Picking a card machine looks simple until the first statement lands. Here are the five mistakes we see most often — and the quick checks that save you money.
1. Chasing the lowest headline rate
A 1.5% rate with a £25 monthly fee can cost more than a 1.75% rate with no monthly fee — it depends entirely on your volume. Run your real numbers through our card machine fee calculator before you sign anything.
2. Ignoring the contract
Pay-as-you-go providers like SumUp and Square have no contract. Quote-based providers can tie you in for years with exit fees. If you're not sure you'll stick around, favour a no-contract option.
3. Forgetting about payout speed
If your cash flow is tight, waiting 2–3 days for your money hurts. Some providers settle next-day or even same-day — see our roundup of same-day payout providers.
4. Buying more POS than you need
A sole trader rarely needs a full till system. Match the kit to the job using our POS vs card reader guide, or compare the lot on the main comparison page.
5. Not checking the hidden fees
Chargebacks, PCI charges, authorisation fees — the bits that don't make the homepage. We list them all in hidden card machine fees.
FAQs
What's the most important thing when choosing a card machine?
Your total cost at your real monthly volume — not the headline rate. A no-monthly-fee provider usually wins at lower volumes; a quote-based provider can win at higher ones. Use a fee calculator to check.
