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The Small Business Payment Gateway
Built for the UK

One transparent 0.99% blended rate, no monthly minimums, no hidden fees, and your money settled into your UK bank account the next working day. In person, online, or by link.

Get a no-obligation quoteSee pricing
FCA-Authorised · FRN 920628PCI DSS Level 1ISO 2700118,000+ UK merchants

Why small businesses choose Monek

Most gateways are priced and built for enterprises, with small businesses left on the standard tariff. Monek is UK-based, and 18,000+ merchants — from sole traders to established shops — run on the same transparent terms.

One rate, nothing hidden

Our Growing Business plan is 0.99% blended for businesses under £200,000 a year. No monthly account fee, no setup fees, no PCI surcharge, and no monthly minimums, so a quiet month never costs you extra. See full pricing →

Paid the next working day

Card takings are settled into your UK bank account the next working day, not held for three to seven days. For a small business, that cash-flow difference matters more than a fraction of a percent on the rate.

FCA-authorised in our own right

Monek is directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 920628), not an agent of another authorised firm, and merchant funds are safeguarded in designated UK trust accounts. Payment services are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. How our FCA authorisation protects you →

Take payments however your customers want to pay

In person

PAX card machines from £25/month with contactless, chip & PIN, and a built-in receipt printer. Free next working day delivery and a UK-based support team.

Online

Hosted checkout and ecommerce plugins with 3-D Secure 2 on every transaction, PCI-compliant by default. One merchant account, one statement, whatever you sell.

By link — no website needed

Email or SMS a payment link and get paid in seconds, with no website and no card reader. 20p per link on standard pricing, or nil on a managed account. Ideal for invoices, deposits, and phone orders.

What a small business actually pays

The whole tariff on one card. All major card types are included — Visa, Mastercard, and Amex on request — for UK and international cards alike. Businesses above £200,000 annual turnover qualify for bespoke IC++ pricing instead.

Transaction rate (Growing Business plan)0.99% blended
Monthly account fee£0
Setup fees£0
PCI surcharge£0
Monthly minimumsNone
Pay by Link fees20p per link, nil on managed pricing
Card machine rentalFrom £25/month
SettlementNext working day
See the full pricing breakdown →
18,000+
UK merchants
£5.2bn
Processed in 2025
0.99%
Blended rate
FRN 920628
FCA-authorised

Small business payment questions, answered

What is the best payment gateway for a small business in the UK?+
The best small business payment gateway is one that charges a transparent rate with no fixed overheads, and settles quickly. Monek's Growing Business plan is 0.99% blended for UK businesses under £200,000 annual turnover, with no monthly account fee, no setup fees, no PCI surcharge, no monthly minimums, and next working day settlement into your UK bank account.
Do I need a website to take card payments?+
No. With Monek Pay by Link you email or SMS a payment link and the customer pays in seconds, with no website and no card reader. Pay by Link costs 20p per link on standard web pricing, or nothing on an account priced by your account manager. You can also take payments in person on a card machine or over the phone via the Virtual Terminal.
Do I need a separate merchant account?+
No. Monek combines the payment gateway and the merchant acquiring account in a single contract. You apply once, we underwrite once, and you get a single statement covering all your card channels.
How quickly can my small business start taking payments?+
Most UK applications are underwritten within 2 working days. Online channels can be live the same day approval comes through, and card machines typically arrive the next working day with free delivery.
Are there monthly minimums or hidden fees?+
No. There are no monthly minimums, no monthly account fee, no setup fees and no PCI surcharge. Pay by Link carries a 20p per-link charge on standard web pricing, or nil on a managed account. A quiet trading month never triggers a minimum service charge.
When do I receive my money?+
Card takings are settled into your UK bank account the next working day. There is no extended holding period and no fee to be paid faster.
Is Monek FCA-regulated?+
Yes, directly. Monek is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 920628) as a payment services provider in its own right, not as an agent of another authorised firm, and you can verify this on the FCA Register. Merchant funds are safeguarded in designated UK trust accounts. Payment services are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
What support does a small business get?+
Every UK Monek merchant gets a UK-based support team and a named account manager reachable by phone and email, plus 24/7 access to the Monek Portal for self-service reporting, refunds, and Pay by Link generation.

Start taking card payments the fair way

Tell us how you trade — in person, online, or by link — and we'll quote you a like-for-like rate with no obligation. If you're already on a fair deal, we'll tell you to stay put.

Get a quoteSee pricing