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Merchant Account Matching

Find merchant account providers for your business

Tell us a little about your business and how you want to take payments. We’ll use the information to understand which merchant account and acquiring providers may be suitable.

1 Business
2 Payment setup
3 About you
Step 1 of 3

Tell us about your business

This helps us understand the type of merchant account and payment setup you may need.

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A short description of what your business sells or provides is enough.
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Your business location can affect which acquiring providers are available.
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Where are your customers based?




Select all that apply.
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✓ We only ask for information that helps us understand your payment requirements.
Merchant Account Matching

Your payment setup

Tell us how you take payments now and what you need from your next provider.

✓ Business
2 Payment setup
3 About you
Step 2 of 3

Your payment requirements

Approximate figures are absolutely fine.

Do you currently accept card payments?
This helps us understand whether you are switching provider or setting up card payments for the first time.
Please tell us whether you currently accept card payments.
Your current provider
If you use more than one provider, please include the main provider or providers you currently use.
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Tell us anything relevant about your current provider, previous declines, account termination, held funds or why you are considering alternatives.
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Which payment methods do you need?
Select all that apply.
Please select at least one payment method.
Approximate monthly debit and credit card turnover.
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What is your average online transaction value?



Choose the range closest to your typical customer payment.
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✓ Your payment methods and transaction profile help us understand which merchant account arrangements may be appropriate.
Merchant Account Matching

Where should we send your results?

Add your details and we’ll review your merchant account requirements.

✓ Business
✓ Payment setup
3 About you
Your payment profile
Business —
Current setup —
Monthly card sales —
Payment methods —
Step 3 of 3

About you

We’ll use these details to discuss merchant account providers that may be suitable for your business.

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Optional: tell us anything else about your payment requirements that may help us.
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Partner contact consent
Please confirm that you agree to your enquiry being shared with selected merchant account and acquiring partners.
Free to businesses · No obligation
Your information is used to assess your requirements and, where you consent, may be shared with selected merchant account and acquiring partners.

Card Machines

Choosing a card machine

What should you consider when choosing a card machine?

The right card machine depends on more than the transaction rate. Where customers pay, how busy your business is, your connectivity, settlement requirements and whether payments need to integrate with other systems can all affect the right setup.

01
Where customers pay

Countertop terminals can suit fixed tills, while portable and mobile card machines can work better for table service, events, deliveries and businesses taking payments away from a counter.

02
Fees, contracts & settlement

Compare transaction charges alongside terminal rental, monthly fees, minimum charges, contract length and how quickly card takings reach your bank account.

03
Connectivity & reliability

Ethernet, Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity can affect how reliably payments are taken, particularly for hospitality, events and other busy trading environments.

04
EPOS, booking & software integration

Integrated terminals can connect payments with tills, booking systems, stock management and other software, helping reduce manual entry and reconciliation.

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Need your card machine to work with EPOS?

If payments need to connect with a till or point-of-sale system, see our EPOS & POS advice. You can also explore card machine and EPOS providers.

Quick Summary

Card Machines UK

  • Compare the full payment arrangement, not just the price of the card machine.
  • Countertop, portable, mobile and phone-based payment options suit different businesses.
  • Transaction fees can become more important than hardware cost as card turnover increases.
  • Check settlement, connectivity, support and contract terms before choosing a provider.
  • Businesses using EPOS or other software should check compatibility before signing a payment agreement.
  • Existing merchants should review their current costs and contract terms before switching.
Card Machine Advice

Choosing a card machine is about more than the terminal itself.

UK businesses need to consider how and where customers pay, transaction costs, settlement, connectivity, contract terms and whether the terminal needs to work with EPOS, booking or other business software.

Merchant Advice Service helps businesses understand these requirements before comparing providers.

How MAS Helps

Start with your business, not the card machine

We help you understand what your payment setup actually needs before you compare providers.

01 · Understand

Understand the whole setup

Consider terminal type, card turnover, transaction costs, settlement, connectivity, contracts and integrations together.

02 · Compare

Compare around your business

Your sector, payment volumes, transaction values, software and existing provider all help determine what may be suitable.

03 · Find

Find relevant providers

Use our provider information and matching service to explore payment providers that may fit your requirements.

Ready to compare card machine providers?
Tell us about your business, current payment setup and what you need from your next provider.
Compare Card Machine Providers
Card Machine Advice

Find the right card payment setup

Explore our guides by payment requirement, from straightforward terminals to complex integrated payment setups.

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Small Business

Compare readers, terminals and merchant-service options.

Explore →
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Costs & Fees

Understand hardware, transaction and ongoing payment costs.

Explore →
▣

Countertop & Portable

Choose terminals around where and how customers pay.

Explore →
◉

Tap to Pay

Accept contactless payments using a compatible smartphone.

Explore →
✓

Choosing a Provider

Compare providers around your actual payment requirements.

Explore →
MAS Specialism

Complex Integrations

EPOS, APIs, gateways, software, booking platforms and multi-site setups.

Explore integrated payments →
⌁

Connectivity & Backup

Plan for Wi-Fi, mobile connectivity, outages and backup payments.

Explore →
⇄

Switching Provider

Change provider without overlooking contracts, integrations or settlement.

Explore →
Compare Card Machine Providers

Tell us what your payment setup needs to do

Whether you need a straightforward card machine or a more complex setup involving EPOS, booking software, integrations, multiple locations or existing payment infrastructure, tell us about your requirements and we can help you explore providers that may be suitable.

Compare Card Machine Providers
✓ Independent UK payment advice ✓ Straightforward & complex requirements ✓ Provider matching based on your business
Before You Choose

What should you compare when choosing a card machine provider?

The lowest advertised rate or cheapest terminal does not always mean the lowest overall payment cost or the most suitable setup.

01

Transaction Costs

Compare pricing using your actual card turnover, transaction values and card mix rather than headline rates alone.

Understand transaction fees →
02

Terminal Requirements

Consider whether you need countertop, portable, mobile, Tap to Pay or several types of terminal across the business.

Explore terminal options →
03

Settlement

Check when processed funds reach your business account and whether faster settlement is operationally important.

Understand settlement times →
04

Connectivity

Understand whether terminals use Wi-Fi, Ethernet or mobile data and what happens if the primary connection fails.

Plan for outages →
05 · MAS Specialism

Software & Integrations

Check compatibility with EPOS, booking systems, gateways, APIs, existing software and wider payment infrastructure.

Explore integrated payments →
06

Contracts & Switching

Check minimum terms, notice periods, terminal agreements and whether switching provider affects existing integrations.

Plan a provider switch →
Card machines by industry

Card machines and payment setups for different types of business

Different industries use card payments in very different ways. The right setup can depend on where customers pay, transaction values, deposits, recurring payments, software integrations and how payments need to be reconciled.

01

Retail, hospitality & service businesses

Terminals often need to work alongside tills, booking systems, stock, staff workflows or mobile trading.

▣
Card machines for retail shops

Countertop terminals, refunds, stock, ecommerce, multi-site reporting and integrated retail EPOS.

Retail payments guide →
◇
Restaurants, pubs & hospitality

Pay-at-table terminals, tipping, deposits, booking platforms, EPOS and busy multi-site operations.

Hospitality payments guide →
✦
Hair & beauty salons

Card terminals, appointment deposits, booking software, repeat customers and integrated EPOS.

Salon payments guide →
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Taxi & private hire

Mobile card machines, connectivity and taking payments reliably while trading away from a fixed location.

Taxi payments guide →
02

Healthcare, clinics & practices

Healthcare businesses can combine reception payments, deposits, higher-value treatment, remote collections, recurring plans and specialist practice software.

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Private doctors & clinics

Reception payments, consultation fees, deposits, payment links and practice-management integrations.

Private healthcare payments →
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NHS GP practices

Card terminals and remote payment options for permitted private fees, reports and chargeable services.

GP practice payments →
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Veterinary practices

Reception terminals, emergency treatment bills, deposits, payment links, insurance and health plans.

Veterinary payments →
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Dentists

Card-present payments, treatment deposits, higher-value procedures, payment plans and dental software.

Dental payments guide →
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Opticians & optical retail

Retail terminals, deposits, NHS voucher payments, balances and recurring contact-lens subscriptions.

Optician payments guide →
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Aesthetics clinics

In-clinic payments, booking deposits, treatment packages, stored cards and clinic-software requirements.

Aesthetics payments guide →
Healthcare payments Explore our complete healthcare payments guide

Compare payment requirements across private healthcare, GP practices, dentists, vets, opticians, aesthetics and healthcare software.

→

Check out our Card Machines advice

View all advice

What Our Customers Say...

Libby was fantastic in coming to the rescue to help me sort card machine for my business without any charge, would highly recommend.
I had a brief phone call with Libby to outline our needs and within an hour I was being called by a processing bank to get things moving. Our new provider has been set up within 48 hours and we are overjoyed and stress free. Thank you Libby, what a…
Great service 👍🏻
Great service, thank you
1st class service, nothing but good things to say about this business. From first contact nothing has been to much trouble.
Using merchant services has helped my business no end. Great service, really professional and nothing was ever too much trouble when asking questions. Thank you!
Great service from the team. Would highly recommend using them!
Great thanks to Merchant Advise Service and Libby James. We encountered a problem with our existing merchant that led us unable to process customer payments which as a small business was a disaster. Libby quickly matched us with a new merchant and…
I contacted Merchant Advice Service when our company received notice from a previous provider. We’re classed as “travel” due to the nature of our UK holiday business. At the time we reached out to a few providers - however the advice we received fr…
    Next Steps

    Tell us what your payment setup needs to do

    Whether you need a straightforward card machine or a more complex setup involving EPOS, booking software, integrations, multiple locations or existing payment infrastructure, we can help you understand the requirement before exploring providers that may be suitable.

    01

    Tell us about your business

    Share your sector, payment volumes, current setup and what you need from your next provider.

    02

    We review the requirement

    We consider factors such as transaction profile, terminals, settlement, software and integration requirements.

    03

    Explore suitable providers

    Where appropriate, we can introduce you to providers that may fit your business and payment requirements.

    Straightforward terminals, complex integrations and everything in between.
    Compare Card Machine Providers

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which card machine is best for my business?

    The best card machine depends on your industry, transaction volume, and specific needs. We offer personalised recommendations to ensure you get the most suitable solution.

    Are there any hidden fees with the card machines you recommend?

    No, we provide transparent advice. Any costs will be clearly outlined so you can make an informed decision without worrying about unexpected fees.

    How quickly can I start using a new card machine?

    With our guidance, you can have your new card machine set up and operational in a matter of days, allowing you to start accepting payments right away.

    Do you offer support after I’ve chosen a card machine?

    Yes, we’re here to assist you with any questions or issues that arise, ensuring your payment system runs smoothly at all times.

    What types of card machines do you recommend?

    We recommend a range of card machines, including countertop, portable, and mobile options, depending on your business type and transaction needs. Our advice is tailored to ensure you get the best fit for your specific situation.

    How long does it take to set up a new card machine?

    Setup times can vary, but with our expert guidance, you can typically have your new card machine up and running within a few days, allowing you to start processing payments quickly.

    Are there any hidden fees with the card machines you suggest?

    No, we provide transparent recommendations with clear pricing. You’ll know all the costs upfront, so you can choose a solution without worrying about unexpected fees.

    Can I switch to a new card machine if I’m unhappy with my current provider?

    Absolutely. We can help you transition smoothly to a new card machine that better suits your needs, ensuring minimal disruption to your business operations.

    Ready to Compare?

    Find a card machine setup that fits your business

    Tell us about your business, payment volumes and requirements. We can help you explore providers for straightforward card machine setups as well as more complex requirements involving EPOS, software integrations, multiple locations or existing payment infrastructure.

    Compare Card Machine Providers
    ✓ Independent UK payment advice ✓ Straightforward & complex requirements ✓ Matching based on your business needs