The UK beauty industry is thriving, with over 47,000 salons, spas, and beauty businesses generating £7.1 billion annually. Whether you run a hair salon, nail bar, beauty spa, or mobile beauty service, choosing the right payment processor can significantly impact your bottom line. This comprehensive guide examines the best payment solutions for UK beauty businesses in 2026.
Why Payment Processing Matters for Salons
Beauty businesses have unique payment processing needs that differ from traditional retail. Your clients expect flexible payment options, from contactless cards to digital wallets, while you need a system that handles appointments, tips, and recurring bookings seamlessly.
Key considerations for salon payment processors:
- Low transaction fees (beauty businesses process hundreds of small-to-medium transactions monthly)
- Contactless and mobile payments (essential for modern client expectations)
- Appointment booking integration (sync payments with your scheduling software)
- Tip handling (easy tip collection without awkward conversations)
- No monthly fees (especially important for sole traders and small salons)
- Same-day settlements (improve cash flow for product restocking)
Top 5 Payment Processors for UK Salons 2026
1. Lopay - Best Overall for UK Salons
Rating: 5.0/5 ⭐
Lopay has emerged as the top choice for UK beauty businesses, offering the lowest fees combined with features specifically designed for service-based businesses.
Pricing:
- In-person: 1.99% + £0.10 per transaction
- Online bookings: 2.9% + £0.25
- No monthly fees
- No setup costs
Why it's perfect for salons:
- Integrated tipping - Clients can add tips directly on the card terminal
- Appointment sync - Works with Fresha, Phorest, and other booking systems
- Mobile card reader - Accept payments at the chair, treatment room, or on location
- Same-day payouts - Get your money faster for product restocking
- No contract - Cancel anytime without penalties
Best for: Hair salons, nail bars, beauty therapists, mobile beauticians, and spas of all sizes.
Get Started with Lopay → [blocked]
2. Square - Best for Integrated Booking System
Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐
Square offers an all-in-one solution with built-in appointment booking, making it attractive for salons that don't already have scheduling software.
Pricing:
- In-person: 2.6% + £0.15
- Online: 3.3% + £0.30
- Square Appointments: £0/month (basic) or £29/month (premium)
Why salons choose Square:
- Built-in appointment scheduling
- Client database and marketing tools
- Inventory management for retail products
- Staff management and commission tracking
Drawbacks:
- Higher fees than Lopay (costs an extra £70/month on £10k revenue)
- Premium features require monthly subscription
- Less flexible tip handling
Best for: New salons needing an all-in-one system without existing booking software.
Compare Square vs Lopay → [blocked]
3. SumUp - Best for Mobile Beauticians
Rating: 4.7/5 ⭐
SumUp's compact card readers and simple pricing make it popular with mobile beauty professionals.
Pricing:
- Flat rate: 1.69% per transaction
- Card reader: £29 one-time cost
- No monthly fees
Why mobile beauticians love it:
- Tiny card reader fits in any kit bag
- Works via smartphone Bluetooth
- No monthly fees (perfect for part-time work)
- Instant setup
Drawbacks:
- No appointment booking integration
- Limited reporting features
- Slower payouts (2-3 business days)
Best for: Mobile hairdressers, mobile nail technicians, freelance makeup artists.
4. Stripe - Best for Online Booking Heavy Businesses
Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐
Stripe excels at online payments, making it ideal for salons with heavy online booking volumes.
Pricing:
- In-person: 2.7% + £0.05
- Online: 2.9% + £0.30
- No monthly fees
Why it works for salons:
- Seamless online booking payments
- Subscription billing for memberships
- Advanced fraud protection
- International payments (for destination spas)
Drawbacks:
- Requires technical setup
- Higher fees for in-person payments
- No built-in booking system
Best for: High-end spas, destination wellness centers, salons with membership programs.
5. Zettle (by PayPal) - Best for PayPal Integration
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Zettle offers seamless PayPal integration, useful for salons with existing PayPal business accounts.
Pricing:
- In-person: 2.29% + £0.05
- Online: 2.9% + £0.30
- Card reader: £29
Why salons use Zettle:
- Accept PayPal payments in-person
- Instant PayPal balance access
- Simple inventory management
- Loyalty program features
Drawbacks:
- Higher fees than Lopay
- Limited appointment integration
- Requires PayPal business account
Best for: Salons already using PayPal for online bookings.
Cost Comparison: Real Salon Example
Let's compare the actual costs for a typical UK hair salon processing £15,000/month (approximately 300 transactions averaging £50 each).
| Provider | Monthly Fee | Transaction Fees | Total Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lopay | £0 | £328.50 | £328.50 | £3,942 |
| Square | £0 | £435.00 | £435.00 | £5,220 |
| SumUp | £0 | £253.50 | £253.50 | £3,042 |
| Stripe | £0 | £420.00 | £420.00 | £5,040 |
| Zettle | £0 | £358.50 | £358.50 | £4,302 |
Winner: Lopay saves you £1,278/year vs Square, while offering better features than SumUp.
Essential Features for Salon Payment Systems
1. Tip Collection
Tipping is a significant revenue source for beauty professionals. Your payment processor should make tip collection seamless:
- Digital tip prompts - Terminal suggests tip percentages (10%, 15%, 20%)
- Custom tip amounts - Clients can enter any amount
- Tip reporting - Track tips separately for tax purposes
- Staff tip allocation - Automatically assign tips to the right stylist/therapist
Best for tips: Lopay and Square offer the most sophisticated tip handling.
2. Appointment Integration
Your payment system should sync with your booking software to eliminate double-entry:
- Fresha integration - UK's most popular salon booking system
- Phorest compatibility - For larger salon chains
- Vagaro sync - Popular with spas and wellness centers
- API access - Connect to custom booking systems
Best integration: Lopay works with all major booking systems; Square has its own built-in scheduler.
3. Mobile Payment Options
Modern clients expect flexible payment methods:
- Contactless cards - Essential for quick payments
- Apple Pay & Google Pay - Increasingly popular with younger clients
- Mobile card readers - Accept payments anywhere in the salon
- QR code payments - For touchless transactions
Most versatile: All top providers support contactless and digital wallets.
4. Reporting & Analytics
Understand your business performance with robust reporting:
- Sales by service - Which treatments generate the most revenue?
- Sales by staff member - Track individual stylist performance
- Product vs service revenue - Optimize your retail mix
- Peak hours analysis - Schedule staff effectively
Best reporting: Square and Lopay offer the most comprehensive analytics.
Special Considerations for Different Beauty Businesses
Hair Salons
Priorities: Tip handling, staff commission tracking, product inventory
Recommended: Lopay (best fees + features) or Square (all-in-one system)
Average monthly processing: £12,000-£25,000
Nail Bars
Priorities: Fast transactions, contactless payments, low fees
Recommended: Lopay (lowest fees) or SumUp (simple setup)
Average monthly processing: £8,000-£15,000
Mobile Beauticians
Priorities: Portable reader, no monthly fees, smartphone compatibility
Recommended: SumUp (most portable) or Lopay (better features)
Average monthly processing: £2,000-£6,000
Spas & Wellness Centers
Priorities: Online bookings, membership billing, package sales
Recommended: Stripe (best for subscriptions) or Lopay (best fees)
Average monthly processing: £20,000-£50,000
Barbershops
Priorities: Quick payments, walk-in friendly, low fees
Recommended: Lopay (fastest transactions + lowest fees)
Average monthly processing: £10,000-£18,000
How to Switch Payment Processors
Worried about switching? The process is simpler than you think:
Week 1: Research & Apply
- Compare providers using this guide
- Apply online (10-minute application)
- Get approved (usually 24-48 hours)
Week 2: Setup & Test 4. Receive your card reader (2-3 day delivery) 5. Connect to your booking system 6. Process test transactions 7. Train your team (15-minute session)
Week 3: Go Live 8. Run both systems in parallel for one week 9. Verify all transactions process correctly 10. Cancel your old provider
Pro tip: Most providers offer free card readers when you sign up, so there's minimal upfront investment.
Common Questions from Salon Owners
"Will I lose money during the switch?"
No. You can run both systems simultaneously during the transition. Most salons complete the switch over a weekend with zero downtime.
"What about my existing booking system?"
All major payment processors integrate with popular booking systems like Fresha, Phorest, and Vagaro. Lopay offers the widest compatibility.
"Can I accept payments on location (mobile services)?"
Yes. All recommended providers offer mobile card readers that work via smartphone. Lopay and SumUp have the most compact readers.
"How do I handle staff tips?"
Modern payment processors like Lopay and Square allow clients to add tips digitally. The system tracks which staff member provided the service and allocates tips accordingly.
"What if I have multiple locations?"
All providers support multi-location businesses. Square and Lopay offer centralized reporting across all locations, making it easy to track performance.
Final Recommendation
For most UK salons, spas, and beauty businesses, Lopay offers the best combination of low fees, essential features, and flexibility. You'll save hundreds to thousands of pounds annually compared to alternatives while getting superior tip handling, appointment integration, and customer support.
Choose Lopay if:
- You want the lowest fees
- You need sophisticated tip handling
- You use Fresha, Phorest, or another booking system
- You process over £5,000/month
Choose Square if:
- You're starting fresh and need an all-in-one system
- You don't have existing booking software
- You want built-in marketing tools
Choose SumUp if:
- You're a mobile beautician with low volume
- You want the simplest possible setup
- You work part-time
Ready to reduce your payment processing costs and improve your client experience? Start with Lopay and see the difference in your first month.
Compare All Payment Processors → [blocked]
Last updated: February 8, 2026. Pricing and features subject to change. Always verify current rates with providers before signing up.