Best card machine for salons and barbers UK 2026
See the pick and alternatives for salons and barbers below, then send a quote enquiry for 2 to 3 tailored quotes.
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Pick the closest fit to start your quote.
The best UK card machine for salons and barbers in 2026 is Dojo Go Max, on Dojo. Typical transaction size, cashflow and contactless use for this trade are in the table below, and the alternatives are listed after it.
MerchantHQ is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.
Our pick
Dojo Go Max
Acquirer: Dojo
Dojo suits established multi-chair salons with strong card volume, where next-working-day settlement and tipping at the device earn back the contract. On published prices, below about £5,100 a month in card takings a no-contract option such as SumUp Solo (1.69%) or Square Terminal (1.75%) costs less than Dojo with its £25 a month machine payment.
Read full Dojo Go Max reviewWhat salons and barbers card payments look like
- Cashflow shape
- Steady with weekly cycle and December/wedding-season peaks.
- Typical transaction (our estimate)
- £25 to £75
- Contactless use (our estimate)
- Mixed, with smaller payments tapped and larger ones by chip and PIN
- Recommended acquirer
- Dojo
Transaction sizes and contactless use are our working estimates for sizing a quote, not published statistics. Your own card statements give the real figures.
Card machines compared for salons and barbers
Headline rate, hardware cost and contract at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| # | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Max Our pick | 1.2% blended below £100,000 a year in card takings (custom rate above) | £149 upfront on a launch offer (£229 full price) or £25 a month | 12 months, then month to month (under £1m a year in card takings; Dojo FAQ, read 19 Oct 2026) |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £79 + VAT list price (SumUp often discounts it) | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 + VAT | No contract |
Prices and rates checked on the provider's own page: Dojo pricing page (2026-10-22); SumUp card readers page (2026-09-25); Square Terminal page (2026-09-25); Stripe UK Terminal page (2026-10-22); PayPal Reader page (zettle.com) (2026-10-21).
Alternatives for salons and barbers
- SumUp Solo (small / mobile)
- Square Terminal
Watch outs specific to salons and barbers
- Tipping handling differs.
- Booking-system integrations (Treatwell, Fresha, Booksy) lock you to specific acquirers in some cases.
- Booking-system integrations lock you to specific acquirers in some cases.
- Card-on-file deposit features differ by acquirer; confirm in writing.
- Tip-pooling rules under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023; tipping flow at the device must support it.
FAQs
What is the best card machine for salons and barbers in the UK?
The best UK card machine for salons and barbers in 2026 is Dojo Go Max on Dojo. Dojo suits established multi-chair salons with strong card volume, where next-working-day settlement and tipping at the device earn back the contract. On published prices, below about £5,100 a month in card takings a no-contract option such as SumUp Solo (1.69%) or Square Terminal (1.75%) costs less than Dojo with its £25 a month machine payment.
How much does a card machine cost for salons and barbers?
Hardware runs from nothing (Tap to Pay on iPhone, on a phone you already own) to £229 + VAT (Stripe Reader S700), with SumUp Solo at £79 + VAT and Square Terminal at £149 + VAT. Published pay-as-you-go rates on UK cards are 1.69% at SumUp, 1.75% at Square and 1.75% at Zettle, with no monthly fee; contract providers quote a blended or bespoke rate and usually charge monthly terminal rental instead. Your blended monthly cost depends on card volume and average transaction size, so model it on your own numbers with our fees calculator rather than relying on a flat figure.
What is the average transaction size in this trade?
£25 to £75, on our working estimate. Your own card statements give the real figure, and it matters because percentage fees and fixed per-transaction fees weigh differently on small and large payments.
How much contactless use is typical for salons and barbers?
Mixed, with smaller payments tapped and larger ones by chip and PIN, on our working estimate. Your own card statements show the real split between tap and chip and PIN, which is worth checking before you choose between a phone-paired reader and a standalone terminal.
What should I watch out for when choosing a card machine for salons and barbers?
Tipping handling differs. Also check the contract length, exit fees, chargeback handling and how quickly money settles into your account.
How we compare
Comparisons are built by desk research from each provider's published rates, upfront costs, contract lengths and settlement terms, held in a dated record per terminal. We do not test devices ourselves; specs are taken from provider documentation and cited. MerchantHQ is an introducer. No provider pays for inclusion or position, and fees never affect how we compare. See our methodology and how we are funded.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind MerchantHQ. His career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending, including payments and merchant services. He writes the MerchantHQ library.
Last updated:
An earlier version of this page was reviewed by Derren Powell on 22 October 2026.