Payment systems for small businesses: Top solutions for 2025

Nowadays, most UK businesses use digital features to expand and thrive their operations. And there are many benefits to doing so. But what are the best payment systems for small businesses to use? Well, this brings us to today’s topic: The top payment solutions for small businesses in 2025.

Finding a secure, versatile and efficient payment system is crucial for managing transactions, facilitating growth and enhancing customer satisfaction. In this guide, we’ll uncover everything you need to know about payment systems including what they are, the features to look out for and how to choose the right payment platform for your business. 

Ready to explore the best payment systems 2025? Let’s go.

What are payment systems for small businesses? 

Payment systems for small businesses are the tools and platforms on which businesses can send and receive payments.

Having a payment system in place streamlines the entire payment process for both business owners and customers, enabling easy payments and revenue tracking.

Benefits of using a payment system

Using a payment system brings many benefits. Here are some of the many advantages that using payment systems can bring to businesses in the UK:

• Cash flow improvements and improved financial management
• Faster transactions with fewer delays
• Improved customer satisfaction due to the reliable and multiple payment options available
• Peace of mind that all money and data are safe thanks to in-built security features
• Easier scalability thanks to the right payment systems accommodating higher transaction volumes and a variety of payment methods 

Key features to look for in a payment system

If you’re searching for a new payment system for your small business, here are some features to look out for:

• Ease of use: Your payment system should be easy to set up and navigate
• Low transaction fees: Choose a platform that charges low (or no) transaction fees
• Multiple payment options: Make sure you can facilitate transactions through a variety of different payment options
• Security: Your platform should offer state-of-the-art security, with rigorous transfer screening and a strong anti-fraud team
• Seamless integration: Some payment systems allow you to integrate your existing accounting tools for ease and convenience
• Mobile payment options: Keep an eye out for payment systems that let you send and manage payments on the go 
• Customer service: Make sure there’s a reliable customer support team on hand to help should you encounter any issues with your payments 

Best payment systems for small businesses in 2025 

There are many small business payment solutions available but here are some of the best. Let’s explore them in detail.

TransferGo for small businesses

The TransferGo Business Account is designed for businesses of all sizes and is perfect for small businesses thanks to its zero set-up and subscription costs.

Its high-grade security protocols keep your funds safe and there are zero fees on major routes, with transfer margins as low as 0.35%. Plus, its customer support team is top-notch, addressing 80% of enquiries within just 2 hours.

PayPal for small businesses 

PayPal is one of the most recognised payment systems in the world. It’s free to sign up and there are no monthly fees; however, currency exchange rate markups are high. But there are more advantages: you can integrate many existing tools with PayPal Business and there are debit and credit cards available, too.

However, PayPal’s customer support team doesn’t receive great reviews—its average Trustpilot score is just 1.3/5.  

Square payment solutions 

Popular among both online and offline payment systems, Square offers a diverse range of tools for small businesses.

You can choose from its wide variety of hardware products including card machines, contactless card readers and iPad-driven kiosk devices for customer self-checkouts. Square also enables payment links, digital invoices and other online payment services.

Stripe for online payments 

With Stripe, you can accept payments online and in person all around the world, making it a diverse payment processing and financial solution for small and large businesses.

Its payment system enables cross-border transfers to over 150 countries around the world, while its in-built optimisations and over 100 different payment methods can increase conversion rates quickly.

Clover POS system 

For business owners looking for a Point Of Sale (POS) system with innovative features, Clover POS delivers.

Popular among retail shops, pubs, restaurants and other similar services, Clover offers a wide range of services for businesses including team management (you can create rotas and run your payroll with Clover), stock control and inventory tracking. 

QuickBooks payments 

For small businesses using QuickBooks for accounting, QuickBooks payments provide an ideal solution.

Easily integrating with popular payment tools such as PayPal, Go Cardless and Zettle, it enables business owners to give their customers more ways to pay including recurring bills, online invoicing and point-of-sale purchases.

How to choose the right payment system for your business 

Finding the right payment system for your small business should be simple and straightforward. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

• Transaction volume: If you anticipate high volumes of transfers, look out for payment systems that offer discounted fees on transactions. (The TransferGo Business Account offers lower rates for high-volume transactions!)
• Your business set-up: Do you handle all of your transactions online? Or will you require manual point-of-sale (POS) systems?
• Budget: How much can you spend on your payment system? Hardware products can have expensive upfront costs and ongoing fees, but some online payment systems might be free to set up and subscribe to (like the TransferGo Business Account, for example)
• Payment methods: Which payment methods do you require? Mobile payments, contactless payments or something else?
• Software integration: If software integration is important for your small business, look out for payment systems that integrate with your existing accounting software.

Integration and compatibility with your existing tools 

Many payment systems have the ability to link to your accounting software to streamline your services and keep everything in one place.

The TransferGo Business Account doesn’t offer this service at the moment but since it’s super-easy to navigate, there isn’t a need for complex integrations and many of our customers use our platform alongside their existing tools. This is why TransferGo’s set-up costs stay free.

Pricing and transaction fees comparison 

When looking for a payment system for your small business, it’s important to compare the transaction fees of different platforms.

Whatever your business needs or budget, it’s crucial to look for the most cost-effective platform that delivers everything your business needs. After all, affordable payment systems for small businesses are important in order to maximise business value.

Security features to consider 

Another important consideration when looking for a payment system is security. Here are some of the features to look out for: 

• End-to-end encryption to safeguard sensitive customer data
• Rigorous transfer screening
• Robust onboarding controls
• Two-factor authentication to protect your accounts
• A strong anti-fraud team that can detect and prevent suspicious activity
• Compliance with all regulatory requirements

Setting up a payment system: A step-by-step guide

How to set up a payment system depends on the payment system you choose as different payment platforms require you to take different steps. 

As an example, here’s how to use TransferGo Business:

1. Create a business account (it’s easy and free)

2. Add your payment details

3. Choose your payment method

4. Complete your payment

5. Track your transfer

FAQs about payment systems for small businesses

Can I accept international payments through these systems?

Yes, you can! Many payment systems accept international payments including TransferGo. With a TransferGo Business Account, you can send, receive and manage money all around the world. In over 35 currencies and 60 countries, in fact.

How long will it take to set up my payment system?

The process of setting up a payment system varies depending on the platform. With the TransferGo Business Account, you can be ready to send and receive payments within minutes once your details have been verified. 

Do these payment systems offer security to small businesses?

Yes! Any major player in the financial sphere must comply with all regulations and offer high-grade security protocols.

The TransferGo Business Account offers state-of-the-art security for your business with rigorous transfer screening, robust onboarding controls, two-factor authentication and a strong anti-fraud team. TransferGo also complies with all UK and EU regulations to protect your money and data.

Ready to get started? Sign up to TransferGo Business today.

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The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and reflects the author’s personal opinion. Any comparisons made between TransferGo and other businesses are intended to highlight differences and provide a fair overview, based on publicly available information as of the date of publication.

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the content, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date. We encourage readers to independently verify any claims or information presented in this post.

Any references to other companies, products, or services do not imply endorsement or affiliation with TransferGo, and we do not accept responsibility for the actions, products, or services of third parties.