Best Card Readers For Plumbers & Electricians: 2026 UK
Chasing invoices is the worst part of the job for a lot of plumbers and electricians. You fix the boiler, the customer says they'll pay at the weekend, and three weeks later you're still sending reminders. Taking payment before you pack up the van solves most of that.
The good news is you don't need a contract or a big terminal. A pocket reader, your phone and a payment link tool cover almost every situation, from a £90 callout to a £4,000 rewire. Here's what we'd look at, with prices checked October 2026.
Why trades should take cards on the job
- You get paid today, not in 30 days
- Fewer bad debts, because there's nothing to chase
- Customers expect it, and plenty don't keep cash at home
- Bigger jobs are easier to pay for, especially on a credit card
- Your records are cleaner for your tax return, with every payment logged
What matters for plumbers and sparkies
Signal on site
Lofts, basements and rural jobs can have poor mobile signal. A reader with its own SIM helps, and offline modes can save the day. Our guide to card machines without WiFi goes into the details.
Bigger payments
Your average job is a lot bigger than a coffee. That means fixed fees per transaction barely matter, but the percentage does. On a £500 job, 1.69% is £8.45 and 1.10% plus 7p is £5.57.
Deposits and staged payments
For bigger jobs, you might take a deposit for materials before you start. Payment links and invoices are the easiest way to do this.
Business cards
Landlords, letting agents and small businesses often pay with business cards, which cost more to accept on most providers. Check the rate for "other" or "commercial" cards, not just the headline.
The best readers and tools
SumUp Solo
The Solo works on its own with a built-in SIM, so you don't need to pair your phone. It costs £79 and charges 1.69% on pay as you go. SumUp also does invoices and payment links at 2.5%, and an Invoices Plus plan at £8 a month.
Pros: standalone, no contract, invoices and links in the same app Cons: offline mode only for selected merchants
Tide Card Reader
If you bank with Tide, its reader puts card payments straight into your account. Pay as you go is 1.5% plus 5p on domestic consumer debit cards. The Sell In-Person Essential plan, £17.99 a month plus VAT, cuts it to 0.89% plus 3p. Tide says these fees change on 1 December 2026, so check the latest terms. Read our Tide card reader review.
Pros: payments and banking together, cheap subscription rates Cons: published rates are for consumer debit only, so credit and business cards cost more
Square Reader
At £19 it's the cheapest reader here. It charges 1.75% in person, and Square's invoices are 2.5% (more on non-UK cards). Newer Square readers can take payments offline for up to 24 hours. See our Square review.
Pros: cheap, good invoicing, offline mode on newer readers Cons: needs your phone, 1.75% is on the high side for big jobs
myPOS Go 2
The Go 2 is £39 with a free 4G SIM. It charges 1.10% plus 7p on domestic consumer cards for businesses taking under £10,000 a month. Takings land in your myPOS account in seconds. See our myPOS review.
Pros: cheapest rate here on bigger jobs, instant payouts Cons: Amex is 2.45% plus 7p and other cards 2.85% plus 7p
Tap to Pay on your phone
Most providers now let you take contactless on an iPhone or Android phone with no reader at all. It's a great backup if your reader's flat. Tide charges 1.5% plus 11p on pay as you go and Square 1.75%. See our tap to pay guide.
Pros: no hardware, always with you Cons: contactless only, so chip and PIN for big amounts needs a reader
Stripe payment links
If you invoice from your own software, Stripe is often built in. It charges 1.5% plus 20p on standard UK cards. Pay by Bank is 0.5% plus 20p, which is much cheaper on big jobs. See our Stripe guide.
Pros: cheap on large invoices, works with accounting tools Cons: more setup than a simple reader
Invoicing and pay by link
For deposits and work you finish when the customer's out, links and invoices are the way to go.
| Tool | Rate (checked October 2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| SumUp payment links and invoices | 2.5% | Quick links by text |
| Square invoices | 2.5% (+1.5% on non UK cards) | Professional invoices with reminders |
| Stripe online cards | 1.5% + 20p | Invoices from your own software |
| Stripe Pay by Bank | 0.5% + 20p | Large jobs |
| GoCardless | 1% + 20p, capped at £4 | Regular maintenance contracts |
For a £2,000 bathroom job, a 2.5% link costs £50. Stripe's Pay by Bank costs £10.20. Bank transfer is free, but slower to confirm. Worth thinking about for big jobs.
Fees on typical jobs
| Job | SumUp 1.69% | Square 1.75% | myPOS 1.10% + 7p | Tide PAYG 1.5% + 5p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £90 callout | £1.52 | £1.58 | £1.06 | £1.40 |
| £350 boiler service and repair | £5.92 | £6.13 | £3.92 | £5.30 |
| £1,200 consumer unit | £20.28 | £21.00 | £13.27 | £18.05 |
Tide's figure is for consumer debit cards. Big jobs are often on credit cards, which cost more on Tide and myPOS.
Getting paid on the day: a simple routine
- Agree the price and how you'll be paid when you quote, so it's no surprise.
- Take a deposit for materials on bigger jobs, by link or bank transfer.
- Finish the job and walk the customer through it.
- Take payment on the reader before you pack up, or send a link while you're still there.
- Email a receipt or invoice from the same app, so your records match.
It feels awkward the first few times. After that, customers just expect it.
Pros and cons of taking cards as a tradesperson
Pros - Paid before you leave - No more chasing - Easier bookkeeping
Cons - Fees on large jobs add up - Signal problems on some sites - You need to keep a device charged
Who should pick what
- Sole trader, mostly small jobs: SumUp Solo or Square Reader
- Already bank with Tide: Tide reader, and think about the subscription if you take over £2,900 a month on cards
- Bigger jobs: myPOS for in-person, Stripe Pay by Bank for invoices
- Small firm with a few vans: several cheap readers on one account, or a quote from a contract provider. Our tradespeople guide covers this.
FAQs
What's the best card reader for a plumber?
For most sole traders, a standalone reader like the SumUp Solo is easiest. If your jobs are large, myPOS has lower fees on UK consumer cards.
Can I take card payments on my phone?
Yes. Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android works with Square, Tide, SumUp and others. It's contactless only, so keep a reader for big chip and PIN payments.
How do I take a deposit before starting a job?
Send a payment link or an invoice. SumUp and Square links cost 2.5%. For large deposits, a bank transfer or Pay by Bank is cheaper.
Do I need a contract for a card machine?
No. All the options here are pay as you go, with no monthly fee unless you choose a plan.
Can I charge customers extra for paying by card?
Not for consumer cards in the UK. Surcharges have been banned since 2018. You can surcharge some business cards. See our surcharge rules guide.
What if there's no signal at the job?
Use a reader with an offline mode or its own SIM, or send a payment link once you're back in signal.