How to Compare Card Payment Quotes
Build a like-for-like UK card-payment quote comparison using one input sheet, complete fees and three operating scenarios.
A defensible comparison starts with the same business activity and a complete written price schedule for every option.
Build one input sheet
Choose a representative month and record card turnover, transaction count, average sale, card-present and remote shares, refunds and chargebacks. Keep these inputs fixed across every quote. A provider cannot be cheaper because its example quietly assumes fewer transactions or a different card mix.
Transcribe the whole quote
Record percentage rates by card category, fixed authorisation charges, gateway costs, monthly minimums, terminal rental, PCI fees, setup fees and early-exit costs. Mark every missing value as unknown rather than zero.
Run three scenarios
Test quiet, normal and busy months. Separate recurring charges from one-off costs, and spread unavoidable setup or exit fees over the period you genuinely expect to use the service.
Compare non-price terms
Settlement delay, contract length, outage support, refund handling and equipment replacement can outweigh a small numerical difference. Keep these beside the calculated cost instead of forcing them into a misleading score.
Decision record
Save the dated quotes, input sheet, outputs and unresolved questions. The selected provider should be traceable to evidence available on the decision date, not a generic “cheapest” claim.
Source boundary
The Payment Systems Regulator explains that a merchant service charge contains several components. Provider-specific charges must come from each provider's current written terms.