Best card machine for salons and barbers UK 2026
See the pick and alternatives for salons and barbers below, then ask our card-payments broker partner for 2 to 3 matched quotes.
The best UK card machine for salons and barbers in 2026 is Dojo Go Max, on Dojo. Typical transaction size, cashflow and contactless use for this trade are in the table below, and the alternatives are listed after it.
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.
Our pick
Dojo Go Max
Acquirer: Dojo
Dojo suits established multi-chair salons with strong card volume, where same-next-day settlement and tipping at the device earn back the contract. Below roughly £10k a month, a no-contract option such as Square Terminal or SumUp Solo usually costs less.
Read full Dojo Go Max reviewWhat salons and barbers card payments look like
- Cashflow shape
- Steady with weekly cycle and December/wedding-season peaks.
- Typical transaction (our estimate)
- £25 to £75
- Contactless use (our estimate)
- Mixed, with smaller payments tapped and larger ones by chip and PIN
- Recommended acquirer
- Dojo
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 salons and barbers
Headline rate, hardware cost and contract at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Max Our pick | 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) | £149 upfront on a launch offer (£229 full price) or £25 a month | 12 months minimum |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
Prices and rates checked on the provider's own page: Dojo pricing page (2026-09-25); SumUp card readers page (2026-09-25); Square Terminal page (2026-09-25); Stripe UK pricing page (2026-10-02); Zettle card reader page (2026-09-25).
Alternatives for salons and barbers
- SumUp Solo (small / mobile)
- Square Terminal
Watch outs specific to salons and barbers
- Tipping handling differs.
- Booking-system integrations (Treatwell, Fresha, Booksy) lock you to specific acquirers in some cases.
FAQs
What is the best card machine for salons and barbers in the UK?
The best UK card machine for salons and barbers in 2026 is Dojo Go Max on Dojo. Dojo suits established multi-chair salons with strong card volume, where same-next-day settlement and tipping at the device earn back the contract. Below roughly £10k a month, a no-contract option such as Square Terminal or SumUp Solo usually costs less.
How much does a card machine cost for salons and barbers?
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?
£25 to £75, 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 salons and barbers?
Mixed, with smaller payments tapped and larger ones by chip and PIN, 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 salons and barbers?
Tipping handling differs. 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.
Last updated: