal droppage, you might want to take a look at the Clover Flex instead.

What our researchers think

The SumUp Air device is a great choice for businesses just starting out. It’s really small and lightweight, so you can easily pack it away if you’re on the move and connecting it to your phone is really simple too. I liked that they haven’t overcomplicated it with a touchscreen and as a result kept the price low. The app itself is simple with just black and white colours and lands you on the payment screen every time ready to get selling.

Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive

How we test card processing products and merchant services for small businesses

We tested 26 card machine providers, evaluating them on the criteria we deemed to be most useful and important to our readers, so we can most accurately recommend the right card machines to UK-based small businesses.

During the testing process, we conducted 45 tests over 22.5 hours in total, completing a total of 270 different tasks to thoroughly test out the card machines, how they work, and how easy they are to use.

Our rigorous process explores 78 areas of investigation across 23 subcategories, which themselves fall under four main categories. Having given a score for each of these categories, we then gave these scores a weighting so that the categories we felt were most important would have a larger impact on the card machine’s final overall rating. This is to ensure rankings are based on the most helpful insights to our readers as possible.

Our main testing categories for card machines are:

Hardware: Evaluating the card machines’ charging power, receipt printing, connectivity, and interface.

Software: Assessing suitability for POS integration, as well as how the card machine provider handles payouts, the data and reporting available, which payment types are accepted, what security measures are offered, and more.

Help and support: Appraising the type, availability, and accuracy of the support the platform provides for its merchants.

Pricing: Assessing the transaction fees, contract costs, monthly costs, and upfront fees that the card machine providers charge.

Buying guide: what to look for in a card machine

Here’s a rundown of the key considerations to make when choosing the right card machine for your business:

1. Pricing

You can either buy a card reader in one upfront purchase, or lease it for a monthly charge. Just remember that a higher price tag doesn’t always indicate higher quality.

2. Transaction fees

Transaction fees are charged on every sale, and are a percentage of each transaction’s value. Cheaper fees tend to start at around 1.5%, while more expensive fees sit closer to 3% (some providers will enable you to negotiate rates, so do ask about this if it feels appropriate). Examine whether a provider’s fees are:

• Fixed = the same percentage per transaction no matter what
• Variable = changeable depending on the type of payment, for example credit or debit card
• Tiered or sliding = cheaper the higher your transaction volume

3. Monthly fees

Watch out for sneaky additional monthly charges, such as security licence fees or chargeback charges (a fee incurred when a customer disputes a transaction). Some providers also levy fees for hardware maintenance, customer support access, or software updates. Evaluate these costs against the services provided and ensure they align with your business’s needs.

4. Contract lengths

Assess contract lengths (they’re typically a minimum of one year) and termination clauses, as you might be charged if you leave your contract early. Finding a provider that offers maximum contract flexibility is key, especially if your business is seasonal or just starting out.

Other considerations when choosing a card reader:

• Battery life: for mobile or portable machines, longer battery life means fewer interruptions during transactions, and more satisfied customers
• Accepted payment types: ensure your machine supports major card networks (such as Visa and Mastercard) as well as alternative methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Features: such as inventory management, gratuity allocation and advanced data reporting tools
• Integration capabilities: make sure the card reader you choose is fully compatible with your existing POS system, which can streamline your operation and enhance efficiency
• Compliance: ensure your chosen machine adheres to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements to safeguard sensitive payment information
• Support options: look for providers that offer reliable customer service, preferably with multiple channels of support
• Fund transfer times: certain platforms will offer next day payouts for your profits, whereas others may take up to three working days to clear