Do tradespeople need a card reader with its own SIM card?

It helps on sites with poor mobile signal, since a phone-paired Bluetooth reader depends on your phone's own connection. myPOS Go 2 has built-in 3G/4G, so it can take payment even if paired differently or as a standalone unit, which is useful on rural or basement job sites.

Can tradespeople invoice customers instead of taking card payment on the spot?

Yes. SumUp offers an Invoices Plus add-on (£8/month) and Lopay supports Xero invoicing (0.29% + 10p per invoice) so you can bill for materials and follow-up work after the job, rather than only taking payment face to face.

Home / Card Readers / Tradespeople

Rates checked 30 July 2026

Best card machine for tradespeople

Plumbers, electricians, builders and other tradespeople need a reader that works reliably on-site — not just at a fixed till — and often need to invoice for materials or follow-up work rather than take payment on the spot. Here's what actually fits that use case.

Quick verdict

Best for patchy signal on-site: myPOS Go 2 — built-in 3G/4G rather than relying only on your phone's Bluetooth connection.

Cheapest per callout: Lopay (0.79–0.99%).

Best invoicing tools: Lopay (Xero integration) or SumUp (Invoices Plus add-on, £8/month) if you regularly bill after the job rather than taking payment there and then.

Provider	Connectivity	Transaction fee	Invoicing option	Hardware	WMP score	Action
myPOS Go 2	Built-in 3G/4G	1.10% + £0.07	Not a core feature	£29 ex VAT	★★★★☆4.2/5	See myPOS pricing (opens in a new tab)
Lopay	Phone Bluetooth	0.79%–0.99%	Xero: 0.29% + 10p/invoice	£35 + P&P	★★★★☆4.3/5	See Lopay pricing (opens in a new tab)
SumUp	Phone Bluetooth	1.69%	Invoices Plus £8/mo	£25 +VAT	★★★★☆4.1/5	See SumUp pricing (opens in a new tab)
Zettle	Phone Bluetooth	1.75%	Payment Links 2.5%	£29 +VAT	★★★★☆4.2/5	See Zettle pricing (opens in a new tab)

Figures checked directly against each provider's official pricing page on 30 July 2026 — see methodology. We may earn a commission when you sign up through a link on this page — see our Affiliate Disclosure.

Worked example

Cost per month at a typical callout rate

Assume £120 average job value and £4,500/month in card takings (38 jobs/month) — a realistic baseline for a self-employed tradesperson:

Lopay Standard (0.99%)	£44.55/month
myPOS (1.10% + 7p × 38)	£52.16/month
SumUp (1.69%)	£76.05/month
Zettle / Square (1.75%)	£78.75/month

Calculation excludes any invoicing add-on fees — add these separately if you regularly bill after the job rather than taking payment on-site.

What actually matters on-site

Beyond the transaction fee

Signal reliability

A Bluetooth reader paired to your phone is only as reliable as your phone's own signal. myPOS Go 2's built-in 3G/4G can be more dependable in basements, rural areas, or new-build sites without a stable network yet.

Materials and follow-up billing

Not every job is paid in full on the day — extra materials, follow-up visits, or staged payments on bigger jobs often need an invoice rather than a card-present transaction. Lopay's Xero integration and SumUp's Invoices Plus both cover this.

Battery life and durability

Job-site readers get more physical wear than a shop counter unit — check the manufacturer's stated battery life and durability rating if you're outdoors regularly, since none of the providers compared publish a formal IP rating for their standard readers.

Bigger, irregular payments

Larger jobs mean occasional bigger transactions — check for any per-transaction cap or additional verification step some providers apply above a certain amount, particularly on newer accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a reader with its own SIM?

Not essential, but it helps in areas with unreliable phone signal. myPOS Go 2 is the option here with built-in 3G/4G rather than relying purely on Bluetooth to your phone.

Can I invoice instead of taking card payment on the spot?

Yes — SumUp's Invoices Plus (£8/month) and Lopay's Xero integration (0.29% + 10p per invoice) both let you bill after the job.

Go deeper by trade

Comparing for a specific trade?

Job values and working conditions differ enough between trades to change the verdict. Each of these goes into typical invoice sizes, the features that matter on that kind of job, and a worked monthly cost example.

Working for yourself?

See the sole trader fee breakdown — real costs at £3,000/month.

Best for sole traders

Methodology: Pricing pulled directly from each provider's official UK pricing page (mypos.com, lopay.com, sumup.com, zettle.com) on 30 July 2026. See our Editorial Policy.