Card Machines for Tradesmen & Contractors UK 2026

This page is for sole traders, small building firms, plumbers, electricians, landscapers and other UK tradesmen who want to take card payments on-site without being tied to expensive contracts or bulky equipment. Compare Card Fees is a free, independent advisory service that has helped UK businesses find better card payment deals since 2012. We cut through the provider jargon and show you exactly what you will pay, so you can pick the card machine that fits how you actually work.

What to Look For in a Card Machine for Tradesmen & Contractors Payment Provider

Transaction fees are the biggest ongoing cost and the easiest to compare. Most providers quote a flat percentage per transaction, such as 1.49% per UK Visa or Mastercard debit payment with SumUp, or 1.75% per transaction with Square. At low monthly volumes those fractions of a percent feel small, but at £8,000 a month the difference between 1.49% and 1.75% adds up to around £21 a month, or roughly £252 a year. Always check whether the rate applies to both debit and credit cards, and whether business cards attract a higher fee.

Hardware suitability matters more for tradesmen than for almost any other sector. You need a device that works without a customer's broadband, holds a charge through a full working day, and survives a van. Most portable card readers connect via Bluetooth to your phone's mobile data, which keeps them simple and affordable. The SumUp Air and Square Reader both cost under £40 and fit in a tool bag without a second thought. Purpose-built 4G terminals such as the Dojo Go or Paymentsense Move include their own SIM and cost more upfront, but remove the dependency on your smartphone entirely.

Contract flexibility is critical for tradesmen whose income fluctuates by season. A landscaper earning £15,000 a month in summer may earn £3,000 in January. Locking in a 12-month contract with a £20 monthly terminal rental rarely makes sense unless the discounted transaction rate saves you more than the fixed cost. SumUp and Square charge no monthly fee at all. Providers like Dojo and Worldpay offer tiered pricing with monthly fees that can work out cheaper at higher volumes, but always model your off-peak months before signing.

Settlement speed affects your cash flow directly. Most major providers now offer next-business-day settlement as standard, meaning money taken on Monday arrives on Tuesday. Some providers offer same-day or instant transfer options, though these often carry an extra fee. Zettle by PayPal, for example, settles to your bank account within one to two business days at no extra charge. If you run a tight float between buying materials and getting paid, faster settlement is worth prioritising when choosing a provider.

Fee Comparison Table

Best Providers for Tradesmen & Contractors

SumUp

SumUp charges 1.49% per transaction on all UK and European personal Visa and Mastercard debit and credit card payments, with no monthly fee. The SumUp Air card reader costs £39 plus VAT and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. It accepts chip and PIN, contactless and mobile wallet payments, and the battery lasts through a typical working day. Settlement reaches your linked bank account by the next business day.

SumUp also includes a free invoicing tool and payment links, which is useful when a customer wants to pay by card after you have left the job. The app is straightforward and does not require any technical setup. The main limitation is that the hardware depends on your phone's mobile signal, so in areas with poor 4G coverage the connection can drop.

SumUp is the strongest default choice for sole traders and small firms processing under £10,000 a month. Above that volume, the flat rate may become more expensive than a negotiated account elsewhere. Read the full SumUp review on Compare Card Fees.

Square

Square charges 1.75% per transaction for UK card payments, with no monthly fee and no contract. The Square Reader costs £19 plus VAT and connects via Bluetooth or the headphone jack. Square's free plan also includes invoicing, a virtual terminal for taking payments over the phone, and basic reporting tools, which makes it a well-rounded package for tradesmen who handle a mix of on-site and remote payments.

Settlement is next business day to most UK bank accounts. Square does not currently support American Express payments in the UK, which is worth checking if any of your commercial clients pay with Amex. Customer support has historically been a weak point, with no dedicated phone line for free-plan users.

Square suits tradesmen who want more than a card reader and are happy to trade a slightly higher transaction rate for built-in invoicing and remote payment tools. Read the full Square review on Compare Card Fees.

Zettle by PayPal

Zettle by PayPal charges 1.75% per transaction on UK Visa and Mastercard payments, with no monthly fee. The Zettle Reader 2 costs £29 plus VAT for first-time buyers and has a strong reputation for build quality and battery life. If you already invoice through PayPal or use it to receive customer deposits, Zettle integrates your card and PayPal income into a single account view.

Settlement typically takes one to two business days. One honest drawback is that refunds can take up to five business days to reach the customer, which occasionally causes friction on larger jobs. The app is clean and reliable, and the hardware works well in outdoor environments.

Zettle is a sensible pick for tradesmen who want a trusted brand, solid hardware, and an existing PayPal relationship. Read the full Zettle review on Compare Card Fees.

Dojo Go

Dojo Go is a 4G-enabled portable terminal aimed at higher-volume businesses. Transaction rates start from around 1.4% but are negotiated individually based on your monthly card turnover, so you need to process a meaningful volume for the pricing to beat SumUp. The terminal includes its own SIM card, meaning it works independently of your phone or any Wi-Fi network, which is a real practical advantage on remote building sites.

Monthly costs start from around £20 for terminal rental, and Dojo typically requires a minimum 12-month contract. That monthly fee only makes sense if your negotiated transaction rate saves you more than £20 per month compared with a no-fee provider. At £15,000 monthly volume, saving 0.35% per transaction on Dojo versus SumUp's 1.49% would save around £52 a month before the £20 rental, so the numbers can work for busier contractors.

Dojo is best for established contractors and small building firms with consistent high monthly card volumes who want a standalone terminal that never depends on a smartphone. Read the full Dojo review on Compare Card Fees.

Pros and Cons by Provider Type

Portable Bluetooth Card Readers (SumUp, Square, Zettle)

• No monthly fee and no long-term contract
• Hardware costs under £40 in most cases
• Quick setup, often same day from ordering online
• Relies on your smartphone and mobile data connection
• Transaction rates are fixed and cannot be negotiated down
• Support options are limited on free plans

4G Standalone Terminals (Dojo Go, Paymentsense Move)

• Works without a smartphone or Wi-Fi
• More durable and purpose-built for on-site use
• Transaction rates are negotiable at higher volumes
• Monthly terminal rental fee applies, typically £15 to £25
• Usually requires a 12-month minimum contract
• Longer setup process with contracts to sign

All-in-One Payment Platforms (Square, SumUp with extras)

• Combines card machine, invoicing, payment links and reporting in one place
• Useful if you take a mix of in-person and remote payments
• Often free at the basic tier
• Transaction fee applies to remote and in-person payments alike
• Can feel overly feature-heavy for tradesmen who only need to take a payment on a doorstep

Which is Better For...?

Which card machine is best for a sole trader plumber or electrician?

For a sole trader processing under £8,000 a month in card payments, SumUp at 1.49% with no monthly fee is typically the most cost-effective choice. The Air reader fits in a work bag, setup takes under 10 minutes, and there is no contract to worry about if work goes quiet. Payment links mean you can also chase outstanding invoices by text or email.

Which card machine is best for a small building firm with multiple operatives?

A small building firm taking payments across several sites benefits from a provider that supports multiple users or devices under one account. Square allows multiple card readers linked to one account and includes team management tools on its free plan. For firms processing over £15,000 a month in cards, Dojo's negotiated rates become worth exploring, particularly because the standalone 4G terminal removes reliance on individual employees' phones.

Which card machine is best for a landscaper or gardener with seasonal income?

Seasonal businesses should avoid fixed monthly fees wherever possible. A landscaper earning £12,000 in card payments in July but £2,000 in February will overpay on any contract with a monthly terminal fee during quiet months. SumUp or Zettle on a pay-as-you-go basis keeps costs directly proportional to revenue, making them the safer choice for anyone with income that swings significantly across the year.