Starting out: market and mobile traders
Your First Card Machine for Market and mobile traders: What to Get
For new market and mobile traders, start with a terminal that costs nothing upfront and has no monthly fee, such as Flatpay's at 1.49% on every card. One catch matters when you are new: Flatpay expects at least £1,100 a month in card takings (assessed over the year) or charges £39 a month. If you expect less than that at first, a pay-as-you-go reader from SumUp (£25) or Square (£19) can cost less until trade builds.
Get a free Flatpay quoteWhat to start with: a terminal with its own sim
Pitches and events rarely have Wi-Fi you can trust. Flatpay's terminal comes with a SIM pre-installed, so it works wherever there is a mobile signal.
Your set-up checklist
- 4G and a battery that lasts the day
- No Wi-Fi on the pitch
- Low fixed costs on quiet days
- Weather-proof handling
How Flatpay covers it
- Terminal with a SIM pre-installed, so it works without Wi-Fi
- No monthly fee
- Flat rate on every card
- Daily payouts
Worth checking first
- Check the £1,100 monthly minimum card turnover against your quiet months
- Ask about battery life for a full market 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 quoteWhat 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.
Card machines for market and mobile traders near you
- Card machines for market and mobile traders in Bournemouth
- Card machines for market and mobile traders in Ringwood
- Card machines for market and mobile traders in Verwood
- Card machines for market and mobile traders in Salisbury
Other new businesses
- First card machine for hairdressers
- First card machine for barbers
- First card machine for beauty salons
- First card machine for nail salons
- First card machine for cafes
- First card machine for gyms and fitness studios
- First card machine for independent shops
- First card machine for florists
- First card machine for garages and MOT centres
- First card machine for dog groomers
- First card machine for spas and wellness studios
- First card machine for jewellers
Questions
What card machine should new market and mobile traders start with?
A terminal with its own SIM. Pitches and events rarely have Wi-Fi you can trust. Flatpay's terminal comes with a SIM pre-installed, so it works wherever there is a mobile signal.
Do market traders need a card machine?
More and more customers carry no cash: cash was 8% of UK payments in 2025 (UK Finance). Salisbury City Council set a target for all its market traders to go cashless.
More card machine guides
Sources, last checked 21 October 2026
Facts about Flatpay come from Flatpay's own website; to get a quote, use the form on this page.
flatpay.com (pricing), flatpay.com (pricelist), flatpay.com (terminal), flatpay.com (kiosks)
Want the numbers for your business? We will arrange a free Flatpay quote and a call from a local sales manager.
Get my free quoteGetBrent 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 facts shown, which come from each provider's own website or the regulator, checked 21 October 2026. Terms change, so check your own agreement.