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.
The ranking
Ranked on fit for this use case. The score beside each pick is that terminal's overall review score across all uses, so a lower-scored terminal can rank higher here when it suits this job better. The rate, hardware and contract lines come from the same terminal data as the comparison table below.
1. SumUp Solo
Review score 4.2 / 5Best day-one new business
Portable standalone touchscreen terminal (no built-in printer; Solo Lite is the cheaper phone-paired version) · 1.69% per transaction · No contract
SumUp Solo approves UK businesses on day-one trading with minimal underwriting. £79 + VAT 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
Review score 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 + VAT 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
Review score 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)
Review score 4.2 / 5Zero-hardware new business
Software on an iPhone Xs or later, no separate terminal · Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page · No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider
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 | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #2 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
| #3 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 first reader, £69 each extra (ex VAT) | No contract |
| #4 | Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal) | Set by the provider you use it with; see that provider's own pricing page | £0 hardware (you already have the iPhone) | No fixed term for the feature itself; any contract is with your provider |
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: £79 + VAT 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, 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above)) or Tyl by NatWest (1.39% + 5p standard; bespoke for higher-volume NatWest customers) start winning on TCA. Our switching guide at /switching-help/ covers how to move without a gap in taking payments.
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. Quote enquiries go to one card-payments broker, Merchant Advice Service, which pays us a fee for each introduction; acquirers do not pay us commission on quote enquiries. That fee never affects a ranking. See our methodology and how we are funded.
Get a quote
Open quote form →Related
See all the best card machine picks, browse every card terminal, check what a card machine costs, or find the cheapest card machine in the UK.
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: