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SumUp is a payment processing company that offers a range of business tools to help entrepreneurs and small business owners manage their finances.
Their payment processing solutions are designed to be user-friendly and affordable, with no hidden fees or contracts. This makes it an attractive option for those looking to start or grow a business.
One of the key features of SumUp's payment processing is their mobile card reader, which allows businesses to accept card payments on-the-go. This is especially useful for businesses that operate at events, markets, or in non-traditional locations.
SumUp's business tools also include a point-of-sale system, which provides real-time sales data and insights to help businesses make informed decisions.
Features
SumUp offers a range of features to help you process payments easily. The app comes with a free payment app that you can download on your Android or iOS device, allowing you to accept swiped, EMV, and contactless card payments from all major credit cards.
You can also use the app to accept invoices and gift cards through both mobile and virtual terminals. Additionally, SumUp lets you add tips, issue refunds, or assign and adjust tax rates for your products and services.
The SumUp card reader range offers solutions for all types of customer-facing businesses, with all card readers costing less than $100. You can choose from a variety of card readers, including the SumUp Air, Solo, and 3G, each designed to streamline payment processes.
Here are some key features of SumUp:
SumUp also offers a range of business management features, including inventory management, sales reporting, and more. With the Goodtill by SumUp software, you can manage your business on the go with 13 add-ons to tailor to your business focus, including Goodeats for managing takeaway orders.
How It Works
SumUp is an app-based payment platform that lets you process transactions with just a smartphone. The app is available in over 30 countries and has been adopted by over 3.5 million merchants worldwide.
You can sign up on SumUp and start accepting card payments for a flat fee, with no contractual obligations. This makes it suitable for low-volume sales and businesses.
To get started, you'll need to verify your account, and you can also apply for a business bank account that comes with a Mastercard. This business bank account speeds up payouts and provides a convenient way to manage your finances.
SumUp offers a range of card readers, including the SumUp Air, Solo, and 3G, each designed to streamline payment processes. These card readers are affordable, with all of them costing less than $100.
The Goodtill by SumUp software has 13 add-ons that you can tailor to your business focus, such as Goodeats for managing takeaway orders. This software also provides features like wastage reports to help you optimize processes for cost-saving.
Here are some key features of SumUp's payment process:
- Remote payments work by generating and sharing simple payment web links and QR codes.
- Online invoices can be sent to customers or vendors.
- Transactions are sent through the cloud, resulting in instant sales figures.
- Payouts are made to your designated bank account within 3 working days.
This makes it easy to manage your finances and stay on top of your sales figures. With SumUp, you can focus on running your business without worrying about complex payment processes.
App Features
The SumUp app has a range of features that make it a convenient and efficient payment platform.
You can download the free payment app on your Android or iOS device to start accepting payments. It lets you accept swiped, EMV, and contactless card payments from all major credit cards, including Google Pay and Apple Pay.
The app also allows you to create invoices and gift cards through both mobile and virtual terminals. This feature is especially useful for businesses that need to manage multiple transactions at once.
SumUp's card readers are highly portable and can pair with your smartphone or connect to the internet by themselves with the app features built-in. This makes it easy to accept payments anywhere, whether you're at a store, event, or pop-up location.
You can also manually capture customer info and process transactions using just the app itself. For example, taking an order over the phone or invoicing for online payment at a later date.
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The app lets you add tips, issue refunds, or assign and adjust tax rates for your products and services. This feature is especially useful for businesses that need to handle complex transactions.
You can generate payment links, which you can send to customers through any messaging channel, including WhatsApp, Instagram, text, and email. This feature is especially useful for businesses that don't want to create an online store.
SumUp also supports unlimited items and variations in your inventory, making it easy to manage your stock and track sales.
Plus
The Plus features of SumUp are definitely worth highlighting. The SumUp Plus card payment reader is the cheapest card reader directly from SumUp, costing $35 on its own or $49 with a Cradle charging dock.
It connects to the app via your smart device to facilitate transactions, making it a convenient option for businesses on the go. The device itself has a small display that shows the payment total and related prompts.
The customer taps the display for contactless payments, including Google and Apple Pay. The reader is charged by micro-USB outside of the Cradle and can handle at least 500 transactions when fully juiced.
Here are some key benefits of the SumUp Plus card reader:
- Cost-effective: $35 on its own or $49 with a Cradle charging dock
- Convenient: connects to the app via your smart device
- Easy to use: small display shows payment total and related prompts
Mobile Payments App
The Mobile Payments App is a crucial feature of SumUp, allowing you to accept payments on the go. You can download the free payment app on your Android or iOS device and start accepting swiped, EMV, and contactless card payments from all major credit cards.
The app lets you accept payments from customers using Google Pay and Apple Pay, as well as invoices and gift cards through both mobile and virtual terminals. Depending on roles and permissions, it gives you and your staff access to tools for accepting payments, processing sales, viewing or managing inventory, creating invoices, and more.
With the SumUp app, you can add tips, issue refunds, or assign and adjust tax rates for your products and services. This makes it easy to manage your business on the go and provide excellent customer service.
Here are some of the key features of the SumUp Mobile Payments App:
- Accepts swiped, EMV, and contactless card payments from all major credit cards
- Accepts Google Pay and Apple Pay
- Allows for invoices and gift cards through mobile and virtual terminals
- Gives access to tools for accepting payments, processing sales, and managing inventory
- Allows for adding tips, issuing refunds, and assigning tax rates
Overall, the SumUp Mobile Payments App is a powerful tool that can help you streamline your business and provide a better experience for your customers.
Hardware
SumUp's hardware range is surprisingly limited, with only one countertop terminal model, one type of cash drawer, and one type of receipt printer available. This might be a problem for businesses that need more specialized equipment, like restaurants or retailers.
You can start processing credit card transactions with SumUp's mobile card readers, which range from simple to more advanced models with built-in card readers. These devices can be connected to mobile devices or used standalone.
SumUp offers a range of card readers, including the SumUp Plus, SumUp Solo, and SumUp Solo with printer. The prices for these devices are: $39 for the SumUp Plus, $49 for the SumUp Plus Cradle Bundle, $129 for the SumUp Solo, and $199 for the SumUp Solo Printer Bundle.
Card Readers
SumUp offers a range of card readers to facilitate in-person transactions. These are sold at a one-off price.
You can choose from simple mobile card readers to POS devices with built-in card readers. SumUp Plus, SumUp Plus Cradle Bundle, SumUp Solo, and SumUp Solo Printer Bundle are some of the options available.
The prices for these card readers vary, with the SumUp Plus costing $39 and the SumUp Solo Printer Bundle costing $199.
SumUp also offers a wireless, portable, take-anywhere card reader called the SumUp Air. This card reader has a flat pin pad and needs to be paired with the SumUp app to take payments.
Here are the hardware costs for SumUp's card readers:
You're only charged per transaction, so you don't have to worry about ongoing fees.
Receipt Printing
Receipt printing is a convenient feature that lets you print physical receipts via the SumUp app and compatible printers.
You can use Google Cloud Print or Apple AirPrint to print receipts, making it easy to manage your transactions.
Cloud printing allows you to stay organized and keep track of your sales, all from the comfort of your own space.
Pricing
SumUp's pricing is surprisingly straightforward. You can get started with a free payment processing plan, which includes card readers.
The free plan comes with a 1.69% in-person transaction fee, which is competitive with other providers. However, if you generate over $10,000 in revenue each month, you can negotiate a custom rate with the sales team.
Card machines cost from £39 + VAT, and with the free account, you'll pay a 1.69% fee for in-person purchases. This fee is cheaper than Square and Zettle's 1.75% fee, but more than Stripe's 1.4% + 10p.
To lower transaction fees, you can opt for the SumUp One subscription, which costs £19 per month and reduces fees to 0.99% for both in-person and online transactions.
Here are the different pricing plans and fees:
Overall, SumUp's pricing is designed to be simple and cost-effective for small businesses.
Payment Options
SumUp offers a wide range of payment options to suit different business needs.
You can accept card payments with SumUp, including contactless and chip and pin, as well as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Amex, VPay, Discover, Diners Club, and Union Pay. Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay are also supported.
SumUp's online payment options include an online store builder, online payment gateway, payment links, and invoices. The online store builder is free, while the online payment gateway and payment links are also free. Invoices, however, cost £7 a month.
Payment links and QR codes are useful for businesses that don't want to create an online store. You can generate payment links and QR codes in the SumUp app, which can be sent to customers through messaging channels like WhatsApp, Instagram, text, and email.
SumUp's card readers are portable and can pair with your smartphone or connect to the internet by themselves. You can also manually capture customer info and process transactions using just the app.
Here are the payment types supported by SumUp:
- Contactless and chip and pin
- Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Amex, VPay, Discover, Diners Club, Union Pay
- Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay
And here are the online payment options:
- Online store builder (free)
- Online payment gateway (free)
- Payment links and QR codes (free)
- Invoices (free-£7/month)
SumUp's payment processing plan is mobile-first and free, with competitive transaction fees. Card-present transactions cost 2.75% per transaction, while card-not-present transactions have different fees.
Business Management
SumUp's business management tools are surprisingly robust, especially considering its affordable pricing. It allows users to create detailed reports on sales, profits, wastage, and refunds.
The array of reporting options available puts SumUp ahead of rival software, Zettle. This is a game-changer for small business owners who need to stay on top of their finances.
SumUp's software even features an ingredient-level inventory, which is particularly useful for food or accommodation businesses. This helps restaurateurs keep their menus up-to-date and running smoothly.
A low stock warning is also available, which makes life easier for busy small business owners. This feature automatically updates users if a particular item outsells, keeping all revenue streams at an optimal level.
Ecommerce Integration
SumUp's online store builder is a free tool that allows you to list products or menu items for online ordering. It's a basic website builder with no options for customising the design.
You can link your online store to social media platforms, making it easy to reach a wider audience. However, SumUp's online store builder is not recommended for businesses looking to start an ecommerce business due to its lack of scalability.
SumUp can still be used as a payment processor on other ecommerce platforms like Shopify or Wix, which offer more advanced features. This flexibility makes SumUp a great option for businesses that need a reliable payment gateway.
SumUp also offers a free tool for building a bookings page, which allows customers to book a day and time slot directly through the website. However, customers can't pay for the services they booked through the website, and payment still needs to be taken in person.
You can integrate SumUp's online payment gateway into any website through API, making it a flexible and easy-to-use option.
Invoicing
Invoicing is a crucial part of any business, and SumUp makes it easy with its free and paid versions of its invoicing tool. You can send unlimited invoices for free, but you'll need to sign up for a free SumUp Business Account to receive transfers.
The free invoicing tool is a great starting point, but if you want more features, you can upgrade to the SumUp Pro invoicing plan for £7 per month. This plan allows you to send unlimited customised invoices in 14 different languages and accept transfers to any bank account.
With the SumUp Pro plan, you'll also get a lower transaction fee of 1.25% compared to the free plan's 2.5% fee. If you're looking for even more savings, the SumUp One plan is available for £19 per month, which includes the SumUp Pro invoicing software and a transaction fee of just 0.99%.
Creating invoices with SumUp is a straightforward process that includes a payment link and a QR code for quick payment. You can also include your logo and business info, and the system will handle numbering and calculations for you.
To make it even easier to manage your invoices, SumUp allows you to sort by unpaid invoices and receive notifications when you receive a payment. While automated reminders would be a nice feature, you can resend invoices manually to help keep your customers on track.
Whether you're using the mobile app or the dashboard, SumUp's invoicing feature is accessible in one place, making it easy to create, send, and track all your invoices. You can also include a payment link in your invoices, allowing customers to send payments via credit card, cash, or echeck.
Here's a comparison of SumUp's invoicing plans:
Overall, SumUp's invoicing feature is a powerful tool that can help you streamline your business operations and get paid faster.
Reporting
SumUp's reporting feature is quite impressive, especially considering it's a low-cost platform. You can create detailed reports on sales and profits, wastage and refunds, which is a big plus.
The array of reporting options available puts SumUp ahead of rival software, Zettle. This is a significant advantage for businesses that need to track their finances closely.
You can view and sort reports by time frame and easily export them with one tap. This makes it easy to stay on top of your business's financials.
SumUp's reporting feature includes the following options:
- Sales Reports – View sales data based on quantity sold, payment method, and tax category.
- Online Store Reports – View all sales made via the online store feature.
- Revenue Reports – View revenue data based on the timeframe, individual product or service, payment method, and staff member.
- Payout Reports – View SumUp payouts and transaction fees.
- Fees – View monthly transaction fee totals.
One thing that's lacking is the ability to integrate SumUp with your favorite accounting software. However, you can export reports in CSV format, which is a decent workaround.
Loyalty
Loyalty is a crucial aspect of business management, and SumUp has a range of tools to help you build and retain customer loyalty.
SumUp's loyalty features allow you to create loyalty programs and analyze purchase history, giving you valuable insights into your customers' behavior.
The SumUp Loyalty feature, powered by Fivestars, offers a touch-screen display to promote your business and sign up customers with a rewards program at the point of sale.
With Fivestars, you can also manage customer data, send out marketing campaigns, and manage customer loyalty in one place.
A customer-facing app is available, allowing users to manage their rewards points and promote their business with in-app mapping.
Solo
The SumUp Solo is a sleek and modern touchscreen card reader that you can take anywhere.
It contains a SIM card with unlimited data and connects to Wi-Fi if you prefer.
The SumUp app is built in, making it easy to navigate and use.
You can log in via the main account or a staff account and tap the product you want to sell.
You can also charge an amount manually for a one-off sale by tapping 'Checkout' straight away.
The Solo is a great option for merchants who want to test out a product or organise a pop-up, and don't necessarily want to invest in a card machine.
It's also perfect for on-the-go sellers, like market vendors, tradespeople, or taxi drivers, who need a compact and portable card machine.
The Solo's battery life is approximately 8 hours, so you'll need to keep a USB charging station on hand.
You can send a digital receipt to customers once a transaction is complete, if they provide their email or phone number.
Business Management
SumUp's business management tools are impressive, especially considering it's a low-cost platform. It offers detailed reporting options, including sales, profits, wastage, and refunds, which puts it ahead of rival software, Zettle.
You can create detailed reports to track your business's performance and make informed decisions. This feature is a game-changer for small business owners who need to stay on top of their finances.
SumUp's reporting options are comprehensive, allowing you to analyze your business's performance from multiple angles. This level of detail is rare in low-cost platforms, making SumUp a standout choice.
With SumUp, you can access your business data in real-time, making it easier to identify areas for improvement. This feature is particularly useful for entrepreneurs and small business owners who wear many hats.
SumUp's business management tools are highly rated, scoring a full 5 out of 5 in this area. This is a testament to the platform's ability to deliver value for money.
The Data Feed
Enabling the SumUp data feed is a simple process, just check the box in the payment provider setup area to connect to SumUp every night and pull in all your transactions for the previous day.
This means you can get full oversight on all your SumUp activity from within QuickFile, which is really useful for keeping track of your business finances.
You can then use standard bank tagging and automated rules to get everything reconciled, making it easier to manage your business.
The data feed will automatically update every night, so you'll always have the most up-to-date information about your SumUp transactions.
This feature is only available with the Power User Subscription, so make sure you have that set up before trying to link your SumUp account to QuickFile.
By connecting your SumUp account, you'll be able to generate new payment requests and access your SumUp data feed directly within QuickFile.
User Reviews
SumUp has a generally positive reputation from users, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot from nearly 20,000 reviews.
Users appreciate the fact that SumUp is inexpensive and the pricing is simple, with most citing this as their primary reason for switching to SumUp.
Some users have reported issues with credit card reader reliability and customer support being slow to respond.
The SumUp app is user-friendly and easy to set up, making it practical for businesses to use.
A notable feature of SumUp is its omnichannel tools, although these are only available to European customers.
Here are some key statistics from user reviews:
Overall, SumUp's user reviews suggest that it is a reliable and convenient payment solution for businesses, particularly for those in Europe.
Zero-Contract, Easy Setup
Setting up an account with SumUp is a breeze, thanks to their zero-contract policy. You won't need to spend hours negotiating contract terms.
The process is quick and easy, allowing you to get started with their services in no time. We were able to charge our SumUp Air card machine in under an hour.
Once you've ordered your chosen card machine, connecting it to the SumUp app is a straightforward process. The app and reader can be downloaded and connected with minimal hassle.
Alternatives and Comparison
If you're looking for alternatives to SumUp, you have several options. Square is a popular choice, especially for new and small businesses that need a free POS solution.
Square is also a good option for individuals who require a reliable solution for occasional payments, with a monthly fee from $0.
Another alternative to SumUp is Zettle, which offers more sophisticated software and point of sale setups, scoring 4.6 out of 5.
Here's a brief comparison of some of the top alternatives:
These alternatives offer a range of features and pricing plans to suit different business needs.
Alternatives
If you're looking for alternatives to SumUp, you have several options to consider.
Square is a great choice for new and small businesses needing a free POS solution, with a monthly fee from $0. It's also suitable for individuals requiring a reliable solution for occasional payments.
Zettle and Square are SumUp's main competitors, offering more sophisticated software and point of sale setups, scoring 4.6 and 4.3 respectively.
Smartpay Anywhere, attached to a bank like Barclaycard, is better suited for businesses that take a higher number of sales.
You can also consider other options like Clover, Vend, Epos Now, Goodtill (by Sumup), Touchbistro, and Shopify for different business needs.
Here's a brief rundown of some popular alternatives:
Zettle is the best for coffee shops, and Clover is best for small businesses looking to grow and wow their customers with tailored solutions.
Deciding Factors
When choosing an alternative to SumUp, there are several factors to consider.
Supported business types are flexible with Retail, restaurants, and professional services being supported.
Standout features are not explicitly mentioned, but the provider is known for its competitive pricing and ease of use.
Monthly software fees are competitive, which is a significant advantage for businesses looking to save on costs.
Setup and installation fees are $0, making it an attractive option for businesses that want to avoid upfront costs.
Contract length is pay-as-you-go, giving businesses the flexibility to cancel or change their plans at any time.
Point of sale options are available, but native POS software comes with an additional fee.
Payment processing fees are competitive, which is essential for businesses that want to minimize their transaction costs.
Customer support is not explicitly mentioned, but the provider is known for its competitive pricing and ease of use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SumUp mean?
SumUp means to present information briefly, either by summarizing or assessing and describing it in a concise manner
Why do people use SumUp?
People use SumUp for its simplicity and effectiveness in accepting card payments, making it a great option for small businesses to get started quickly. It's a hassle-free way to start accepting card payments with minimal setup and costs.
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