Card machines for catering

Portable card payments for outside catering, weddings, corporate events, and anywhere you set up - 4g connectivity, all-day battery, no venue Wi-Fi needed.

Common challenges

Venues rarely have reliable Wi-Fi for your card machine
Battery needs to last through a full event service
Losing sales when guests or clients don't carry cash
Need to take payment on-site at weddings, parties, and corporate events
Seasonal and variable trading makes fixed monthly fees hard to justify
Want to take deposits and final payments on the spot

Why caterers choose uno

Catering means working in someone else’s space - marquees, village halls, corporate venues, private gardens, festival fields. You can’t rely on venue Wi-Fi, you can’t run cables, and you need payments to work first time, every time.

We set up caterers with portable terminals that work on 4G, last a full service, and process payments fast - so you can focus on the food, not the technology.

Works at any venue

4g connectivity means your card machine works in a marquee, a field, a village hall, or a client’s garden. No venue Wi-Fi needed, no asking the host for the password.

All-day battery for long events

Wedding breakfasts that run into evening receptions. Corporate events with drinks service. Festival weekends. We recommend terminals with proven all-day battery life so you’re covered from setup to pack-down.

Deposits and final payments

Many caterers take a deposit when booking and the balance on the day. A portable terminal means you can take both card payments on-site - no invoicing, no chasing, no “I’ll transfer you tomorrow”.

Flexible for seasonal work

Catering is seasonal by nature - busy summers, quiet Januaries. We offer solutions with flexible terms so you’re not paying through the months when the phone isn’t ringing.

What you get from uno

A portable terminal built for venue-to-venue catering
4G connectivity - works at any location
All-day battery life for long event service
Flexible terms that suit seasonal and variable trading
On-site setup and UK-based support

Common questions from catering owners

I can't rely on the WiFi at the venues I cater at. Will an uno card machine work?

That's exactly why we suggest 4G terminals for caterers. The modern card machines that we recommend connect to all of the mobile data networks without needing the venue's Wi-Fi atall. Whether you're in a marquee, a village hall, or a private garden, as long as there's mobile signal, you can take card payments.

Can I take a deposit when a client books using their card?

Yes. Process whatever deposit you deem appropriate. The terminal handles it as a standard card payment. You can also take deposits over the phone using the MOTO function if the client books by phone. Then typically you'd settle the balance with a second transaction on the day of the event.

Catering is seasonal - am I paying fees through the quiet winter months?

With some providers, there's no monthly fee - you only pay the processing rate when you transact. In a quiet January or February, the terminal costs you nothing. We specifically compare options that suit seasonal trading patterns, so you're not paying through the months when the phone doesn't ring.

General questions about uno

Which card machine is right for my business?

It really does depend on how your business operates - there's no one 'best solution' for all, as a Fine Dining restaurant in Covent Garden has completely different operational requirements to a Market Trader in Glasgow's bustling Barras, or a Cardiff Arms Park pub. We make the effort to truly understand how your business actually operates - before recommending the best solution from a range of providers, not just one.

How much does a card machine cost?

It varies by provider and model. With some providers, your first card machine comes with no upfront cost, no monthly rental, and no per-transaction fees - so your only cost is the processing rate on each sale you make. Additional terminals - or those from other providers - may well carry rental or per-transaction fees. The exact cost depends on your terminal type, provider, and monthly card turnover. Because uno works across multiple providers, we compare the real-world, overall costs and then find the most competitive deal for your specific situation.

How long will it take for me to receive my takings?

We know for many UK independent buinesses cashflow is a daily struggle. We can offer various options, with settlement times ranging from just a few hours, to the full three days it takes providers to actually receive your customers money. Whatever your working requirements are, we'll find the ideal solution to match those needs.

Do all uno card machines accept contactless payments?

Yes. Every payment terminal we recommend accepts contactless payments, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and standard contactless cards. Contactless is now the default way most customers pay in the UK.

Will I be able to take 'over-the-phone' payments?

For most merchant-types this will be offered as a default payment option, available on-screen along with contactless and Chip'n'Pin. There are a small number of exceptional businesess operational-types where this is not the case - but for most, 'over-the-phone' payments will be offered as standard.

How can we process refunds?

Any terminal uno suggests would allow you to easily identify the original transaction. If still within the same day as the sale, then the transaction could then be 'voided'(aka 'reversed'). Voids/Reverses are typically instantaneous. However, if that trading day's 'banking window' had closed (typically at Midnight) then it would technically be classed as a 'refund' - which would be subject to the bank's standard 3-5 processing timeframe to complete.

Will we need to do complicated PCI compliance like we do with our current provider?

The great news for you is none of the providers uno works with have complicated anything! For those that require PCI of any sort atall, it really is a simple, painless process that just takes a few minutes per year!

Am I locked into a contract?

Not with every provider. Several of the solutions we offer have no long-term contract - you can switch or cancel without penalty. We'll always be upfront about contract terms before suggesting you commit to anything.

How long does it take to get set up?

Most businesses are up and running within a few days. We handle the supply, installation, and configuration so you can focus on serving your customers. We walk you through everything on-site - so you're confident from day one.

Why go through uno instead of going direct to a provider?

Going direct means you only see a single provider's products, at a single provider's prices. Because uno works across multiple providers, we can genuinely compare options and recommend the solution that suits your business - not just the only one we happen to sell! You also get a dedicated point of contact for ongoing support.

Ready to find the right card machine?

We make the effort to your business, understand how you take payments, and recommend the solution that genuinely fits - not the one with the biggest commission.

Call 07395 451520 Get in touch