The short answer
Choose around checkout demand, average basket value, card mix and your exact till system. Compare per-transaction charges and every device or software cost. Check refunds, reconciliation and branch reporting before changing a working setup.
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In this guide
Compare a typical and peak trading day
Identify the busiest queue, the number of staffed tills and any mobile checkout needs. Confirm connectivity in the actual checkout location, rather than relying on signal at the doorway.
Write down what must connect to the till, stock system or accounting workflow. Integration with a named system needs confirmation at the model and software-version level.
Count the transactions as well as turnover
Two shops can both take £30,000 by card but have different costs per transaction. At an average £15 sale, that represents about 2,000 payments; at £60, about 500. A hypothetical 3p transaction fee would therefore be £60 or £15 respectively.
Use your card turnover rather than all revenue if some customers pay by cash or bank transfer. Make sure returns and unusual seasonal peaks are understood when estimating an ordinary month.
Review when the business changes
A new branch, longer opening hours, an EPOS change or an expiring contract can create a useful opportunity to reconsider payments. Define the operational improvement you want before requesting a quote.
Awais’s free check collects the existing details once, calculates the reported effective cost and creates the starting point for a personal review. Any proposal is through takepayments / Global Payments.
Include returns and interrupted payments
Ask how a partial refund, a returned online order or a payment that appears interrupted is handled. Specify which systems need to update and which staff may carry out the action. Do not assume a basic payment connection includes every inventory or refund workflow.
Check when settlement reports become available and how they map to the till totals. Agree which supplier owns an integration problem so staff have an escalation route.
Review seasonality before choosing a commitment
A retailer with holiday peaks should compare ordinary and quiet months as well as the busiest period. Fixed software, rental and minimum costs remain important when card sales fall.
Use a realistic card-sales forecast for a new branch. Ask whether turnover is assessed separately or across the business and whether per-location services change the combined cost.
Your comparison checklist
| Retail need | A useful question |
|---|---|
| Faster checkout | Does the terminal fit the actual till and queue workflow? |
| Returns | Who can process refunds, and how are they reported? |
| Seasonal trading | What is the cost in quiet as well as busy months? |
| Extra location | Which fees and reporting permissions apply to each shop? |
Common questions
Can the check choose a terminal from turnover alone?
No. Turnover informs pricing, while workflow, connectivity, integration and service needs influence the equipment.
Do I need to upload a statement?
No. Approximate monthly turnover and costs are sufficient to start.
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 Worldpay: card machine options and termsWorked 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.