Market traders & events
Card machines for market traders, stalls and events
Cash-only stalls lose sales every single day. A reader that runs off mobile data and survives a full weekend on one charge pays for itself in a couple of trading days.
What gets in the way
The payment problems we hear most
No Wi-Fi at the pitch
Outdoor markets rarely have usable Wi-Fi, so the reader has to bring its own connection.
Seasonal trading
Monthly fees hurt when you only trade twelve weekends a year.
Lost sales to the cashpoint
Customers who walk to a cash machine often do not walk back.
Our recommendation
Solo for market traders & events
Solo's built-in SIM with free mobile data means the stall keeps trading without Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot, and Pay As You Go costs nothing in the weeks you don't trade.
From £79 + VAT
- Built-in SIM with free mobile data
- £0 monthly fee on Pay As You Go — ideal for seasonal trading
- Full-day battery for weekend events
- Compact enough for a crowded stall
- Digital receipts, no printer needed
The range
Compare the options
Our pick is highlighted, but every reader takes payments at the same rate — choose the hardware that suits your day.
Solo Lite
Best for getting started
From £25 + VAT
The affordable entry point into card payments. Solo Lite pairs with the SumUp Business App on your smartphone, so you can start taking contactless, Chip & PIN and mobile wallet payments without a large upfront outlay.
- Pairs with your smartphone
- Contactless, Chip & PIN and mobile wallets
- Pocket-sized and genuinely portable
- Long battery life for a full working day
Solo
Best all-round card reader
From £79 + VAT
A standalone card reader that works entirely on its own. Solo has its own touchscreen, a built-in SIM with free mobile data plus Wi-Fi, so it keeps taking payments even when your phone is flat or out of range.
- Works without a smartphone
- Built-in SIM with free mobile data, plus Wi-Fi
- Touchscreen with product catalogue and sales history
- Charging station and optional printer solutions
Terminal
Best for busy businesses
From £135 + VAT
The premium all-in-one. Terminal combines card payments, an integrated receipt printer and point-of-sale functionality in a single handheld device — ideal if you are replacing a traditional rented terminal.
- Integrated receipt printer
- Point-of-sale and order taking built in
- Item and product management
- Wi-Fi plus built-in mobile connectivity
Tap to Pay
No card reader required
No hardware to buy
Turn a compatible smartphone into a contactless card machine. Tap to Pay uses the SumUp Business App to accept contactless cards and mobile wallets with no separate reader.
- Uses a compatible smartphone you already own
- Accepts contactless cards and mobile wallets
- Nothing extra to carry or charge
- A useful backup alongside a physical reader
Savings calculator
See what you'd save
Enter your monthly card turnover and current rate for an instant estimate.
Your current setup
Three numbers from your last statement is all it takes.
Estimates are for illustration only. Actual fees depend on card type, transaction type, existing provider charges and SumUp's applicable pricing.
Estimated result
£802a year
Around £66.80 a month lower than your current costs, on Payments Plus.
- Your current monthly cost
- £165.00
- SumUp Pay As You Go (1.69%)
- £135.20
- Payments Plus (0.99% + £19)
- £98.20
Payments Plus overtakes Pay As You Go at roughly £2,714 of monthly card turnover on eligible domestic consumer cards.
FAQs
Market traders & events: common questions
On Pay As You Go there is no monthly fee and no monthly minimum, so a quiet month costs you nothing.
Get a quote for your markets & events setup
Two minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you take in card payments and we'll show you the setup and rate that actually fits.