Card machine for your ice cream business

Fast contactless payments from your van, kiosk, or parlour - 4G connectivity for mobile vendors and competitive rates on smaller transactions.

Common challenges

Losing sales from customers who don't carry cash - especially families and kids
No Wi-Fi when trading from the van or a pitch
Battery needs to last through a full day's trading in summer
Small transaction values mean fees need to be minimal
Seasonal trading makes fixed monthly fees a waste in winter
Need something that handles outdoor conditions — sun, rain, sticky fingers

Why ice cream vendors choose uno

Ice cream is cash-was-king territory. But families, tourists, and festival-goers increasingly expect to pay by card - and turning them away because you’re cash-only means lost sales on your busiest days.

Whether you’re running a van, a seaside kiosk, a parlour on the high street, or a mobile soft-serve setup at events, we’ll match you with a terminal that works for how and where you trade. The seaside kiosks especially - ice cream operators on the Somerset seafront lean on us most heavily through the four months that have to pay for the year.

Van and mobile vendors

The Shift4 PAX A800 connects over 5G, processes contactless instantly, and doesn’t need venue Wi-Fi. Pull up, serve, and take payment - anywhere. The ice cream vans working the Cambrian coast make particular use of this - signal varies cove to cove, so the kit has to find what’s there and run with it.

Parlours and kiosks

A countertop setup handles the queue during summer rushes. Fast contactless keeps the line moving when every customer wants a 99 and a flake.

Small transactions, big volumes

When your average sale is £3–£5, per-transaction fees matter. We compare providers to find the rate that protects your margins on high-volume, low-value sales.

Seasonal trading

Ice cream is one of the most seasonal businesses in the UK. We offer solutions with flexible terms - including options with no monthly fees - so you’re not paying through the winter for a terminal that’s sitting in the van.

Low-cost entry for smaller operators

The SumUp Solo at £79 outright with no monthly fees suits smaller operators or those just starting to take card payments. You only pay when you transact.

What you get from uno

A terminal matched to your ice cream business - van, kiosk, or parlour
4G connectivity for mobile vendors
Competitive rates on small-value, high-volume transactions
Flexible terms for seasonal trading
Simple setup and UK-based support

Common questions from ice cream vendor owners

My customers are mostly kids and families - do they really want to pay by card?

Increasingly, yes. Parents give children a contactless card or phone to buy ice cream. Families at the beach, at a park, or at an event often don't carry cash. The customer you turn away because they can't pay by card is a customer you never see. It's a quiet loss, but it's real.

I only trade April to September - am I paying fees through the winter?

With some providers, no. The SumUp Solo has no monthly fees - you pay only when you transact. Park it in the van over winter and it costs you nothing. For providers with a monthly fee, we'll calculate whether the lower transaction rate saves enough during summer to offset the winter cost.

We get a lot of tourist footfall - do the terminals accept foreign cards?

Yes. We can recommend terminals that can accept Visa, Mastercard, and contactless payments from any country. Foreign cards are generally charged at a higher rate, though we can offer solutions where they're included at the same rate as domestic cards. That's why a full understanding of precisely what ratio of card types your business transacts is crucial before uno can make an informed recommendation.

Our trade is much busier in summer and over Christmas - do I still pay fees in the quiet months?

It depends on the provider. With some providers, there's no monthly fee — you only pay the processing rate when you transact. In a quiet January, your card machine costs you nothing. With others, there may be a small monthly fee regardless of volume. We'll find the option that matches your seasonal trading pattern.

My average sale is £3 - aren't card fees eating my margin?

At 1.25% on a £3 sale, the fee is 3.75p. At 1.69%, it's 5p. On a busy summer day with 150 transactions, you're paying between £5.63 and £7.50 in total fees. The alternative - turning away 30 or 40 customers who don't have cash - costs you far more than £7.50.

I trade in all weathers - rain, wind, direct sun. Can the terminal handle it?

The terminal is designed for regular retail use, not rated for submersion or extreme conditions. In practice, thousands of food truck and van operators use them daily in British weather. Keep it under your serving hatch or canopy - the same way you protect your till - and it handles normal outdoor trading conditions without issues.

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 then 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 understand how your business works, and only then recommend the solution that genuinely fits - not the one with the biggest commission.

Get Started 07395 451520