Card machine for your corner shop

Affordable payment solutions optimised for the smaller transactions common in Corner Shops - allowing you to reliably take fast, contactless and Chip'n'Pin card payments - with no complicated setup.

Common challenges

Customers increasingly expect to pay by card for small purchases
Per-transaction fees on small items like newspapers and milk
Need something simple and reliable
Long hours mean the terminal must be dependable
Don't want to be locked into expensive contracts

Why corner shops choose uno

The days of “card minimum £5” signs are numbered. Customers expect to pay by card even for a pint of milk, and if they can’t, they’ll go somewhere they can. A card machine keeps your regulars happy and your sales up.

No minimum awkwardness

With competitive rates, you can accept card payments on any amount without worrying about fees wiping out the margin on small purchases.

Simple and reliable

Corner shops don’t need complicated technology. A countertop terminal that handles contactless, chip and PIN, and mobile payments - that’s it.

Honest pricing

We compare rates across providers and explain exactly what you’ll pay. No hidden fees, no surprises on your monthly statement.

What you get from uno

A simple terminal suited to corner shop trading
Competitive rates compared across providers
On-site installation and walkthrough
UK-based support when you need it

Common questions from corner shop owners

We'd rather deal with cash only but customers increasingly expect to pay by card - even for small transactions. But it's at our cost!

Taking card payments doesn't necessarily have to cost any more than banking cash - but it's crucial that your business is using the best card machine for your transactional profile. A business whose typical transaction values are modest is often best served by a solution where no 'per transaction fee' is applied - instead a small percentage is levied against the cost of the sale - typically around 1%.

What about all the hidden fees - rental, different card types, monthly charges - that sort of thing?

We have providers that offer a single 'blended' rate that includes rental and all card types - including foreign - so you always know precisely what each transaction has cost you. For a business where most sales are lower value, this would be cheaper than deals offering low headline rates, but add separate fees and charges.

Are we allowed to refuse transactions below our 'minimum spend for cards'?

Minimum spend policies aren't illegal, but card schemes like Visa and Mastercard prohibit them in their merchant agreements - meaning you could risk losing your card acceptance if a provider enforces the rules. But the better question is why you'd need a 'minimum spend' policy when there are solutions that charge a tiny percentage of the sale - typically around 1%. A refused card doesn't just lose that sale - research consistently shows that customer won't come back.

We already have an ePOS we want to keep. Can you integrate with it?

As ever, a discovery call is the starting point to ensuring we fully understand your specific situation, so we can then speak with certainty about the best solution. However, we certainly offer options such as Dojo, that integrate with the majority of tills and POS systems typically found in Corner Shops. It's therefore highly likely we can integrate with your existing ePOS and till.

We're open 6am to 11pm. What time do we do our 'End-Of-Day'?

None of the solutions that uno recommends require you to do an 'End-Of-Day', as modern machines run an overnight batch settlement - which happens automatically without any user involvment. But of course you can do your own End-Of-Day report on each machine, anytime you wish - in addition to having instant access to all of your transactional data at any time, from anywhere.

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