How to accept payments without a card machine?
You can take payments with just a phone. Create the payment in an app such as BriizPay, then show your customer a QR code or send them a payment link. They scan or tap it, choose their bank, and approve the payment in their banking app. The money arrives in your account over Faster Payments, usually in seconds, with no terminal involved on either side.
This suits anyone who works away from a counter: market stalls, mobile car washing, trades visiting a customer's home, pop-ups and events. There is nothing to carry, charge or connect to Wi-Fi.
The alternative is a pay-as-you-go card reader from SumUp, Square or Zettle, which costs £19 to £39 up front and then a percentage of every sale you take on it.
Many businesses run both: a reader for customers who want to pay by card, and pay-by-bank as the preferred route because it costs a flat fee rather than a share of the sale.
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Try it on your own takings
Every account starts on the Free plan and your first 3 payments are free, so you can see a payment land before paying anything.