4 Essential Things to Consider When Choosing a Business Payment Solution

If your business takes card payments, choosing the right payment provider can make a real difference, not just to your customer experience, but to your bottom line.

With so many providers offering flashy sign-up deals and bold claims, it’s easy to get swept up in the sales pitch. But look a little deeper, and you'll find the true cost of taking payments can vary significantly depending on the setup you choose.

Here are four key areas to look out for when comparing business payment options:

1. Setup Costs

Getting started with a payment provider often involves some form of setup fee. Whether you’re looking at countertop terminals, mobile card readers, online checkout integration or virtual terminals, the initial costs can differ depending on the service and supplier.

Before signing anything, make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for, and what (if anything) is included as standard.

2. Ongoing Monthly Fees

Most providers charge a monthly fee, which could cover terminal rental, service access, or bundled support features. Some advertise ‘no monthly fee’ packages, which sound attractive at first glance, but often come with trade-offs like capped transactions or inflated charges elsewhere.

Always check the fine print. It’s not just about how low the monthly fee is, but what you're getting in return.

3. Transaction Charges

This is where the costs can really add up. Every time a customer taps their card or makes an online payment, the provider takes a small cut, usually as a percentage of the transaction.

These fees vary by card type (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) and can fluctuate depending on your transaction volume. Be especially cautious if you’re being offered ‘free’ services elsewhere, those providers often recover their costs with higher transaction fees that could outweigh the savings over time.

4. Hidden or Extra Charges

Some providers sneak in other charges such as:

• Chargeback fees

• PCI compliance fees

• Refund or authorisation fees

Make sure to ask your supplier for a full breakdown of all potential costs, not just the headline rates.

Final Thoughts from Bright Edge

At Bright Edge, we believe transparency is key. That’s why we work with trusted wholesale partners to offer tailored, low-cost payment solutions for UK businesses, without the surprises.

Whether you're looking to streamline your card processing costs or integrate payments with broadband and energy into one simple package, our team is here to help you make sense of your options.

Want to see how much you could save?
Get in touch for a no-obligation quote and let us simplify payments for your business.

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