Best Card Machines for Tradespeople (2026)
"Can I pay by card?" is a question every tradesperson hears. Customers don't keep hundreds of pounds in cash at home, and bank transfers get forgotten. Taking card payment the moment the job's done means you get paid on the doorstep, not three weeks later after a reminder.
Here's how to choose a card machine for trade work, from a one off boiler service to a big kitchen fit, with prices from providers' official UK websites, checked October 2026.
At a glance
| Option | Price (ex VAT) | Fee on UK consumer cards | Works without your phone | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SumUp Solo Lite | £25 | 1.69% | No | Sole traders, low cost |
| Square Reader | £19 list price | 1.75% | No | Trades who also want invoices |
| SumUp Terminal | £135 | 1.69% | Yes, free SIM | Teams, printed receipts |
| Revolut Reader | £49 | 0.8% + 2p | No | Revolut Business users, bigger jobs |
| Tap to Pay on your phone | £0 | Provider's rate | Phone only | Occasional payments, backup |
What tradespeople need
Works anywhere. At a customer's house you can't rely on their WiFi. Use your phone's mobile data or a terminal with its own SIM.
Handles big payments. A £2,000 job needs chip and PIN, or a phone payment, as contactless cards may ask for a PIN on bigger amounts.
Deposits and staged payments. Payment links and invoices let customers pay deposits before you buy materials.
Low cost per job. Percentage fees add up on big jobs, so the rate matters.
Quick payouts. For materials and wages.
Tough enough for a van. A case helps.
1. SumUp Solo Lite
£25 ex VAT, 1.69% on UK cards and no monthly fee. Payouts reach a free SumUp Business Account by 7am the next day. If you take more than about £2,700 a month by card, Payments Plus at £19 a month for 0.99% on domestic consumer cards works out cheaper.
2. Square Reader
£19 ex VAT and 1.75% in person. Square's free invoices let you bill for deposits and bigger jobs, with invoice payments charged at 2.5%. Payouts go free to your bank in one to two working days.
3. SumUp Terminal
£135 ex VAT, with a free SIM and a built in printer. It works without your phone, so it suits teams where the van crew takes payment rather than the boss.
4. Revolut Reader
0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards makes Revolut cheap on bigger jobs, as the fixed fee barely matters. Business and non UK cards cost 2.6% + 2p, which matters if you work for companies using business cards. You'll need a Revolut Business plan, from £10 a month.
5. Tap to Pay
Take contactless payments on your phone with no reader. Free to set up with most providers. Our Tap to Pay guide explains how it works.
The cost on bigger jobs
Percentage fees bite on large payments. Here's what a single job costs to take by card:
| Job value | SumUp (1.69%) | Square (1.75%) | Revolut (0.8% + 2p) | Payments Plus (0.99%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £150 | £2.54 | £2.63 | £1.22 | £1.49 |
| £600 | £10.14 | £10.50 | £4.82 | £5.94 |
| £3,000 | £50.70 | £52.50 | £24.02 | £29.70 |
Figures rounded to the nearest penny, UK consumer cards only. Payments Plus and Revolut also have monthly fees. The difference on a £3,000 job is worth thinking about if you do a lot of big work.
Deposits, stages and final payments
For bigger jobs, card payments work well alongside a clear payment schedule:
- Deposit at booking, sent by payment link or invoice.
- Stage payment when materials arrive or a milestone is reached.
- Final payment on completion, on your card reader.
Put the schedule in your quote and get the customer to agree in writing. It protects you if there's a dispute.
Business customers and surcharges
You can't add a surcharge for consumer card payments. If a company pays with a genuine commercial card, you can pass on your actual cost of accepting it, as long as you make it clear first. For most domestic work, build card fees into your prices.
Avoiding disputes
- Get quotes signed or agreed by message.
- Take before and after photos.
- Ask the customer to check the work before they pay.
- Email a receipt that says what was done.
- Use chip and PIN for big payments.
These help if a customer later raises a chargeback. They also make it far less likely that one will be raised in the first place.
Setups by trade
| Trade | Typical payments | Suggested setup |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber or heating engineer | Call outs, services, boiler installs | Phone reader plus payment links for deposits |
| Electrician | Small jobs to rewires | Phone reader, invoices for bigger jobs |
| Builder | Large staged payments | Invoices and payment links, a reader for final balances |
| Locksmith | Urgent call outs, often late | Phone reader with fast payouts |
| Gardener or cleaner | Regular small payments | Tap to Pay or a cheap reader, recurring invoices |
| Mobile mechanic | Parts and labour, mid size | SIM terminal or phone reader |
Card, bank transfer or cash?
| Card on the doorstep | Bank transfer | Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Paid immediately, money next day or so | Depends on the customer | Immediate |
| Cost to you | Around 0.8% to 1.75% plus any fixed fee | Usually free | Free, but trips to the bank |
| Risk of chasing | Low | Higher, customers forget | Low |
| Records | Automatic | Need matching | Need recording |
| Customer convenience | High | Medium | Falling |
Bank transfers are cheaper, but every unpaid invoice costs you time. Many trades find that a 1.69% fee is worth it for being paid before they leave the driveway.
A monthly example
A self employed electrician takes £6,000 a month by card, mostly jobs between £100 and £800. On SumUp pay as you go at 1.69%, that's £101.40 a month. On Payments Plus at 0.99% plus £19, it's £78.40. Over a year, the plan saves £276. If takings drop below about £2,700 a month in winter, the pay as you go option becomes cheaper, so it's worth checking whether your plan can be changed month to month.
Practical tips
- Keep the reader charged in the van with a USB charger.
- Check signal before you start. If it's weak inside, take payment by the door or window.
- Set up common jobs as products, such as "Boiler service £85".
- Keep a backup. Tap to Pay or a payment link.
- Separate business money. A business account or a provider's own account makes tax returns easier.
Our myPOS card machine guide covers another option popular with mobile businesses.
FAQs
What's the best card machine for a plumber or electrician?
For most sole traders, the SumUp Solo Lite or Square Reader. Both cost under £30 ex VAT with no monthly fee or contract. If you take a lot of big payments, compare lower rate options such as Revolut or SumUp Payments Plus.
Can I take a £2,000 payment on a card reader?
Yes, with chip and PIN or a phone payment. Contactless cards may ask for a PIN on bigger amounts.
Do I need WiFi to take card payments on a job?
No. Phone paired readers use your phone's mobile data, and terminals like the SumUp Terminal have their own SIM.
Can I take deposits by card?
Yes. Send a payment link or invoice, and the customer pays on their own phone.
Can I charge customers extra for paying by card?
Not consumers. You can pass on actual costs to businesses paying with commercial cards.
How quickly will I get paid?
SumUp pays by 7am the next day. Square pays free in one to two working days. Revolut pays next day into your Revolut Business account.
Should I use a card machine or just send invoices?
Both work well together. Invoices and payment links are great for deposits and jobs where you're not there at the end. A card reader gets you paid on the spot for finished work, so you're not chasing payments later.
Is a card machine a tax deductible expense?
Card fees and the cost of a reader are normally business expenses for self employed traders and companies. Check with your accountant for your own situation.
What if the customer's card is declined?
Ask them to try chip and PIN, a phone payment or another card. If that fails, send a payment link so they can pay once they've sorted it with their bank.