Best card machine for new businesses UK 2026
Compare the UK shortlist below, then get matched quotes from the acquirers most likely to approve you and beat your current pricing.
For brand-new UK businesses opening their first card-accepting trading day. Limited companies in their first year, sole traders going self-employed, just-incorporated startups, businesses with no card-volume trading history. Most acquirers prefer 6+ months of trading; these are the products that approve day-one.
Based on MerchantHQ terminal reviews and our ranking methodology. Last reviewed 2026-05-11.
The ranking
1. SumUp Solo
4.2 / 5Best day-one new business
Portable terminal with built-in receipt printer (Solo Lite is no-printer) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo approves UK businesses on day-one trading with minimal underwriting. £99 to £149 hardware, 1.69% rate, no monthly fee, no contract. Up to £1,000 daily transaction limit on new accounts, lifted after 30 days of clean trading. The most permissive UK acquirer for new-business onboarding.
2. Square Terminal
4.1 / 5Best new business with POS needs
All-in-one countertop terminal with receipt printer · 1.75% per transaction (UK) · No contract
Square Terminal at £149 with 1.75%. Same day-one approval, built-in receipt printer, free Square POS software, free Square Online store. Best fit for a new retail or hospitality business where the card machine plus till plus inventory plus online store should all be one stack.
3. Zettle Reader 2
4.0 / 5Best cheapest entry for new business
Compact card reader (pairs with phone or tablet) · 1.75% per transaction · No contract
Zettle Reader 2 at £29 to £69 hardware. Lowest UK upfront cost. PayPal background means underwriting is broad but slow; expect 5-10 business days to fully activate. Good for new businesses with PayPal trading history elsewhere.
4. Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal)
4.2 / 5Zero-hardware new business
iPhone XS or later running iOS 16.4+, no separate terminal · Matches your chosen acquirer (about 1.69% to 1.75%) · No fixed term
Tap to Pay on iPhone removes the hardware cost entirely. Pair to SumUp, Square or Zettle acquirer for day-one activation. Best for new mobile or service businesses (plumber, dog groomer, mobile beautician, taxi) who want to take card from day one with zero capex.
Quick comparison
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #2 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | No contract |
| #3 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 to £69 | No contract |
| #4 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Matches your chosen acquirer (about 1.69% to 1.75%) | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | No fixed term |
FAQs
What is the best card machine for a brand-new UK business?
SumUp Solo is the most permissive UK acquirer for day-one approval in 2026: £99 to £149 hardware, 1.69% rate, no contract, lifts the £1,000 daily transaction limit after 30 days. Square Terminal is the strongest pick if you want the card machine plus POS plus online store on one stack. Tap to Pay on iPhone is the zero-hardware option.
Can a brand-new UK business get a Dojo or Worldpay card machine?
Possible but slow. Dojo, Worldpay, Tyl, Barclaycard, Adyen and Stripe all prefer 6+ months of trading history because their underwriting assesses card-volume risk against past data. New businesses go through extended KYC and often a soft daily transaction limit for the first 30 to 90 days. SumUp and Square approve day-one because their risk model tolerates the cold-start.
What does a UK acquirer need from a new business at sign-up?
Companies House confirmation (Ltd), beneficial-ownership disclosure (UBOs above 25%), proof of business address (utility or council bill), proof of director ID (passport or driving licence), business bank account (the same Ltd entity), and trading projections (volume forecast for the next 12 months). Sole traders provide HMRC self-assessment instead of Companies House.
When should a new UK business switch to a contract acquirer?
Once card volume is consistently above £10,000 monthly for 3+ months. At that point Dojo (same-day settlement, 1.4% to 1.9%) or Tyl by NatWest (1.39% + 5p standard; bespoke for higher-volume NatWest customers) start winning on TCA. MerchantHQ manages the switch with no trading downtime via /switching-help/.
How we rank
Rankings are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal (last-reviewed date shown on this page) and re-checked when published pricing changes. We do not hands-on test every device; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. No provider pays for inclusion or position. MerchantHQ is an introducer: acquirers, including some brands ranked here, pay us commission on completed introductions. Commission never affects a ranking. See our methodology and how we are funded.
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Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director, Best Business Loans Ltd. Last reviewed: 2026-05-11.