Taking Payments

How you take payments has a direct impact on cash flow, customer experience, and costs. For many small businesses, especially sole traders, the choice now goes well beyond cash and bank transfers. Card payments, online checkout tools, POS systems, and pay-by-link options have become part of day-to-day trading.

This section covers the practical ways UK small businesses can take payments, both in person and online. You’ll find guides on card machines and card readers, online payment tools, payment fees, and point-of-sale systems, along with help choosing the right setup for your type of business.

Where relevant, we also explain the tax, record-keeping, and banking implications of different payment methods, so you can make informed decisions without paying more than you need to or creating extra admin.