Best card machine for Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Engineers
Mobile trades, electricians, plumbers, gas engineers. Job-by-job payment, sometimes hours after completion. Contactless and Apple Pay common. Best card readers and card machines for mobile trade work.
Our pick
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Acquirer: SumUp
Mobile trade plus iPhone-native fits Tap to Pay perfectly. SumUp's no-contract economics suit job-based revenue patterns.
Card machines compared for Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Engineers
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #2 | Zettle Reader 2 | 1.75% per transaction | £29 to £69 | No contract |
Why this trade matters
- Cashflow shape
- Daily mix of card and bank transfer. Larger jobs settled by transfer; smaller call-outs by card.
- Average transaction
- £60 to £400
- Contactless share
- ~55%
Watch outs
- Connectivity black-spots (loft, basement); 4G capability matters.
- Receipt requirements for warranty claims.
Alternatives
Related on our sister sites
Need finance for your Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Engineers business?
Card flow is the security on which most Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Engineers businesses borrow. See our sister site BestBusinessLoans by sector for editorial reviews of UK lenders that fund Electricians, Plumbers and Gas Engineers.
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 reviewed: 26 April 2026