Best card machine for Salons and barbers
The best card machine for a UK salon or barbershop in 2026 is Dojo Go for established multi-chair venues, or Square Terminal for independents and single-chair barbers. Treatment-by-treatment payment, tipping at the device, and deposit-on-booking are standard. Salons taking online bookings via Treatwell or Booksy should confirm POS integration before signing because the integration shortens reconciliation by an hour a day.
Our pick
Dojo Go
Acquirer: Dojo
Dojo for established salons with strong volume. Sub-£10k monthly salons better off with SumUp Solo for the no-contract economics.
Card machines compared for Salons and barbers
Headline rate, hardware cost, contract and form factor at a glance, from our full terminal reviews.
| Rank | Terminal | Rate | Hardware | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dojo Go Our pick | 1.4% to 1.9% blended | £0 with rolling monthly fee | 12 months minimum |
| #2 | SumUp Solo | 1.69% per transaction | £99 to £149 hardware | No contract |
| #3 | Square Terminal | 1.75% per transaction (UK) | £149 to £199 | No contract |
Why this trade matters
- Cashflow shape
- Steady with weekly cycle and December/wedding-season peaks.
- Average transaction
- £25 to £75
- Contactless share
- ~60%
Watch outs
- Tipping handling differs.
- Booking-system integrations (Treatwell, Fresha, Booksy) lock you to specific acquirers in some cases.
Alternatives
Compare picks
How Dojo Go stacks up
Salons and barbers by location
Locations we cover for Salons and barbers.
- Leicester
- Southall (Ealing)
- Wembley (Brent)
- Harrow
- Birmingham (Handsworth and Soho Road)
- Smethwick (Sandwell)
- Slough
- Coventry (Foleshill and Stoney Stanton)
- East Ham (Newham)
- Manchester (Cheetham Hill and Rusholme)
- Leeds (Harehills and Chapeltown)
- Wolverhampton (Bilston Road and Whitmore Reans)
- Tooting (Wandsworth)
- Bradford
- Forest Gate (Newham)
- Hounslow
Related on our sister sites
Need finance for your Salons and barbers business?
Card flow is the security on which most Salons and barbers businesses borrow. See our sister site BestBusinessLoans by sector for editorial reviews of UK lenders that fund Salons and barbers.
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