By business

Why Your Café Might Be Overpaying on Card Fees

Lots of small coffees means lots of tiny transactions — and that's exactly where the wrong setup quietly costs you. Here's how to fix it.

By Nathan KeeblePublished: 30 May 2026 5 min read

Customer paying by card at a café counter

A café lives on small, frequent transactions — flat whites, not furniture. That changes which provider is cheapest for you.

Why small tickets matter

Providers that charge a flat percentage suit cafés well; ones that add a fixed pence-per-transaction fee can sting when your average sale is £3. Check your effective rate with the fee calculator.

What works for cafés

Square is the popular all-rounder — free POS, tipping and quick menus. SumUp is great if you just want simple, cheap payments. The full shortlist is on best POS for cafés.

Keep reading

Comparisons 7 min

SumUp vs Square in 2026: Which Should Your Small Business Pick?

Two of the UK's most popular no-monthly-fee options, head to head. We break down fees, hardware and who each one actually suits.

20 June 2026Read

Fees & saving 6 min

How to Cut Your Card Processing Fees (Without Switching to a Worse Provider)

Seven practical ways UK businesses can shave money off card fees — from renegotiating to picking the right plan for your volume.

16 June 2026Read

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