Card machine for your mobile business

Take card payments at your customer's door, in their home, or wherever you work - portable, 4G-connected, and no fixed line needed.

Common challenges

  • Losing jobs because clients don't have cash ready
  • Chasing bank transfers or cash after the job is awkward
  • Need a terminal that works anywhere you go
  • Don't want high monthly fees for a small operation
  • Want to look professional when taking payment

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Recommended solutions

Shift4

Pax A800

Portable/countertop Android terminal with 5.7-inch touchscreen and Payment & POS functionality. Built-in Wi-Fi & 4G connectivity, along with thermal printing. Includes merchant branding on-screen, an intuitive over-the-phone payment flow, on-board POS features, and is configurable for full POS integration.

  • 5.7-inch HD touchscreen
  • Built-in printer
  • Wi-Fi & 4G
  • Contactless, Chip & Pin, over-the-phone
  • Fast contactless transacting
  • Integrates with its provider's own POS only
  • Android POS and payments
Contract
negotiable

SumUp

Solo

Compact, buy-outright card machine with Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. No monthly fees, no contract - just a one-off hardware cost and a simple flat transaction rate. Ideal for very low volume merchants.

  • 3.5-inch greyscale touchscreen
  • Wi-Fi and multi-network 4G
  • Contactless, Chip & Pin, Payment-Links
  • No monthly fees
  • No contract
  • Buy outright - yours to keep
Contract
No contract

Why mobile businesses choose uno

If you work at your customer’s location - dog grooming, mobile hairdressing, cleaning, personal training, mobile mechanics - taking card payments on the spot means getting paid immediately instead of chasing transfers later.

Payment at the door

The Dojo PAX A920 connects over 4G, so you can take card payments wherever you’re working. Contactless, Chip & Pin, Apple Pay - however your client wants to pay.

Low-cost entry

The SumUp Solo at £79 outright with no monthly fees is ideal for sole traders watching their overheads. Higher transaction rate, but zero fixed costs.

Professional image

Turning up with a proper card machine looks more professional than asking for a bank transfer. It builds trust and makes repeat bookings easier.

What you get from uno

  • A portable terminal that works on 4G wherever you go
  • Options from zero monthly fees to lower transaction rates
  • No long-term contract lock-in
  • UK-based support

Common questions from mobile business owners

I work at customers' locations - can I take payment on-site?

Yes. A portable terminal with 4G connectivity fits in your work bag, toolbox, or vehicle. Process payment at the customer's home, office, or wherever the job is. No need for their Wi-Fi - the terminal connects independently via mobile data.

My income varies week to week - is there a card machine with no fixed costs?

Yes. The SumUp Solo at £79 has no monthly fees and no contract. You only pay the 1.69% transaction rate when you actually take a payment. In a quiet week with zero card transactions, it costs you zero. For mobile businesses with variable income, this eliminates the fixed cost risk.

I'm a sole trader - can I get a card machine without a long contract?

Yes. The SumUp Solo is £79 outright with no contract and no monthly fees - you own the terminal. For a sole-trader barber doing a handful of card payments a day, this keeps fixed costs at zero. If your card volume grows, we can compare whether moving to a lower-rate terminal saves more money.

I currently invoice clients and chase bank transfers - would a card machine be faster?

Dramatically faster. Instead of sending an invoice, waiting for a transfer, and following up when it doesn't arrive, you take card payment on the spot. Job done, payment done, move on. Most mobile businesses that switch to card payment see their average time-to-payment drop from days to seconds.

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 businesses cashflow is a daily struggle. We can offer various options, with settlement times ranging next morning, 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 & Pin. There are a small number of exceptional businesses 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 day 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 at all, 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