How Much Does a Card Machine Cost in the UK?

One of the most common questions UK business owners ask when looking at card payments is: how much does a card machine actually cost? The answer depends on which provider you choose — and there's a significant range between the best and worst value options in the market.

The Two Main Cost Models

Card machine costs in the UK typically fall into two categories:

• Monthly rental + transaction fees — You pay a fixed monthly fee (typically £15–£30+) plus a percentage on every transaction. This is the traditional model used by banks and older payment providers.
• Zero rental + transaction fees — You pay no monthly fee and only a small percentage per transaction. This is the model that DOJO and similar modern providers use.

The Hidden Cost of Monthly Rental

Monthly rental fees sound small — £20 a month doesn't sound like much. But over the course of a year, that's £240. Over three years (a typical contract), that's £720+ that goes to the payment provider before a single transaction is processed. For a small business with thin margins, that's real money.

Transaction Rate Breakdown

Whether you're on a rental or no-rental model, you'll pay a transaction fee on every card payment. Typical rates for UK businesses in 2026:

• DOJO (via Payment Card Services): Competitive per-transaction rate, no monthly fee
• SumUp: 1.69% standard rate
• Square: 1.75% standard rate
• Zettle by PayPal: 1.75% standard rate
• Traditional bank card machines: 1.5–2%+ plus monthly rental

What About Setup Costs?

With Payment Card Services, there are no setup costs. The DOJO card machine is provided free of charge, there's no installation fee, and the onboarding process is handled by our UK-based team. With some other providers, you'll pay £20–£100+ for the card reader hardware.

What Are the Real Costs to Compare?

When comparing card machine providers, look at the full picture:

• Monthly rental fee (£0 vs. £15–£30+)
• Per-transaction rate (look for rates under 1.75%)
• Hardware cost (free vs. £20–£100)
• Payout speed (next day vs. 1–3 business days)
• Support availability (24/7 UK vs. online only)

The Bottom Line

For most UK small and medium businesses, a zero-rental card machine with a competitive transaction rate is the best value option. There's no reason to pay a monthly rental fee when alternatives that deliver the same — or better — functionality are available at no monthly cost.

If you're currently paying monthly rental on a card machine, switching to a zero-rental DOJO machine is one of the fastest ways to reduce your fixed operating costs.