First Essential
Card machines and payment solutions UK businesses trust
Card machines UK businesses rely on, plus Tap to Pay on your phone, payment links and online payments, all from one UK partner. Real people to call when you need them, and your money the next working day.
Card payment solutions made for you
Pick how you want to get paid. Every card machine and payment method talks to the same dashboard, and there is a UK team on hand if you need a hand.
Card machines and readers
Countertop, portable and mobile card readers for every counter and queue.
Learn moreTap to Pay on phone
Turn your phone into a card machine and take payments straight away.
Learn morePay by Link
Send a secure payment link by text or email and get paid remotely.
Learn moreNext-day settlement
Your takings land the next working day, so cash flow keeps moving.
Learn moreReal-time analytics
Track sales and trends across every terminal from one clear dashboard.
Learn morePricing that fits
Rates set around your business, billed monthly or annually.
See pricingWhat is a card machine, and how do card payment fees work?
A plain-English guide to card readers, settlement and the fees some providers would rather you did not read closely.
What a card machine actually is
A card machine, sometimes called a card reader or a payment terminal, is the device that lets your customers pay by card or phone. The customer taps, inserts or swipes, the machine checks the payment with their bank, and the money is sent to your account. A countertop terminal sits by the till, a portable one moves around the shop or restaurant, and a mobile reader works anywhere there is a 4G or wifi signal.
Tap to Pay on your phone does the same job without separate hardware. Your phone becomes the card machine, which is handy for market stalls, mobile trades and pop-ups.
How card payment fees work
Most providers charge a small percentage of each sale (the processing rate) and may add a monthly fee for the machine and the account. The rate you pay depends on the card type (a high-street debit card costs less to process than a rewards or business card) and on your kind of business. Our rates start from 0.3%, and because rates vary by card type and business, your exact pricing is confirmed at setup. With us there is one clear monthly bill rather than charges scattered across several lines.
Settlement: when your money arrives
Settlement is how long it takes for the money from a sale to reach your bank account. Some providers hold funds for several days. We offer next-day settlement, so takings from one working day land the next, which keeps your cash flow steady.
What to look for (and watch out for)
- The all-in rate, not the headline. Ask what you pay across every card type and every fee, not just the lowest advertised number.
- The contract length. Many UK providers tie you in for 24 to 48 months. We have no minimum term.
- Hidden monthly charges. Look for separate line items for PCI, statements, minimum monthly fees and authorisation fees. Our bill is one line.
- How fast you can reach a human. When your counter stops, a real UK person on the phone matters more than a chatbot.
- What else it connects to. A card machine that links to your till, kiosks and reporting saves more than one that just takes payments.
Want the connected version? See how our EPOS till system and First Essential One work alongside your card payments.
Card machines and card readers that keep up with you
Dependable, easy to use card machines for the counter, the floor and everywhere in between, with a UK team behind them.
Card machines UK businesses choose: countertop, portable or mobile?
Three ways to take card payments, matched to how and where you sell. Not sure which? A UK human will help you pick.
Countertop card machine
Sits at the counter and connects by ethernet or wifi. Built for steady, high-volume tills in shops, takeaways and reception desks.
- Fast at busy counters
- Mains powered, always on
- Pairs with your EPOS till
Portable card machine
Wifi or 4G handheld you carry to the table, the chair or the queue. Ideal for hospitality, salons and anywhere the customer is not standing at a till.
- Pay at the table or chair
- Long battery for full shifts
- 4G keeps working if wifi drops
Mobile reader and Tap to Pay
A pocket-sized First Go reader, or Tap to Pay on your own phone with no extra hardware. Made for market stalls, mobile trades, deliveries and pop-ups.
- Pay anywhere with signal
- No fixed counter needed
- Tap to Pay uses just your phone
First Pro card machineCountertop, free with EPOS
First GoPocket-sized, pay anywhereStart taking card payments with nothing to lose.
Everything you need to get paid, on terms that suit your business. Clear pricing, no surprises, and a UK team you can actually reach.
*Processing rates vary by card type and business profile. Your exact pricing is confirmed during setup.
Transparent card payment pricing, no small print games
We will be straight with you. Card processing pricing is rarely one fixed number, because rates genuinely vary by card type and business. What we can promise is how we behave: plain terms, one bill, and no lock-in. Here is how that compares to the way a lot of UK providers operate.
| What you care about | First Essential UK | Some other providers |
|---|---|---|
| Card machine cost | Free First Pro card machine with EPOS | Often a monthly hardware rental on top of fees |
| Processing rate | From 0.3%, varies by card type and business, confirmed at setup | A low headline rate that may not apply to most of your cards |
| Contract length | No minimum term | Commonly 24 to 48 month lock-ins with exit fees |
| Your monthly bill | One clear monthly bill | Separate charges for PCI, statements and minimum fees |
| Settlement | Next working day | Often several working days before funds clear |
| Support | Real UK people, 7 days | Offshore call centres or chatbots first |
| What else it connects to | EPOS, kiosks, AI, web and First Essential One from one partner | Card payments only, the rest is someone else's problem |
"Some other providers" describes patterns widely reported across the UK card payments market. We do not name or speak for any individual company, and you should always check a provider's own current terms. Our rates start from 0.3%, vary by card type and business, and are confirmed at setup.
Processing rates vary by card type and business profile. Your exact pricing is confirmed during setup.
What every card payment includes
The detail that matters when you take card payments day in, day out, from accepted cards to security.
Cards and wallets accepted
Take Visa, Mastercard and the major schemes, plus contactless and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Your customers pay the way they want, and you never miss a sale because a card type was not supported.
Next-day settlement
Money from a working day's sales reaches your account the next working day. Steady cash flow means you can pay suppliers, cover wages and reorder stock without waiting days for your own takings.
Connectivity that does not drop
Portable and mobile card readers run on wifi or a built-in 4G SIM, so if your broadband wobbles, the terminal carries on over mobile data. Your queue keeps moving even when the wifi does not.
Security and GDPR
Card data is encrypted and handled to UK card-industry security standards, so sensitive details never sit on your own systems. Customer information is processed in line with UK GDPR. Read more on our about page.
More than card payments: your whole counter, connected
Most providers stop at the card machine. We do the rest too, so your payments, till, kiosks, website and AI all come from one UK partner and one monthly bill. That is the part no single-product rival can match.
Card payment solutions for every kind of UK business
From the shop floor to financial services, we match the right card machine and payment setup to your sector.
Retail and hospitality
Fast, dependable payments for busy counters, tables and queues.
Learn moreFinancial services
Secure, compliant payment processing for regulated work.
Learn moreInsurance
Smooth premium collection with flexible billing options.
Learn moreATM estates
Reliable cash access and management across your sites.
Learn moreReal UK support behind every card payment
When something needs sorting, you get a real person on the phone, not a long hold. That means your counter keeps moving and your day stays on track.
Card machine and card payment FAQs
The questions worth asking any UK card payment provider, answered straight.
How much does a card machine cost, and is there really a free one?
What are your card processing rates and fees?
Is there a contract or a long lock-in?
How quickly do I get my money (settlement)?
Which cards and payment types do you accept?
Can I switch to you from my current provider, and can I keep my current till?
Are card payments secure and GDPR compliant?
More from First Essential
Ready to accept card payments wherever you are?
Book a free, no-obligation demo and we will set you up with the right card machine and payment solution for the way you work. No lock-in, one clear bill, real UK support.
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