Best Card Machines for Tradespeople UK 2025

Why Tradespeople Need Mobile Card Machines

78% of UK tradespeople now accept card payments (Federation of Master Builders 2024), up from just 41% in 2020. Customers expect payment flexibility, and tradespeople accepting cards get paid faster.

Key statistics for the trades sector:

• Average job value: £180-£450 (varies by trade)
• Monthly card revenue: £4,000-£15,000
• Payment delay reduction: Instant vs 14-30 days for invoice/cheque
• Bad debt reduction: 94% lower with card vs invoice (FMB data)

Top 6 Mobile Card Machines for Tradespeople

1. SumUp - Best Budget Option for Plumbers & Electricians

Rating: 9.1/10 for Trades

SumUp's £19 portable reader is the most popular choice among UK plumbers, electricians, and gas engineers. Over 85,000 tradespeople use SumUp for its simplicity and low cost.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.39% flat
• Monthly fee: £0
• Reader: £19 (one-time purchase)
• No contracts

Perfect for Trades Because:

• Ultra-portable (fits in toolbox)
• Works offline via Bluetooth (process in basements, rural areas)
• Syncs when back in WiFi range
• Battery lasts 500 transactions (weeks between charges)
• Email/SMS receipts (no paper printer needed)
• Invoice creation for larger jobs
• Rugged design withstands job site conditions

Cost Example: £250 emergency plumbing job → Fee: £3.48

Ideal for: Plumbers, electricians, gas engineers, locksmiths doing on-site work.

2. Square - Best for Professional Image

Rating: 8.9/10 for Trades

Square offers professional invoicing and payment links perfect for tradespeople quoting jobs remotely and taking deposits before starting work.

Pricing:

• Card present: 1.75%
• Card not present (invoices): 2.5% + 25p
• Reader: £49 (portable)
• Monthly fee: £0

Perfect for Trades Because:

• Free professional invoicing with Square branding
• Send payment links via email/SMS
• Take deposits remotely (30-50% common in trades)
• Automatic payment reminders
• Digital receipts with job details
• Photo upload (document completed work)

Ideal for: Builders, decorators, landscapers doing quoted project work.

3. Zettle by PayPal - Best for Materials Purchasing

Rating: 8.6/10 for Trades

For tradespeople buying materials frequently, Zettle's PayPal integration means instant access to funds - use customer payments to buy materials same day.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.75%
• Reader: £29
• Monthly fee: £0

Features:

• Instant PayPal balance access
• Use PayPal for supplier payments
• Invoice creation
• Works worldwide (good for overseas projects)

Ideal for: Builders, contractors managing cash flow, international projects.

4. Dojo Go - Best for High-Volume Trades

Rating: 8.4/10 for Trades

For tradespeople doing 10+ jobs weekly with average £300+ values, Dojo's 0.9% rate beats flat-rate providers on total cost.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 0.9% + 9p
• Monthly fee: £0
• Portable terminal: Free on 12-month contract

Cost Example: £350 electrical job → Fee: £3.24 (vs £6.13 with Square)

Ideal for: Busy tradespeople, multiple jobs daily, higher average values.

5. Revolut Business - Best for Tech-Savvy Trades

Rating: 7.9/10 for Trades

Revolut combines card acceptance with business banking, expense management, and instant access to funds.

Pricing:

• Transaction fee: 1.0% + 10p
• Reader: £39
• Business account: From £0/month

Features:

• Instant fund access (no settlement delay)
• Business debit card included
• Receipt scanning for expenses
• Mileage tracking

Ideal for: Limited companies, VAT-registered trades wanting integrated banking.

6. myPOS - Best for Multi-Currency Work

Rating: 7.6/10 for Trades

Tradespeople working with international clients or overseas properties benefit from multi-currency support with competitive rates.

Pricing:

• UK cards: 1.20%
• EU cards: 1.60%
• Terminal: £79

Ideal for: Trades working with international clients, overseas projects.

What Tradespeople Should Look For

1. Rugged & Durable Build

Job sites are tough on equipment. Look for water-resistant (IP54 rating minimum) and drop-proof terminals. SumUp readers and Square Terminals both survive typical job site conditions.

2. Long Battery Life

You can't charge between jobs. Essential battery specs:

• SumUp Air: 500 transactions per charge (multiple weeks)
• Square Reader: Full working day (8-10 hours)
• Zettle Reader 2: 8 hours continuous

3. Offline Transaction Processing

Critical for trades working in basements, rural areas, or locations with poor signal. SumUp stores unlimited transactions offline via Bluetooth, syncing when you return to WiFi. Square and Zettle also cache payments.

4. Digital Receipts

Eliminate the need for printer and thermal paper. Email/SMS receipts are professional, eco-friendly, and customers prefer them (can file digitally for tax/warranty). All major providers support digital receipts.

5. Invoicing Capability

For larger jobs (£500+), sending professional invoices with integrated payment links streamlines collection. Square Invoices and SumUp Invoices are both free and allow deposit collection.

Cost Analysis for Different Trades

Essential Features for Trades

Deposit Collection

67% of UK tradespeople now request deposits (Checkatrade 2024 survey). Card machines make deposit collection professional and instant. Square and SumUp both support sending payment links for deposits before starting work.

Multi-Part Payment for Large Jobs

For £5,000+ renovation projects, take payments in stages:

• Deposit: 30-50% upfront (send payment link)
• Progress payment: 30% mid-project
• Final payment: 20-40% on completion (take on-site)

Square Invoices makes this seamless with automatic reminders.

Works in Van/Vehicle

Many tradespeople process final payments in their van. All portable readers work anywhere via smartphone connection - no van modifications needed.

On-Site vs Remote Payment

On-Site Payment (Face-to-Face)

Best for: Emergency calls, same-day completion, customer present

Use: Portable reader (SumUp £19, Square £49, Zettle £29)

Fees: 1.39-1.75%

Remote Payment (Invoiced)

Best for: Quoted projects, deposits, final payment when customer not present

Use: Payment links via email/SMS

Fees: 2.5% + 25p (higher for card-not-present)

Getting Paid Faster: Card vs Invoice

Traditional invoicing is slow. Card machines solve this:

Do Tradespeople Need Contracts?

No. Unlike retail businesses, tradespeople benefit from no-contract providers:

• SumUp: No contract, cancel anytime
• Square: No contract, pay-as-you-go
• Zettle: No contract, month-to-month

This flexibility is perfect for trades where business volume fluctuates seasonally or by project availability.

Common Tradesperson Questions

Tax & Accounting Benefits

Card machines simplify accounting for tradespeople:

• Digital transaction records - All sales automatically logged
• VAT reporting - Automatic VAT calculations and reports
• Export to accounting software - Square, SumUp integrate with Xero, QuickBooks
• Expense tracking - Some providers offer expense management
• End-of-year reporting - Transaction summaries for tax returns

Which Card Machine for Your Trade?

Choose based on your work pattern:

• Emergency/call-out work (plumbers, electricians): SumUp (£19, instant, portable)
• Project-based (builders, decorators): Square (invoicing, deposits, professional)
• High volume daily: Dojo (0.9%, best for £300+ average jobs)
• Materials-heavy cash flow: Zettle (instant PayPal access)
• Solo trader starting out: SumUp (lowest entry cost £19)
• Limited company VAT-registered: Revolut Business (integrated banking)

Real Tradesperson Savings

Setup for Tradespeople

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Choose provider - Based on your average job size
2. Apply online - 10 minutes, need business bank details
3. Verification - Provide ID and business proof (UTR for sole traders)
4. Approval - Usually within 24 hours
5. Receive reader - Posted within 3-5 days
6. Download app - iOS or Android
7. Start taking payments - Same day as reader arrival

Conclusion: Best Card Machine for Tradespeople

For most UK tradespeople in 2025:

• General recommendation: SumUp (£19, 1.39%, portable, simple)
• For professional invoicing: Square (free invoices worth it)
• For high volume/value: Dojo (0.9% saves money on £300+ jobs)
• For cash flow needs: Zettle (instant PayPal access)

Most important: Accept card payments. The average tradesperson loses £8,400 annually in delayed payments and bad debts compared to immediate card payment collection.