Portable Credit Card Machines for Small Businesses

Portable credit card machines are becoming essential for small businesses today. Nowadays, nearly everybody uses cards as their primary payment option – as cash becomes less popular, businesses that rely on cash are getting left behind. Most consumers want the convenience of choice in how they pay, and many small businesses are now seeking control of how they take their payments.

However, if you don’t have portable credit card machines in your small business, you might not know which to choose. As they’ve become more popular, a plethora of providers have popped up, all of which purport to offer the best possible option. However, there are subtle differences between them all. For example, transaction fees, contracts and the initial payment can all play a role in your decision.

At Business Quotes, we try and make comparing portable credit card machines for small businesses a little easier. We’ll give you the best offers from several leading providers when you search for a new machine through us. From there, you can make your investment knowing you’ve got a great deal and with peace of mind. And, to start you off, we’re going to compare three of the leading portable credit card machines for small businesses now:

SumUp Portable Credit Card Machines for Small Businesses

SumUp is one of the leading providers of portable credit card machines for small businesses. SumUp’s machines are known for being good for small businesses as they have low transaction fees. At only 1.69%, SumUp will take less off of you with every payment, potentially saving you thousands of pounds in the long run. Not only that, the machine itself has a long-lasting charge.

However, while you’ll pay less over time in fees, you’ll have to pay more for the machine. SumUp’s 3G portable credit card machines come with an initial fee of £99, which is quite steep compared to others on the market. For that price, though, you get a range of services like payment software and the option for an online shop. As a result, SumUp’s cost can be worth it in the long run.

SumUp’s portable credit card machines are also 3G and WiFi compatible, ideal for small businesses who are more off of the beaten track. However, you’ll still need a minimal phone signal to operate the device, something some others don’t need at all. And, finally, SumUp is contract-free! So, if you’re just starting up or don’t want to sign up for a long agreement, SumUp lets you cancel anytime.

portable credit card machines for small businesses providers

Zettle by PayPal Portable Credit Card Machines for Small Businesses

Zettle is one of the main competitors for portable credit card machines for small businesses. Backed up by PayPal, Zettle gives you the advantage of working with a leading name in payments. As a result, your machine will support a whole range of payment options, including Amex and even Diners Club! Because of this, your customers will be able to pay how they want, and you get the flexibility of working with all of them.

Zettle’s machines have several other benefits, too – these devices are up to 25% faster than average in processing transactions, ideal for busy days. Also, Zettle’s accompanying software and analytics are widely seen as better than SumUp’s, giving you more insights into how to grow your business. And, with a £29 initial device cost, Zettle’s machine is cheaper than SumUp’s too!

However, these portable credit card machines have some drawbacks for some businesses. 1.75% transaction fees mean you lose more money in the long run, and Zettle doesn’t offer the ability to set up an online shop. Additionally, the card machines themselves must be connected to a phone or tablet, meaning they’re less flexible to use. However, for a reliable service with big-name backing, Zettle by PayPal is a good choice.

portable credit card machines for small businesses prices

Square Portable Card Machines for Small Businesses

Finally, you could choose Square‘s portable credit card machines for small businesses. Square is brilliant for start-ups, with a low initial device cost of £19 and low transaction fees of 1.75%, equal to Zettle. Not only that, Square’s machines are simple and easy-to-use, meaning you can get your business trained and operational on them quickly. As a result, there should be fewer teething problems with their introduction.

With Square’s portable credit card machines for small businesses, there’s no contract either. Once you’ve got the machine, it’s yours to use for however long you want. And, if you ever change what your business sells and need extra apps to facilitate this, Square is the most compatible card machine with third-party apps. However, each one may incur a fee, meaning it could be costly to do.

With Square, you can also benefit from included payment software and the option to open an online shop. As a result, Square’s payment platform is a near-complete package, although it could be the most expensive to run in the long term. If none of these portable credit card machines sounds perfect, then there are several other options on Business Quotes, too. You can compare card machine prices with ease and get a new machine in minutes!