Lopay Card Reader for Small Business UK

By Olivia Johnson - Trusted UK Business Expert

Last Updated 2nd of October 2026

8 minute read

Taking card payments should be simple, quick and affordable for a small business. The Lopay Card Reader gives UK businesses a way to accept card and contactless payments without a long contract or monthly card reader rental fee.

This guide explains how the Lopay reader works, what it costs, who it may suit and what you should check before choosing it.

The Lopay Card Reader is a Bluetooth card payment device for UK small businesses. It accepts chip and PIN, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The first reader costs £35 plus delivery, with transaction fees starting from 0.79% for eligible UK personal cards.

Lopay may suit sole traders and small firms that want simple card payments with flexible payout options. Read on to compare its fees, features, benefits and possible drawbacks before deciding if it is right for your business.

See how a Lopay Card Reader could help your small business take fast and simple card payments. Click the link below to compare card machine options and find the right deal for your business.

What Is the Lopay Card Reader for Small Business UK?

The Lopay Card Reader for Small Business UK is a small Bluetooth payment device that works with the Lopay app on a phone or tablet.

It is designed for businesses that need to take card payments in person without paying for a traditional countertop card machine contract.

The current Lopay Bluetooth reader is the WisePad 3. Customers can use chip and PIN or contactless payment. It can also accept mobile wallet payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The reader connects to the Lopay app by Bluetooth. This means the reader normally needs to be linked to a compatible phone or tablet when you take a payment.

This type of setup can work well for businesses such as:

• Cafés
• Barbers
• Hair salons
• Mobile tradespeople
• Market sellers
• Cleaners
• Taxi drivers
• Personal trainers
• Beauty businesses
• Independent shops
• Food stalls
• Sole traders
• Freelancers who take face-to-face payments

A key benefit is the low starting cost. The first Lopay Card Reader ordered through the app currently costs £35 plus £6.95 postage and packaging.

There is no monthly rental fee for the standard Bluetooth reader.

You then pay transaction fees when customers pay you.

This can make the reader attractive to a new or small business because you do not need to pay a large monthly card machine bill during quiet months.

How Does a Lopay Payment Work?

The process is simple.

You first enter the amount you want to charge into the Lopay app. Your customer then pays through the connected card reader.

They can insert their card and enter their PIN or use contactless payment.

After the payment is approved, the money goes into your Lopay balance. It can then be paid into your bank based on the payout option you choose.

Lopay has different pricing levels linked to how quickly you want your money.

This is important for small businesses.

A business that can wait longer for its money may choose a lower transaction rate. A business that needs cash quickly may prefer a faster payout option even if the transaction cost is higher.

That gives small firms more control over the balance between card processing cost and cash flow.

What cards can the Lopay Card Reader accept?

The Lopay Bluetooth reader can accept common ways that UK customers pay in person, including:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express where enabled
• Chip and PIN
• Contactless cards
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Supported NFC mobile payments

The WisePad 3 reader does not work like an old magnetic stripe card terminal. It is mainly designed for modern chip and contactless payments.

For most UK small businesses, this should cover the payment methods customers commonly expect to use.

Does Lopay Include a POS System?

Lopay also provides Point of Sale tools.

A small business can use the POS system to add products, organise items, manage stock and see sales information.

This may be useful if you sell several products rather than simply entering a payment amount.

For example, imagine a small café selling coffee, sandwiches and cakes.

Instead of typing each total manually, the business can add those items to its POS system. Staff can then choose what the customer bought and calculate the sale.

For very small businesses, having payment and basic sales tools in one system can reduce the number of separate apps needed.

However, businesses with complex stock, several branches or advanced reporting needs should compare the features with a full retail EPOS system.

How Much Does a Lopay Card Reader Cost?

Cost is one of the main reasons a small business may consider Lopay.

The first Lopay Bluetooth Card Reader currently costs £35 plus £6.95 postage and packaging when ordered through the Lopay app.

Extra readers currently cost more, so businesses that need several devices should calculate the full hardware cost before joining.

The normal Bluetooth reader does not have a monthly rental charge. o see how this compares with other providers, check the typical card machine cost per month in the UK.

You do, however, pay a fee each time a customer makes a card payment.

Lopay transaction fees

Lopay currently offers different transaction rates depending on the payout option selected.

These rates apply to eligible UK personal Visa and Mastercard payments.

Some card types cost more.

For example, additional charges can apply to:

• American Express cards
• International cards
• Corporate cards

Businesses that receive many payments from business cards or overseas customers should keep this in mind.

A headline rate does not always show what every payment will cost.

Example of a Lopay transaction

Suppose a customer pays your business £100 using an eligible UK personal card.

At a 0.79% transaction rate, the basic processing fee would be about:

£100 × 0.79% = £0.79

You would therefore have about £99.21 left before considering any other optional fees that might apply.

At 0.99%, a £100 transaction would cost about 99p.

At 1.79%, the same £100 transaction would cost about £1.79, subject to any relevant payout conditions or minimum charges.

Small differences can become important as sales grow.

A shop processing £1,000 per month will feel a fee difference far less than a business processing £30,000 per month.

This is why you should compare card machines using your own expected turnover. You can also compare Lopay vs SumUp to see how their reader costs and transaction fees differ.

Are there other Lopay fees?

There can be extra charges for optional services.

For example, Tap to Pay has an additional per-transaction charge. Payment Links and some other payment methods can also have extra fees.

Premium card types may cost more than standard UK personal cards.

Businesses should therefore look at the whole payment mix rather than only the lowest advertised transaction rate. It can also help to compare the cheapest card processing fees in the UK before you choose a provider.

Ask yourself:

How do my customers normally pay?

A local barber taking mostly UK personal debit cards may have very different costs from a hotel taking international and corporate cards.

Prices and fees can also change over time, so businesses should check the current Lopay fee schedule before opening an account.

Is the Lopay Card Reader Good for Small Businesses?

The Lopay Card Reader for Small Business UK can be a strong option for certain small firms, but it will not be the best answer for every business. You can compare other card machines for small UK businesses to see which option best fits your sales and budget.

Its biggest strength is flexibility.

You can start with a relatively low hardware cost and avoid a monthly rental charge for the Bluetooth reader.

That can make it useful for a business with changing sales.

For example, a market trader may be busy at Christmas but quieter in January. Paying mainly when transactions happen can be easier to manage than paying a fixed machine rental every month.

Main benefits

• Low starting cost: The first reader is inexpensive compared with many traditional card terminal packages.
• No monthly reader rental: The Bluetooth card reader does not normally require a monthly rental payment.
• No long card reader contract: This can give a small business more freedom if its needs change.
• Portable: The reader is small and connects through Bluetooth, making it useful for businesses that work in different places.
• Contactless payments: Customers can use cards, phones and supported digital wallets.
• Different payout choices: Businesses can choose between keeping processing costs lower or getting money more quickly.
• POS features: The Lopay system includes tools that can help businesses manage products, payments and sales.
• Possible drawbacks: Lopay also has points you should consider.

The Bluetooth reader depends on the Lopay app and a connected phone or tablet. Businesses wanting a completely independent card terminal may prefer a standalone device.

You should also consider internet reliability.

A mobile business working in an area with weak mobile data may find card payments harder to process.

Premium card fees also matter.

If many customers use international, American Express or corporate cards, your average transaction fee may be higher than the basic advertised rate.

There is also a difference between a simple card reader and a full payment setup.

A busy restaurant with several tills, kitchen systems and detailed stock control may need more than a small Bluetooth reader.

Lopay does offer a separate Business Terminal, but this has a different pricing model from the basic reader.

Who Might Lopay Suit Best?

Lopay may be worth considering if you are:

• Starting a new business
• A sole trader
• Running a mobile service
• Taking payments at markets or events
• Running a small salon
• Running a barber shop
• Operating a small café
• Taking payments from customers at their homes
• Looking to avoid monthly card reader rental
• Wanting flexible payout choices

It may be less suitable if your business needs many terminals, complex integrations or very advanced EPOS functions.

How Do You Choose and Set Up a Lopay Card Reader?

Choosing a card reader should not be based on price alone.

Start by looking at how your business actually takes money.

Step 1: Estimate your monthly card sales

Write down roughly how much you expect customers to pay by card each month.

For example:

• £2,000
• £5,000
• £10,000
• £25,000

The higher your card turnover, the more important small differences in transaction fees become.

Step 2: Check your average transaction

Think about how much a normal customer spends.

A coffee shop may process many payments below £10.

A tradesperson may take fewer payments worth hundreds of pounds each.

Both businesses could process the same monthly turnover but have very different payment needs.

Step 3: Think about payout speed

Ask how quickly you need the money.

If your business has enough cash available to cover bills, waiting longer for a lower fee may make sense.

If cash flow is tight, faster access to card sales could be more valuable.

Do not simply choose the lowest transaction rate without considering when you receive your money.

Step 4: Check your customer card mix

Look at whether customers mainly use normal UK personal cards.

If you serve tourists, companies or overseas customers, premium card charges may have more impact.

Step 5: Register and verify your business

Before ordering the discounted first reader, you need to complete Lopay registration and identity checks.

This is normal for regulated payment services.

Once approved, you can order the reader and connect it with the Lopay app.

Step 6: Test before relying on it

Take a small test payment.

Check:

• Bluetooth connection
• Internet connection
• Receipt process
• Refund process
• Payout settings
• Staff access
• Battery level
• Customer payment flow

Testing before a busy day can stop simple problems from becoming lost sales. Click the link below to compare card machine quotes.

FAQ

Does the Lopay Card Reader have a monthly fee?

The standard Lopay Bluetooth Card Reader does not normally have a monthly rental fee. You buy the reader and then pay transaction fees when customers make payments. Other Lopay products, such as its Business Terminal, can have different monthly charges.

How much is a Lopay Card Reader in the UK?

The first Lopay Bluetooth Card Reader currently costs £35 plus £6.95 postage and packaging when ordered through the Lopay app after registration and identity checks. Extra readers may cost more.

What is the Lopay transaction fee?

Lopay’s current rates for eligible UK personal card payments start from 0.79%. Other options include 0.99% and 1.79%, depending mainly on the payout choice. Extra fees can apply to some international, corporate and American Express card payments.

Does the Lopay Card Reader accept contactless payments?

Yes. The Lopay Bluetooth reader accepts contactless card payments as well as chip and PIN. Customers can also use supported digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Is Lopay suitable for a sole trader?

Lopay can suit sole traders who want a portable card reader with a low starting cost and no standard monthly reader rental. It may work well for mobile workers, market sellers, barbers, beauty businesses, tradespeople and other small firms. Compare total fees, payout speed and features before choosing.

Thinking about using a Lopay Card Reader? Compare card payment solutions, costs and features to find an option that suits how your business takes payments.