13
Nov
Best Payment System for Small Business? A Look at the Lopay WisePad 3
If you run a café, shop, salon or market stall, you need a payment system that’s easy to use when customers are waiting. You also need to know what each sale costs and when the money will reach your bank. The Lopay WisePad 3 is a compact Bluetooth card reader for UK businesses that want to take payments in person with no monthly processing fee and no long-term contract.
How does the Lopay WisePad 3 work?
Pair the WisePad 3 with the Lopay app on a compatible phone or tablet. Enter the amount in the app, send it to the reader and let your customer tap or insert their card. The reader accepts contactless, chip and PIN, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and you can configure tipping in the app.
The reader needs to stay connected to the app to process payments. If you trade at markets or events, test the connection at your venue and allow time for any firmware updates before your first sale. See Lopay’s WisePad 3 setup guide.
How much does Lopay cost in the UK?
Lopay’s 0.79% Essential rate applies to UK personal Visa and Mastercard payments and includes weekly bank payouts. If you need funds in your bank sooner, Lopay offers other payout options.
| Lopay plan | Rate on eligible card payments | Bank payouts |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 0.79% per transaction | Weekly |
| Standard | 0.99% per transaction | Scheduled payouts, with next-working-day settlement available |
| Instant to Bank | 1.79% per transaction | Automatic instant payouts when your balance reaches the threshold you set. A 50p minimum instant payout fee applies. |
On a £100 eligible card sale, the Essential processing fee is 79p. Hardware and delivery are charged separately. American Express, international and corporate cards each incur a 1 percentage point surcharge, which can stack when more than one category applies. Optional payment methods can carry additional fees.
What makes the WisePad 3 a good fit for a small business?
- For cafés and food stalls, a portable reader lets you take payment at the counter or wherever you serve customers. You can also enable tipping in the app.
- For independent shops, the Lopay app includes free point-of-sale and inventory tools, so you can manage products and stock alongside payments.
- For salons and mobile businesses, you can take payments wherever you have a compatible phone or tablet and a working connection. With no monthly processing fee, quiet trading periods don’t bring a fixed processing charge.
If you need occasional access to cash sooner, you can request an instant bank payout on any Lopay plan for an additional fee. You can also access earnings immediately for purchases made with the Lopay Expense & Reward Card.
What do customers say about Lopay?
Lopay has a 4.8 out of 5 TrustScore on Trustpilot, based on more than 3,300 reviews. Five-star reviewers praise its easy-to-use app and clear pricing and payouts. Read Lopay customer reviews on Trustpilot.
Is Lopay the best payment system for your small business?
The WisePad 3 is a good fit if most of your sales are in person, your customers typically use UK personal cards and you’re comfortable taking payments through a phone or tablet. If you often serve international customers or need instant bank payouts every day, compare providers using your typical card mix and payout schedule. That gives you a better estimate of what you’ll pay each month than the headline rate alone.
Ready to take your first payment? Explore the Lopay WisePad 3.
