Card machines for all kinds of businesses
To make money, you have to take money. Whether you want to take payments in-person, around your business premises or even when you’re visiting customers, you’ll need a card machine – also known as a point-of-sale (POS) terminal or card reader. Whatever your business, wherever you trade, Elavon will get you taking speedy, simple, secure payments.
What are card machines and how do they work?
Card machines are small, handy devices that let businesses take payments from customers paying by debit or credit cards. Super convenient, they’re where your customer taps their card, enters their PIN or waves their phone or smartwatch to pay for something.
Card machines read the information on a card, securely processing the payment and sending the transaction details to the customer’s bank in just a few seconds. They make transactions quick and easy, attract more customers who prefer cashless payments, and help you organise your finances by automatically tracking sales. They’re a must for any business.
What are the different types of card machine?
Fixed card machines
You'll often see fixed card machines at the cash register in shops or restaurants. These card readers are stationary, plugged into one spot on the counter, and so they're perfect for businesses that have a designated checkout area.
Wireless card machines
Wireless card machines bring a bit more flexibility to the table. They use WiFi, Bluetooth or cellular data, so they're not tethered by cables: take them directly to customers, whether they're seated at a restaurant table or browsing in a boutique.
Mobile card machines
These portable devices connect to smartphones or tablets, typically using Bluetooth. They're ideal for market stalls, pop-up shops or anyone trading outside a traditional shop setting, like taxi drivers or tradespeople.
Smart card machines
These devices combine the hardware and functions of a traditional card machine with extra software features like apps for managing inventory, tracking sales, spotting customer trends and running customer loyalty programmes.
Ways to pay
Security as standard
All Elavon card machines come with the latest, safest security technology, protecting your customers’ data and your business’ reputation. Plus, you’ll reduce the costs of handling cash.
Many ways to pay
With Elavon card machines, you can offer all kinds of convenient payment options to customers, from contactless to digital wallets. Let your customer pay however they want, so you’ll never miss a sale.
Real-time reporting
Make the most of your card machine with Elavon Connect. Our online reporting portal digs deep into your system to give real-time business reports, transaction details, payment settlements and more.
Get the most from your card machine
Ten tips for taking payments
Increase security and reduce fraud by making sure everyone taking payments for your business knows these important points.
Take a hard line on retail chargebacks
Whatever way you trade, the pesky problem of chargebacks can eat into your working day and the funds in your bank account.
The rising popularity of digital wallets
Across Europe, research has found that that digital wallets are the single most popular way of paying when shopping online.
How do I pick the right card machine?
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Think about where and how you'll be taking payments. A fixed terminal is great for a checkout counter but, if you're moving around or serving customers at tables, a wireless or mobile device might be more your speed. Make sure your payments system can match your ambitions and can scale up as your business grows.
Think about where and how you'll be taking payments. A fixed terminal is great for a checkout counter but, if you're moving around or serving customers at tables, a wireless or mobile device might be more your speed. Make sure your payments system can match your ambitions and can scale up as your business grows.
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Watch the overall costs, including purchase or rental fees, how much card machines charge per transaction and any hidden charges. Make sure the card machine fits your budget while offering the best value for your business needs.
Watch the overall costs, including purchase or rental fees, how much card machines charge per transaction and any hidden charges. Make sure the card machine fits your budget while offering the best value for your business needs.
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Check if the card machine easily integrates with your existing systems, like POS software or inventory management tools. A card machine with added features could streamline your business, but keep it simple if all you need is quick, easy processing.
Check if the card machine easily integrates with your existing systems, like POS software or inventory management tools. A card machine with added features could streamline your business, but keep it simple if all you need is quick, easy processing.
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Reliable customer support is key. Choose a payments provider that offers always-on support, so you’re never left stranded if problems pop up. A solid support team ensures smooth sales, even during busy times.
Reliable customer support is key. Choose a payments provider that offers always-on support, so you’re never left stranded if problems pop up. A solid support team ensures smooth sales, even during busy times.
Customers and their card machines
Birds Bakery: expansion customer story
With plans to grow the bakery chain to 80 stores in five years, Elavon Connect allows Bird Bakery to see transaction details across each of its stores.
Mo’s Pizza: hospitality customer story
Expanding a daytime coffee shop into a pizza restaurant by night was easy with Poynt and Elavon Connect, leaving Mo to focus on the food and his customers.
J. Lupton family butcher: retail customer story
J. Lupton family butcher has been a fixture on the southside of Glasgow since 1977. It needed a queue-busting card machine, backed by excellent customer service.
“Using card payments is quick and that’s what people want… Elavon manages card payments for all our stores. It gives us confidence to ensure that all our transactions are secure.”
Mike Holling, sales and marketing director at Birds Bakery
FAQs
Any business that wants to sell online will need a website with a payment gateway, as well as a merchant account. Or you can use a virtual terminals, which works through a computer and is great for businesses taking orders over the phone or online. You don't even need a website, as the virtual terminal lets you generate a secure, specific payment URL, which you can then email or text to the customer to make the payment. You can use it on any device that’s online, instead of needing to use a physical card machine.
Be sure your card machine takes all kinds of cards like credit and debit. It should also work with contactless payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Some of the major card networks that businesses should accept include: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB and American Express.
Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) can help companies protect cardholder payment account data. PCI DSS compliance is an industry mandate. For that reason, you should consider PCI compliance one of your critical payment system features. The easiest course of action is to find a partner that handles payments security for you.
There are four levels of business classification that the PCI assigns, based on the number of transactions a business makes.
Level 4: Fewer than 20,000 card transactions per year
Level 3: Between 20,000 to 1 million card transactions per year
Level 2: Between 1-6 million card transactions per year
Level 1: More than 6 million card transactions per year
When paying with a card and it all goes through, it’s been ‘authorised’. A 'batch' is the way lots of different payments get grouped together to make it easier to process and settle those payments. So, a restaurant might combine all the payments they take each day and submit the combined batch to Elavon, rather than sending us each individual payment.
It's a card machine that’s in a fixed location, like a restaurant or shop counter. This is where cards are swiped or tapped by your phones and watches for Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Whether you're not currently accepting card payments, or maybe you're looking to upgrade, Elavon has a diverse range of solutions available to fit your business needs. We'll get you taking payments securely and simply – and we fund you fast, so you get your money into your account. Just get in touch with us.
Get in touch
Click below to contact an Elavon payments expert.
Helping thousands of customers around the world grow their business through payments
Customer service and support
We’re here to help!
Customer service: 0345 850 0195
Telephone: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Chat: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Opayo product support: 0191 313 0299
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Copyright © 2026 | U.S. Bank Europe DAC. Registered in Ireland with Companies Registration Office. The liability of the member is limited. United Kingdom branch registered in England and Wales under the number BR022122.
U.S. Bank Europe DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is a credit institution authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.
Helping thousands of customers around the world grow their business through payments
Customer service and support
We’re here to help!
Customer service: 0345 850 0195
Telephone: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Chat: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Opayo product support: 0191 313 0299
24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Copyright © 2026 | U.S. Bank Europe DAC. Registered in Ireland with Companies Registration Office. The liability of the member is limited. United Kingdom branch registered in England and Wales under the number BR022122.
U.S. Bank Europe DAC, trading as Elavon Merchant Services, is a credit institution authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.
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