Best payment solution for builders
Builders rarely take payment the same way twice: a deposit before work starts, staged payments through a longer project, and a final balance on completion. The right setup usually combines a payment link or invoicing tool for deposits with a card reader for smaller or final on-site payments — rather than relying on one device for everything.
Best choice: SumUp
SumUp's app combines a card reader for on-site payments with online invoicing and payment links in one account — useful for sending a deposit request before you've even picked up tools, then taking the final payment in person on the same platform.
Best alternative: Lopay
If you already use Xero for your books, Lopay's direct integration (0.29% + 10p per invoice) can be more convenient for staged billing, and its 0.79-0.99% card rate is cheaper than SumUp's for on-site payments.
What a builder's payments usually look like
Job values for builders are typically the highest of any trade covered on this site — a bathroom refit, extension or full renovation can run from £2,000 to £30,000+, usually split into a deposit (commonly 25-50% upfront), one or more staged payments, and a final balance. Because a flat percentage fee applies to the whole amount, the difference between providers on a £10,000 stage payment is far larger in cash terms than on a typical trade callout — worth a direct conversation with your provider about a negotiated rate above a certain job size.
| Provider | Best for | Card fee | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
SuSumUp | Combined reader + payment links/invoicing | 1.69% | None |
LoLopay | Lowest fees, Xero staged invoicing | 0.79-0.99% | None |
mymyPOS | Large single payments (lower % impact) | 1.10% + 7p | None |
Beyond the headline rate
Deposits before work starts
A payment link sent by text or email lets a client pay a deposit remotely, without needing you on-site with a card reader — both SumUp and Lopay support this through their apps.
Staged payments through a project
Longer jobs benefit from being able to send a new invoice at each agreed milestone rather than negotiating payment terms from scratch each time — Xero-integrated invoicing (Lopay) keeps this tied to your existing bookkeeping.
Bank transfer still has a place
Many clients still prefer transferring large sums directly, and it costs nothing in card fees — a card option is best positioned as a faster, more convenient alternative, not a replacement.
Negotiating on big invoices
If you regularly invoice £5,000+, ask providers directly whether a lower negotiated rate applies above a certain volume — published rates aren't always the final word at this scale.
A builder taking a £4,000 staged payment by card
On a single £4,000 milestone payment:
| Lopay Standard (0.99%) | £39.60 |
| myPOS (1.10% + 7p) | £44.07 |
| SumUp (1.69%) | £67.60 |
The roughly £28 gap between Lopay and SumUp on a single payment of this size is a strong argument for using the cheaper rate for large staged payments specifically, even if you keep SumUp's combined app for convenience on smaller jobs.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way for a builder to take payment?
A payment-link/invoicing tool for deposits and staged payments, combined with a low-fee card reader for smaller or final on-site amounts — SumUp for an all-in-one app, Lopay for the cheapest rate.
Should I still accept bank transfer?
Yes — it's fee-free and many clients prefer it for large sums. A card option is a faster alternative, not a replacement.
See the full tradespeople breakdown
More detail on invoicing tools and on-site reliability across all trades.
Methodology: Pricing pulled directly from sumup.com, lopay.com and mypos.com official UK pricing pages on 30 July 2026. Typical job and deposit values are directional estimates for UK building/renovation work, not an independent survey. See our Editorial Policy.