First Essential UK

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Your Ultimate Business Solution

Everything your business runs on, in one place.

EPOS, card payments, self-service kiosks, AI and your website, joined up with a complete CRM, for UK businesses, 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, 7 days One partner for your whole business Free card machine with EPOS

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

One company for your whole tech stack

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 next-day settlement.

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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

This is not a basic chatbot. Your AI employee answers your phone and makes outbound calls, books jobs and appointments, and captures, qualifies and follows up every lead. It replies on WhatsApp, web chat, SMS and email around the clock, and takes admin off your team, so it works like a real member of staff who never clocks off. And yes, it still handles the simple questions too.

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.

See it in action
Self-service kiosksLet customers order and pay, and free your team for service.
First Pro card machineFirst Pro card machineFree with payments
First Go card machineFirst GoPocket-sized, pay anywhere
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
The free card machine

Start taking card payments, with nothing to lose

Get a card machine free when you take payments with First Essential. No surprises, no lock-in, just one simple monthly bill and a UK team behind you.

Free card machine
One monthly bill
No minimum term
No unexpected fees
Next-day settlement
Pay by Link, get paid remotely
Claim your free machine
From 0.3%* Card terminal, phone and contactless card payment

*Processing rates vary by card type and business profile. Your exact pricing is confirmed during setup.

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.

Book a demo

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
From 0.3%Competitive card rates*
24/7AI and automation working for you
GrowingIntegrations in one hub
All-in-onePayments, POS, AI and CRM

*Processing rates vary by card type and business profile. Confirmed during setup.

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.

Get Started FreeBook a demo
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. Our support is real human help from a UK team, available seven days a week, so you always have someone who picks up the phone.
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. We work with 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?
It depends on what you need, and we keep it simple with one clear monthly bill and no minimum term. Card processing starts from 0.3%, though rates vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup. The best way to get exact pricing for your business is to book a free demo.
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