Industry
Retail, bakeries and food to go
High volumes of low-value transactions change which fees actually matter. Here is what to look at before comparing offers.
Per-transaction fees dominate
When your average basket is small, a fixed authorisation fee of a few pence can outweigh the percentage rate entirely. Compare cost per transaction on your real average sale value, not on the headline percentage.
Speed at the counter
Contactless approval time, receipt handling and the terminal's placement all affect queue length at peak. A terminal that suits a table-service restaurant is not always right for a morning coffee rush.
Settlement and cash flow
Settlement timing varies between providers and plans. Faster access to funds can matter more than a marginally lower rate when you are paying suppliers weekly.
Compare on your own numbers
Send a recent statement and we will work out your effective cost per transaction, compare it across multiple providers and show the difference in writing. Request a free comparison or read the card machine guide.
Just starting out?
If you're opening a new site or first food-to-go unit, you don't need a payment history to work with us. We'll compare providers on how you plan to trade, recommend the right terminal and set you up on a competitive rate from day one — see card payments for new businesses.