Card terminal supplier and support service

Supply, set up and support card terminals for small businesses, with hands-on help that big providers often skip.

Customer tapping a contactless card on a payment terminal at a counter.
Startup cost£2k to £8k
Monthly revenue£1k to £5k
Time needed15+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • £2k-8k
  • Part-time
  • From home

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

Official data

91,318 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

SIC 62090 “Other information technology service activities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.

What it is

You supply terminals through a wholesale or partner arrangement, then configure them, train staff and fix problems. You might focus on a niche such as market traders, mobile therapists or small hospitality venues.

Your first three steps

  1. Speak to several UK acquirers, payment providers and wholesalers about reseller terms, stock options and what support they give you
  2. Choose a niche, such as mobile traders or small restaurants, and write a simple price list for terminals, set-up and support
  3. Set up a basic website and contact form, then offer a few local businesses a discounted first install in return for reviews
Who pays

Small businesses that want a local contact for terminal set-up, replacement and support, rather than a call centre.

How it makes money

Margin on terminal sales, monthly rental or support fees, and a share of transaction fees where your partner agreement allows it.

Skills that help
  • Comfortable with simple tech and troubleshooting
  • Clear communication with non-technical people
  • Organised record keeping and stock control
Watch out for
  • Check with the FCA and your provider whether your activities need any authorisation or registration
  • Check PCI DSS requirements and make sure you handle terminals and customer data securely
  • Holding stock ties up cash, and unsold or outdated terminals can lose value
  • Check your insurance needs, such as public liability and professional indemnity
  • Check data protection duties, including ICO registration and the fee
  • Check whether running the business from home needs permission from your landlord or lender

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: card terminal supplier and support service

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a card terminal supply business?

Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you hold and your setup. These are estimates. Holding stock ties up cash, and unsold or outdated terminals can lose value.

How much can a card terminal supplier earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many businesses you supply and support. Focusing on a niche, such as market traders or small venues, may help you find customers.

What rules should I check before supplying card terminals?

Check with the FCA and your provider whether your activities need authorisation or registration. Also check PCI DSS requirements, data protection duties including ICO registration and the fee, insurance needs, and landlord or lender permission if working from home.

Other ways to run this business

Similar tech services ideas

Photo: AhmadArdity on Pixabay

More ideas →