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Payment Processing8 min
Average Card Processing Fees UK: August 2026 Benchmarks
PAYG readers charge 1.69%-1.75% flat; negotiated pricing typically 1.2%-1.9% plus £10-£60/month. Effective-rate worked examples at four volume bands.
Read More140 in-depth articles on card machines, business funding, and payment processing
PAYG readers charge 1.69%-1.75% flat; negotiated pricing typically 1.2%-1.9% plus £10-£60/month. Effective-rate worked examples at four volume bands.
Read MoreEditorial verdict 4.5/5. Dojo now publishes its rate: 1.2% under £100k/year, terminals from £149 upfront or £15-£25/month. Full fees, contract small print and worked costs.
Read MoreComplete head-to-head comparison. Fees, features, and expert verdict. Dojo recommended for hospitality £5k+ monthly.
Read More7 proven options for poor credit businesses. Alternative lenders with 70%+ approval rates.
Read MoreTop 10 providers compared. Real costs for convenience stores and independent retailers.
Read MoreIndependent YouLend review. 1.10-1.35x factor rates, 4.3/5 rating, £5k-£500k funding. Pros, cons, and alternatives compared.
Read More365 Finance review: 1.15-1.40x rates, 4.5/5 rating, hospitality specialists. Same-day approval. Full analysis.
Read MoreTop 10 UK funding providers ranked. iwoca (#1), YouLend (#2), 365 Finance (#3). Real reviews and costs.
Read MoreWhich UK providers really offer a free terminal, what the hidden costs are, and how to negotiate one.
Read MoreReal UK 2026 prices: terminal, monthly fees, transaction percentage, PCI, and the line items that catch you out.
Read MoreEligibility, typical 6 to 14 percent costs, repayment terms, and how to settle a VAT bill in 5 working days.
Read MoreEvery realistic UK funding option for a Ltd, with eligibility, typical costs, and which lenders fit each profile.
Read MoreOur tracked pricing benchmarks (PAYG 1.69%-1.75% flat, negotiated 1.2%-1.9% plus £10-£60 a month) alongside UK Finance, BRC and LINK statistics: £1 trillion of card spending in 2024, cash down to 9%.
Read MoreMTD for Income Tax started 6 April 2026 for sole traders over £50,000. What five filings a year means for record-keeping, card takings and setting tax aside.
Editorial verdict 4.0/5. The 1.69% flat rate and £19 reader are the cheapest way to start below ~£4,000/month. Full costs, cons and alternatives.
Editorial verdict 4.2/5. 1.75% flat plus genuinely free EPOS software wins under ~£3,600/month. Full costs, cons and alternatives.
Editorial verdict 4.0/5. 1.75% flat, £0 monthly, £29+VAT reader, with the PayPal ecosystem trade-offs explained and worked costs at two volumes.
Editorial verdict 3.3/5. Bespoke rates, £15-£50 monthly fees, 12-36 month contracts, 90-day notice and exit fees up to £1,500+. Worked costs and alternatives.
Find your card turnover, list every fee line, divide one by the other. Full worked example showing a 1.87% effective rate and what good looks like at your volume.
PCI compliance and non-compliance charges, minimum monthly service charges, authorisation pennies, terminal return fees of £150-£300 and exit fees up to £1,500.
What the 3p-4.5p per-transaction authorisation pennies cost, where they hide on a statement, and why a café at £8 a sale pays 50x more than a furniture shop on the same turnover.
Renewal rate creep, wrong pricing model, PCI penalties, minimum service charges, card mix and stacked extras: how to check each and what fixing it is worth.
Who each route suits, the five transparency questions to ask any broker, and our own answers to all five.
Connection, power, acquirer outage, terminal fault or account suspension: each with a 2-minute check, plus how to tell if the outage is yours or your provider's.
How settlement actually works, normal UK timelines, the weekend effect, and the crucial difference between a routine delay and a genuine hold.
Why a declined transaction can still show on the customer's bank, when to refund vs wait for the auto-reversal, and a script to calm the customer.
Renewal repricing and buried fee-schedule updates: how to work out what changed from two statements, and your three options: challenge, negotiate, or leave.
The three exit routes compared, why fixed factor-rate fees make early refinancing expensive, the step-by-step process, and the broker red flags to walk away from.
Two advances taking 15% and 12% of daily takings is 27% of gross. The compounding maths, why first-position funders prohibit it, and the honest ways out.
Optimized for low-value transactions (£3-£7). Square recommended for cafes under £8k/month.
Tip collection and appointment integration. Square best for salons, SumUp for barbers.
Portable readers for plumbers, electricians. SumUp £19 most popular.
In-car payment solutions. Battery life and offline capability essential.
Weather-resistant portable readers for outdoor vendors.
High-volume solutions. Dojo excellent for pub peak performance.
Deposit handling and multi-currency for accommodation businesses.
Recurring billing for fitness memberships. Square or Dojo recommended.
HIPAA-compliant solutions for dentists and clinics.
Complete guide. Dojo recommended for high-volume hospitality.
Budget card reader comparison. 1.39% vs 1.75%.
Top 3 UK providers compared. Dojo wins for £5k-£30k monthly.
Cost analysis over 36 months. Break-even calculations.
£100 limit explained with security analysis.
Fraud rates: Contactless safer at 0.009%.
Accept mobile wallets. 42% UK adoption, no extra fees.
Interchange, scheme fees breakdown with examples.
Visa, Mastercard interchange caps explained.
MOTO payment solutions guide.
Government £500-£25k at 6% APR. Free mentoring.
Which is cheaper? Cost comparison.
Equipment & vehicle financing. HP vs leasing.
Repay as % of revenue. SaaS and e-commerce.
Free funding you never repay. Government and regional grants.
Cash flow finance. Approval in 48 hours.
Hospitality-specific funding options.
No collateral. £1k-£500k at 6-35% APR.
Property-backed loans. 4-12% APR, £10k-£5m.
Tax analysis. Which saves money?
Finance for tourism and seasonal trades.
Invoice factoring and plant finance for builders.
Inventory and revenue-based funding for online stores.
Finance McDonald's, Subway franchises. 6-12% APR.
Fund growth and second locations. £25k-£5m.
Solve payment delays. Invoice finance vs MCA.
Kickstarter, Seedrs, Crowdcube guide.
Find angels. SEIS/EIS tax relief explained.
Complete comparison with real cost examples.
B2B vs B2C funding. 60-80% cost difference.
Better rates than YouLend: iwoca (1.08x), 365 Finance (hospitality), Funding Circle (60% cheaper). Save £5k-£15k.
Cheaper than 365 Finance: iwoca (lower rates), YouLend (e-commerce). Save up to £10k by comparing.
All 15 UK MCA providers compared. Rates, approval times, reviews. Find best MCA lender for your business.
Protect your home: iwoca (no PG under £50k), YouLend (usually no PG). £3k-£500k available without risking personal assets.
Which funding actually pays out in 24-48 hours: MCAs, invoice finance and overdraft extensions compared with real factor-rate costs.
iwoca wins on rates (1.08x vs 1.10x) and minimum (£3k vs £8k). Saves £5k on £50k advance.
iwoca wins on rates (saves £6k on £50k). 365 wins on hospitality expertise and speed.
YouLend process explained: Application to funding in 2-3 days. Repayment mechanism, approval criteria, real timeline.
365 Finance pricing: 1.15-1.40x factor rates explained. Real cost examples on £20k, £50k, £100k advances.
MCA worth it IF you need speed or bank declined. NOT worth it if you can get traditional loan (60% cheaper).
12 proven tips: Apply to right provider, wait until 6mo trading, show stable sales. Improve approval from 60% to 90%.
MCA: Fast (24-48hrs), expensive (25-35%). Loan: Slow (2-4 weeks), cheap (6-12%). When to choose each.
iwoca review: 1.08-1.25x (best rates in UK), 4.7/5 rating, £1k-£500k. Detailed analysis.
Capify review: 1.20-1.45x factor rates, good for large amounts (£100k+). More expensive than iwoca/YouLend.
Funding Circle: 6.9-18% APR, 60-70% cheaper than MCAs. Slow (5-7 days) but cheapest option.
iwoca (85%), YouLend (80%), 365 Finance (75%) vs banks (35%). Which lender approves most businesses?
1,240+ verified reviews analyzed. 4.3/5 rating. What customers love (speed) and hate (cost).
75% approval rate for hospitality. How to improve chances, common decline reasons explained.
YouLend timeline: 10 min application, 24-48hr decision, 24hr funding. Total 2-3 days start to money.
Yes. iwoca, YouLend, 365 Finance approve 70-80% of CCJ businesses. Revenue matters more than credit.
iwoca wins 5/6 categories. Saves £10k on £50k vs Capify. Only use Capify if need £150k+ and iwoca caps you.
New business funding: YouLend (6mo+), iwoca (6mo+), Fund Ourselves (3mo+). 70% approval for 6-12 month businesses.
MCA perfect for seasonal: Repay more in peak, less in off-season. Tourism, garden centers, ice cream shops.
8 ways to fund your restaurant: 365 Finance (MCA specialist), iwoca, equipment finance. £5k-£250k compared.
Complete retail funding guide: iwoca (best for retail), YouLend (online), stock finance. £3k-£500k options.
Best e-commerce funding: YouLend (Shopify/Amazon), iwoca (best rates). £5k-£500k for stock, ads, growth.
Funding for pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafes: 365 Finance (specialists), iwoca (best rates). £5k-£250k.
iwoca (£3k minimum - lowest), YouLend (£8k), 365 Finance (£10k). Which lenders accept YOUR revenue?
Factor rate explained: 1.25x means repay £1.25 per £1. Real examples, how to get lowest rates.
YouLend fees: Factor rate only (1.10-1.35x), no application fees, no hidden costs. Transparent pricing.
890+ reviews analyzed. 4.5/5 rating. Customers love speed, find costs high (28-40%).
3,250+ reviews. 4.7/5 (highest rated). Customers praise best rates and no personal guarantee policy.
Funding Circle 63% cheaper (£4,580 vs £12,500 on £50k) but requires good credit and 5-7 day wait.
80% approval for poor credit businesses. MCAs focus on revenue, not credit scores. £3k-£500k available.
MCA repayment: 10-20% of daily sales deducted automatically. Flexible repayment explained with examples.
Amazon seller funding: YouLend (Amazon integration), Amazon Lending, iwoca. £5k-£500k for FBA inventory.
Shopify funding: YouLend (one-click connect), Shopify Capital, iwoca. £5k-£500k for inventory and ads.
Manchester business funding: iwoca, YouLend, 365 Finance. £3k-£500k for Manchester SMEs.
London business funding guide: All major lenders serve London. £3k-£500k for London startups and scale-ups.
Funding under £50k: iwoca (£1k-£50k, no PG), Start Up Loans (£25k max, 6% APR). Options compared.
Funding over £100k: iwoca, Capify, Funding Circle. Personal guarantee usually required for large amounts.
Overdraft cheaper but limited to £25k. MCA offers £50k-£500k. When to use each option.
iwoca wins: £3k minimum (lowest), best rates (1.08-1.25x), 4.7/5 rating. Perfect for small SMEs.
Use MCA for stock: £10k-£200k in 24-48hrs. Repay via sales of that inventory. Perfect for seasonal stock.
Compare all lenders side-by-side. 0.20x difference = £10,000 savings on £50k. Always compare first.
Calculate MCA costs, compare providers, estimate repayment timeline. Free interactive calculator.
Factor rate explained: 1.20x = repay £1.20 per £1. Simple examples showing exact costs.
Calculate payments and total costs.
Fast funding for hospitality businesses.
Complete guide to all funding types.
Avoid downtime. Step-by-step guide.
Find the best card machine for your restaurant, cafe, or bar. Compare portable, mobile, and countertop terminals with expert advice on fees and features.
An MCA costs £2,000-£4,000 per £10,000 borrowed. Five situations where it is the wrong choice, red flags to walk away from, and cheaper alternatives.
Worldpay contracts run 36-60 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees range from £200 to £1,500+ plus terminal return. Step-by-step guide.
Barclaycard contracts run 36-60 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £300-£2,500 plus terminal return. Step-by-step guide.
Clover POS contracts run 12-36 months through UK resellers with 30-90 days notice. Exit fees are typically £300-£1,200. Cancellation and data export guide.
Elavon contracts run 36 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £250-£800 plus terminal return. Six-step cancellation guide.
Evo Payments contracts run 18-36 months with 60-90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £200-£900 plus terminal return. Six-step guide.
Global Payments (TSYS) contracts run 24-36 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £300-£1,200 plus terminal return. Six-step guide.
Handepay contracts run 12-24 months with 30-60 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £100-£400 plus terminal return. Six-step cancellation guide.
Lloyds Cardnet contracts run 36-60 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £500-£1,500 plus terminal return. Six-step guide.
Shift4 contracts run 24-36 months with 90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £300-£1,500 plus hardware return. Six-step cancellation guide.
Square has no contract, no notice period and £0 cancellation fees, and you keep the reader. Five-step closure guide covering data export and payouts.
SumUp has no contract, no notice period and £0 cancellation fees, and you keep the reader you bought. Five-step account closure guide.
Teya (formerly SaltPay) contracts run 18-24 months with 60-90 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £150-£600 plus terminal return. Six-step guide.
Tyl by NatWest contracts run 12-24 months with 30-60 days written notice. Exit fees are typically £100-£500 plus terminal return. Six-step guide.
Zettle by PayPal has no contract, no notice period and £0 cancellation fees. Closing Zettle does not close your PayPal account. Five-step closure guide.
Takepayments advertises a 12-month standard contract but does not publish notice periods or exit fees, so your agreement is the source of truth. Step-by-step guide.
One month's notice by phone or email, free in the first 30 days, remaining contract costs inside the 12-month term. Four-step guide with the courier return and Direct Debit covered.
Paymentsense is now Dojo. Legacy contracts need a minimum of 90 days written notice per their help centre. Step-by-step guide plus what Dojo ownership means for your options.
Complain in writing first, what to include, a copy-paste complaint letter, and how micro-enterprises escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service after a final response or 8 weeks.
The customer disputes the payment, your provider debits the money back plus a £15-£25 fee, and you get a short window to respond with evidence. Which ones to fight and how.
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