Stripe Payments for Tradespeople UK — How to Accept Cards on Site (2026)

Getting paid late is one of the most consistent complaints from UK tradespeople. The good news is that digital payment tools — Stripe in particular — have made it significantly easier to collect payment on completion, send payment links that customers actually click, and stop chasing invoices for weeks.

This guide explains how Stripe works for trade businesses, what it costs, and the practical ways to use it — from payment links in quotes to card readers on site.

What is Stripe?

Stripe is a payment processing platform that lets businesses accept credit and debit cards, bank transfers (BACS), Apple Pay and Google Pay. It's used by millions of businesses worldwide, from small sole traders to large enterprises.

For tradespeople, the three most relevant Stripe features are:

• Payment links — a URL you can send to a customer that takes them to a payment page. They pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and you get notified instantly.
• Stripe Terminal — a physical card reader that connects to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can accept tap-to-pay and chip and PIN on site.
• Invoicing — Stripe can send invoices with a built-in "Pay now" button, removing the need for customers to set up a bank transfer.

Stripe fees in the UK (2026)

Stripe doesn't charge a monthly fee — you pay per transaction:

• Online card payments: 1.5% + 20p for UK cards; 2.5% + 20p for EEA/international cards
• Apple Pay / Google Pay: same rates as card payments
• Stripe Terminal (in-person): 1.6% for UK cards (no per-transaction fee)
• Bank transfers (BACS): 0.5% + 20p, capped at £5

On a £500 invoice paid by card online, the fee would be around £7.70. On a £2,000 bathroom renovation paid by bank transfer, the fee would be £10 (the cap). On most jobs, the cost of a Stripe fee is smaller than the cost of one chasing email or awkward doorstep conversation.

Payment links — the fastest way to get paid

The simplest way to use Stripe as a tradesperson is payment links. Here's the workflow:

1. Finish the job.
2. Create an invoice in your job management software (Trade2Base, Jobber, etc.).
3. Generate a Stripe payment link from the invoice.
4. Send it to the customer via WhatsApp, SMS or email.
5. Customer taps the link, pays with Apple Pay in under 10 seconds, you get a notification.

The success rate for payment on day of completion is much higher when the customer can pay immediately with the device in their hand, rather than having to log into their bank to set up a transfer to an account number.

Card readers on site (Stripe Terminal)

If you do a lot of work where collecting payment in person is more practical (small repair jobs, maintenance calls, emergency callouts), a Stripe card reader might be worth having.

The Stripe Reader M2 costs around £59 + VAT. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and accepts chip and PIN, contactless and Apple/Google Pay. The in-person rate (1.6%) is lower than the online rate.

This is particularly useful for:

• Boiler servicing and small repair call-outs where you want to be paid immediately
• Emergency plumbing where customers expect to pay on the day
• Any job where the customer is elderly or prefers to pay with a card rather than bank transfer

Note: Stripe card terminals for tradespeople are currently in development — Trade2Base is adding native Stripe Terminal support in Q3 2026 to allow payment collection directly from the job record.

Connecting Stripe to your trade software

Stripe is most powerful when it's connected to your job management software rather than used separately. This means:

• Payment links are generated from inside your invoices (not separately in the Stripe dashboard)
• When a customer pays, the invoice is automatically marked as paid
• You can see payment status across all your jobs without logging into Stripe

Trade2Base has a native Stripe integration. Connect it in Settings → Integrations → Stripe, and payment links are added to your invoices automatically. Customers who receive a Trade2Base invoice see a "Pay now" button — no hunting for account numbers, no bank transfer setup.

Alternatives to Stripe

Stripe isn't the only option, though it's the most widely integrated with trade software:

• GoCardless — better for recurring payments (monthly maintenance contracts, service agreements). Cheaper fees for bank-to-bank transfers. Trade2Base is adding GoCardless support in Q3 2026 for service contracts.
• SumUp — card readers from £39 + VAT. Simple, no monthly fees, 1.69% per transaction. Less integration with trade software but straightforward for in-person payments.
• iZettle (now Zettle by PayPal) — popular with tradespeople, 1.75% per transaction, good card reader. PayPal ecosystem means many customers already have an account.
• Square — free card reader to start, 1.75% per transaction. Good for very small volumes.

Getting customers to pay faster — practical tips

1. Send the invoice before you leave the site — create the invoice on your phone while the customer is there. Payment links sent on the day of completion have the highest conversion rate.
2. Offer Apple Pay and Google Pay — these have the least friction of any payment method. Most UK adults have one of them set up on their phone.
3. Set payment terms in your quote — state that payment is due on completion. Customers who agreed to this upfront are less likely to delay.
4. Use automated reminders — Trade2Base sends automated reminder sequences to overdue invoices (day 3, day 7, day 14) without you having to remember to chase.
5. Deposit on booking — for larger jobs, take a 10-30% deposit when the job is confirmed. This filters out unreliable customers and reduces the total amount you need to collect on completion.

VAT on payment processing fees

Stripe fees are business expenses and are deductible against your taxable profit. Stripe is based in Ireland, so they don't charge UK VAT on their fees — you can't reclaim VAT on Stripe fees as you would with a UK supplier. Your accountant will account for this as a straightforward business expense.