Best Card Machine for Hair Salons UK (2026)

Understanding card machine fees is important for any salon owner. At first glance the costs may look small, but when you are processing dozens of payments every day they can quickly add up. Most hair salons handle a steady stream of smaller transactions such as haircuts, blow dries, colouring services and retail products. Because of this, even a small difference in fees can make a noticeable impact over the course of a year.

The good news is that card machine pricing in the UK has become much clearer in recent years. Many providers now use simple pricing structures that make it easier for small businesses to predict their costs. Below are the most common fees hair salons will come across when choosing a card machine.

Transaction Fees

Transaction fees are the main cost associated with card payments. This is the percentage taken from each payment processed through the machine. For example, if a client pays £60 for a haircut and colour and the provider charges 1.75%, the payment company will take £1.05 as the processing fee.

In the UK there are four pricing models but most commonly just two are use which is blended and flat rate.

Flat rate providers charge the same percentage for every card payment. Services such as Square and SumUp normally charge around 1.69% to 1.75% per transaction. This model is popular with smaller salons because it is simple and there are no complicated contracts. Merchant account providers often offer lower rates, sometimes between 0.3% and 1.5%, but they may also include additional fixed charges per transaction. These solutions are usually better suited to larger salons with higher payment volumes.

Authorisation Fees

Some traditional merchant service providers charge a small authorisation fee for each transaction. This fee usually sits between 2p and 5p. The authorisation process is the step where the payment terminal communicates with the card network and the customer’s bank to confirm that the payment is valid and the funds are available.

While the cost per transaction is small, it can become noticeable for businesses that process a large number of payments each day. Many newer payment platforms bundle this cost into their overall transaction rate, which is why flat rate providers often appear simpler.

Monthly Terminal Fees

If you rent a card machine rather than buying it outright, you will normally pay a monthly terminal rental fee. This fee typically ranges from around £15 to £40 per month depending on the device. Basic countertop terminals are usually cheaper, while smart POS terminals with touchscreens and printers may sit at the higher end of the range.

For salons that want a permanent payment device at the reception desk, renting a terminal can be convenient because the provider often includes maintenance and replacement services. However, some businesses prefer to purchase their device upfront to avoid ongoing rental costs.

Software Fees

Some modern payment terminals include built in POS software. These systems can provide features such as staff accounts, sales reports, product tracking and integrations with booking platforms. Devices like the Clover Flex and other smart POS systems may require a monthly software subscription to access these tools.

For hair salons that want to track services, retail products and stylist performance, the extra functionality can be worthwhile. For smaller salons that only need to process payments, a basic card reader may be more cost effective.

Chargeback Fees

A chargeback happens when a customer disputes a transaction with their bank and asks for the payment to be reversed. If this happens, the payment provider will normally charge a chargeback handling fee. In the UK this usually ranges from around £10 to £20 per case.

Fortunately, chargebacks are relatively uncommon for hair salons because most transactions happen face to face and customers receive the service immediately. As long as receipts and transaction records are kept, disputes are usually straightforward to resolve.