First Essential UK

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Your Ultimate Business Solution

Everything your business runs on, in one place.

One all-in-one business system UK businesses run on: EPOS, card payments, self-service kiosks, AI and your website, joined up with a complete CRM, from one partner with real UK support that actually picks up the phone. Less admin, fewer logins, more time for your customers.

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UK-based real human support One partner for your whole business Card machine included with EPOS software and POS hardware

Works with the tools you already use

Why First Essential

Everything your business runs on, finally joined up

Stop paying for a dozen disconnected tools. Payments, sales, customers and admin live in one place, from one team that actually answers, part of First Essential Holdings.

Connected by defaultPayments, POS, website and CRM share one source of truth, with no double entry.
AI does the busyworkAnswer questions, qualify leads and book jobs automatically, day and night.
Live in days, not monthsHands-on UK onboarding gets you trading fast, with a team that picks up the phone.
Payments EPOS Kiosks AI Web CRM

First Essential One at the centre of everything you run

The all-in-one business system UK businesses run their whole tech stack on

Pick what you need today, add the rest as you grow. Everything talks to everything, joined up around First Essential at the centre. One partner and one bill, instead of a dozen separate subscriptions to juggle. Because everything shares one source of truth, there is no double entry and nothing falls between the cracks. And when you need a hand, you get real UK support that actually picks up the phone. It all scales quietly with you as your business grows, so you never have to start again.

Every sale Every customer Every booking
First EssentialOne source of truth
Every payment Stock Messages

First Essential One

The all-in-one platform: CRM, unified inbox, booking, invoicing, marketing and automation in a single login.

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Card Payment Solutions

Card machines, Tap to Pay and online payments, with settlement terms shown in your quote.

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Point of Sale

Tills, stock, tables and kitchen, built for hospitality and retail.

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Self-Service Kiosks

Let customers order and pay themselves, and cut the queue.

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AI Solutions

AI assistants that answer, qualify and book around the clock.

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App & Web Development

Custom websites and apps, built around your business.

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Integrations

A growing range of tools connected through one hub, no double entry.

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AI Solutions

An AI employee that does real work, not just chat

Our AI Assistant can help with product questions, capture enquiries and guide customers towards bookings. The functions, information sources and human handover arrangements are agreed for each service. Important decisions and commitments stay with authorised people; the assistant is not a source of medical or regulated professional advice.

AI
First Essential AI
Replies in seconds
Online 24/7
WhatsAppHi, do you have any availability for a deep clean this Saturday?
Hi! Yes, I have 9:30am or 2pm free on Saturday. Which suits you best?
WhatsApp2pm please
Perfect, you're booked for Saturday at 2pm. I've sent a confirmation and I'll text a reminder the day before.
Booking confirmed, Saturday 2:00pm
Answers and makes callsPicks up your phone in a natural voice and makes outbound calls too, answering questions, taking details and passing on what matters, so no call goes unanswered.
Books jobs and appointmentsChecks your calendar, offers real slots and confirms the booking on the spot, then sends confirmations and reminders so fewer customers no-show.
Captures, qualifies and follows up leadsGreets every enquiry, asks the right questions, scores the lead and chases the ones who go quiet, so hot leads never slip through the cracks.
Replies on every channel, 24/7WhatsApp, web chat, SMS and email all answered in seconds, day and night, in English and many more languages.
Takes admin off your teamLogs every conversation, updates your CRM, sends quotes and handles the repetitive busywork, freeing your people for the work that grows the business. It handles the simple questions too.
Explore AI Solutions
Website chat Phone calls WhatsApp Messenger Instagram Email & SMS
24/7Always answering, never off the clock
SecondsTo reply, not hours or days
LessFar less admin
ManyLanguages, day and night
Real hardware, real businesses

Tills, terminals and kiosks that fit your counter

Beautifully simple hardware your team picks up in minutes, with every sale flowing straight into First Essential One.

Self-service kiosksLet customers order and pay, and free your team for service.
Pro card machinePro card machineCard machine included with EPOS software and POS hardware Lite compact countertop card readerLiteCompact reader for the counter First EPOS till with built-in printerFirst EPOSTill and printer in one First EPOS tabletFirst EPOS TabletSell from anywhere Self-service kioskSelf-Service KioskCustomers order and pay Kitchen display systemKitchen DisplayOrders to the kitchen, instantly
Your EPOS and payments bundle

Bring your EPOS and card payments together

Our quoted EPOS software and POS hardware bundle includes a card machine. The written quote identifies the equipment, ownership, charges, any minimum term and exit arrangements. Merchant payment services are supplied under a separate agreement with your chosen Payment Provider, which confirms its approval requirements, rates, fees and settlement terms. We explain the options so you can choose the provider that suits your business.

Scope and charges explained before you agree
Equipment terms in your written quote
Payment rates and settlement confirmed by your provider
Choose the payment provider that suits your business
Explore your EPOS and payments bundle
Card terminal, phone and contactless card payment

Your service quotation

First Essential One

Your entire business, in one login

Replace your CRM, inbox, booking, payments and marketing tools with one joined-up platform that talks to your tills and your website.

First Essential One dashboard — revenue, sales pipeline, appointments, conversations, payments and AI assistant in one login
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Unified inbox

SMS, email, WhatsApp and social messages in one shared thread, so nothing slips through.

CRM and pipelines

Every lead, customer and deal tracked, with the next action always clear.

Online booking

Let customers book and pay themselves, synced to your calendar.

Payments and invoices

Take deposits, send invoices and run subscriptions in the same place you sell.

£

Automation and AI

Follow-ups, reminders and a built-in AI assistant working while you sleep.

Industries we serve

Built for the way your sector works

From cafes and clinics to hotels, museums and the public sector, the system bends to fit you, not the other way round.

Hospitality Cafes & takeaways Retail Hotels Healthcare Beauty & salons Education Museums & culture Holiday parks Automotive Charities Public sector
TailoredCard payment pricing
24/7AI and automation working for you
GrowingIntegrations in one hub
All-in-onePayments, POS, AI and CRM

Your quote sets out pricing, fees and terms before you agree.

What our customers say

Loved by UK & Ireland businesses

★★★★★

Perfect for small restaurants

"First Essential's system is a game-changer for our small restaurant. It's easy to use and has all the features we need to streamline our operations."

Restaurant · Worthing, UK
★★★★★

A must-have for retailers

"As a retail store owner, I couldn't be happier. It's user-friendly, and the real-time sales analytics help me make informed decisions."

Shop · Dublin, Ireland
★★★★★

Ideal for cafes

"This system is a game-changer for our cafe. It handles order customisation effortlessly, and the integrated payment processing is seamless."

Cafe · London, UK
★★★★★

Great for multiple locations

"We operate several restaurants, and First Essential has simplified our operations. With centralised control, we can efficiently manage inventory."

Multi-site operator · UK
★★★★★

User-friendly interface

"One of the most user-friendly interfaces we've encountered. Our staff learned to use it quickly."

Retailer · Ireland
★★★★★

Cost-effective solution

"First Essential's ePOS system is a cost-effective choice for small businesses."

Phone shop · UK

Trusted by real UK businesses

Real UK businesses that run on First Essential every day, from restaurants and shops to clinics, colleges and charities.

Partners & Investors

Our partners, group brands and the institutional investors behind them, including the global investors who back our payment partners.

Ready to simplify your business?

Book a free, no-obligation demo and we'll show you exactly how First Essential fits the way you work.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know

What does First Essential do?
First Essential is an all-in-one business partner for UK businesses. We bring your EPOS tills, card payments, self-service kiosks, AI assistants and your website together with a complete CRM, so everything you run lives in one connected system, backed by real UK support.
Are you UK based?
Yes. We are a UK business based in Worthing and part of First Essential Holdings. Usual support is Monday to Friday, 08:00–18:00 UK time. We also help with emergencies and urgent enquiries outside these hours, including weekends, depending on availability.
Can I get everything from one provider?
Yes. That is the whole point. Instead of stitching together separate suppliers for payments, point of sale, kiosks, AI, your website and your CRM, you get them from one partner, on one monthly bill, all talking to each other with no double entry. Start with what you need today and add the rest as you grow.
Is there a free demo?
Yes. You can book a free, no-obligation demo and we will show you exactly how First Essential fits the way you work. There is no pressure and no commitment.
Do you support my industry?
Very likely. Our solutions are designed for hospitality, cafes and takeaways, retail, hotels, healthcare, beauty and salons, education, museums and culture, holiday parks, automotive, charities and the public sector. The system bends to fit your sector, not the other way round.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on the service and project. Your written quote shows the one-off work, any setup or equipment charges, recurring subscriptions and usage charges that apply, together with scope, support and cancellation terms. A one-off project does not automatically create a subscription. Our quoted EPOS software and POS hardware bundle includes a card machine; the quote confirms the equipment and any conditions. Book a demo for a tailored quotation.
What is included in my quote?
Your quote identifies deliverables, customer inputs, included usage, support and any ongoing charges. Extra work and changes are agreed separately before they start. Any specific service level is set out in the accepted agreement.
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