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Taking payments as a small business

How you take payments is crucial for any small business. And the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift away from cash to contactless. According to UK Finance, the total value of contactless transactions in 2021 hit £165.9bn, more than double the amount recorded in 2019 pre pandemic.

However, whereas before taking card payments was just a matter of renting a card reader, today’s payment systems are truly sophisitacted, connecting your till, your inventory and even direct to your bank account – which means you can even borrow money against your cashless payments. Today’s payment systems are seamlessly connected.

But where do you start when it comes to contactless payments? What’s the best electronic payment system to use? How do they compare?

On this page, you can discover 11 of the best payment processors, which card payment machines are idea for your small business, optimising cash flow with cashless payments, the best payment systems for outdoor festivals, pop-ups and street food markets, and even which is the best payment system for accepting US dollars.

10 card payment machines ideal for small business

Featuring the SumUp Air, Zettle 2, and Small Business Pro, we break down the fees and functions of the best card payment machines for UK small businesses

Business Technology

Taking payments as a small business

How to take a card payment over the phone using a virtual terminal

If you have a telephone, an internet connection, a merchant account, and a virtual terminal, you can start taking payments over the phone today

Guides

Taking payments as a small business

Taking card payments – everything you need to know

Articles

Business Technology

Best payment processors for UK small businesses -11 of the best

What's the best payment system for your small business? We review 11 of the best payment processors for UK SMEs

Taking payments as a small business

Are there any free card readers for small businesses?

Cutting costs is a key focus for a lot of small businesses at the moment. Here are the card readers at the lowest price – purchase or rental

Taking payments as a small business

5 ways to reduce your merchant processing fees

Taking payments as a small business

How to set up a POS system for your small business

Find out how to set up and get the most out of a POS system for your retail or hospitality business

Taking payments as a small business

Five tips to get started taking card payments

Andy Macauley, chief operating officer of Handepay, gives some concise pointers to taking card payments

Advice

The complete checklist on starting a business the simple way

Read our simple 18-item checklist to take you through every step of starting your own business. All your questions answered.

Taking payments as a small business

8 payment systems for festivals, pop-ups and street food markets

Take a look at this rundown of payment systems that are ideal for festivals, street food markets, pop-ups and promotional events

Getting Online

Your guide to starting an online business

A survey of small and micro-businesses found businesses with a website were 51 per cent more likely to grow than those without

Taking payments as a small business

Best payment apps for small businesses

With the number of payment methods increasing, your small business needs to be able to accommodate with all-in-one payment apps

Business Ideas & Planning

Top five online businesses you can start today

Ground-breaking companies have been founded in garages, dorm rooms and home offices. Here are five online business ideas for inspiration

Taking payments as a small business

How can small businesses take payments?

This Small Business guide looks at all the ways you can take payments, the best handheld devices for the self-employed, payment apps and finds the cheapest card readers out there

Accounting

6 of the best payment systems for accepting US dollars

If you have a lot of customers Stateside, you'll want them to be able to pay in US dollars. We look at the best payment systems for USD.

Partner content

Attracting and keeping top talent through Total Reward

Employment benefits specialist, Drewberry, explain why you should base your benefits around a Total Reward Strategy

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5 things every small business owner needs to know before starting

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Professional indemnity insurance provides cover if somebody sues your business and they allege that your advice caused financial loss or damaged their brand. It’s not just for accountants and lawyers but for anyone offering a personal service, even web designers

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Benefits of switching to the right business bank account

We've teamed up with the Current Account Switch Service to explain the benefits of switching your business bank account.