Best Card Machines for Salons & Barbers UK 2025

Why Salons Need Specialized Card Machines

96% of salon transactions are now card payments according to NHBF (National Hair & Beauty Federation) 2024 data. With average salon/barber transactions ranging from £25-£60, choosing the right payment solution saves £400-£900 annually.

Salons and barbershops have unique needs:

• Appointment-based payments - Link payments to bookings
• Tip collection - UK salon tips average 15-20% (NHBF data)
• Mobile flexibility - Take payments at the chair
• Retail product sales - Shampoos, styling products alongside services
• No-show protection - Deposit and cancellation fee capability

Top 7 Card Machines for Salons & Barbers

1. Square - Best for Full-Service Salons

Overall Rating: 9.3/10 for Salons

Square dominates the salon market with over 12,000 UK hair salons using their integrated system. The free booking software alone saves £30-£50 monthly vs standalone booking platforms.

Pricing:

• Card payments: 1.75% per transaction
• Monthly fee: £0
• Card reader: £49 (portable) or £199 (terminal)
• Appointments software: FREE

Perfect for Salons Because:

• Free Square Appointments - Booking system worth £40/month elsewhere
• Automated appointment reminders (reduces no-shows by 35%)
• Staff management and commission tracking
• Client profiles with service history
• Product inventory for retail sales
• Customizable tip prompts (10%, 15%, 20%, custom)
• Marketing tools (email campaigns for retail product promotions)

Cost Example: £1,200 services + £200 retail = £1,400 → Fee: £24.50/month

Ideal for: Hair salons, nail bars, beauty salons wanting integrated booking + payments.

2. Dojo - Best for Busy Barbershops

Overall Rating: 8.9/10 for Barbers

Dojo's 0.9% + 9p structure works brilliantly for barbershops with £15-£30 haircuts and high daily volume (20-40 clients). Fast processing keeps queues moving during Saturday rush.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 0.9% + 9p
• Monthly fee: £0 (basic) or £14.50 (with analytics)
• Terminal: Free on 12-month contract
• Next-day settlement

Perfect for Barbers Because:

• Lightning-fast contactless (important for quick turnover)
• Tip collection with preset amounts
• Offline mode (process up to 100 cuts during outage)
• Simple, no-frills operation
• Multi-location support for chains

Cost Example: 100 haircuts at £25 = £2,500 → Fee: £31.50/month

Ideal for: Traditional barbershops, male grooming, quick-service businesses.

3. SumUp - Best for Mobile Hairdressers

Overall Rating: 8.7/10 for Mobile Stylists

For mobile hairdressers and beauty therapists, SumUp's £19 portable reader with 1.39% flat rate offers unbeatable value and reliability.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.39% flat
• Monthly fee: £0
• Card reader: £19 (Air portable model)
• Works via smartphone Bluetooth

Perfect for Mobile Services Because:

• Compact size (fits in kit bag)
• Bluetooth connection (no WiFi required at client locations)
• Long battery life (500 transactions per charge)
• Invoice creation and email receipts
• No monthly minimums or commitments

Ideal for: Mobile hairdressers, home-visit beauty therapists, freelance stylists.

4. Zettle by PayPal - Best for Retail-Heavy Salons

Overall Rating: 8.4/10

Salons selling significant retail products (30%+ of revenue) benefit from Zettle's unified PayPal platform for in-salon and online product sales.

Pricing:

• In-person: 1.75%
• Online: 2.5% + 25p (for product sales)
• Card reader: £29
• Monthly fee: £0

Features:

• Product library for retail items (shampoos, treatments, tools)
• Staff commission tracking
• Customer purchase history
• Inventory low-stock alerts

Ideal for: Salons with significant retail product sales.

5. Clover - Best for Premium Salons

Overall Rating: 8.2/10

Clover offers premium salon POS features with client CRM, advanced reporting, and marketing automation. Higher cost but powerful features for upmarket salons.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 1.5%
• Monthly fee: £29-£59 (depending on package)
• Hardware: £199-£1,299 (various models)

Features:

• Advanced client CRM with service history
• Marketing automation (birthday offers, re-booking reminders)
• Multi-stylist commission tracking
• Inventory management for retail products
• Gift card and loyalty program management

Ideal for: High-end salons, spas, multi-chair businesses with £40,000+ monthly turnover.

6. Worldpay - Best for Salon Chains

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Salon chains with 3+ locations can negotiate volume-based rates and benefit from centralized management and reporting.

Pricing (Negotiable):

• Transaction fee: From 0.95%
• Monthly fee: £18-£25 per location
• Terminals: Free on contract

Ideal for: Salon chains, franchises, businesses with 3+ locations.

7. Takepayments - Best Flexible Option

Overall Rating: 7.7/10

No exit fees make Takepayments ideal for salons wanting to test providers or those uncertain about long-term commitment.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: From 1.15%
• Monthly fee: £15
• Terminal: £99 or £12/month rental
• No exit fees - leave anytime

Ideal for: New salons, businesses wanting flexibility, rent-a-chair stylists.

Real Cost Analysis for Salons

Let's compare costs for a typical UK hair salon using 2025 industry data:

Critical Features for Salon Card Machines

1. Tip Collection (Essential)

Tips are significant revenue for stylists. According to NHBF, salons with digital tip prompts collect 47% more in gratuities than cash-only. All recommended providers (Square, Dojo, SumUp, Zettle) support tip collection with customizable percentages.

2. Appointment Integration

Linking payments to appointments eliminates confusion. Square Appointments (free) and integration with Phorest, Shortcuts, Salon Iris via Dojo streamlines operations.

3. Client Card on File

For no-show protection, storing client cards securely for deposit charging is valuable. Square and Clover both offer PCI-compliant card-on-file functionality.

4. Split Payments (Services + Retail)

Clients often purchase services AND retail products. Systems that categorize transactions help with accounting and understanding your revenue mix.

5. Staff Performance Tracking

Commission-based or rent-a-chair salons need individual stylist tracking. Square, Clover, and Dojo (with add-ons) all support per-stylist reporting.

Barbershop vs Hair Salon: Different Needs

Barbershops - Prioritize Speed & Simplicity

Barbershops average 20-40 clients daily with £15-£30 transactions. Key priorities:

• Fast contactless processing (under 3 seconds)
• Simple operation (no complex POS needed)
• Low fees on smaller transactions
• Tip functionality

Best for barbers: SumUp or Dojo

Hair Salons - Need Full Features

Full-service salons average 15-25 clients daily with £40-£80 transactions. Requirements:

• Appointment booking integration
• Client database and history
• Retail product management
• Marketing and loyalty programs
• Multiple stylist management

Best for salons: Square or Clover

Integration with Salon Software

If you use specialist salon management software, check compatibility:

• Phorest: Integrates with Dojo, Worldpay, Clover
• Shortcuts: Works with Square, Dojo
• Salon Iris: Compatible with most providers
• Timely: Integrates with Square, Zettle
• Square Appointments: Native with Square terminals
• Fresha: Integrated payment processing included

No-Show Prevention & Deposits

No-shows cost UK salons an estimated £42 million annually (British Beauty Council 2024). Card machines can help:

• Booking deposits: Charge £10-£20 deposit at booking (Square, Clover)
• Card on file: Store client cards for late cancellation fees
• Automated reminders: Reduce no-shows by 35% (Square data)
• Cancellation fees: Charge £15-£25 for late cancellations

Square Appointments offers all of this for free. Standalone booking systems cost £30-£60 monthly.

Salon Payment Processing Costs (2025 Benchmark)

Common Salon Owner Questions

Mobile vs Countertop: Which for Your Salon?

Mobile Card Readers (Best for)

• Barbershops - Take payment at the chair
• Mobile stylists - Visit clients at home
• Small salons - Flexibility to move around
• Outdoor events - Hair shows, markets

Options: SumUp Air £19, Square Reader £49, Zettle Reader £29

Countertop Terminals (Best for)

• Reception desks - Permanent checkout location
• High volume - 30+ clients daily
• Retail sales - Product scanning and inventory
• Professional image - Dedicated payment station

Options: Dojo Free Terminal, Square Terminal £269, SumUp Solo £99

How to Choose the Right Card Machine for Your Salon

Decision framework based on your salon type:

• Independent stylist/mobile: SumUp (£19, portable, 1.39%)
• Traditional barbershop: Dojo (0.9% + 9p, fast, simple)
• Hair salon 2-5 stylists: Square (1.75%, free appointments + POS)
• Large salon 6+ stylists: Clover or Square (advanced features)
• Salon chain 3+ locations: Worldpay (negotiate volume rates)
• Retail-heavy (30%+ product sales): Zettle or Square

Salon-Specific Payment Trends (2025)

Emerging payment features in the beauty industry:

• Pre-booking deposits: 67% of premium salons now require deposits
• Subscription packages: Monthly haircut memberships with automated billing
• BNPL for treatments: Klarna for expensive procedures (£200+)
• Digital gift cards: Email/SMS gift cards outselling physical 3:1
• Auto-rebooking prompts: "Book next appointment" at payment

Reducing No-Shows: Payment Strategy

No-shows and late cancellations cost salons 18% of potential revenue (British Beauty Council). Card machines help:

Salon Card Machine Checklist

Before choosing your provider, ensure they offer:

• ✅ Tip collection with customizable prompts
• ✅ Client database or integrates with your booking system
• ✅ Retail product tracking for inventory
• ✅ Staff reporting for commission calculations
• ✅ Fast settlement - Next-day or same-day
• ✅ Portable option for mobile flexibility
• ✅ No surprise fees - Transparent pricing

Final Recommendation

For most UK salons in 2025, Square offers the best overall package with 1.75% fees, free booking software (worth £40/month), and comprehensive salon features. However:

• If you're a solo mobile stylist → SumUp (£19, portable)
• If you run a busy barbershop → Dojo (0.9% + 9p, fastest)
• If you have a salon chain → Worldpay (negotiate rates)
• If you want no long contracts → Takepayments (no exit fees)

Average salon saves £600-£1,200 annually by comparing providers rather than accepting the first quote.