Streamline Your Payment Processing
Effortlessly manage in-person and online transactions with our comprehensive payment solutions.
Payment Processing Service
Accept card payments without overpaying
Want to take card payments and accept payments without overpaying? We can help.
We are a UK-based merchant services broker. We do not process your transactions ourselves, and we are not a bank. Instead, we negotiate payment processing deals on your behalf, working across the market to find you better rates than you would typically secure by walking into your bank alone, enabling businesses to process payments efficiently and securely.
Our team compares card processing fees across multiple acquirers and payment gateway providers UK wide. We analyse your current setup, identify where you are overpaying, and present you with options that reduce costs. Whether you accept credit card payments in store, take online payments through your website, or handle recurring payments for subscriptions, we source the right solution for your business.
Our service is 100% free to the business owner. We receive our commission from the acquiring bank or provider when you choose one of our recommended offers. You keep the savings, we do the hard work, and the bank pays us.
We support small businesses, SMEs, multi-site retailers, e-commerce brands, and high risk sectors that struggle to get approval elsewhere. If you have been declined by your bank or quoted excessive fees, we can often find an alternative route to market.
Upload your latest merchant statement and let us compare card processing fees for you today.
How payment processing works in the UK
Understanding how your money moves from customer to bank account helps you spot where hidden costs sit. When you know the payment flow, you can challenge unnecessary charges and avoid overpaying.
Many payment processing services work with acquiring banks to handle transactions. Using local acquiring, these services connect with banks in different regions, allowing businesses to accept payments in local currencies and support region-specific payment methods. This approach helps reduce payment barriers, improves conversion rates, and makes it easier for businesses to expand globally.
The key players in a card transaction
Every time customers pay by card, several parties are involved:
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| Payment gateway | Securely captures and encrypts card details from your website, app, or terminal and sends them to the processor |
| Payment processor | Handles the technical messaging between your acquiring bank and the card networks |
| Card networks | Visa, Mastercard, and others that set interchange fees and scheme rules |
| Issuing bank | The customer’s bank that approves or declines the transaction and transfers funds |
| Acquiring bank | Your bank or merchant services provider that receives funds and deposits them into your business bank account |
A practical example: a £100 Visa transaction in October 2025
Imagine a customer taps their Visa debit card at your card machine to pay £100 for a product.
- The terminal captures the card details and sends them through the payment gateway to your payment processor.
- The processor routes the authorisation request via the Visa network to the customer’s issuing bank.
- The issuing bank checks the account, approves the payment, and sends an authorisation code back through the same chain.
- At settlement (usually overnight), the issuing bank transfers the funds to Visa, which passes them to your acquiring bank.
- Your acquirer deducts interchange (paid to the issuing bank), scheme fees (paid to Visa), and its own margin, then credits the net amount to your merchant account.
- Funds land in your business bank account, typically within one to two working days.
The entire process happens in seconds for the customer, but multiple fees are deducted before you receive your money.
How card payments compare to bank transfers
Direct Debit and Faster Payments operate differently. Bank transfers bypass the card networks entirely, often resulting in lower per-transaction costs but with different settlement timelines. Open banking payments, for example, can settle in real time payments with minimal fees, making them attractive for high-ticket purchases. However, cards remain dominant for everyday retail and e-commerce because customers expect them.
Many UK businesses pay “retail” rates because they go directly to their bank rather than using a merchant services broker UK with volume leverage. Banks quote standard tariffs to individual merchants, but when we bring aggregated volume from hundreds of clients, we can negotiate significantly better terms.
Let us map your current setup and identify where hidden costs sit in your payment processing.
Our payment processing services
We offer a full payment processing service covering face-to-face, online, and remote payments. Whether your customers pay at a till, through a website, over the phone, or via an invoice link, we source and negotiate the right solution.
Our team arranges:
- Card machines for in person payments
- Virtual terminals for phone orders
- Payment gateways and hosted checkout pages for e-commerce
- Payment element integration as a customizable checkout component for online payments, supporting multiple payment methods and improving conversion rates
- Merchant accounts tailored to your business type and risk profile
- Secure payment links for invoicing and remote collection
We work with mainstream acquirers and specialist payment gateway providers UK to build the right stack for each client. We are not tied to a single provider, so we compare the market on your behalf.
When we review your setup, we examine transaction fees, authorisation fees, PCI fees, chargeback fees, and terminal rental. We also help you create efficient payment workflows or accounts to streamline onboarding and transaction management. This gives us a complete picture of your total cost of acceptance, not just the headline rate.
We provide a single point of contact for your business, even when multiple banks and providers are involved. You speak to us, and we coordinate with them.
Speak to our team and let us design your payment processing setup for you.
Card machines and in person payments
We secure the cheapest card payment machine options available to your business, without locking you into lengthy contracts where we can avoid them. Our goal is to find hardware that fits your operation and keeps costs low over time.
We source:
- Countertop terminals for fixed checkout points in retail and hospitality
- Portable terminals with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for tableside and queue-busting
- Mobile card readers paired with smartphones for trades, markets, and events
All our machines accept contactless payments, chip and PIN, and digital wallet options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. We match the technology to the use case, helping your business take payments in various settings—whether you are a cafe serving hundreds of small transactions daily or an electrical contractor taking a single large payment on site.
We compare terminal rental and per-transaction fees across providers, then pass on the benefit of our bulk buying rates. In many cases, we can reduce the combined cost of hardware and processing compared to what you would pay going direct.
Send us your current terminal statement so we can identify savings on your card machines.
Online payments and payment gateways
If you run an e-commerce store or subscription business, your payment gateway is the bridge between your website and the acquiring bank. It captures card details securely, handles Strong Customer Authentication (3D Secure), and routes transactions for authorisation.
We work with leading payment gateway providers UK, selecting gateways based on features that matter for your business:
- Recurring billing and subscriptions for businesses that charge customers on a regular cycle
- Tokenisation to store card details securely for repeat customers
- 3D Secure support to meet UK SCA requirements and reduce fraud
- Multi-currency processing for merchants selling internationally
- Fraud protection to ensure secure online transactions and safeguard against unauthorised payments
- Machine learning algorithms to optimise payment retries, improve collection efficiency, and reduce failed payments
Key terms explained:
- Pay by Link: A secure payment link you send by email, SMS, or messaging app so customers pay without visiting a checkout page.
- Hosted payment pages: A checkout page hosted by the gateway, reducing your PCI compliance burden because card details never touch your server.
- API integration: Direct connection between your website or app and the gateway for a fully customised checkout experience.
We can often cut gateway and processing fees by moving you from a single “all in one” provider to a brokered gateway plus acquirer model. This separates the technology cost from the acquiring margin, giving us room to negotiate both.
Request a free review of your current online payment fees and gateway contract.
Remote, phone, and invoice payments
Not every payment happens in person or on a website. Many businesses collect money over the phone, through emailed invoices, or via remote links. We optimise these flows too.
We arrange virtual terminals for secure phone payments. Your team enters card details into a web-based interface, and the transaction is processed with optional address verification and 3D Secure where available. This protects you and your customers against fraud.
We also connect online invoicing tools so customers can pay by card or bank transfer directly from an emailed invoice. This speeds up cash flow and reduces the time you spend chasing payments.
We check the surcharge rules and scheme guidelines for card-not-present transactions to keep your business compliant. Incorrect surcharging can lead to disputes and reputational damage, so we ensure your setup follows current UK regulations.
Ask us to streamline your phone and invoice payments so you get paid faster.
Why use a merchant services broker instead of going direct
When you approach your bank directly, you receive their standard offer. There is little room to negotiate, and you have no visibility of what other acquirers might charge. When you work with us, you access the wider UK acquiring market through a single conversation, guided by industry experts who provide specialized advice tailored to your business needs.
The power of volume leverage
We bring thousands of transactions per month to providers across our client base. This aggregated volume means acquirers and payment gateway providers offer us more aggressive price tiers than any single merchant could obtain alone. We pass those savings on to you.
Think of it like a buying group for payment processing. You benefit from wholesale pricing without having to process millions of pounds yourself.
A real example: UK retailer saves 15–20% in 2024
One of our clients, a multi-location fashion retailer, had been with their bank for years, paying a blended rate that seemed competitive on the surface. When we analysed their statements, we found they were overpaying on commercial card interchange and terminal rental. For insights on how your business can benefit from efficient payment processing, explore our essential guide.
We moved them to a brokered package with a different acquirer and renegotiated their hardware costs. The result: effective card fees reduced by around 15–20%, with improved settlement times and better support.
Independence and ongoing support
We are not employed by any bank or provider. We compare multiple acquiring banks, gateways, and hardware vendors, rather than pushing one “house” product. This independence means our recommendations are based on what works for you, not what pays us the highest commission.
We stay involved after go live. We help with chargebacks, dispute management, renewals, PCI queries, and mid-term pricing reviews. If your business grows or your transaction mix changes, we revisit your setup and renegotiate where needed.
Let us compare your existing merchant services against our brokered options.
Our bulk buying power and wholesale pricing
Your merchant statement includes three main cost components:
- Interchange: The base cost paid to the issuing bank, set by the card networks
- Scheme fees: Charges from Visa, Mastercard, and others for using their network
- Acquirer margin: The provider’s profit on each transaction, and the most negotiable element
We negotiate acquirer margins down using the aggregated volume across our client base. This effectively gives you access to wholesale-style rates that are typically reserved for large enterprises involved in electronic payment processing.
This applies to both card present and card not present transactions, including e-commerce and recurring billing. Whether your customers pay in person, online, or via invoice, we work to reduce costs at every point.
We typically achieve rates that are often 10–20% below standard published tariffs, depending on your sector and volume. We never quote specific pence or percentage figures without analysing your statements first, but we are confident we can improve on most direct bank deals.
Upload your last three statements so we can benchmark your rates against what our clients are paying.
Our service is free to you
Our payment processing service is free for UK businesses. We do not charge a consultancy fee, audit fee, or setup fee. You pay nothing to us.
We receive a commission from banks and providers when you choose an offer that we have sourced. This is standard practice in the brokerage market. Crucially, this does not increase your rates. Our commercial terms are agreed directly with the providers in advance, and your pricing reflects the deal we negotiated, not an inflated figure to cover our fee.
You might wonder whether this creates bias. We are measured on long-term client retention and savings, not just first-year sign-ups. If we place you with an unsuitable provider, you leave, and we lose the ongoing relationship. Our interests are aligned with yours.
Start a free cost analysis with us today, with no obligation to switch.
Support for high risk and “hard to place” merchants
Some sectors struggle to secure merchant accounts in the UK. Gaming, CBD, coaching, travel, and subscription services often face repeated declines from mainstream banks. If you have been told your industry is “too risky,” we can help.
We maintain active relationships with acquirers and specialist PSPs that are open to higher-risk industries. In addition to fast approvals, we help high-risk merchants fight fraud by leveraging advanced tools and strategies, including machine learning and expert intervention, to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. While no provider offers true high risk merchant account instant approval (underwriting is always required), we know which providers are fastest and most receptive to specific sectors. We often secure approvals within days rather than weeks by matching your business to the right underwriter.
Challenges we help you navigate
High-risk accounts typically come with:
- Rolling reserves: A percentage of your revenue held back for 3–6 months to cover potential chargebacks
- Higher transaction fees: To compensate the provider for increased risk
- Enhanced KYC: More documentation and scrutiny during onboarding
- Chargeback monitoring: Stricter thresholds before account suspension
We help prepare and present your application to improve approval odds. We package your processing history, risk controls, and business plan in a format that underwriters want to see.
We also negotiate on reserve percentages, settlement delays, and caps. Our aim is to improve your cash flow while keeping the provider comfortable with the risk.
Example: Online coaching business moves from decline to approval
An online coaching business came to us after being declined by three mainstream banks. Their subscription model and digital delivery raised flags with traditional underwriters.
We identified a specialist acquirer experienced in digital services. We prepared their application with clear refund policies, customer support documentation, and fraud prevention measures. The result: approval within 10 working days, with a 5% rolling reserve (reduced from the standard 10%) and weekly settlement instead of monthly.
Send us your declined applications or current reserve terms for a confidential review.
Compliance, PCI, and fraud controls
Compliance protects your business and your customers. It is not just a regulatory burden; it is a foundation for secure, sustainable payments.
We help you choose providers that include PCI DSS support, fraud screening tools, and Strong Customer Authentication built into their payment stack. The right gateway handles much of this automatically, reducing your compliance workload.
We review your 3D Secure policies, AVS checks, and fraud rules to balance conversion with risk. For e-commerce and subscription billing, overly aggressive fraud rules can decline legitimate payments and damage conversion rates. We help you find the right balance.
For businesses that need guidance on PCI questionnaires, SAQ support, or data security best practice, we can direct you to trusted partners. We do not leave you to figure out compliance alone.
Ask our team to review the security settings and compliance fees on your current payment setup.
Enhancing the customer experience with seamless payments
A seamless payment experience is at the heart of a positive customer journey. When customers can pay quickly, securely, and in their preferred way, they’re more likely to complete their purchase and return in the future. For businesses, especially those operating online, a smooth payment process can dramatically reduce cart abandonment and boost conversion rates. By offering a broad range of payment options—including credit card payments, recurring payments for subscriptions, and flexible online payment methods—you cater to the diverse needs of your customers.
A modern payment gateway that supports multiple currencies and offers transparent pricing not only simplifies the payment process but also builds trust with your audience. Customers appreciate knowing exactly what they’ll pay, in their own currency, without hidden fees. This clarity, combined with the ability to process payments securely, enhances the overall customer experience and encourages repeat business. Ultimately, investing in seamless payments is an investment in your business’s reputation and revenue.
How payment options impact customer satisfaction
The payment methods you offer can make or break the customer experience. Today’s customers expect flexibility—they want to pay using digital wallets, contactless payments, or secure payment links, depending on what’s most convenient for them. By enabling a variety of legitimate payments and ensuring secure payment processing, your business demonstrates a commitment to customer safety and satisfaction.
Secure payment links and digital wallet options not only make it easier for customers to pay, but also help reduce the risk of fraud. When customers know their payments are processed securely, they’re more likely to trust your business and return for future purchases. By providing a range of payment options and prioritising secure, legitimate payments, you can improve customer satisfaction, reduce risk, and build lasting loyalty.
Reducing friction at checkout
A streamlined checkout process is essential for maximising conversion rates and delivering a superior customer experience. Friction at checkout—such as limited payment options, slow processing, or complicated forms—can lead to abandoned carts and lost revenue. By implementing a payment gateway that supports a variety of payment methods, including credit card payments and recurring payments, you make it easy for customers to pay in just a few clicks.
Optimising your payment process for mobile devices is equally important, as more customers shop on their phones and tablets. A fast, secure, and intuitive checkout experience encourages customers to complete their purchases, directly impacting your revenue and customer satisfaction. The easier it is for customers to pay, the more likely they are to return.
Building trust and loyalty through secure transactions
Trust is the foundation of any successful business relationship, and secure payment processing is key to earning that trust. By using a payment gateway that incorporates strong customer authentication and meets PCI compliance standards, you protect your customers’ data and reduce the risk of fraud. Transparent pricing and clear communication about how payments are processed further reassure customers that their transactions are legitimate and secure.
When customers feel confident that their information is safe and that your business is committed to security and transparency, they’re more likely to become loyal, repeat customers. Prioritising secure transactions not only safeguards your business against fraud and risk, but also strengthens your reputation and encourages long-term customer relationships. In today’s digital marketplace, security and trust are powerful drivers of customer loyalty and business growth.
What you can expect when we manage your payment processing
When you work with us, you get a clear, structured process from first contact to ongoing optimisation. Here is what that journey looks like:
- Share your statements: Send us your most recent merchant statements, terminal invoices, or gateway bills. We accept PDFs, screenshots, or photos.
- Cost analysis: Within two working days, we break down your current fees, identify hidden costs, and calculate your effective rate by card type and channel.
- Market comparison: We approach our panel of acquirers and payment gateway providers UK with your anonymised transaction data to gather competitive quotes.
- Negotiated offers: We present you with a shortlist of options, clearly showing projected savings, contract terms, and any trade-offs.
- Implementation: Once you choose an offer, we manage the onboarding, terminal delivery, and technical setup. For standard-risk merchants, go live can happen in as little as 5–10 working days.
- Ongoing monitoring: We stay in touch, reviewing your setup annually (or more frequently if needed) to ensure you remain on competitive terms as your business evolves.
You get a named account manager in the UK who stays available for queries on chargebacks, rate reviews, new terminals, and anything else related to your payments.
Book a short call with our team this week and start the process.
Examples of savings and outcomes
We measure our success by the results we deliver for clients. Here are two recent examples:
Multi-site restaurant group in London (early 2025)
This group operated eight locations across London, each with multiple card machines. They were paying a blended rate to a single provider and had not reviewed their contract in three years.
We renegotiated their acquiring deal, consolidated their terminal fleet onto a single contract with better rental terms, and eliminated unnecessary PCI fees. Result: blended card fees reduced by around 18%, with annual savings exceeding £12,000.
Online subscription business (2024)
This e-commerce business sold digital memberships with recurring payments. They were experiencing high decline rates on renewal transactions and above-average chargeback ratios.
We restructured their gateway and acquirer setup, introduced smarter retry logic for failed payments, and implemented clearer billing descriptors to reduce friendly fraud. Result: acceptance rates improved by 11%, chargeback ratios fell below 0.5%, and the business retained more revenue each month.
Across our portfolio, we aim to achieve meaningful savings for the majority of clients. We cannot guarantee specific figures until we analyse your statements, but most businesses we work with discover they have been overpaying.
Let us see what result we can achieve for your business.
Frequently asked questions about payment processing
Here are clear answers to the payment questions UK business owners ask us most often.
What is the difference between a payment gateway and a processor?
A payment gateway is the technology that captures and encrypts card details from your website, app, or terminal. It is the secure bridge between your checkout and the acquiring bank. A payment processor handles the technical messaging that routes your transaction through the card networks to the customer’s issuing bank for authorisation. In some setups, these functions are bundled into a single provider. In others, they are separate, which can give you more negotiating flexibility.
How do you compare card processing fees?
We request your recent merchant statements and break down every line item: interchange, scheme fees, acquirer margin, authorisation fees, PCI charges, chargeback fees, and terminal rental. We then benchmark these against offers from our panel of providers. This gives you a clear, side-by-side comparison showing exactly where you can save.
Can you really find the cheapest card payment machine for my business?
Yes, but we look beyond the sticker price. The cheapest card payment machine in headline terms might come with expensive rental, long contracts, or high transaction fees. We calculate total cost of acceptance over the contract term to find the best value option for your volume and business type.
How long does it take to switch provider?
For standard-risk merchants, we can often complete onboarding and go live within 5–10 working days. High-risk sectors may take longer due to enhanced underwriting, but we work to accelerate the process by preparing applications thoroughly before submission.
Is your service genuinely free?
Yes. We do not charge any fee to UK businesses. Our income comes from commissions paid by acquiring banks and providers when you accept one of our recommended offers. This does not increase your rates, and you are under no obligation to switch if our proposals do not deliver clear savings.
What about high risk merchant account instant approval?
True instant approval does not exist for high-risk sectors because underwriting and compliance checks are mandatory. However, we specialise in fast, realistic approvals by matching your business to acquirers who are comfortable with your industry. We often secure decisions within days, not weeks, and we negotiate on reserves and settlement terms to protect your cash flow.
What if I am locked into a contract with early termination fees?
Send us your existing contract and we will review the terms. In some cases, the savings from switching outweigh the exit costs. In others, we can time your move to coincide with contract renewal. We also negotiate with new providers to cover or offset termination fees where possible.
If your question is not listed here, send it to us or request a call from our team.
Start your free UK payment processing review
We help UK businesses reduce costs, access better providers, and manage payments with confidence. Our service is free, our advice is independent, and our focus is on long-term results, not quick sign-ups.
Here is what you get when you work with us:
- Lower fees through our volume leverage with banks and acquirers
- Tailored setup across in person payments, online checkout, and remote collection
- Expert handling of paperwork, compliance, and provider negotiations
Getting started is simple:
- Upload your last three merchant statements so we can analyse your current costs
- Share a recent card machine or gateway bill if you want a quick review of one area
- Book a 15-minute call this week to discuss your business and payment challenges
There is no obligation to switch provider. We present the numbers, explain your options, and let you make an informed choice.
Let us handle your payment processing so you can focus on running your business.
Start your free cost analysis with us today.