A card payment system is three decisions: who holds the account, what presents the card, and whether a till sits behind it. Published account rates run from 0.79% to 1.75%, hardware from nothing on a phone to 179 pounds for a ruggedised terminal, and till software from free to about 200 pounds a month.
The options, in order of cost to start
Tap to pay on a supported phone: no hardware, contactless only. A paired reader from 11 pounds plus VAT: chip and PIN, needs a phone. A standalone terminal from 39 pounds excluding VAT: works alone. A full till with an integrated terminal: monthly software on top. Most businesses need the second or third, and buy the fourth only when stock or table service demands it.
What secure card payments actually require
Not a feature, but a set of habits and obligations. Never let staff enter a customer's PIN. Never store card details on paper or in a notes app. Complete your PCI attestation, which some acquirers manage for a fee and Tyl by NatWest lists among its charges. The terminal is already certified; the risk that remains is procedural and it is yours.
Comparing providers without a spreadsheet full of blanks
Ask each for the in-person rate, the commercial and non UK rate, the fixed pence element, the minimum monthly charge, the term and the exit charge. Eleven of the thirty two providers read here answer the first in public. For the rest, supply your turnover, average sale and merchant category and ask them to fill the same six in.
Questions people ask about card payment systems
What card payment options does a UK business have?
Tap to pay on a phone, a reader paired to a phone, a standalone terminal with its own connection, or a full till with an integrated terminal. All four run on an acquiring account charged as a percentage.
Can you take card payments on your phone instead of a system?
Yes, for contactless sales, through a provider offering tap to pay on a supported phone. It cannot take chip and PIN, so larger sales still need a reader.
What makes card payments secure at the counter?
Certified hardware plus your own procedures: customers entering their own PINs, no card details written down, and a completed PCI attestation. Some acquirers manage the last one for a fee.