Every card machine on this shelf takes business credit cards. What almost none of them charges for them at the advertised rate. Commercial cards fall outside the UK interchange caps that apply to consumer cards, so providers price them separately, and the gap is frequently larger than the difference between two providers' headline numbers.
Why commercial cards cost more
UK interchange caps apply to consumer debit and credit cards. Commercial cards, the ones issued to companies for business spending, sit outside them, so the issuer takes more and the acquirer passes it on. Lopay states this plainly: an additional one percent applies for each of American Express, international and corporate cards. myPOS prices all other consumer and commercial cards at its highest published row.
Who this actually affects
A cafe near an office park, a print shop, a trade counter, a hotel and anyone invoicing other businesses will see a meaningful share of commercial cards. A hairdresser or a takeaway usually will not. If commercial cards are more than a small fraction of your takings, compare the commercial row rather than the headline, or ask an interchange plus provider to quote.
Reading a quote for mixed traffic
Ask for four numbers rather than one: UK consumer debit, UK consumer credit, commercial, and non UK. Providers that publish a single blended rate will usually give you the rest on request. Providers that publish nothing will need your card mix before they quote at all, which is why gathering it first shortens every conversation.
Questions people ask about business credit card machines
Do business credit cards cost more to accept?
Yes. They fall outside the UK interchange caps that apply to consumer cards, so acquirers price them higher. Several providers state a specific surcharge for corporate and commercial cards on their own pages.
Can I refuse business credit cards?
You can choose which card schemes you accept, within your acquirer's terms, but refusing a category selectively is impractical at the terminal. In practice you price for the mix rather than filter it.
Is interchange plus better for commercial card traffic?
Often, because it passes through the real cost per card rather than averaging it. Adyen publishes interchange plus for exactly that reason. Whether it works out cheaper depends on your actual mix, so ask for a comparison on your own last twelve months.