New businesses
Setting up card payments for a new business
Most of what we do is cutting the cost of an existing terminal — but you don't need a payment history to work with us. If you're opening up, going self-employed or taking your first card payment, we'll get you set up properly and on a competitive rate from the start.
You don't need a merchant statement
With no statement to compare against, we start from how you'll actually trade: where you take payment, how often, typical transaction size and roughly what you expect to turn over. From there we compare options across several UK providers and recommend the setup that fits — in writing, with the assumptions spelled out.
What to sort before day one
You'll usually need your business details (sole trader or limited company), proof of ID and address, and a business bank account for settlement. Approval and delivery normally take a few working days, so it's worth starting a week or two before you open rather than the day before.
Choosing the right card machine
A countertop terminal suits a fixed till, a portable one suits table or shop-floor service, and a fully mobile terminal with its own data SIM suits trades, markets and mobile services. We match the hardware to how you work instead of selling you the most expensive box. See our guide to card machines for the differences.
How rates work when you're new
Providers price on a mix of processing rate, per-transaction fees and any monthly terminal cost — and some quote a headline rate that only applies to certain card types. New businesses are often pushed onto the highest standard pricing simply because nobody negotiates for them. We compare the total monthly cost, not the headline number, and tell you what it actually works out at for your expected volume.
Instant access to your money
Cash flow matters most in the first months. Settlement speed varies a lot between providers, from same-day access to several working days, so we treat payout timing as part of the comparison rather than an afterthought.
We handle the setup
If you go ahead, we take care of the application and paperwork, get the terminal to you and stay on as your account manager — a direct line to a real person for pricing, hardware or payout questions. Our service is free to you; if you sign up with a provider we introduce you to, that provider pays us a commission, and it never changes your price.
Get started
Tell us a little about the business and we'll come back with a recommendation. Request your free setup comparison — it takes about 30 seconds and there's no obligation.