The payment setup that grows with your business
As you grow past your first card reader, you need POS systems, accounting tools and business accounts that scale with you — without switching providers twice.
Vendor lineup and WMP scores checked 31 July 2026.
Best for taking payments: Square in person, Stripe online
Square's 1.75% flat rate and built-in POS software suit a physical till; Stripe's 1.5% + 20p and deep developer tooling suit an online storefront or app. Most growing businesses end up needing both rather than choosing one.
Best business banking: Starling Bank Business
Free, with unlimited free UK transfers and strong accounting integrations — the highest-scoring account on this page, with no catch to weigh against it.
Popular choices among growing UK businesses
Chosen for multi-location support, staff accounts, integrations and room to scale.
Square
POS & Card ReaderA complete till system that scales from a single counter to multiple locations, with reporting across all sites.
Get Square deals (opens in a new tab)Dojo
Card ReaderUK-built card machines with fast settlement, aimed squarely at established small businesses.
Get Dojo deals (opens in a new tab)EPOS Now
POS SystemA configurable till system with stock control and staff management for retail and hospitality small businesses.
Get EPOS Now deals (opens in a new tab)Stripe
Payment GatewayDeveloper-friendly online payments that pair well with a growing ecommerce or subscription business.
Get Stripe deals (opens in a new tab)Revolut Business
Business BankingMulti-currency business accounts with expense cards for staff and integrations with accounting software.
Get Revolut Business deals (opens in a new tab)Starling Bank Business
Business BankingA well-rated UK business current account with strong accounting software integrations and team cards.
Get Starling deals (opens in a new tab)We may earn a commission when you sign up through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. This doesn't affect our comparisons — see our Affiliate Disclosure and Editorial Policy.
Grows with you
Add tills, staff logins and locations without re-platforming your payments setup.
Connects to your accounting
Most small-business solutions sync with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent out of the box.
Better negotiated rates
Higher transaction volumes unlock lower blended rates than pay-as-you-go pricing.
Frequently asked questions
When should I move to a full POS system?
Once you have more than one till, need staff logins, or want stock and inventory tracking — features a standalone card reader doesn't offer at any price.
Do small businesses get better rates?
Often yes, once volume is steady — providers like Dojo offer negotiated rates that can undercut pay-as-you-go pricing, though a fixed monthly fee usually applies.
Small business or enterprise — which am I?
Small business setups suit single or multi-site operations managing their own accounts. Enterprise adds negotiated interchange-plus rates and dedicated account management.
Want the fee comparison instead?
Dojo vs Tyl vs Paymentsense vs Square vs SumUp — rental vs pay-as-you-go, real contract and exit terms, and a worked example at £8,000/month.
Ready to compare POS systems?
See which systems fit your locations, team size and till count.