What does it cost to take card payments?

Start with both fees

When a customer pays through HonestyBox, there are two charges: our 5% platform fee and Stripe's processing fee. Include both when working out what a sale leaves you.

The examples here use Stripe's published standard UK card rate of 1.5% + 20p. Under that assumption, the combined charge is 6.5% of the payment plus 20p.

Premium UK cards, cards issued elsewhere, currency conversion and custom account pricing can change the Stripe charge. Check the rate applying to your account rather than treating these examples as a quote for every payment.

What you keep from a sale

• £2 payment: 10p to HonestyBox and 23p to Stripe. Total fees 33p; you receive £1.67.
• £10 payment: 50p to HonestyBox and 35p to Stripe. Total fees 85p; you receive £9.15.
• £20 payment: £1 to HonestyBox and 50p to Stripe. Total fees £1.50; you receive £18.50.
• £50 payment: £2.50 to HonestyBox and 95p to Stripe. Total fees £3.45; you receive £46.55.
• £80 payment: £4 to HonestyBox and £1.40 to Stripe. Total fees £5.40; you receive £74.60.

These are payment-fee examples, not profit figures. Ingredients, stock, packaging, your time and any other business costs still come out of the amount received.

Fees are charged in whole pennies. At other payment amounts, rounding the individual fees can produce a small difference from rounding the combined formula once; use the actual transaction record for your accounts.

Why small payments cost more proportionally

The fixed 20p matters more on a small purchase. In the examples above, total fees are 16.5% of a £2 payment and 8.5% of a £10 payment.

That is a good reason to keep your cash option. You can also offer clearly priced bundles where they suit your customers, rather than collecting several separate small payments.

Work from your margin, not just the selling price. A payment that leaves £1.67 is useful only if it covers what the sale costs you.

Compare the way you actually sell

If you serve every customer in person, compare a reader or a phone-based contactless service. An in-person rate can be lower than HonestyBox's combined fee, and some options have no monthly subscription.

For example, SumUp publishes separate pricing for its services and plans. Check the current rate, any equipment cost and whether the quote covers in-person or online payments.

HonestyBox suits a different arrangement: a customer scans a displayed code and completes payment on their own phone, while you may be elsewhere. A printed QR code needs no charging or power, but the customer's phone needs internet access.

Other providers offer QR payment links too. Our SumUp comparison covers its reusable links and customer-entered amounts, so you can compare online checkout options as well as readers.

Check the whole cost

HonestyBox has no setup fee or monthly subscription. You can print your code, or choose to buy a slate plaque for a more permanent display.

Your payment provider's terms still matter. Check costs and treatment for disputes, refunds and any additional services you use, as well as the ordinary processing rate.

Do not choose a service on a promise that one recovered sale will pay for everything. Compare your expected basket size, margin and sales volume, then review actual takings after using it.

A completed payment is not a bank payout

Stripe sends available funds to your bank according to the payout arrangements for your account. Settlement timing, verification and bank processing can affect when you receive them.

See Stripe's payout guidance and the dates shown in your Stripe account. Complete any requested account details before relying on the service.

Common questions

Do I pay a monthly HonestyBox fee?

No. HonestyBox charges 5% when a payment is taken, plus Stripe processing fees.

Is 1.5% + 20p the rate for every card?

No. It is the standard UK card assumption used in these examples. Other card categories and account terms can have different rates.

Should I stop accepting cash?

No. Keep the tin for people who prefer cash. The QR code gives customers without coins another way to pay.

How do I check my actual fees?

Use your completed transaction records and Stripe statements. Keep records of cash takings too; our tax guide explains where to start.

Reviewed 1 November 2026. Check the current HonestyBox pricing and linked provider terms before choosing a payment method.

Try your own selling price

Use the fee calculator to estimate HonestyBox and Stripe fees on your usual sale. The estimate is before your stock costs and tax.