5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Card Reader for Your Small Business
Choosing the right card reader is an important step for any small business — whether you’re launching a market stall, managing a café, or running a mobile service like hairdressing or dog grooming. But with so many options (SumUp, Zettle, Square, and others), it’s easy to pick one that doesn’t quite fit your needs.
Below, we break down five of the most common mistakes small business owners make when selecting a card reader — and how to avoid them.
1. Ignoring How You Actually Work
Too many businesses choose a reader based on brand or price without thinking about their workflow or day-to-day environment.
Are you always on the move, jumping between client appointments, events, or markets? A mobile-friendly option like the Zettle Reader is ideal — it’s compact, connects via Bluetooth, and runs through an intuitive mobile app.
But if you operate from a fixed location — a retail counter, coffee stand, or small shop — you may prefer something more self-contained. The SumUp Solo works without a phone or tablet and has its own touchscreen, so you’re not relying on your mobile battery or juggling devices during busy periods.
We’ve tested all three major UK options — SumUp Solo, Zettle, and Square — and found that matching the reader to your work style makes a huge difference in convenience and professionalism. Don’t underestimate how important that is when you’re dealing with customers face-to-face.
The bottom line:
Match your reader to how, where, and when you work — not just how it looks on the box.
2. Focusing Only on Upfront Cost
It’s tempting to just go with the cheapest reader and assume they’re all basically the same. But that can lead to bigger costs — in time, frustration, and lost sales — down the line.
The Square Reader, for example, is incredibly affordable at just £19 (ex. VAT). That’s hard to beat. But it has no screen, no buttons, and requires you to use your phone for every payment. That might work if you’re used to tech and only take the occasional card — but for busier setups, it quickly becomes fiddly and slow.
The SumUp Solo, on the other hand, costs more upfront (around £79 ex. VAT) but is fully standalone and designed for busy sellers who want a frictionless setup. Zettle sits in the middle price-wise and offers great functionality through the app — but still requires your phone.
What we learned in testing:
You tend to get what you pay for — not just in hardware, but in reliability, ease of use, and customer experience. Don’t forget to factor in transaction fees and software features.
Don’t just buy the cheapest.
Buy the one that saves you time and stress in the long run.
3. Overlooking App Features and Ecosystem
Every card reader comes with its own app, and the differences between them can be massive — especially if you plan to do more than just take payments.
Here’s what we found when we dug into each system:
Zettle by PayPal has one of the most comprehensive apps. You can manage product inventory, track staff sales, generate detailed reports, and even send invoices. Ideal for growing businesses.
Square’s app is feature-packed as well. It includes a full POS (point of sale) system, invoicing, stock tracking, customer insights, and even email marketing tools. If you want a full business toolkit, Square’s ecosystem is hard to beat.
SumUp’s app is clean, simple, and no-frills. You can accept payments and issue receipts, but there’s less in terms of extras. That can be a good thing if you want minimal distractions — especially for sole traders or part-time sellers.
Our advice:
Make sure the software behind the reader matches your ambitions. You might not use every feature today, but you don’t want to switch providers later just to get what you need.
4. Not Thinking About Customer Support and Reliability
Support is one of those things you don’t think about… until you really need it.
We tested customer support across all three providers and found meaningful differences:
Zettle offers UK-based live chat during business hours and a helpful support centre. As part of PayPal, they’re reasonably responsive and professional.
SumUp has decent support — including email and phone — though wait times can vary. They also offer in-app help for basic issues.
Square has limited direct support in the UK. Most help is via forums and automated systems, which may not be ideal if you’re new to using tech for payments.
And beyond customer service, consider uptime and performance. A reader that fails at a busy event could mean lost revenue.
Tip:
If you’re not confident troubleshooting problems on your own, prioritise providers with strong, accessible support.
5. Not Checking Device Compatibility
This one’s easy to overlook — but crucial.
Not all card readers work with every device. We’ve seen business owners order a reader only to find their Android version is too old, or their iPhone can’t run the necessary app.
Before you commit, check:
Does it work with both iOS and Android?
What’s the minimum system requirement?
Does it rely on Bluetooth or a wired connection?
Is the app available in the UK?
During our testing, we made sure to try each reader with a few different devices — and found setup was generally smooth, but not always. Square, for instance, had the easiest app install, but Zettle had a slightly quicker pairing process once Bluetooth was connected.
Save yourself a return and some frustration.
Check device requirements before you buy.
Conclusion: Your Best Card Reader Depends on YOU
There’s no one-size-fits-all winner. Each card reader has its strengths — and your best option depends on how you run your business.
If you want absolute simplicity and a slick, standalone setup:
SumUp Solo is ideal for cafés, kiosks, and sole traders who don’t want to rely on a phone.
If you need flexibility, value a strong app, and work on the go:
Zettle Reader is brilliant for mobile services, salons, and growing teams.
If you’re on a budget or just getting started:
Square Reader is unbeatable for the price — perfect for hobby sellers and pop-up stalls.
When deciding, think about:
Your current setup: Do you already use PayPal or Square? Have an older phone?
Your daily workflow: Are you mobile or fixed-location?
Your budget: Upfront vs. long-term value.
The future: Will you want invoicing, analytics, or staff management tools later?
Whichever you choose, all three are trusted, secure, and widely used across the UK.
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