The short answer
Start with the busiest payment period, table and bar coverage, number of simultaneous payments and exact EPOS needs. Compare costs using your average bill and card mix. For another venue, also check per-site charges, permissions and settlement.
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In this guide
Map the busy period
Count how many staff may need to take payments at the same time. Check the dining room, counter, bar and outdoor area separately. A terminal that connects at the front desk may need a different solution at the far end of the premises.
List any till integration, split-bill, tipping and receipt requirements. These are requirements to verify with the provider, not features this page promises on every device.
Use real ticket sizes
A café with many small transactions can experience a different total cost from a restaurant with fewer larger bills, even at the same monthly turnover. For an illustrative 3p transaction fee, 3,000 transactions cost £90 while 600 cost £18.
Compare a representative month and a quieter month. Include every terminal, relevant service charge and any minimum commitment in both scenarios.
Opening another site?
A second location is a good time to review permissions, reporting, reconciliation and settlement across the business. Confirm who owns each contract and which charges apply per location.
Awais can start with your existing setup and the planned opening date. There is no need to enter KYC or bank details in this check. Applications proceed through the employer’s approved process.
Write down the service scenarios
Ask suppliers to demonstrate the workflows you actually need: a bill split between guests, a tip, a refund, a bar tab or a payment in the outside seating area. Confirm which are included in the specific product and which need another service or approval.
Create a practical handover for staff: where terminals charge, who can refund, how to check a payment result and who to contact when something fails. A device specification cannot replace a working process during a busy service.
Use opening and renewal dates to plan
A new menu format, another location or an EPOS change can make the current arrangement worth reviewing. Record the date when payments must work and any notice deadline in the existing agreement.
Awais can discuss these requirements with the available solutions through his role. Use the existing-business check if you already trade, including when the enquiry concerns an additional café, pub or restaurant.
Your comparison checklist
| Trading moment | Requirement to check |
|---|---|
| Peak service | Number of simultaneous payment points |
| Table service | Wireless coverage and charging routine |
| Bar / outdoor area | Connectivity in the actual payment location |
| End of day | Reconciliation, access permissions and settlement cut-off |
| New branch | Location-level costs and consolidated reporting |
Common questions
Can I use my existing EPOS?
Possibly, but the exact integration must be confirmed for your EPOS version and proposed terminal.
How many terminals should I have?
Base the discussion on peak payment demand, staff movement and contingency needs; avoid selecting a number from turnover alone.
Sources and method
Public sources checked on 7 September 2026. Offers can change; your individual proposal and signed terms determine what applies.
takepayments: card machine features and conditions takepayments: processing and settlement conditionsWorked examples are illustrative mathematics, not provider quotes or promised savings. Read our editorial approach.
Apply this to your business
Discuss your setup and the full costs with Awais. No statement needed to enquire.