Revolut Business UK: Is It the Right Payment Partner for You?

Revolut Business is a UK-founded fintech that combines a multi-currency business account with in-person and online card payment acceptance in a single app. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, Revolut holds an e-money institution licence from the FCA (FRN: 900562). In-person transaction fees start at 0.8% plus 2p per transaction on the Grow plan (£19/month), rising to 1% plus 2p on the free Basic plan. The Revolut Reader card machine costs £49 with no monthly rental. Revolut Business suits startups and small businesses processing under £50,000 a month in card payments. Above that volume, interchange-plus pricing from a traditional merchant account typically costs less. Account freezes are a documented risk, and funds are safeguarded under FCA e-money rules rather than protected by the FSCS.

Key Facts: Revolut Business UK (2026)

Who Is This Page For?

This page is for UK business owners comparing Revolut Business against other card payment providers. It covers Revolut's transaction fees, card machine options, payment gateway, business account features, and the honest risks. It is most useful if you are a sole trader, startup founder, or small business owner deciding whether Revolut's flat-rate pricing and app-based account suits your needs, or whether a traditional merchant account would cost less.

Who Is Revolut Business For?

Revolut Business suits startups, sole traders, and small businesses that want a single app to handle their business current account, expenses, and card payments. If you already use Revolut for personal banking, the transition to a business account is straightforward. Businesses processing under £50,000 a month in card payments are the most natural fit, because flat-rate pricing becomes less competitive at higher volumes where interchange-plus pricing from a traditional acquirer would save more money.

Freelancers and digital-first businesses benefit most from Revolut's multi-currency accounts. Revolut supports over 25 currencies, letting you hold, exchange, and receive payments in euros, dollars, and more without paying a separate FX service. A graphic designer invoicing European clients in euros, for example, avoids conversion fees on money already held in their Revolut euro wallet.

Revolut is a weaker fit for hospitality businesses, retailers, or service businesses that need dedicated in-person payment terminals at scale, phone support, or a traditional merchant account with a named relationship manager. It is also unsuitable for businesses in high-risk sectors, as Revolut applies strict account eligibility criteria and has a documented history of freezing accounts without much warning.

Revolut Card Machine and Reader: Fees, Costs and How They Work

Revolut offers two card machines for UK businesses. The Revolut Reader costs £49 as a one-off purchase and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. The Revolut Terminal costs £199 and works as a standalone countertop device with a built-in screen. Neither device carries a monthly rental fee, which is a genuine cost advantage over traditional acquirers that typically charge £15 to £35 per terminal per month on rental contracts.

Both devices accept contactless payments, chip-and-pin, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Card payments processed on either machine settle into your Revolut Business account typically within one business day. The Revolut Reader suits mobile traders, market stalls, and service businesses. The Terminal suits fixed till positions in retail or hospitality.

Revolut card machine fees for in-person transactions are 1% plus 2p on the free Basic plan and 0.8% plus 2p on the Grow (£19/month) and Scale (£79/month) plans. On £5,000 monthly card turnover through the Reader, the Basic plan costs £50.10 in transaction fees. The Grow plan costs £40.10, saving £10 a month on processing alone, though the £19 plan fee means you need roughly £9,500 monthly in-person turnover before Grow becomes cheaper overall.

For non-EEA cards such as US-issued Visa or Mastercard, Revolut charges an additional 1.5% on top of the standard rate. A US card processed on the Grow plan would cost around 2.3% plus 2p per transaction. If you regularly accept cards from international visitors, compare this against providers with lower non-EEA rates before committing.

Revolut Payment Gateway: Online Fees and How It Works

Revolut's payment gateway lets you accept card payments on your website via a hosted payment page or API integration. The online transaction fee is 1% plus 20p per transaction for UK and European cards on paid plans. This is lower than Stripe's 1.5% plus 20p for UK cards, though Stripe's developer tools and checkout customisation are significantly more advanced.

Pay by Link is included across all plans. You send a payment link by email or message and the customer pays by card without needing a full ecommerce setup. This is practical for service businesses, consultants, and tradespeople invoicing clients one at a time. For a broader look at Pay by Link options, see our guide to Pay by Link services for UK businesses.

Revolut's payment gateway API is functional but basic compared with Stripe or Checkout.com. If your business needs advanced checkout flows, subscription billing logic, or complex integrations, Revolut's gateway may not meet those requirements. See our best payment gateways for UK businesses guide for a broader comparison.

Revolut Business Features

• Multi-currency business account: Hold and exchange funds in over 25 currencies. Exchange at the interbank rate during market hours, with a 0.5% fee at weekends.
• Revolut Reader and Terminal: The Reader is a compact Bluetooth card reader at £49 with no rental fee. The Terminal is a standalone countertop device at £199, accepting contactless, chip-and-pin, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Online payment gateway: Accept card payments via a hosted page or API. Fees are 1% plus 20p per transaction for UK cards on paid plans.
• Pay by Link: Send a payment link by email or message for one-off remote payments, without a full ecommerce setup.
• Direct debits: GBP direct debits via the Bacs scheme are available on Grow plan and above. Useful for recurring billing, though less fully featured than a dedicated provider such as GoCardless.
• Expense management and team cards: Issue physical and virtual cards to employees with individual spending limits. All transactions appear in the Revolut app in real time.
• Invoicing: Create and send branded invoices from the Revolut Business app. Clients can pay by card or bank transfer, with payment status tracked in the dashboard.
• Integrations: Revolut connects with Xero, QuickBooks, and FreeAgent, and supports Zapier for custom automations.

Revolut Business Fees and Pricing (2026)

Revolut Business uses a tiered monthly subscription model. Your plan determines your transaction fee rate and which features you can access. The table below covers the main cost lines as of August 2026.

At £10,000 monthly card turnover on the free Basic plan, the 1% rate costs £100 in transaction fees. Switching to the Grow plan at 0.8% drops that to £80, saving £20 a month in processing costs. The £19 monthly plan fee offsets most of that saving at this volume, so Grow becomes clearly worthwhile above roughly £9,500 monthly turnover if you also use the account features.

For non-UK or non-European cards, Revolut charges a higher rate. Non-EEA cards typically attract an additional 1.5%, so a US-issued Visa would cost around 2.3% plus 2p on a Grow plan. If you regularly accept cards from international visitors, check whether a provider with lower non-EEA rates would save you more over a year.

Hardware costs are one-off purchases. The Revolut Reader at £49 covers most mobile and counter-based setups. The Revolut Terminal at £199 suits a fixed till position. There is no monthly terminal rental fee, which compares favourably with traditional acquirers charging £15 to £35 a month per terminal on rental contracts.

Revolut direct debit collection carries a per-mandate fee, though exact per-transaction charges are disclosed during account setup and may vary by plan. Always confirm current direct debit pricing with Revolut before relying on it for recurring revenue collection. For context on how direct debit pricing compares more broadly, see our guide on direct debit vs open banking payments.

Pros and Cons of Revolut Business

Pros

• No long-term contract: Monthly rolling plans mean you can leave without an early termination fee, unlike many traditional merchant account providers.
• Low hardware cost: The Revolut Reader at £49 is one of the cheapest ways to start accepting cards in person in the UK, with no ongoing rental charge.
• Multi-currency built in: Holding and exchanging 25-plus currencies within one account avoids the need for a separate FX provider. This is a genuine advantage for businesses with European suppliers or clients.
• Flat-rate pricing is easy to budget: A single percentage rate per transaction is simpler to forecast than interchange-plus pricing with variable card-type surcharges.
• All-in-one financial management: Business account, expense cards, invoicing, and payment acceptance in one dashboard reduces the number of separate tools a small business needs.

Cons

• Account freezes remain a real risk: Revolut has a documented history of freezing business accounts with little warning, sometimes leaving businesses unable to access funds for days or weeks. This is the most serious practical risk for any business relying on Revolut as its primary account.
• Not a fully licensed UK bank: Revolut holds an e-money institution licence in the UK, not a full banking licence. Your funds are safeguarded under FCA e-money rules rather than protected by the FSCS up to £85,000. If Revolut were to fail, your money is held in a ring-fenced account but is not FSCS-guaranteed.
• Customer support is limited: Phone support is not available on the Basic or Grow plans. Support runs in-app via chat, and response times during busy periods can stretch to several hours.
• Less competitive at high volumes: At £100,000 monthly turnover, the 0.8% rate costs £800 a month in transaction fees. A traditional acquirer on interchange-plus pricing could cost closer to £400 to £500 at that volume. The difference is roughly £300 to £400 a month, or up to £4,800 a year.
• Direct debit feature is basic: Revolut's direct debit offering lacks the mandate management depth of a specialist provider like GoCardless, which offers better failure handling and retry logic for recurring payment businesses.

Revolut vs Stripe: Which Is Better for UK Businesses?

Both Revolut and Stripe target digital-first businesses with transparent flat-rate pricing and no long-term contracts. The right choice depends on what your business actually needs.

Stripe is the stronger choice if you need a sophisticated online checkout, custom payment flows, or advanced developer tools. Revolut wins if you want a combined business account and payment processor, especially if you trade in multiple currencies. For in-person payments, Revolut's 0.8% plus 2p on the Grow plan undercuts Stripe Terminal's 1.7% plus 5p for UK cards by a wide margin. For a full breakdown, see our Stripe vs Revolut comparison or the full Stripe review.

Revolut vs Square: How Do They Compare for Card Machines?

Revolut and Square both offer low-cost card readers with no monthly contract and flat-rate pricing. Square's card reader starts free (one reader per account), while Revolut's Reader costs £49. Square charges 1.75% per in-person transaction with no additional per-transaction pence fee, compared with Revolut's 0.8% plus 2p on the Grow plan. At £5,000 monthly volume, Square costs £87.50 versus Revolut Grow's £40.10 plus £19 plan fee — a total of £59.10, so Revolut Grow is cheaper from around £1,600 monthly upwards.

Square includes a free POS app and integrates with a wider range of third-party retail and hospitality software. Revolut includes a full multi-currency business account, which Square does not offer. For businesses that primarily need a card reader and POS system rather than a combined account, Square may be the simpler option. See our full Revolut vs Square comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Is Revolut Right for Your Business?

Revolut Business works well for small businesses and startups that want a simple, app-based way to manage their money and accept card payments without separate contracts for banking and payment processing. The flat-rate pricing, no terminal rental fees, and multi-currency accounts are genuine advantages at lower volumes. If your monthly card turnover is under £30,000 and you value convenience, Revolut is worth serious consideration.

Above £50,000 a month in card turnover, the flat-rate model starts costing you more than it should. At that level, a traditional merchant account on interchange-plus pricing typically delivers lower effective rates. The gap widens further if your customers mostly pay by UK debit card, where interchange costs are low and a pass-through model captures that saving directly. Read more on how the two pricing models compare in our interchange-plus vs blended pricing guide.

The account freeze risk is the one factor every business must weigh honestly. Revolut is not suitable as your only business account if a payment hold of even 48 hours would cause serious cash flow problems. If you use Revolut alongside a traditional business bank account, the risk is manageable. If it is your sole account and primary payment processor, the exposure is real. Compare merchant services to see how Revolut stacks up against alternatives based on your specific monthly volume and card mix.