Card Payment and EPOS Costs for Pubs and Bars
Compare pub and bar payment costs across small drinks orders, food service, tabs, portable devices and quieter trading periods.
The short answer
For a pub or bar, transaction count and the number of service points can matter as much as turnover. Price processing, each terminal, EPOS software and any kitchen or table integration. Test the setup against a busy shift before committing.
In this guide
Map the way your pub takes money
Separate bar payments, food bills, private-event deposits and online orders. Record the value and number of completed payments in each channel. A customer settling one tab is a different payment profile from the same customer paying for every round separately.
Count the service points needed at peak times: a main bar, outside bar, restaurant and function room may not all need identical equipment. Keep seasonal devices and year-round commitments separate so you can see what you pay when an area is closed.
How a pence fee affects a drinks-led business
Fictional pub, not a provider quotation. Monthly card sales are £30,000 across 5,000 payments. Offer A charges 1.2% plus 3p per payment and £60 fixed monthly. Offer B charges 1.6% plus £20 fixed monthly.
| Cost | Offer A | Offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage charges | £360 | £480 |
| Per-payment charges | £150 | £0 |
| Fixed charges | £60 | £20 |
| Monthly total | £570 | £500 |
Offer A has the lower percentage but costs £70 more monthly here, or £840 over twelve identical months. The result changes when the average payment or other charges change.
Test tabs, tables and the kitchen connection
- Open and settle a tab, including a split payment and a correction.
- Demonstrate food modifiers and kitchen routing if the pub serves meals.
- Check how tips, refunds and voided orders appear in reconciliation.
- Confirm outdoor connectivity and the practical charging routine for portable devices.
- Show what staff do when a payment succeeds but the EPOS connection is interrupted.
Dojo’s integration material describes pay-at-counter and pay-at-table workflows. Confirm availability and cost for your actual till version; a general product description is not proof of compatibility. If pre-authorisation is required for tabs, ask about activation, limits, expiry and completion procedures.
Price the quieter months as well as the busiest shift
Put every terminal, software licence, kitchen service and optional reporting plan into the budget. Ask which charges continue during seasonal closure and whether a minimum bill applies. Count separate installation and staff-training costs in the first year.
Compare a quiet month using the same fixed charges. A good summer saving can shrink if devices remain rented all winter. Avoid using a single successful event as your year-round sales assumption.
Keep service improvements separate from cash savings. Faster ordering may help the team, but it is not automatically extra revenue or a lower wage bill.
Build a suitable shortlist
For an existing integrated till, start with keeping your EPOS when changing payments. If replacement is needed, give competing suppliers the same service-point and kitchen specification.
Read Dojo versus takepayments for the quotation checklist, and compare the complete figures in the calculator. Include exit charges and overlapping subscriptions, and choose only from options that demonstrate the pub’s essential workflows.
Common questions
Should I use the number of drinks sold as the transaction count?
No. Use completed card payments. A single payment can cover several drinks or an entire tab.
Does a portable terminal include pay-at-table integration?
Not necessarily. Confirm the EPOS connection, functions and any additional charge for the exact setup.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
No registration required. Calculator entries stay in your open browser page unless you choose to share a report in a review request.
Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
Worked examples are original fictional scenarios, not customer results, market averages or provider quotations. Unless stated otherwise, they use a consistent VAT basis and include only the costs listed. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.
Take the next step
Does your trading vary through the year? Use the seasonal card payment cost calculator to total twelve individual months, including quieter periods and the minimum charges you enter.