First Essential
EPOS and payments for retail, UK built and supported
Fast tills, smart stock and contactless payments for shops and supermarkets across the UK, with one local partner and real support from real people.
EPOS and payments for retail that fix your pinch points
A queue building at the till on a busy Saturday. A bestseller sold out just as a regular asks for it. A loyal shopper who has quietly started buying elsewhere. Our EPOS for retail helps UK shops and supermarkets sort all three, with one setup that works the same on the shop floor and online, and real people to call when you need a hand.
What is an EPOS system, and what is a card machine?
An EPOS system (Electronic Point of Sale, sometimes just called a till system) is the software and hardware you sell through. It scans products, takes the payment, prints or emails the receipt, and quietly updates your stock and your sales reports at the same time. A modern retail EPOS does far more than ring up a sale. It tells you what is selling, what is running low, who your best regulars are, and how the shop is trading by the hour.
A card machine (also called a card reader, a card terminal or a PDQ machine) is the device that takes the actual payment. It handles chip and PIN, contactless taps, and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, then settles the money into your bank. In a joined up setup, the card machine talks to the EPOS, so the amount is sent across automatically and your staff never key in a total twice.
The point worth knowing for retail in the UK is this. A till on its own, a card reader on its own, and a website on its own will each do a job. They just will not talk to each other. Stock drifts out of sync, your shopper list lives in three places, and reconciling the day takes longer than it should. We supply the till, the card payments and the online shop as one connected system, so the shop floor and the website always agree.
EPOS for retail: till systems built for busy UK shops
Tills built for busy shops, with stock control and loyalty already on board. Scan, sell and reorder without the guesswork. It is the same dependable EPOS whether you run a single counter or a full supermarket.
Card machines and contactless that keep retail queues moving
Fast card and contactless at every till, so queues keep moving and nobody walks out. Take any payment your shoppers reach for, from a tap on a phone to chip and PIN, on a card reader that suits your counter or your shop floor. Rates start from 0.3%, and they vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup, so you always know where you stand. Ask about a free card machine when you take EPOS with us.
Bring shoppers back with First Essential One
Reward your regulars, win back the ones who have drifted, and send the right offer at the right time. CRM, loyalty and marketing sit together in one tidy platform, so every contact and every campaign works from the same shopper list. First Essential One is our own platform, so the loyalty in your till and the marketing in your inbox are joined up rather than bolted on.
EPOS for automotive and parts counters
Find the right part, first time, and ring it through fast. Our retail EPOS and card payments suit busy parts counters and trade desks just as well as the high street, so customers get served quickly and your stock stays accurate.
Everything your shop needs, joined up
Pick what you need now and add the rest as you grow. It all talks to each other, which is the part no single product rival can match.
Point of Sale (EPOS)
Retail till systems built for busy shops, with stock control and loyalty baked in. Scan, sell and reorder without the guesswork.
Learn moreCard payments
Fast card machines and contactless at every till, so queues keep moving and nobody walks out.
Learn moreFirst Essential One
CRM, loyalty and marketing in one place, to bring shoppers back and grow basket size.
Learn moreAI Solutions
Answers questions and recommends products around the clock, online and in store.
Learn moreApp and Web
An online shop built to convert, in step with your in store prices and stock.
Learn moreStock control
Live stock across till and website, with easy reordering so bestsellers stay on the shelf.
Learn moreLoyalty and offers
Reward regulars and send the right offer at the right time to grow basket size.
Learn moreSelf service kiosks
Let shoppers scan and pay themselves to ease the queue at peak times.
Learn moreWhich kind of retailer are you?
Different shops have different pinch points. Pick the one that sounds like you and we will tailor the setup.
Convenience and supermarket
High volume, tight margins, long shopping hours. You need fast scanning, accurate stock on fast moving lines, and queues that never stall at peak. Loyalty keeps your regulars regular.
Retail EPOS for convenienceBoutique and independent
Lower volume, higher touch, a brand worth protecting. You want a till that looks the part, an online shop in step with the floor, and marketing that brings shoppers back without feeling pushy.
In store plus onlineAutomotive and parts
A deep catalogue and customers who need the right part first time. You need fast counter search, trade and retail pricing side by side, and stock you can trust across a busy parts desk.
EPOS for parts countersWhat retail EPOS and card payments really cost in the UK
Plenty of providers quote a low headline rate, then add monthly fees, long lock-ins and exit charges you only find later. Here is how we work, set against the patterns shoppers tell us they get caught by elsewhere.
| What to check | First Essential | Some other providers |
|---|---|---|
| Card payment rate | From 0.3%, varies by card type and business, confirmed at setup | A low rate advertised, with the real blended cost higher than the number on the poster |
| Card machine cost | Ask about a free card machine when you take EPOS with us | Hardware rental added on top, sometimes for years |
| Contract and lock-in | We talk you through the terms before you sign, in plain English | Long minimum terms (often 24 to 36 months) buried in the small print |
| Hidden monthly fees | No surprises, what you agree is what you pay | PCI fees, statement fees and minimum monthly charges that creep in |
| Switching to us | We help you move across, with real UK people on hand | You are largely on your own, or quote-gated before you see a price |
| Support | UK based, real people, 7 days | Overseas call centre or web tickets only |
| The whole stack | EPOS, card payments, kiosks, AI, web and First Essential One from one partner | A single product, so you stitch the rest together yourself |
What a queue costs you on a busy Saturday
A rough guide, not a quote. Slide in your own numbers to see why faster checkout and self service kiosks pay off at peak.
A walkout is a shopper who joins the queue, waits too long, and leaves without buying. Cut those with faster checkout, more card readers at peak, or a self service kiosk, and the basket stays in the shop. Figures are an illustration based on the numbers you enter, not a promise of results.
Retail hardware to match your trade
Tills, card terminals and kiosks chosen to fit your space and your trade.
Tills and EPOSBuilt for the counter
Take any paymentCard, contactless, phone
Self service kiosksEase the queue at peakHow retail card payments and settlement work
The bits other sites gloss over, in plain English.
Settlement and your money
Settlement is how quickly the money from a card sale lands in your bank. We will set out your settlement timing clearly at setup, so you can plan cash flow rather than guess. No vague promises.
Every card and wallet
Take Visa, Mastercard, American Express where enabled, plus contactless and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Whatever a shopper reaches for, the till is ready.
Security and GDPR
Card payments are handled to PCI DSS standards and your shopper data is treated in line with UK GDPR. We will walk you through what that means for your shop, not hide it in a policy.
Stays working at peak
Fast approvals and tills built for busy trade mean Saturday queues keep moving. Add card readers at peak and let kiosks take some of the load off the main counter.
Stock that stays honest
Sell on the floor and it updates your website, and the other way round. Fewer oversells, fewer disappointed regulars, and bestsellers that stay on the shelf.
Connects to your stack
Link your EPOS, card payments, online shop and accounting so the numbers agree. See what we connect with on our integrations page.
View integrationsRetail EPOS and card machine questions, answered
What is the best EPOS and card payment system for retail in the UK?
What does a retail card machine cost, and is there a free option?
Is there a long contract or lock-in?
Can the EPOS keep my shop and website stock in sync?
How fast will card payments settle into my bank?
Is it secure and GDPR compliant?
Do you support convenience stores, supermarkets, boutiques and parts counters?
Ready to sell more and queue less?
Book a free, no obligation demo and we will map the right setup for your shop, from till and card machine to your online shop. Real UK people, 7 days.
Book a demo