As your online business grows, so do your wants for a dependable, scalable, and cost-effective card reader. With the rise in buyer quantity, transactions, and income, discovering the correct cost answer might help you keep environment friendly, hold charges manageable, and preserve nice buyer experiences.
There are numerous card reader choices for small companies, so how do you select the correct one? We’ve weighed up a spread of machines primarily based on how they meet the calls for of scaling companies and ranked them accordingly.
The 9 finest card readers for rising small companies in 2024 are:
1. SumUp Air
Machine Price: £39 (£49 with charging dock)Transaction Price: 1.69percentKey Options:
500 transactions per cost
Accepts all main cost sorts (Chip & PIN, Contactless, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amex, Diners Membership)
Funds settled in 1 day
Syncs with SumUp’s free POS app for product and gross sales monitoring
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
SumUp Air is an ideal alternative for rising small companies that want a easy, scalable, and inexpensive cost answer. Its 1.69% transaction payment is among the many lowest available in the market, serving to you retain extra of your income as your online business scales. The low price of the gadget itself (£39) means it’s accessible for companies with restricted upfront capital, and you’ll improve to the charging dock model for under £49 if wanted.
With a battery that lasts as much as 500 transactions on a single cost, this gadget can deal with busy days on the store, market, or pop-up occasions with out continuously needing to be recharged. This longevity is very helpful for cell companies or places with out quick access to energy.
SumUp’s free app provides worth by providing instruments for managing your product catalogue and monitoring gross sales—supreme for small enterprise house owners who wish to centralise their gross sales information and stock in a single place. Plus, the app can be utilized to generate digital receipts (despatched by way of e-mail or SMS) and analyse efficiency, supplying you with deeper insights into your rising buyer base and gross sales developments.
As a result of funds are settled in your account inside a single enterprise day, SumUp helps preserve a wholesome money circulation, which is vital for companies with quick stock turnover or tight money circulation administration wants. As you develop and serve extra prospects, SumUp’s simplicity and reliability will let you give attention to what issues most: your online business.
2. Zettle Reader 2 
Machine Price: £29 + VAT (£68 with dock)Transaction Price: 1.75percentKey Options:
8-hour battery life
Accepts all main cost sorts, together with Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amex, Diners Membership
Tamper-proof design with built-in fraud safety
Funds settled in 1-2 enterprise days
Syncs with Zettle’s POS system and different enterprise administration instruments
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
Zettle Reader 2 is right for small companies that want each affordability and safety as they develop. Its 1.75% transaction payment is barely greater than some opponents, however this price is offset by its superior safety features. Zettle boasts tamper-proof expertise and adheres to the very best business safety requirements, together with PCI compliance. For rising companies dealing with rising transaction volumes, it is a vital issue. Fraud or chargebacks can considerably influence your income, so having built-in protections can prevent complications (and cash) down the road.
The Zettle Reader 2 may be paired along with your smartphone, making it moveable and versatile sufficient for quite a lot of enterprise environments, from a brick-and-mortar retailer to market stalls or pop-up outlets. The gadget’s 8-hour battery life covers a full day of exercise, although this may increasingly solely final for round 100 transactions. Nevertheless, for companies needing a bit of further energy, the dock supplies a steady dwelling for the gadget and may lengthen its usability all through the day.
Zettle’s POS system integration is one other standout characteristic for rising companies. As your gross sales quantity will increase, managing stock, gross sales information, and buyer insights turns into extra advanced. Zettle’s POS system centralises this info, supplying you with a chicken’s eye view of how your online business is performing, what merchandise are shifting, and which areas may want enchancment.
Funds are deposited into your checking account inside 1-2 enterprise days, so your income is accessible rapidly. This immediate turnaround is useful for managing operational prices, particularly as your online business grows and money circulation turns into tighter. The added fraud safety, particularly for chargebacks, ensures that your online business can scale with out sacrificing safety.
3. Sq. Reader 
Machine Price: £19 + VATTransaction Price: 1.75percentKey Options:
All-day battery life (appropriate for many enterprise hours)
Light-weight (56g) and moveable
Connects by way of Bluetooth to your smartphone
Funds deposited the following enterprise day
Free Sq. POS app with gross sales analytics, stock administration, and appointment reserving
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
Sq. Reader is a wonderful possibility for small companies with a watch on development, notably due to its low entry price. At simply £19, it’s some of the inexpensive card readers available on the market, making it a beautiful alternative for companies simply beginning to settle for card funds or increasing from cash-only transactions.
One of many greatest promoting factors for Sq. is its free POS system, which features a full suite of instruments to assist handle your online business because it grows. Whether or not you’re a retailer, a service supplier, or a market vendor, Sq.’s app supplies useful gross sales insights, permitting you to trace top-selling merchandise, handle stock, and even take appointments. For small enterprise house owners, these options simplify every day operations and be certain that as gross sales improve, administrative duties don’t turn out to be overwhelming.
Sq. Reader’s portability is one other benefit for companies on the transfer. Weighing simply 56 grams, it’s one of many lightest card readers out there, making it simple to hold to markets, occasions, or pop-ups. The gadget connects to your smartphone by way of Bluetooth, and as soon as synced, it’s prepared to simply accept funds. This degree of portability means you’ll be able to promote from nearly wherever, with out the necessity for cumbersome {hardware} or difficult setups.
With Sq., you’ll obtain funds the following enterprise day, offering well timed entry to your income. For rising companies, this helps preserve a gradual money circulation, which is important for masking bills like stock replenishment, payroll, or lease. Sq.’s flat-rate pricing (1.75%) additionally makes it predictable – whether or not you course of 10 transactions a day or 100, you’ll know precisely what to anticipate by way of charges.
4. myPOS Go 2 
Machine Price: £39 + VATTransaction Price: 1.1% + 7p per transaction (Amex: 2.45% + 7p)Key Options:
Instantaneous entry to funds with no further charges
Accepts Google Pay, Apple Pay, Amex, JCB, UnionPay, Bancontact, and extra
Multi-operator mode for monitoring particular person workers gross sales
Tactile keyboard and 500 transactions per cost
Free VISA enterprise card included for immediate entry to funds
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
myPOS Go is designed for small companies that need fast entry to their funds. One of many standout options of myPOS Go is the power to entry your earnings immediately with out further costs, making it a perfect possibility for companies that depend on quick turnover of money to cowl operational prices. With a free VISA enterprise card offered, you’ll be able to instantly use your earnings for purchases or withdraw funds from ATMs, which is essential for managing every day bills in a rising enterprise.
As your online business expands, myPOS Go presents glorious flexibility. With one of many lowest transaction charges available on the market (1.1% + 7p), this machine helps you get monetary savings on each transaction. For companies processing a excessive quantity of gross sales, these financial savings can add up over time, guaranteeing you retain extra of your hard-earned income.
The multi-operator mode is one other characteristic that makes this gadget notably helpful for companies with rising groups. Whether or not you’re managing a restaurant, café, or retail retailer, this mode permits you to observe the efficiency of particular person workers members and break up ideas accordingly. This can be a implausible technique to incentivise workforce members and preserve transparency with transactions.
Whereas it might not have the sleekest design, myPOS Go presents sturdy performance, making it excellent for enterprise house owners who worth efficiency over aesthetics. Its compatibility with worldwide cost strategies like JCB and UnionPay additionally makes it a wonderful possibility for companies that cater to vacationers or worldwide purchasers.
5. Tide Good Card Reader 
Machine Price: £89 + VATTransaction Price: 1.5percentKey Options:
Lifetime free 4G connectivity
Accepts contactless, Chip & PIN, Google Pay, and Apple Pay
No month-to-month contracts
Glossy, compact design for in-store and cell funds
Limitless 4G information eliminates the necessity for Bluetooth connectivity
One-off cost with no ongoing rental charges
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
The Tide Good Card Reader is a implausible alternative for rising companies that want flexibility and mobility of their cost processing. With a one-time price of £89 and no ongoing rental charges or contracts, this card reader presents an economical answer for companies that wish to hold overheads low as they broaden. The 1.5% transaction payment is aggressive, particularly for companies processing greater volumes of gross sales, guaranteeing that rising companies can preserve wholesome margins with out being hit by extreme charges.
One in all Tide’s standout options is its lifetime free 4G connectivity, which lets you settle for funds with out counting on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This makes it an important possibility for companies that function in a number of places, reminiscent of market stalls, pop-up outlets, meals vans, or occasions, the place dependable web entry could not at all times be out there. The built-in limitless 4G information ensures which you can at all times keep related, making the Tide Good Card Reader excellent for companies on the transfer.
The smooth and compact design additionally makes it a perfect alternative for small retail areas, cafes, and eating places the place house could also be restricted. The reader is straightforward to hold, enabling cell transactions wherever your online business takes you. Whether or not you’re working a pop-up store or attending festivals, Tide’s portability ensures which you can serve prospects rapidly and effectively, no matter location.
General, the Tide Good Card Reader is a dependable and versatile answer for companies that need to scale whereas sustaining low prices and providing versatile, cell funds. Its lack of month-to-month contracts and ongoing charges makes it a beautiful possibility for companies of all sizes, particularly these seeking to minimise bills whereas increasing.Go. It makes use of point-to-point encryption (P2PE) to make sure that your prospects’ information is secure.
6. Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever 
Machine Price: £29 + VATTransaction Price: 1.6percentKey Options:
Accepts all main cost strategies
Free FreshBooks account for invoicing
Detailed real-time gross sales stories
PCI compliance with no further charges
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever is a wonderful answer for companies which might be increasing quickly and want sturdy instruments to handle money circulation and invoicing. The free FreshBooks account integration is a large perk, particularly for enterprise house owners who wish to streamline their accounting and hold observe of invoices with out extra software program prices. As companies develop, managing money circulation turns into more and more advanced, and the detailed real-time gross sales stories offered by Barclaycard Smartpay Wherever offer you clear visibility into your monetary efficiency, serving to you make data-driven selections to assist development.
Moreover, with a 1.6% transaction payment, this answer is cost-effective for companies dealing with massive volumes of transactions. As gross sales volumes improve, protecting transaction charges low helps to guard margins. The truth that Smartpay Wherever is PCI compliant with none further charges additionally provides one other layer of worth, guaranteeing that your rising enterprise stays safe whereas protecting prices in test. This answer is especially useful for companies in hospitality or retail, the place high-volume, safe transactions are important.
7. Tyl by NatWest (Clover Flex) 
Machine Price: £16.99/month + VATTransaction Price: 1.39%-1.99% + 5pKey Options:
All-in-one POS system
150+ apps for enterprise administration
Funds settled inside 1 enterprise day
Built-in stock and buyer administration
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
Tyl by NatWest’s Clover Flex is ideal for companies which might be scaling and want greater than only a fundamental card reader. As a full-service POS system, Clover Flex permits you to handle a number of features of your rising enterprise, from gross sales and buyer information to stock administration, multi function built-in platform. This turns into invaluable as your online business expands, making it simpler to trace efficiency and optimise operations throughout varied areas.
What units Clover Flex aside is its means to attach with over 150 apps designed for enterprise administration. This scalability is right for rising companies that want flexibility of their operations. Whether or not you’re working promotions, managing worker schedules, or monitoring stock, Clover Flex’s app integrations make it adaptable to your evolving wants. With a aggressive transaction payment vary of 1.39%-1.99%, the system ensures that you just’re not overpaying on charges, which is essential for companies with fluctuating gross sales volumes.
Furthermore, the truth that funds are settled inside 1 enterprise day ensures that your money circulation stays regular, serving to you cowl bills rapidly, a necessity when your online business is scaling and dealing with greater operational prices. It’s notably useful for retailers, eating places, or service suppliers dealing with many transactions every day.
8. TakePayments 
Machine Price: Customized pricing relying on card machine mannequin and turnoverTransaction Price: 0.3%-2.5percentKey Options:
Brief contract lengths
Actual-time stock monitoring
Funds settled the following day
Customisable gross sales dashboard
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
TakePayments is a perfect possibility for companies which might be in a interval of fast development or transition. Its quick contract lengths supply flexibility, permitting companies to scale up or down with out being locked into long-term commitments. That is notably helpful for companies experiencing seasonal fluctuations or for startups which might be nonetheless determining their development trajectory.
For companies increasing their product traces or providers, the real-time stock monitoring characteristic ensures which you can sustain with inventory calls for, avoiding pricey out-of-stock conditions. This degree of visibility permits enterprise house owners to make swift selections and reply to buyer wants as they come up. Moreover, funds are settled the following day, guaranteeing that your money circulation is steady, which is important for rising companies managing a number of bills like payroll, stock, or lease.
The customisable dashboard offers enterprise house owners the power to tailor their system to satisfy their particular wants. As your online business grows, this flexibility ensures which you can observe and handle gross sales information, workers efficiency, and buyer insights multi function place, permitting for a extra scalable, data-driven operation.
9. Small Enterprise Professional 
Machine Price: £39.99/month for sole merchants, £49.99/month for 1-30 employeesTransaction Price: 1.25% (customary playing cards), 2.25% (premium playing cards)Key Options:
Constructed-in fraud detection
No minimal spend necessities
Buyer administration instruments
Funds settled inside 3 enterprise days
Why It’s Nice for Rising Companies:
Small Enterprise Professional stands out for its low transaction payment of 1.25%, making it extremely cost-effective for companies dealing with massive gross sales volumes. For a enterprise processing a excessive quantity of transactions, even a slight discount in transaction charges can result in substantial financial savings. As you scale, this low payment construction ensures that your margins stay wholesome, permitting you to reinvest in your development with out being slowed down by excessive processing prices.
The client administration instruments that include Small Enterprise Professional are invaluable for rising companies. As your buyer base expands, having the ability to observe and handle buyer information permits you to preserve personalised service and construct lasting relationships, that are key to sustaining long-term development.
The dearth of minimal spend necessities makes Small Enterprise Professional appropriate for companies of any measurement, from startups to extra established firms seeking to scale. Funds are settled inside 3 enterprise days, guaranteeing that your money circulation is steady, whilst your transaction quantity will increase. Whether or not you’re in retail, hospitality, or every other high-growth sector, Small Enterprise Professional’s mixture of low charges and buyer administration makes it an ideal match for companies on the rise.
Conclusion
For companies which might be on a development trajectory, every card cost machine on this listing presents options that allow you to scale seamlessly. SumUp Air stands out as a budget-friendly possibility with low transaction charges, supreme for companies rising their transaction quantity. Dojo Go excels for individuals who want quick, safe transactions with fast entry to funds, making it nice for companies with greater gross sales. Tyl by NatWest (Clover Flex) is ideal for these searching for an all-in-one answer that may develop with their enterprise operations.
As your online business scales, selecting the best cost machine is essential to dealing with extra prospects, greater transaction volumes, and extra advanced enterprise operations—all whereas protecting charges manageable and guaranteeing clean money circulation.
See additionally: Cellular cost programs for occasions and festivals
