Best Card Readers for Hairdressers and Salons (2026)
For a salon or barber, the card reader is only part of the picture. The real costs are often the gaps in the diary: no shows, late cancellations and empty chairs. The best setup takes card payments at the desk and helps protect your time with deposits and card details held at booking.
Here's how to choose a card reader for a hair or beauty business, whether you run a salon, rent a chair or work mobile. Prices are from providers' official UK websites, checked October 2026.
At a glance
| Option | Reader price (ex VAT) | Fee on UK cards | Bookings built in | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Reader with Square Appointments | £19 list price | 1.75% | Yes, Appointments from £0 a month | Salons wanting bookings and payments together |
| SumUp Solo Lite | £25 | 1.69% | No, use a separate booking app | Chair renters on a budget |
| PayPal Reader (Zettle) | £29 for new users | 1.75% on all major cards | No | Salons with lots of overseas clients |
| Revolut Reader | £49 | 0.8% + 2p | No | Salon owners already using Revolut Business |
| Tap to Pay on your phone | £0 | Provider's rate | Depends on app | Mobile stylists and backup |
What salons need
Booking and payments together. Clients book online, pay a deposit and the balance at the end. One system means fewer mistakes.
Deposits and no show protection. Taking a deposit or holding card details at booking cuts no shows.
A reader at the desk. Phone paired readers or a small terminal are plenty for most salons.
Tips. Clients often want to tip their stylist by card.
Staff accounts. So each stylist's sales and tips are tracked.
Low fees. Salon margins can be tight, especially for chair renters.
1. Square with Square Appointments: best all in one
Square Appointments starts from £0 a month and links bookings with the Square Reader and Square's point of sale. Clients can book online, you can take deposits or card details, and payments at the desk are 1.75% on UK cards. Payouts go to your bank free in one to two working days. Our Square card reader guide covers the hardware.
Good for: salons and barbers who want bookings, payments and reminders in one place.
2. SumUp Solo Lite: cheapest per payment for chair renters
At £25 ex VAT and 1.69% on UK cards, it's a little cheaper per payment than Square. Money arrives in a free SumUp Business Account by 7am the next day. You'll need a separate booking app if you want online bookings.
Good for: self employed stylists renting a chair.
3. Zettle by PayPal: simple single rate
Zettle charges 1.75% on all major cards with no monthly fee. The PayPal Reader is £29 for new users. Payouts go to your PayPal Business account, typically within minutes.
Good for: salons in tourist areas or with clients using overseas or Amex cards.
4. Revolut Reader: low fees if you bank with Revolut
At 0.8% + 2p on UK consumer cards, Revolut is very cheap per payment, though business and non UK cards cost 2.6% + 2p, and you'll need a Revolut Business plan, from £10 a month.
Good for: salon owners already using Revolut Business.
5. Tap to Pay: for mobile stylists
Tap to Pay lets you take contactless payments on your phone with no reader. It's free to set up with most providers.
Good for: mobile hairdressers and as a backup in the salon.
Cost examples
| Monthly card takings | SumUp (1.69%) | Square or Zettle (1.75%) | Revolut (0.8% + 2p + £10, £40 average) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1,500 | £25.35 | £26.25 | £22.75 |
| £4,000 | £67.60 | £70.00 | £44.00 |
| £8,000 | £135.20 | £140.00 | £78.00 |
The Revolut column assumes an average bill of £40 and the £10 Basic plan. All rates are for UK consumer cards.
Cutting no shows with card payments
No shows are expensive. An empty one hour slot is income you won't get back. Ways to protect yourself:
- Take a deposit at booking. A set amount or a percentage, deducted from the final bill.
- Hold card details. Some booking systems save the card and let you charge a fee if the client doesn't turn up, in line with your policy.
- Send reminders. Text and email reminders cut forgotten appointments.
- Have a clear cancellation policy. Show it when clients book, and make them agree to it.
Make sure your policy is fair and clearly explained. If you charge for a no show, clients should have agreed to it in advance.
Chair renters: who takes the payment?
If you rent a chair, decide with the salon owner who takes payment for your clients. Many renters use their own reader, so the money goes straight to them. Others pay through the salon's system and get paid out later. Your own reader gives you control and makes your records simpler for tax.
Tips by card
Most readers and booking apps can show tip options on screen. By law, employers must pass on all tips to workers and have a written tips policy. If you're self employed, tips are part of your income for tax.
Setting up the salon desk
- Keep the reader charged on a dock or cable.
- Set up services as products with prices, such as "Cut and blow dry £45".
- Add each stylist as a staff member to track sales.
- Offer email receipts. They're useful for rebooking reminders, if clients agree.
- Keep Tap to Pay on your phone as a backup.
Which setup for which salon?
| Business | Suggested setup |
|---|---|
| Self employed chair renter | SumUp Solo Lite or Square Reader, plus a booking app |
| Small salon, two to four chairs | Square Reader with Square Appointments |
| Larger salon with reception | A terminal at the desk linked to your booking system |
| Barber, walk ins | A fast reader or terminal; bookings optional |
| Mobile hairdresser or nail tech | Tap to Pay, or a small reader in your kit bag |
| Beauty salon selling retail products | A setup with stock control for products |
Selling retail products
Many salons sell shampoo, styling products and gift vouchers. A point of sale app with stock control helps you keep track of what's on the shelf and what's sold. Square's free point of sale includes basic stock counts. If you sell gift vouchers, check whether your system can issue and redeem them, so you're not relying on paper slips.
A quick example
A two chair salon takes about £6,000 a month by card. On a 1.75% reader, that's £105 a month in fees. If no show protection with deposits saves just two missed £50 appointments a month, that's £100 back, almost covering the card fees on its own.
Mistakes to avoid
- Running bookings and payments in separate systems when one would do. Double entry leads to mistakes.
- No written cancellation policy. It's hard to charge for a no show if clients didn't agree to it.
- Mixing a chair renter's money with the salon's. Keep it separate for everyone's tax records.
- Forgetting a backup. A flat reader at the end of the day means an awkward wait for the client.
FAQs
What's the best card reader for a hairdresser?
For most salons, Square with Square Appointments, because bookings and payments work together. For self employed chair renters on a budget, the SumUp Solo Lite is a good choice.
Can I take deposits for salon appointments?
Yes. Booking systems such as Square Appointments let you take deposits when clients book online.
Can I charge clients for no shows?
You can, if they agreed to your cancellation policy when they booked. Many booking systems let you save card details for this.
Do mobile hairdressers need a card reader?
Not necessarily. Tap to Pay on your phone may be enough. A small reader is useful if clients need to use chip and PIN.
Should a chair renter have their own card reader?
Usually, yes. It keeps your money and records separate from the salon's.
How do card tips work in a salon?
Clients add a tip on the reader or in the booking app. Employers must pass on all tips to workers.
Do clients expect to pay by card at the hairdresser?
Most do. Many clients carry little or no cash, so a salon without card payments risks awkward trips to the cashpoint and smaller tips.