Countertop Terminal
A card machine that sits by the till and connects via your broadband or phone line. The classic fixed terminal for serving customers at a counter.
What It Is
A countertop terminal is a card machine that sits by the till and connects via your broadband or phone line. It's the classic fixed terminal for serving customers at a counter.
It's the most familiar type of card machine — a sturdy, mains-powered unit designed to stay in one place and handle a steady flow of transactions through the day.
How It Works
The terminal connects over ethernet or Wi-Fi to your payment gateway. When a customer taps, inserts or swipes, it encrypts the card data and sends it for authorisation in seconds.
Approval or decline comes back almost instantly, a receipt is printed or emailed, and the funds are settled to your merchant account on your normal settlement schedule.
When It's Necessary
Ideal for shops, salons, pharmacies and bars where customers pay at a fixed point. Best where there's a reliable wired connection at the till.
If your customers come to you and pay at a counter, a countertop terminal is usually the simplest, most cost-effective choice.
Business Impact
Fast, dependable payments at the counter with the lowest hardware cost. Supports contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay out of the box.
Because it's wired and mains-powered, it's reliable through the busiest trading periods without worrying about battery life.
Quick Summary
- What It Is
- How It Works
- When It's Necessary
- Business Impact