The best merchant service providers and credit card processing companies Want to start accepting card payments? We’ve ranked and reviewed the best merchant service and card processing providers in the UK, based on extensive testing. Written by Eddie Harris Reviewed by Ollie Simpson Updated on 12 September 2025 Our Research Our expert team of writers and researchers worked to identify the best payment processing and merchant account providers by focusing on the factors small businesses care about most – value for money, including fees and hidden extras; security protocols and fraud protection; customer support, and ease of access across platforms including mobile. Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. 1 of 3 Square: £0 monthly fees Visit Square 2 of 3 takepayments: Next day settlements Visit takepayments 3 of 3 Worldpay: International payments Visit Worldpay Based on our rigorous research, takepayments is the top merchant service provider for small businesses, excelling in value, security, and next-day settlements. Our team determined this after testing 26 providers with 45 tests over a total of 22.5 hours, completing 270 different evaluation tasks. takepayments also came first in our roundup of the best card machines for small businesses. Best merchant service and credit card processing companies takepayments: best all-in-one provider and best overall Clover: best for mobile businesses operating in low-signal areasBarclaycard: best for avoiding hefty upfront costsSquare: simplest and cheapest way to start taking paymentsWorldpay: best for businesses taking high-value transactionsClick any of the links above to begin comparing costs on merchant account services for your own business’s size and needs. The festive season is well underway in the UK, with New Year sales fast approaching. And while this period is often called the ‘golden quarter’ for consumer spending, small businesses can’t afford to be complacent. Securing competitive transaction fees will help you maximise these crucial end-of-year sales and start 2026 on the right foot – which all begins with choosing the right merchant service provider.Our in-depth research highlights the top five merchant service providers for small businesses, helping you identify the payment processing company that best supports your individual needs. 💡Key takeaways takepayments is the best merchant service provider, thanks to its in-depth actionable data, next-day payouts, and fully integrated handheld POS.Clover stands out as the best low-cost merchant account, with key features and offering device rental at an affordable price.Monthly charges and transaction fees can be quote-based, like takepayments’ tailored approach, or set at a fixed rate, like Square’s 1.75%.Worldpay charges low fees for businesses with high-value transactions, but you’ll have to sign an 18-month contract.Key factors such as payment options, transaction fees, and contract lengths should be considered when choosing a provider. The best merchant service providers: comparison table 0 out of 0 backward forward Provider Best for Overall score Transaction fees from Monthly costs Contract length Payout time FEATURED PROVIDER BEST OVERALL Square takepayments Clover Barclaycard Worldpay A simple and cheap merchant service An all-in-one solution Mobile businesses operating in low-signal areas Avoiding hefty upfront costs High-value transactions 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.7 1.75% Quote-based 1.49% Quote-based 1.3% + 20p (pay as you go plan) None (premium plans from £29) Quote-based From £9.99 (includes payment terminal) From £15 + VAT (includes payment terminal) Current offer: £1 monthly terminal rental for the first 12 months (additional fees may also apply) None 12-month minimum 18-month minimum None 18-month minimum Next day (instant transfers available for a fee) Next business day Next business day (with Clover’s “faster funding”) Next business day Same day or next day Try Square Try takepayments Get Quotes Get Quotes Visit Worldpay We last updated this article on 02/12/2025All pricing and information in this article was verified as accurate as of 02/12/2025. However, the payment processing industry can shift quickly, so we recommend business owners confirm any pricing or feature information with merchant account providers directly before making any purchasing decisions. How we test merchant services for small businessesWhen we tested the 26 merchant services, we evaluated them across four key criteria for UK-based small businesses.Each provider then received a final overall rating based on their performance in the following categories:Card machines: We evaluated their charging power, receipt printing, connectivity, and interface. We also determined how likely we would be to recommend the card machine based on the results of our user testing.Software: We assessed payout times, available data and reporting, accepted payment types, security measures, suitability for POS integration, and more.Help and support: We appraised the type, availability, and accuracy of the support provided for merchants.Pricing: We assessed all the costs involved with using each merchant service, including transaction fees, contract costs, monthly costs, and upfront fees (which will affect your bottom line).Our ranking on this page was determined by this scoring system.Video: what to look for in a merchant service providerOur in-house Research Executive, Olivia Bond, takes us through some key information on the best merchant service providers in our video guide: Loading 1. takepayments: best all-in-one provider and best overall takepayments 4.8 Try takepayments Starting software price: Quote-based Transaction fees from: Quote-based Custom, quote-based transaction fees Extensive reporting that provides actionable insights Next day payouts Summary takepayments is a UK-based company offering payment solutions, including card terminals, online payments, and POS systems. It currently serves over 750,000 customers and is one of the fastest-growing card payment providers in the UK. We recommend takepayments to small businesses looking for an all-in-one setup. Show moreless Suitable if: You're a growing SME that wants in-depth, actionable data and reporting on your sales You're a newer business that needs fast next-day payouts for quick cash flow You're a small team that wants a fully integrated handheld POS (point of sale) from which you can manage your business Not suitable if: You're trying to avoid monthly costs and want to own your hardware outright You'd prefer to have an app you can use to manage your sales from Why is takepayments a top provider for my small business?takepayments is our top merchant service provider because, from pricing to card machine quality to help and support channels, it performed very strongly in the majority of our tests. It provides an all-in-one POS ecosystem. Its handheld card machines come fully integrated with POS software, eliminating the need for third-party systems or hardware. From a single card reader, you can:Take card paymentsManage your salesGet extensive data reportingtakepayments’ bespoke transaction fee structure gives you the potential to get the best deal for your specific needs, with fees tailored to your transaction volume and average transaction value.Start taking card payments with the takepaymentsplus card machine. Source: Startups.co.ukPlus, takepayments offers superfast payouts, achieving settlement on the next working day. This is faster than many merchant services, which can take up to three working days.What are takepayments’ transaction fees and hardware prices?takepayments charges bespoke transaction fees rather than pre-set costs. Instead of locking you into a flat rate, takepayments’ customised pricing can adapt with your business’ growth.takepayments also offers card machines on a monthly lease, which is good news if you’re trying to avoid upfront costs, but bad news if you want to own your machines and avoid ongoing fees. If you’d prefer to buy outright, consider Square instead.Contract:12 month minimumProcessing fee:Quote-basedPayout times:Next business daySetup fee:NonePOS hardware costs:Quote-based monthly pricesFree trial or plan:NoneFind out more about merchant service costs and charges in our guide to card processing fees. What fraud prevention measures does takepayments have in place? takepayments guides its customers through PCI DSS compliance (explained in the box below), with a team of specialists on hand to help them meet the requirements. What help and support does takepayments offer?takepayments provides an impressive range of help and support options, including via phone, email, live chat, and even a knowledge centre. Unfortunately, its support isn’t available 24/7. Instead, the phone line is open from:8am and 7pm Monday to Friday8am to 6pm on Saturdays9am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.If you’re after all-hours assistance, check out Worldpay or Barclaycard. What our researchers think The standout feature of takepayments for me is that everything is bespoke and fitted to you and your company’s needs. It doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all package and this is going to give your business the best chance of growing organically, and give you the knowledge that you’re never paying more than you should for transaction fees. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive Important to know: compliance in merchant accounts It’s critical for UK merchants to comply fully with PCI DSS. This stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and it safeguards sensitive payment data throughout the payment lifecycle.All merchants, regardless of size, must adhere to PCI DSS standards. It’s your responsibility as the merchant to be PCI-compliant and to ensure that your chosen merchant service provider complies with PCI standards and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Failure to do so could result in big fines and penalties.Another term you might come across in payment security is tokenization: the process of replacing sensitive payment information with a set of random non-sensitive characters (known as “tokens”) to keep the transaction secure.All the providers we’ve included in this roundup are both PCI-compliant and hold an ISO 27001 certificate (an internationally recognised standard for information security management). 2. Clover: best for mobile businesses operating in low-signal areas Clover 4.8 Get Quotes Monthly fees: From £9.99 (18-month contract) Transaction fees from: 1.49% Affordable card machine rental You can manage your entire business from one card machine Exceptional offline functionality Summary Clover is a global payment solutions provider offering a range of services, including card machines, online payments, and advanced POS systems. Available in the UK, Clover supports thousands of businesses with scalable and user-friendly technology. We recommend Clover to small businesses seeking a reliable and modern yet low-cost payment solution. Show moreless Suitable if: You're an on-the-go business, like a food truck, that needs to take payments while offline You want to rent a card reader at a low cost You're a smaller pub or restaurant that wants a fully fledged POS system in one card machine Not suitable if: You want the reassurance of 24/7 help and support You would prefer a bespoke fee structure, but your revenue is under £100k You can’t commit to a long-term contract Good to know Clover offers up to a maximum of £1,000 to cover any exit fees from your existing provider. There are also no monthly fees, setup costs, or fixed contracts – great for budget conscious, newly launched small enterprises. Why is Clover a top provider for my small business?While other providers on this list also have an offline mode, Clover’s is the most impressive. It can take offline payments for up to seven days, which is incredibly helpful if you run a mobile business, like a food truck, that operates in areas with poor or no signal.With Clover, you can also unify your operations and manage your entire business from one touchscreen card machine, thanks to features including:A helpful inventory management systemThe option to add notes to customer orders (such as specific requests)An advanced sales analytics dashboardIn our testing we found the Clover Flex to be a sleek and modern card reader. Source: Startups.co.ukPlus, if you need fast payouts, Clover’s ‘rapid deposits’ feature transfers your funds to your bank account in one business day (for a charge of 1.75% of the amount). Otherwise, payouts can take between one and three business days.What are Clover’s transaction fees and hardware prices?Clover is currently running a promotion with which you can secure a below-average 1.49% transaction fee and rent a card machine from £9.99 per month (the cost varies depending on the device you choose), which is a solid deal. Just be aware that you will be on an 18-month contract.Businesses with a card turnover exceeding £100k will need to contact Clover for bespoke rates.Something to keep in mind is that Clover’s card machines can be expensive when bought outright. The Clover Flex, for example, has an eye-watering price of £450 + VAT upfront.Contract:18-months minimumProcessing fees:From 1.49% (on an 18-month contract)Payout times:One business day with Clover’s ‘faster funding’Setup fee:NonePOS hardware costs:Monthly rental from £9.99From £450 + VAT upfront (costs vary)Free trial or plan:NoneClover offers up to £1,000 to cover any exit fees from your existing provider. Monthly fees are also affordable, and there are no setup costs – great for budget-conscious, newly launched small enterprises. What fraud prevention measures does Clover have in place? Clover uses EMV 3DS to authenticate payments, helping defend against card-not-present fraud. This can be a big pain point for online sellers and merchants who take card payments over the phone. What help and support does Clover offer?We found Clover to provide solid help and support options, and we were pleased to see that the answers to our test questions were reassuringly accurate.But it’s worth noting that Clover doesn’t offer 24/7 support – it operates from 8am to midnight every day. If you need round-the-clock support, jump over to Barclaycard or Worldpay instead. What our researchers think I loved the Clover platform thanks to its huge app store, which allowed me to connect with tonnes of apps, and the ease with which you can link multiple selling platforms. They have a great in-person choice as well as excellent ecommerce options that can link to sites like Shopify and WooCommerce. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 3. Barclaycard: best for avoiding hefty upfront costs Barclaycard 4.8 Get Quotes Monthly fees: £15 + VAT Transaction fees from: Quote-based Barclaycard’s Smartpay Touch card machine can act as an all-in-one POS solution Offers 24/7 fraud monitoring services Affordable device rental, with various options available Summary Barclaycard is a leading UK-based payment provider offering solutions such as card machines, online payment gateways, and POS systems. Barclaycard is a trusted name in the payments industry. We recommend Barclaycard to businesses looking for secure and well-established payment solutions. Show moreless Suitable if: You're an early-stage startup looking to avoid high upfront costs Your business is already banking with Barclays You're a micro-business or solopreneur who wants an all-in-one POS solution Not suitable if: You're an on-the-move worker and need to take offline payments You want to access support using a live chat function You need advanced features and don’t want a long-term contract Want to take online payments? Check out our guide to the best payment gateways and online payment providers, backed by our rigorous testing. Why is Barclaycard a top provider for my small business?Barclaycard’s primary benefit is that it’s an affordable way to rent a card machine. It charges £15 per month for its merchant services and the rental of its most basic device – the Barclaycard Flex – eliminating upfront hardware costs.In particular, Barclaycard is a smart choice if you already bank with Barclays, as you can easily link your existing accounts, and get coverage for exit fees.Plus, its wide range of card machines means it caters to businesses with varying budgets and requirements. For instance, Barclaycard’s Smartpay Touch card machine can act as an all-in-one POS solution, giving you the power to:Add productsPrint out sales reports and customer receiptsAccess sales data from the card machineWe especially liked that we could separate categories like starters, mains, and snacks, which is great for fast-paced food and beverage businesses that need to take speedy payments.Barclaycard’s small business card reader can be used across multiple devices, including mobiles and iPads, for wait staff and managers to use. Source: barclaycard.co.ukJust keep in mind that Barclaycard’s card machines can’t take payments offline, so if your signal drops, you’re out of luck. For a service with some excellent offline features, check out Clover instead. It’s also worth knowing that you need to be banking with Barclays to use Barclaycard’s services.What are Barclaycard’s transaction fees and hardware prices?With customisable transaction fees, no initial setup charge, and affordable rental costs for its card machines, Barclaycard is an attractive option if you want to keep costs low.Even better, Barclaycard generously offers up to £3,000 to help cover any exit fees if you switch from another provider.Contract:NoneProcessing fees:Customised pricingPayout times:Next business daySetup fee:NonePOS hardware costs:Monthly fee from £15 + VAT for the Barclaycard Flex, £29 + VAT for the Smartpay Touch, or a one-off fee of £29 + VAT for the Barclaycard Smartpay AnywhereFree trial or plan:None What fraud prevention measures does Barclaycard have in place? Barclaycard provides 24/7 fraud monitoring services. This is a reassuring feature if you handle stressful high-value transactions – such as trading in luxury items like watches, jewellery, or vehicles. What help and support does Barclaycard offer?Barclaycard stands out for its all-hours accessibility, and we found the knowledge centre to be impressively accurate. The only significant miss is the lack of a live chat function to get speedy answers to your queries. This is something many other competitors, like Clover and takepayments, do have. What our researchers think If you already bank with Barclays, then I’d highly recommend choosing Barclaycard for your online payment solution. I’m really impressed by their 24/7 support and fraud monitoring and the fact that they offer up to £3,000 for switching platforms. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 4. Square: simplest and cheapest way to start taking payments Square 4.7 Try Square Monthly fees: None (premium plans from £29) Transaction fees from: 1.75% Free plan available Provides live transaction monitoring Offers a simple and straightforward solution Summary Square Terminal is a versatile payment device that enables businesses to accept various payment types. Known for its simplicity and modern design, it’s a popular choice among UK merchants. We recommend Square Terminal for businesses seeking a straightforward, flexible way to take payments. Show moreless Suitable if: You operate in areas with bad signal and need to take offline payments You're just starting out on your small business journey, and you want a free plan You need help with cash flow (to restock inventory quickly, for example) and so require fast payouts Not suitable if: Your business already uses a POS system you want to integrate Your business operates around the clock and needs 24/7 customer support You want to be able to connect via mobile data Why is Square a top provider for my business?Square is incredibly user-friendly; it takes just a few simple steps to set up your account, and once you’re in, the platform is easy to use. But despite this simplicity, we found Square’s software to be powerful, boasting:Advanced security featuresAn offline modeFast one-business-day payouts, with a customisable scheduleSquare also offers the cheapest way to start taking payments. If you buy the (very basic) Square Reader for £19 + VAT and sign up to Square’s free software app, you can start processing payments for just one charge of around £20.When we tested the Square Terminal, the large display screen made it really easy to see our transaction total. Source: Startups.co.ukHowever, if you’re willing to spend more, Square can provide an entire payments ecosystem. In-person POS systems and ecommerce platforms are all on offer, so you won’t have the headache or cost of integrating third-party software or hardware. The downside is that you can’t integrate Square with other POS devices or software, so your system has to be all Square or no Square.Be aware that Square doesn’t currently offer a card machine that connects to the internet via mobile data, so businesses that can’t rely on wifi should look to the Clover Flex instead. That said, Square does support offline payments.What are Square’s transaction fees and hardware prices?With Square, you can start taking payments for just one payment of £19 + VAT by buying the basic Square Reader and signing up to Square’s free software app, which comes with no setup costs.However, those who want more advanced features (such as inventory tools or customisable online booking) will have to pay £29 or more per month for Square’s more advanced software, and pay £149 + VAT or more for one of Square’s more sophisticated touchscreen card machines.Square’s 1.75% transaction fee is average for the industry, which means you won’t be overpaying, but if you’re processing many high-value transactions, you may be better off with Worldpay’s cheaper fee.Contract:NoneProcessing fees:From 1.75% for each contactless, chip and PIN, or swiped card-present transactionSetup fee:NonePOS hardware costs:From £19 + VAT to £169 + VAT upfrontFree trial or plan:Free plan or £29+ per month for the Plus plan What fraud prevention measures does Square have in place? Square gives merchants confidence in their payments by providing live transaction monitoring. If it spots any suspicious activity, you’ll be notified by email or SMS.Square also uses its proprietary tokenization scheme to prevent unencrypted payment data from touching your application or card reader, and uses its own vulnerability management suite to test its security. What help and support does Square offer?Square’s customer support is only available from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, which is pretty weak when compared to some of its competitors, especially a 24/7 service like Barclaycard’s. What our researchers think The platform is really easy to use, and we were able to create a site and get ready to take payments in under 60 minutes. Plus, you can do all of this completely for free and avoid committing to any major costs upfront! Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive 5. Worldpay: best for businesses taking more than £75k Worldpay 4.6 Visit Worldpay Monthly fees: From £10 with terminal hire (or £1 with special offer) Transaction fees from: Worldpay eCommerce payment gateway: 1.3% plus 20p Low transaction fees, depending on your processing value Wide range of help and support options, including a forum Worldpay Dashboard gives you insights into your sales Summary Worldpay is a comprehensive online payments service that lets you accept payments directly from your website or app. We would recommend Worldpay to businesses that primarily handle infrequent but high-value sales. This is due to its fee structure, which includes minimum amounts. Show moreless Suitable if: You're an established business with high-value turnover You want to choose from a range of card machines Your business already has a POS system you want to integrate Not suitable if: Your business has a lower turnover (less than £75,000 a year) You don’t want to be locked into a contract You’re just starting out as a business Why is Worldpay a top provider for my small business?We recommend Worldplay primarily to established businesses with a transaction volume of over £75k, because Worldpay offers these businesses custom pricing so they can access the best rates and offers. However, if your turnover is smaller than this, we’d recommendWhy a more starter-friendly merchant service like Square instead.That said, Worldpay’s countertop terminals and mobile card readers will suit a variety of businesses as they have flexible connectivity, and are able to receive signal from ethernet, mobile data, or wifi.At a Nisa Local in South London, manager Kameron Patel described his experience with the Worldpay card reader, stating that “it has never caused me any hassle, and does what it is meant to do efficiently, with no problems”.Worldpay also processes payouts on the same day on weekdays (if the request is made before the cut-off time), and you can customise your deposit schedule.What are Worldpay’s transaction fees and hardware prices?Depending on your processing volume, Worldpay’s transaction fees can be as cheap as 0.75% for debit cards, which is an impressive rate considering the UK average across providers is 1.75%. Worldpay also offers a pay-as-you-go service, subject to a fee of 1.3% plus 20p.The catch is that you’ll have to enter into an 18-month minimum contract with Worldpay and pay an exit fee if you choose to switch.Contract:18-month minimumProcessing fees:0.75% to 1.3% + 20pPayout times:Same day or next daySetup fee:NonePOS hardware costs:£10 per month (currently £1 per month with a special offer)Free trial or plan:None What fraud prevention measures does Worldpay have in place? Worldpay uses FraudSight, its multi-layered fraud solution, which can analyse a transaction in milliseconds to determine if it’s fraudulent.It also offers WorldPay OmniToken, a tokenization process that can help minimise fraud. What help and support does Worldpay offer?We were impressed by Worldpay’s range of 24/7 help and support: phone, email, live chat, and a knowledge centre. The forum where you could interact with other merchants was a particular bonus, and overlooked by every other provider on this list except Square. What our researchers think I’m really impressed by Worldpay and would 100% recommend them for rapidly growing or established businesses looking to take online payments. They’re such a powerhouse in this world, and they have so many great features, such as pay by link – which is great for on-the-go merchants as well as next-day payouts – and a huge dashboard to closely analyse your best payment methods. Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive What is a merchant account, and how does it work?A merchant account is a type of bank account that holds the funds you receive from electronic payments from customers. Funds are held there temporarily until the transaction is approved, at which point they can be transferred to your actual business bank account.If you want to start taking card payments, you’ll need a merchant account. Some merchant service providers handle this function instead of requiring you to open a merchant account with your bank. You should reach out to your chosen merchant service provider to ask whether you need to set up a merchant account yourself first. How do I choose a merchant service provider for my small business?Choosing the right merchant service provider can significantly impact your operations and bottom line. Here are the essential factors to consider:Payment options: Whether you accept payments in person, by phone, or online, make it as easy as possible for customers to spend their money with you.Transaction fees: These can vary widely and fluctuate. Look for transparent pricing models with competitive rates and keep an eye out for common hidden charges that inflate costs over time.Contract lengths: Some providers lock businesses into lengthy contracts. Opting for a brand that offers reasonable contract lengths with the option for shorter terms or no long-term commitment can be a good way to hedge your bets.Accepted payment types: Whether it’s credit or debit cards, mobile payments, contactless, or digital wallets, a comprehensive range of accepted payment methods can broaden your customer base and increase sales opportunities.Help and support: Look for providers with accessible customer service channels (such as email, live chat, and phone support) as well as customer forums to find out how a provider performs straight from the horse’s mouth.Integrations: Keeping track of your myriad tech products is easier when your business software integrates with other tools, creating a unified system.Compliance measures: You should always verify that the provider adheres to industry regulations and standards for data security and compliance. PCI DSS compliance is absolutely essential. Worth knowing Integrations are another useful feature. Let’s say your merchant account integrates with accounting software like Xero. You’ll be able to:Simplify compliance with financial regulations by recording every transactionGenerate accounting reports to gain insights, such as product salesAutomate painstaking admin processes like account reconciliationInput data accurately to eliminate the risk of errors Do I need a separate business bank account to get a merchant service?Having a business bank account that’s separate from your personal account is your legal responsibility when running a company in the UK (it’s optional for sole traders, but still highly recommended). Once you open your business bank account, you can use the same account to receive payments and carry out other business functions, like receiving money transfers directly from clients.What is the easiest merchant service to set up?According to our market research, the easiest merchant service to set up is Square. To create your Square account and start accepting payments, you’ll need to provide some key details about your business (such as your business structure and estimated revenue) and verify your identity. Then, you just need to link a bank account – there’s no need to open a separate merchant account, as Square will handle this for you.Using the Square terminal to accept payments is also easy thanks to the device’s intuitive interface. How much should I pay for a merchant service?Throughout this guide, we refer to several types of fees that are charged by merchant service providers. These can vary greatly depending on factors like your business size, industry, transaction volume, and chosen provider.However, here’s a breakdown of the most common payment processing costs incurred by UK sellers and why you must pay them:Transaction fees – charged every time a customer makes a payment to your business (in person or online). Usually between 1.5% and 3.5% of the transaction value.Card machine/reader fees – charged for buying or renting a card reader. Basic models start at around £20, while advanced models can cost over £300. Some providers include free readers.Virtual terminal fees – charged when you take payments over the phone, by email, or through an online form. Typically 2% to 4% per transaction.Payment gateway fees – charged when customers pay online. Usually 0.5% to 1.5% per transaction, though gateways also often charge a monthly subscription fee (£10 to £50+).You may also encounter additional fees, such as chargeback fees (when a customer disputes a transaction) or settlement fees (usually 20p to 50p) for transferring funds to your bank account.What’s the best merchant service provider?If you’re looking for a merchant service provider, takepayments should be at the top of your list. It came out on top during our extensive testing process thanks to its custom, quote-based transaction fees, detailed dashboard, all-in-one POS system, and lightning-fast next-working-day payouts.However, businesses with more specific requirements may find a different provider a better fit. For example, Clover’s offline mode is particularly valuable for mobile businesses that can’t always rely on a stable connection. Jump back up to any of our reviews: Best merchant services: comparison table How we test card processing products and merchant services for small businesses 1. takepayments 2. Clover 3. Barclaycard 4. Square 5. Worldpay What is a merchant account, and how does it work? How do I choose a merchant service provider for my small business? How much should I pay for a merchant service? Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Eddie Harris Senior Reviews Writer Eddie is resident Senior Reviews Writer for Startups, focusing on merchant accounts, point of sales systems and business phone systems. He works closely with our in-house team of research experts, carrying out hours of hands-on user testing and market analysis to ensure that our recommendations and reviews are as helpful and accurate as possible. Eddie is also Startups video presenter. He helps create informative, helpful visual content alongside our written reviews, to better aid customers with their decision making. Eddie joined Startups from its sister site Expert Reviews, where he wrote in-depth informational articles and covered the biggest consumer deals events of the year. And, having previously worked as a freelancer providing screenplay and book coverage in the film and television industry, Eddie is no stranger to the demands of the sole trader. Reviewed by: Ollie Simpson Senior Research Executive After three years of refining my skills in data analysis, I transitioned to a role as a researcher to help understand our readers' preferences and needs. My professional journey started as a researcher in law enforcement, where I developed strong analytical abilities. Later, I moved into operations, strengthening my understanding of quantitative data. Now, I blend my quantitative analysis skills with qualitative research to explore both audience preferences and product nuances. Armed with a UX design diploma, I translate research findings into actionable insights that facilitate informed decision-making. Whether enhancing Startups offerings or delivering research presentations, I am driven by a relentless pursuit of improvement and results.