Quick at the till
Staff are busy checking ID and ringing up the sale. The payment step shouldn't add to it: contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay mean the customer taps and goes.
Card machines for off-licences
Late-night top-ups, weekend busy spells and baskets that run from a single bottle to a party order. A card machine that keeps the till moving and suits a mixed basket.
What off-licences need
Built for a mixed basket
An off-licence sells a lot of small, quick purchases and a steady flow of bigger ones. Your card machine and your fees need to work for both.
Priced for small and big baskets
A can and a bag of crisps is a different sale from a case of wine for a party. We look at the percentage, the fee on every payment and the card mix when we quote.
Orders by phone
Party and trade orders are often arranged in advance. Take payment over the phone or send a secure payment link, so the order is paid before it is collected. Delivering or selling alcohol at a distance has its own licensing and age-check rules. Check with your licensing authority.
What card payments look like in an off-licence
Off-licence baskets are more varied than in most shops. Late in the evening it might be a few cans and a snack. At the weekend, a bottle of wine and a few mixers. Ahead of a barbecue, a wedding or Christmas, a case of beer or a mixed order of spirits and wine. The size of the sale can change by a factor of ten from one customer to the next.
Larger baskets are more likely to go on a credit card or a business card, and those cost more to accept than a UK consumer debit card. A single headline rate can hide that. Ask any provider for the rate on debit, credit and business cards separately, then work out what each would have cost you last month using a recent statement. Our card machine fees guide walks through the sums.
At the other end, the many small sales mean a fixed fee on every payment can add up. As an illustration only, not a quote: a 5p fixed fee (an example figure, not PayZu's price) on a £4 sale adds 1.25% by itself. Compare that with the same fee on a £60 order, where it adds less than 0.1%.
Age-restricted sales are a till and staff matter. Checking ID is done by your team, not by the card machine. What the terminal can do is keep the payment step quick, so the queue doesn't grow while your staff do the check properly.
Off-licences also have sharp peaks: Friday and Saturday evenings, bank holidays, big matches and December. If one terminal is a bottleneck at those times, a second terminal is cheaper than a lost sale. Compare what each extra terminal costs per month before you decide, and see if a portable one can double as a back-up. Most businesses are up and running within 24 hours of receiving their terminal.
Which terminal?
The right card machine for an off-licence
PAX A35: for the counter
A compact countertop terminal with a physical PIN keypad that can link to a compatible till, so the total appears automatically and nothing is typed twice.
See the A35
PAX A920 Pro: for deliveries and events
Portable, with 4G and Wi-Fi and a built-in printer. Use it for local deliveries, a tasting event, a second serving point or as a back-up if the counter terminal is busy.
See the A920 Pro
What you get
More than a low rate
- Debit card rates from 0.29%* (T&Cs apply)
- £0 upfront, zero hidden fees, zero PCI fees
- Terminals that can link to a compatible till, so totals aren't typed twice
- Pay by link and phone payments for party and trade orders
- Your own account manager and 24/7 UK support
*0.29% applies to UK consumer debit cards for businesses with monthly card takings above £100,000. Credit, business and international card rates, and rates for lower takings, are quoted individually. Subject to eligibility and status.
Already have a card machine? Send us a recent statement and we'll show you what you could save, up to 50% on some fees. If you're already on a great deal, we'll tell you straight. Already in a contract? Let us look into it and find you a saving. In most cases, subject to approval, we can help with your exit or termination fee. See our guide to switching card machine provider.
Does the card machine help with age-restricted sales?
No. Checking ID is done by your staff and your till processes. What a quick contactless terminal does is stop the payment step slowing the queue down while the check happens.
Why can big baskets cost more in card fees?
Customers spending more are more likely to use credit cards and business cards, which cost more to accept than UK consumer debit cards. Ask for debit, credit and business rates separately so the quote reflects your real mix.
Can I take card payments for bulk or party orders over the phone?
Yes. You can take payment over the phone, send a secure payment link by text, email or WhatsApp, or use a virtual terminal on a computer, so the order is paid before it is collected. Delivering or selling alcohol at a distance has its own licensing and age-check rules, so check with your licensing authority.
Will the terminal work with my till?
Our terminals work with many UK EPOS and till systems. Tell us what you use and we'll confirm before you switch.
Do I need a second terminal for Christmas and bank holidays?
If one terminal slows the queue at your busiest times, a second one is worth considering. Tell us about your peak days and we'll suggest a set-up, and what each extra terminal would cost per month.
Get your quote
Lower card fees for your business
Tell us about your business and we'll come back with a personalised quote. You can also email a recent statement to info@payzu.co.uk.
- £0 upfront
- Zero hidden & PCI fees
- Your own account manager
- 24/7 UK support