Best card machine for funeral directors UK 2026
See the pick and alternatives for funeral directors below, then ask our card-payments broker partner for 2 to 3 matched quotes.
The best UK card machine for funeral directors in 2026 is Stripe Reader S700, on Stripe. Typical transaction size, cashflow and contactless use for this trade are in the table below, and the alternatives are listed after it.
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Our pick
Stripe Reader S700
Acquirer: Stripe
Card-not-present invoice-pay-by-card is the dominant flow; in-person card less common. Stripe handles both on one stack with clear settlement. Pre-paid funeral plans are FCA-regulated and run on separate rails.
Read full Stripe Reader S700 reviewWhat funeral directors card payments look like
- Cashflow shape
- Steady year-round with winter peak (flu / cold-related deaths December to February). Invoice-pay terms 7 to 30 days.
- Typical transaction (our estimate)
- £800 to £6,000+
- Contactless use (our estimate)
- Low, as most payments are invoices paid by card
- Recommended acquirer
- Stripe
Transaction sizes and contactless use are our working estimates for sizing a quote, not published statistics. Your own card statements give the real figures.
Card machines compared for funeral directors
Headline rate, hardware cost and contract at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stripe Reader S700 Our pick | 1.4% + 10p EEA cards, 2.9% + 10p non-EEA (Stripe standard Terminal pricing) | £229 excl. VAT | No contract (Stripe standard pay-as-you-go terms) |
| #2 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
Prices and rates checked on the provider's own page: Stripe UK pricing page (2026-10-02); Square Terminal page (2026-09-25); SumUp card readers page (2026-09-25); Zettle card reader page (2026-09-25).
Alternatives for funeral directors
- Square Terminal (smaller operators)
- Tap to Pay on iPhone (visiting arrangements)
Watch outs specific to funeral directors
- FCA-regulated pre-paid funeral plans (since July 2022) run on separate compliance rails from at-need card processing.
- High-value transactions trigger SCA; 3DS configuration on pay-by-link matters.
- Estate-paid invoices can take 30 to 90 days; acquirer reserve practices vary.
- NAFD or SAIF membership does not affect card acceptance.
FAQs
What is the best card machine for funeral directors in the UK?
The best UK card machine for funeral directors in 2026 is Stripe Reader S700 on Stripe. Card-not-present invoice-pay-by-card is the dominant flow; in-person card less common. Stripe handles both on one stack with clear settlement. Pre-paid funeral plans are FCA-regulated and run on separate rails.
How much does a card machine cost for funeral directors?
Hardware runs from nothing (Tap to Pay on iPhone, on a phone you already own) to £229 + VAT (Stripe Reader S700), with SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT and Square Terminal at £149 + VAT. Published pay-as-you-go rates on UK cards are 1.69% at SumUp, 1.75% at Square and 1.75% at Zettle, with no monthly fee; contract providers quote a blended or bespoke rate and usually charge monthly terminal rental instead. Your blended monthly cost depends on card volume and average transaction size, so model it on your own numbers with our fees calculator rather than relying on a flat figure.
What is the average transaction size in this trade?
£800 to £6,000+, on our working estimate. Your own card statements give the real figure, and it matters because percentage fees and fixed per-transaction fees weigh differently on small and large payments.
How much contactless use is typical for funeral directors?
Low, as most payments are invoices paid by card, on our working estimate. Your own card statements show the real split between tap and chip and PIN, which is worth checking before you choose between a phone-paired reader and a standalone terminal.
What should I watch out for when choosing a card machine for funeral directors?
FCA-regulated pre-paid funeral plans (since July 2022) run on separate compliance rails from at-need card processing. Also check the contract length, exit fees, chargeback handling and how quickly money settles into your account.
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.
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