Question 1

How much does a SumUp card machine cost?

Accepted Answer

Hardware starts from around £25 + VAT for Solo Lite, £79 + VAT for Solo and £135 + VAT for Terminal. You buy the device outright rather than renting it, so there is no ongoing hardware rental on the Pay As You Go plan. Tap to Pay uses a compatible smartphone, so there is no reader to buy at all.

Question 2

Does SumUp charge a monthly fee?

Accepted Answer

On Pay As You Go there is no monthly fee, no monthly minimum and no long-term contract — you only pay a transaction fee when you take a payment. The optional Payments Plus plan costs £19 per month in exchange for a lower in-person rate.

Question 3

What percentage does SumUp take?

Accepted Answer

The standard Pay As You Go rate is 1.69% on standard in-person card payments. On Payments Plus the rate is 0.99% on eligible domestic consumer debit and credit card transactions. Other card types and transaction types can be charged differently.

Question 4

What is SumUp Payments Plus?

Accepted Answer

Payments Plus is a £19 per month plan that reduces the in-person transaction rate to 0.99% on eligible domestic consumer debit and credit cards. SumUp suggests it particularly for businesses processing around £3,000+ per month, because the monthly fee is offset by the lower rate at that kind of volume.

Question 5

Is SumUp suitable for high-turnover businesses?

Accepted Answer

It can be. Once you are processing meaningful volumes, the difference between your current rate and 0.99% on eligible cards adds up quickly — and buying hardware outright removes terminal rental. We will look at your actual turnover, rate, rental and card mix before recommending anything.

Question 6

How quickly does SumUp pay out?

Accepted Answer

At the time of writing SumUp advertises that money reaches the SumUp Business Account by 7am the following day, including weekends and bank holidays. Payouts to an external bank account follow SumUp's standard schedule. Always check SumUp's current terms, as payout arrangements can change.

Question 7

Do SumUp terminals need Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Solo and Terminal have both Wi-Fi and built-in mobile connectivity, so they can keep taking payments where there is no Wi-Fi. Solo Lite and Tap to Pay use your smartphone's connection.

Question 8

Can SumUp work without my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Solo and Terminal are standalone devices with their own screens and connectivity — no phone required. Solo Lite and Tap to Pay do need a paired smartphone running the SumUp Business App.

Question 9

Which SumUp card machine is best?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you trade. Solo Lite suits occasional, low-volume or mobile card taking. Solo is the strongest all-rounder for most shops and service businesses. Terminal is the choice when you need printed receipts and point-of-sale in one handheld device. Our recommender takes about thirty seconds and narrows it down.

Question 10

Can I accept Apple Pay?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SumUp readers accept contactless cards and mobile wallets including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

Question 11

Can I accept American Express?

Accepted Answer

Yes. American Express is supported on SumUp's in-person card payments. Note that card type can affect the rate you pay, particularly on the Payments Plus plan where the 0.99% rate applies to eligible domestic consumer debit and credit cards.

Question 12

Can I use more than one SumUp terminal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many businesses run several devices — for example a Terminal behind the counter and a Solo for table service or outside events. Tell us how many tills or staff take payments and we will suggest a sensible setup.

Question 13

Is SumUp good for restaurants?

Accepted Answer

Terminal is well suited to restaurants, cafés and bars: it takes payment at the table, prints a receipt on the spot and handles order taking and item management from the same device, so staff are not walking back and forth to a fixed till.

Question 14

Is SumUp good for tradespeople?

Accepted Answer

Very. There is no rental, no monthly minimum and no long contract, so a quiet month costs you nothing on Pay As You Go. Solo Lite or Solo both fit in a toolbox, and payment on completion beats chasing an invoice.

Question 15

Can SumUp replace my existing card terminal?

Accepted Answer

In most cases yes — you buy the device outright instead of renting it. The practical questions are your existing contract's notice period, whether you need a printed receipt, and whether your till or booking system needs to talk to the terminal. We will walk through those with you before you change anything.

Question 16

Can I keep my existing business bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can have payouts sent to your existing business bank account, or use the SumUp Business Account for faster access to funds. Both are options — we will explain the trade-offs for your situation.

SumUp questions, answered plainly

Find out what you should be paying

SumUp questions, answered plainly

How much does a SumUp card machine cost?+

Does SumUp charge a monthly fee?+

What percentage does SumUp take?+

What is SumUp Payments Plus?+

Is SumUp suitable for high-turnover businesses?+

How quickly does SumUp pay out?+

Do SumUp terminals need Wi-Fi?+

Can SumUp work without my phone?+

Which SumUp card machine is best?+

Can I accept Apple Pay?+

Can I accept American Express?+

Can I use more than one SumUp terminal?+

Is SumUp good for restaurants?+

Is SumUp good for tradespeople?+

Can SumUp replace my existing card terminal?+

Can I keep my existing business bank account?+

Find out what you should be paying