How Long Does It Take to Switch Card Machine Provider?
A pay-as-you-go reader (SumUp, Square, Zettle) can have you taking payments the same week: order online and it works on arrival. A contracted acquirer switch typically takes 1-4 weeks, covering application, underwriting and terminal delivery.
The slowest part is usually your old contract: most require 30-90 days written notice, and leaving mid-term can trigger an exit fee (typically £50-£300). The fix is to run the notice period in parallel with the new setup.
Rates checked: August 2026
The switching timeline
| Stage | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go reader (whole process) | Same week | Sign up online, reader ships in days and works on arrival. No underwriting of a dedicated merchant account |
| Acquirer application | 15-30 minutes | Business details, director ID, proof of address, bank details |
| Underwriting & approval | Typically 24-48 hours | Longer for complex or higher-risk businesses; some providers approve same-day |
| Terminal delivery & setup | 1-2 days | Test with small transactions before going live |
| Contracted switch, end to end | Typically 1-4 weeks | Application through to taking payments on the new terminal |
| Notice period on your OLD contract | 30-90 days | Runs in parallel: you can be live on the new provider while it counts down |
Ranges reflect typical UK provider processes, checked August 2026. Individual providers and contracts vary; always confirm your own notice period and any exit fee before serving notice.
The old contract is the real timeline
Getting a new provider live is the quick part. What stretches a switch is the contract you are leaving: most UK card machine contracts require 30-90 days written notice, and cancelling inside a fixed term can trigger an early exit fee, typically £50-£300. Some acquirers sign businesses to 12-36 month terms, so check your end date first. Our step-by-step guide to switching card machine provider covers exactly what to look for in the paperwork.
The efficient sequence: apply to the new provider, get the terminal live and tested, then serve notice on the old contract and run both machines during the handover. That way the 30-90 day notice period costs you waiting time, not downtime.
Cancellation steps differ by provider. Our cancellation resource hub has the general process, and we keep provider-specific walkthroughs for the big names: Worldpay, Barclaycard, Lloyds Cardnet and Teya.
One more deadline to respect: return the old equipment when asked. Unreturned terminals commonly attract charges of £200-£500, so get a tracking number and keep proof.
Why the two routes take such different times
Pay-as-you-go: same week
SumUp (1.69% flat), Square (1.75% flat) and Zettle (1.75% flat) aggregate businesses under their own merchant account, so there is no dedicated-account underwriting. You sign up online, buy the reader, and it works when it arrives. No contract, no monthly fee, and nothing to cancel later beyond stopping use.
Contracted acquirer: typically 1-4 weeks
Acquirers such as Worldpay, Barclaycard and Lloyds Cardnet set up a dedicated merchant account in your name, which means an application, underwriting (typically 24-48 hours) and terminal delivery (1-2 days). Dojo prices each business individually: bespoke pricing, typically 1.2% to 1.9% depending on card turnover, and we have seen quotes as low as 0.29% for high-turnover businesses, with terminal rental from £20/month. The payoff for the extra wait is rates negotiated to your volume; see the full UK card machine rates table for the comparison.
MerchantSwitch is a free comparison service; we are paid by providers when we successfully match a business. We are an introducer, not a lender or acquirer, and we are not regulated by the FCA.
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