Card machines in Essex
Best card machines for cafes in Essex
For most cafes in Essex, Flatpay is a strong choice: 1.49% on every card type with its terminal, no monthly fee, a terminal with no upfront cost, daily payouts and set-up on site. Dojo's 1.2% is lower for businesses under £100,000 a year but its terminal costs from £149, and SumUp, Square and Zettle charge 1.69% to 1.75%. Compare your own figures with the calculator below.
Get a free Flatpay quoteWhy Flatpay for cafes in Essex
- Percentage-only fee, so a £3.50 coffee is not hit by a fixed charge
- POS with saved orders, discounts and kitchen printing
- Dine-in and takeaway labels on receipts
- Daily payouts for cash flow
Worth checking first
- The POS systems are charged at 1.69% and the bundles cost from £1,495 (Flatpay POS page; the price list shows £1,995 to £2,495 ex VAT, so confirm on your quote); the terminal alone is 1.49% and free upfront
- Compare against what you take: the calculator below shows a year's cost
What cafes need from a card machine
- Fast contactless at the counter
- Low cost on small tickets
- Tips
- Receipts and a printer for the kitchen or coffee bar
Card machine providers compared
Published in-person prices, checked 21 October 2026. Some hardware prices are shown before VAT; follow each link for the provider's own terms.
| Provider | Card fee | Monthly | Terminal | Contract | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flatpay source | 1.49% on all cards (terminal), 1.69% with the POS systems, up to £200,000 a year; 0.99% above that | £0 (minimum card turnover £1,100 a month incl. VAT, assessed yearly; £39 if not met) | £0 upfront (PAX A920 Pro with SIM and printer) | Ask for the terms on your quote | Daily payouts |
| SumUp source | 1.69% pay as you go; 0.99% on UK consumer cards with Payments Plus | £0, or £19 a month for Payments Plus | Solo Lite £25, Solo £79, Terminal £135 | No fixed term stated | Next day at 7am, weekends included |
| Square source | 1.75% on UK cards (1.6% on Appointments Plus) | £0 free plan; £29 (Appointments Plus) or £69 (Restaurants Plus) per location | Reader £19, Terminal £149 (ex VAT) | None stated | Next working day; instant for 1.95% |
| Zettle by PayPal source | 1.75% | £0 | Card Reader from £29 (new users), Terminal from £149 | No contract | Minutes, to a PayPal Business account |
| Dojo source | 1.2% blended under £100,000 a year; custom above | £0 Essential; £11.99 Plus per location | Go Max £149 (offer) or £25 a month | 12 months or 30-day rolling over £100,000 | Next day |
| Stripe Terminal source | 1.4% + 10p (UK and EEA cards) | £0 (£7 a month per reader for mobile data) | WisePad 3 £49, S700 £229 (ex VAT) | None stated | Rolling, free; instant for 1% |
| Worldpay source | 1.50% on Visa and Mastercard (Simplicity plan) | No service fee; terminal hire £0 a month until 31 Dec 2026 (conditions apply) | Hired | 18-month minimum hire | Next business day |
| Teya source | Quote only (no published price list) | Not published | Not published | No lock-in | Next day, every day |
Want the numbers for your business? We will arrange a free Flatpay quote and a call from a local sales manager.
Get my free quotePremium, reward and overseas cards: no extra charge
Customers buying something expensive often pay on a reward credit card to collect points, and visitors pay on overseas cards. Many providers charge you more for those. Flatpay charges the same rate for every card type.
| Fee on a £1,000 payment on an overseas card | Cost to you |
|---|---|
| Flatpay | £14.90 |
| Zettle | £17.50 |
| Stripe Terminal (non-EEA card) | £29.10 |
| Square (non-UK card) | £37.00 |
- Flatpay: "You pay the same low rate for every card type." Its UK pages do not list which card networks it accepts, so for American Express, request info about your specific circumstances. source
- Overseas customers with eligible Visa and Mastercard cards can choose to pay in their own currency. Flatpay charges no extra fee for this and shares 1% of the conversion mark-up with the business as a discount on its fees. source
- Square: 1.75% on UK cards; 1.75% plus 1.95% on non-UK cards. source
- Stripe Terminal: 1.4% + 10p on EEA cards; 2.9% + 10p on non-EEA cards. source
- Zettle: the same 1.75% for major cards and wallets, "even American Express". source
What will card payments cost you in year one?
Fees on your card takings plus the cheapest terminal each provider sells. Published rates, checked 21 October 2026.
- 1.Flatpay£715
- 2.Worldpay£720
- 3.Dojo£725
- 4.SumUp£836
- 5.Square£859
- 6.Zettle by PayPal£869
- 7.Stripe Terminal£913
Flatpay includes its £39 monthly charge when takings are under its £1,100 minimum. Stripe includes 10p per payment. Optional monthly plans, VAT on hardware and providers with no published rate are left out. Your own quote may differ.
Questions
How much does a card machine cost in Essex?
Flatpay's terminal has no upfront cost and no monthly fee; you pay 1.49% on all cards (terminal). Elsewhere terminals cost from about £19 (Square Reader) to £149 or more, and rates run from 1.2% (Dojo, under £100,000 a year) to 1.75% (Square, Zettle). Flatpay asks for at least £1,100 a month in card takings, or charges £39 for that month.
How quickly will I get my money?
Flatpay pays out daily. SumUp pays next day at 7am including weekends, Square and Worldpay next working day, Dojo next day.
Do customers still pay with cash?
Cash was 8% of all UK payments in 2025, down from 17% in 2020. 39% of all UK payments were contactless in 2025. (UK Finance, UK Payment Markets 2026.) Not taking cards means turning some customers away.
Is there a contract?
Contract terms differ: Worldpay asks for an 18-month hire and Dojo 12 months (30-day rolling above £100,000), while SumUp, Square and Zettle state no fixed term. Flatpay does not publish its contract length on its website, so ask for it on your quote.
What is the cheapest way for a small cafe to take cards?
It depends on your takings. Use the calculator on this page with your monthly card sales; hardware matters in year one, the percentage matters every year after.
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Ready to compare your own figures? Get a free Flatpay quote through GetBrent, with a call from a local sales manager.
Get my free quoteMore card machine guides
GetBrent is an independent UK directory. We work with Flatpay and may receive a fee if you sign up through this page; that does not change the prices shown, which come from each provider's own website. Prices change, so check your quote.