Everything You Need to Know About SumUp – The Best Payment Solution for New And Small Businesses in Europe
Are you someone who is thinking of starting their own business? It could be a café, gift shop, grocery store, retail store, salon, quick service restaurant, or any other professional service. Then this article is for you. As small business owners, we understand how difficult it is to execute our vision and bring it to reality. It becomes more stressful when it involves money transactions. Which product to choose? Is it safe? We do get a lot of questions in mind.
I am here to help you through this journey. This is a step-by-step guide on how you can install SumUp products into your existing software in just a few easy steps.
What Is SumUp?
SumUp is a British fintech company founded in 2012 in London. It provides simple, mobile payment solutions think portable card readers, a built‑in app, and even a business bank account all designed for small and new businesses
How It Helps New Businesses?
SumUp lets startups accept card payments without long-term contracts, monthly fees, or pricey hardware. You just buy a reader, pair it to your phone via Bluetooth, and instantly take chip, swipe, or contactless payments including Apple Pay and Google Pay
Funds hit your SumUp business account the next business day (weekends included if you open that account), all managed in the same app. That keeps things fast and hassle-free
What Are the Products?
- Card Readers – Basic EMV/NFC Bluetooth readers, or a standalone 3G reader needing no phone.
- Point‑of‑Sale (POS) System – Includes iPad stand, receipt printer, cash drawer; ideal for shops and cafés
- Payment Links & Invoicing – Send customers a link via text or email to pay online
- Online Store Builder – Create a basic ecommerce website for free, with SumUp checkout
- Gift Cards – Allow customers to buy digital gift cards via your Google My Business profile
- Business Bank Account – Free, no‑fee account with a Mastercard, mobile management, and next‑day payouts
- Developer APIs and SDKs – For tech-savvy businesses to build deeper integrations
How To Integrate Into Business Software?
SumUp makes it easy to integrate its payment tools with your existing software. If you’re using an ecommerce platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix, you simply install the SumUp payment plugin or connect via API
For in-person sales, the SumUp app works on any Android or iOS device—no special hardware except the card reader. And if you’re a developer, the SumUp SDK lets you embed payment functions directly into your own app or website .
What Is The Integration Process–
- Sign up online (often within 10 minutes), and verify your ID.
- Download the SumUp app on your phone or tablet.
- Pair the card reader via Bluetooth (or use the 3G reader directly).
- For online sales, add SumUp as a payment option on your site or share a link.
- Connect your bank account or open the free SumUp business account.
It’s a step-by-step process with clear instructions and no developer skill required—perfect for beginners.
What Is The Pricing Range?
- Hardware: £34–£139 + VAT for card readers and POS kits
- Transaction Fees:
• In‑person: 1.69% (or 0.99% if you pay £19/month for SumUp One)
• Online and payment links: 2.5% (or 0.99% with subscription) - Monthly Plans (Optional):
• Basic: £0
• SumUp One: £19/month for lower fees
What Users Say?
Users rate SumUp highly for being easy to use and good value. From SoftwareAdvice:
“Like the tablet style… quick and easy to sign in. Love the simplicity of the system.”
“It gives us great and immediate access to our best and most loyal customers.”
However, some mention customer service can be slow or unhelpful .
Why It’s Worth It for Small and New Businesses?
SumUp is ideal for newbies because:
- Low upfront cost, with no recurring fees unless you choose them.
- Fast setup—from unboxing to taking payment in under an hour
- All‑in‑one: hardware, payments, bank account, ecommerce, invoicing.
- Scalable: basic for now, and grows with your needs thanks to APIs and POS expansion.
In short, SumUp is a smart, budget‑friendly way for small firms, market stalls, cafés, and service‑based startups to accept payments easily and get on the road to growth.
