Portable Card Machines

[Tigris]

Hi guys,

Can anyone recommend a good portable card machine company? Aim is for the client to be able to pay via card whilst I'm on site with them (once the job is finished).

I've seen a few come up but the reviews seem awful saying about hidden charges etc.

 

[PugwashEQ]

My wife uses Squareup in her business and doesn't seem to suffer lots of fees, it works well and has transformed her business.

 

[StevensOnln1]

I've been using iZettle (now owned by PayPal) for around 3 years now and haven't had any issue with any hidden charges, nor did I come across any hidden charges when I used WorldPay Zinc for a few years before that.

 

[ecommerce84]

You wouldn’t go wrong with any of Zettle, SumUp or Square.

They all connect through your mobile and are really straightforward to use.

I can’t recommend standalone terminals any more for low-medium volume usage as they are too costly.

With the 3 I mentioned they are all a fixed fee (1.69% - 1.75% depending on which one you go for) per transaction and there are no other fees to pay at all.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

What would be your monthly turnover on the cards? If under £1000-1500 SUmUp or similar would offer best value. If regularly going over that, consider a full merchant account, but be wary of the add on costs - ideally, don't accept monthly account fees, different transaction charges, high cost/long term terminal contracts etc.

 

[Tigris]

You wouldn’t go wrong with any of Zettle, SumUp or Square.

They all connect through your mobile and are really straightforward to use.

I can’t recommend standalone terminals any more for low-medium volume usage as they are too costly.

With the 3 I mentioned they are all a fixed fee (1.69% - 1.75% depending on which one you go for) per transaction and there are no other fees to pay at all.

Squareup offer a square reader for £19 + the 1.75% transaction which seems fine to me. Also read reviews and they seem a good company to go with.

What would be your monthly turnover on the cards? If under £1000-1500 SUmUp or similar would offer best value. If regularly going over that, consider a full merchant account, but be wary of the add on costs - ideally, don't accept monthly account fees, different transaction charges, high cost/long term terminal contracts etc.

Hard to say on the turnover. The work ile be doing is charged at £50/per hour for each on-site visit then charged by the half hour for anything over the first hour. I do have a part time supermarket job on stand by to help top up my wages whilst I grow my clients.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Hard to say on the turnover.

Start with SumUp and if the turnover increases to regularly over £1000/1500 a month, go to a proper merchant account.