Retail shops
Card machines for retail shops and independent stores
In retail, the queue is the enemy. Your card machine needs to be quick, dependable and simple enough that any member of staff can use it on their first shift.
What gets in the way
The payment problems we hear most
Queues at the till
Every extra second at payment is a customer deciding whether the queue is worth it.
Reconciling the day
Cash-up should not take an hour. Sales history and reporting in one app makes end of day quick.
Paying for capacity you don't use
Rented terminals charge the same in a quiet week as a busy one.
Our recommendation
Solo for retail shops
Solo sits neatly on the counter, works without a phone and has its own screen and catalogue — so it behaves like a till without the cost of one.
From £79 + VAT
- Standalone operation — no phone needed at the till
- Product catalogue for faster checkout
- Sales history and reporting in the Business App
- Charging cradle keeps it ready all day
- Add a printer solution if you need paper receipts
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
Retail shops: common questions
Yes. Multiple readers can operate on the same business account, which is useful for a second till at busy times or a pop-up stall.
Get a quote for your retail shops 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.