Dojo card machine fees are quote-based - there's no public price list, which is exactly why five thousand people a month end up searching for them. Here's what a Dojo quote is typically made of, the numbers to pin down before you sign anything, and how to tell whether your quote actually beats a flat-rate provider at your volume.
Why Dojo won't just tell you the price
Dojo prices each business individually, based on your card turnover, average transaction and business type. That's not automatically sinister - tailored rates genuinely can undercut flat-rate providers once you're doing serious volume - but it moves all the work onto you, because a quote you can't compare is a quote designed to be said yes to on the spot.
For context, our comparison uses an illustrative blended estimate of around 1.4% plus a small per-transaction pence amount, with the terminal on a monthly rental - but treat that as a shape, not a promise. Real quotes vary widely, and the only number that matters is the one on your paperwork.
What's actually in a Dojo quote
Get every one of these in writing before comparing anything:
- The transaction rate(s): sometimes one blended rate, sometimes split by card type - ask which cards cost more.
- Per-transaction pence fees: a 5p 'authorisation fee' matters enormously if your average sale is small.
- Terminal rental: the Dojo Go is typically rented monthly rather than bought.
- Contract length and notice period: newer Dojo agreements are shorter than the legacy multi-year deals the brand inherited - confirm yours, don't assume.
- Anything conditional: introductory rates, rate-review clauses, and minimum billing if quoted.
Where Dojo genuinely wins
Two things stand out. First, payout speed - next-day transfers including weekends is a headline Dojo feature, and for a wet-led pub or busy restaurant that cash-flow rhythm is worth real money. Second, at higher volumes a negotiated Dojo rate can undercut the flat 1.69%-1.75% providers comfortably - the crossover typically arrives somewhere around £10k+ of monthly card sales.
Below that volume, the maths usually favours no-contract flat-rate providers, because the rental and commitments eat the rate advantage. Put your own numbers into the fee calculator with the quote in front of you - it takes a minute and removes the guesswork entirely.
The questions that make reps sweat (politely)
Ask: what's my all-in monthly cost at my real turnover, including rental and every fixed fee? What happens to my rate at review time? What does leaving cost me at month 6? Is PCI compliance charged separately? A good deal survives those questions - a bad one gets vaguer with each answer.
And read our full Dojo review for the verdict, or the switching checklist if you're comparing against an existing provider. Quote-based pricing rewards exactly one type of customer: the prepared kind.
FAQs
How much does a Dojo card machine cost per month?
There's no public price - quotes bundle a monthly terminal rental with tailored transaction rates. Our comparison uses an illustrative estimate around 1.4% + pence fees with a modest monthly rental, but your quote is the only real number. Get it in writing, all-in.
Is Dojo cheaper than SumUp or Square?
At low volume, rarely - the rental and commitment outweigh the rate. At higher volume (roughly £10k+/month on cards), a negotiated Dojo rate often wins. The crossover depends on your quote, which is exactly what the fee calculator is for.
Does Dojo have a contract?
Yes - terms vary by agreement and era. Newer Dojo agreements are shorter than the legacy long contracts, but confirm the length, notice period and exit terms on your paperwork before signing, not after.
