Card machine for your pharmacy and chemist

Reliable card payments for your pharmacy - professional, fast, and with competitive rates for healthcare retail.

Common challenges

  • Need a reliable terminal that never goes down
  • Customers expect professional, modern payment experience
  • Transaction mix of low and high-value items
  • Want integration-ready hardware for future EPOS needs
  • Current provider's support is slow and unhelpful

Recommended solutions

Dojo

Pax A920

Compact, Andoid 7 Payment-only device with a 5-inch touchscreen. Built-in thermal printer along with Wi-Fi & 4G connectivity - ideal when payments need to be taken away from the counter. Configurable for integration and to take over-the-phone payments too

  • 5-inch HD touchscreen
  • Built-in printer
  • Wi-Fi and 4g connectivity
  • Contactless, chip & PIN, over-the-phone
  • Can be integrated with multiple POS systems
  • Android 7 payment-only terminal
Hardware
£0
Monthly
£25-35
Debit
0.6% typical
Credit
1.0% typical
Commercial
> 2.25% typical
International
2-3.5%
Per transaction
3–5p
Contract
negotiable

Why pharmacies choose uno

Pharmacies serve a broad customer base - from a £2 pack of paracetamol to a £50 prescription delivery. You need a card machine that handles both reliably and projects the professional image your customers expect.

Reliability matters

When someone’s picking up a prescription, they need to pay and go. Downtime isn’t an option. We supply proven terminals with backup connectivity options.

Professional and modern

A modern countertop terminal with contactless, Apple Pay, and Google Pay shows your pharmacy keeps pace with customer expectations.

Competitive rates

We compare rates across providers to match your transaction profile - whether your average sale is small, large, or a mix of both.

What you get from uno

  • A reliable terminal suited to pharmacy trading
  • Rates compared across multiple providers
  • On-site installation and staff walkthrough
  • Responsive UK-based support

Common questions from pharmacy and chemist owners

Does the card machine work alongside NHS prescription charges?

The card machine handles over-the-counter sales and prescription charges - the customer's payment to you. It doesn't interact with the NHS dispensing system or reimbursement. You process prescription charges and retail purchases through the terminal as standard card transactions.

We sell toiletries and health products alongside dispensing- one terminal covers both?

Yes. The same terminal handles a £1.50 box of plasters and a £30 skincare purchase. One terminal, one rate, one reconciliation. For pharmacies with a retail counter and a dispensary counter, a portable terminal can move between both.

We deliver prescriptions to housebound patients - can we take payment on delivery?

Yes, for any payable items. A portable terminal with 4G goes with your delivery driver. Patients who owe prescription charges or have ordered over-the-counter items can pay by card at the door. Safer and more convenient for vulnerable patients than handling cash.

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