Starting a new business in the UK? One of your first big decisions is how to accept card payments. Finding a cheap card machine UK solution seems simple—until you realize the advertised price rarely tells the full story.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about card payment costs in plain English. No jargon, no confusing terms, just honest information to help you make the right choice for your business.
Why Card Payment Costs Matter for Your Business
Let’s be honest: card processing fees can add up quickly. For a small business turning over £10,000 a month, the difference between good rates and poor rates could mean £100-£300 extra leaving your account every single month. That’s £1,200-£3,600 annually—money that should be reinvested in growing your business.
The problem? Many providers advertise a “cheap” card machine but hide the real costs in complicated fee structures. By the time you realize what you’re actually paying, you’re often locked into a contract.
The Four Main Costs You’ll Encounter
1. The Card Machine Itself
You have two choices: buy the equipment outright or pay a monthly rental fee.
Buying outright means higher upfront cost but no ongoing rental fees. Good for businesses that plan to stick with the same provider long-term.
Monthly rental spreads the cost but adds up over time. Useful if you want flexibility or prefer lower startup costs.
At Easy Payment, we make it simple with free card machines—no setup fees, just transparent pricing you can trust.
2. Transaction Fees (The Big One)
This is where most of your money goes. Every time a customer pays by card, you pay a small percentage plus sometimes a fixed fee.
What affects your transaction fee:
- Card type: Debit cards cost less to process than credit cards. Business cards cost the most.
- UK vs international cards: Foreign cards typically cost more
- How you take payment: In-person is usually cheapest, online and phone payments often cost more
- Your monthly turnover: Higher volumes usually get better rates
UK regulations cap some fees:
- Consumer debit cards: 0.2% maximum
- Consumer credit cards: 0.3% maximum
- Commercial cards: Much higher (not regulated)
3. Monthly Service Charges
Some providers charge monthly fees on top of transaction fees for things like:
- Account maintenance
- Payment gateway access (for online payments)
- Minimum monthly processing fees
- PCI compliance
Easy Payment’s approach: No hidden fees, no surprises—just honest pricing you can trust. We believe in keeping things simple and transparent.
4. The Hidden Extras
Watch out for these surprise costs that many businesses don’t discover until their first statement:
- Chargeback fees when customers dispute transactions
- PCI non-compliance fines if you skip the annual security questionnaire
- Refund processing fees
- Early exit fees if you want to leave your contract
- International card surcharges
Easy Payment difference: We don’t believe in long-term contracts or hidden fees. No nasty surprises—just crystal-clear pricing.
Three Pricing Models Explained Simply
Flat-Rate Pricing: One percentage for all card types. Simple to understand, but you overpay on debit cards. Best for businesses under £10,000 monthly.
Blended-Rate Pricing: Different rates for debit vs credit cards. Fairer pricing that saves money if most customers use debit cards (typical in UK). Best for £10,000-£50,000 monthly.
Interchange-Plus Pricing: Shows actual card network fees plus provider markup separately. Most transparent and cheapest at high volumes, but complex statements. Best for £50,000+ monthly.
Easy Payment works with you to match the right card terminal and pricing to your business based on expected monthly volume.
What Makes Easy Payment Different?
We’re proud to be part of the trusted easy® family of brands, created by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1994.
Free Card Machines: No setup fees, no upfront investment—start taking payments immediately.
80% Faster Processing: Serve more customers during busy periods with industry-leading speed.
Next-Day Funding at 10am: Get your money even on weekends and bank holidays—free. We’re the only UK provider offering this.
Exit Fee Coverage: We’ll cover up to £3,000 in exit fees when you switch to us.
7-Day Support: Help when you need it—8am to 11pm, seven days a week.
600+ EPOS Integrations: Seamlessly connect with your existing systems.
No Long-Term Contracts: Stay because you’re happy, not because you’re trapped.
Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees, no surprises—just honest pricing from day one.
Our Card Machine Solutions
easyGo
Perfect for smaller businesses and those just starting out. Simple, reliable, and gets you accepting card payments quickly.
Ideal for:
- New businesses
- Market traders
- Mobile services
- Low to medium volume operations
easyPro
Designed for businesses with higher transaction volumes that need advanced features and faster processing.
Ideal for:
- Established businesses
- Retail shops
- Restaurants and hospitality
- High-volume operations
Both solutions offer:
- Contactless payments as standard
- Apple Pay and Google Pay compatibility
- Chip & PIN functionality
- Sleek, modern design
- Quick setup—ready to take payments fast
How to Save Money on Card Payments
1. Understand Your Transaction Patterns: Most UK businesses process 70% debit cards, 25% credit cards, and 5% business cards. If your mix differs, negotiate pricing that reflects your reality.
2. Stay PCI Compliant: Complete the annual security questionnaire to avoid hundreds in automatic fines.
3. Choose Fast Settlement: Next-day funding means better cash flow and less overdraft interest.
4. Take Advantage of Switching Support: Easy Payment covers exit fees up to £3,000, making it easy to switch providers.
5. Choose Fast Processing Equipment: 80% faster processing means serving more customers during peak periods.
6. Avoid Long-Term Contracts: No-contract solutions give you flexibility as your business grows.
7. Integrate with Your EPOS: Seamless integration eliminates errors and streamlines operations.
Common Mistakes New Business Owners Make
Choosing Based on Cheapest Device: A cheap device with expensive fees costs more long-term. Easy Payment’s free machines solve this problem.
Not Reading the Contract: Long contracts trap you with exit fees. Easy Payment has no long-term contracts.
Ignoring Settlement Speed: Waiting days for your money costs you in overdraft interest. Next-day funding at 10am (even weekends) improves cash flow.
Not Asking About Hidden Fees: Always ask about ALL possible fees upfront. Easy Payment’s transparent pricing means no surprises.
Accepting Slow Processing: Slow terminals lose you money during busy periods. 80% faster processing serves more customers.
Forgetting Support Hours: You need help when problems happen, not just Monday-Friday 9-5. Easy Payment supports you 7 days a week, 8am to 11pm.
Is Easy Payment Right for Your Business?
We’re ideal if you value:
Free card machines with no setup fees
Transparent pricing with no hidden charges
Next-day funding at 10am (even weekends)
80% faster processing than industry average
7-day support (8am-11pm)
No long-term contracts
Exit fee coverage up to £3,000
Integration with 600+ EPOS systems
Part of the trusted easy® family since 1994
We work with businesses of all sizes across the UK—providing reliable payment solutions that work as hard as you do.
Your Next Steps
1. Calculate what you’re currently paying (or estimate your expected volume)
2. Consider your needs: Monthly volume? Mobile or fixed? Online payments? Cash flow priorities?
3. Get started with Easy Payment
Visit www.easypayments.com/uk to:
- Get matched with the right terminal (easyGo or easyPro)
- Set up quickly with minimal hassle
- Start accepting payments fast
Quick setup. No hidden fees. Straightforward solutions that work.
The Bottom Line
Finding a cheap card machine UK solution isn’t about the lowest upfront cost—it’s about value, reliability, and support that helps your business succeed.
The Easy Payment difference: Free machines, 80% faster processing, next-day funding at 10am (even weekends), no contracts or hidden fees, 7-day support, £3,000 exit fee coverage, 600+ EPOS integrations, part of the trusted easy® family since 1994.
Ready to get started? Visit www.easypayments.com/uk today.
Your business deserves straightforward, transparent payment processing. Let’s make payments easy together.
Easy Payment – Leading UK payment solutions provider. Free card machines, next-day funding, contactless payments. Part of the trusted easy® family of brands.
