Card terminals and acquiring agreements: compare like for like
What should a restaurant ask before signing an acquiring agreement?
Give providers the same card volume, purchase count, card mix and terminal requirements. Request an itemised total price, payout terms, support responsibilities and cancellation conditions. Confirm POS compatibility and how refunds and outstanding matters are handled during a switch.
Comparable quotes start with comparable information. If one provider calculates summer trading and another uses a quiet winter month, the difference may reflect assumptions rather than pricing.
Prepare one shared brief
Gather card volume and payment counts for representative periods. Include card types and issuing regions, refunds, in-person and online payments, and terminal numbers. Use aggregated reports; providers do not need guests’ complete card details to calculate a quote.
Describe the workflow too: payment at tables, concurrent payment points, tips, split bills and receipts. Specify the POS and devices you intend to use.
Request the right price breakdown
An acquiring agreement governs accepting and settling card payments. The acquirer may be a bank or another payment provider. Interchange is one component of payment cost, not another name for the entire acquiring charge. Adyen’s IC++ explanation describes the components.
Request percentage charges, fixed fees per event, monthly charges, terminal costs and other items. Clarify whether the quoted percentage includes scheme and interchange fees or whether they are added.
Hypothetical comparison: SEK 500,000 in monthly card volume and 2,000 purchases.
| Cost | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage fee | 1.1% = SEK 5,500 | 1.3% = SEK 6,500 |
| Per-purchase fee | SEK 0.30 = SEK 600 | SEK 0 |
| Fixed monthly fee | SEK 400 | SEK 0 |
| Total listed items | SEK 6,500 | SEK 6,500 |
The example assumes equivalent fee coverage and is neither market pricing nor a Vendion offer. It shows why the lowest percentage does not automatically produce the lowest total. Add equipment and any other costs outside this scope.
Read terms alongside prices
Check duration, notice, any automatic renewal and responsibilities for rented equipment. Buying a terminal does not make running costs, support and future replacement free. Establish ownership and what happens when the agreement ends.
Ask when payouts occur, how banking days and fees affect them, and whether reserves or other deductions can apply under the agreement. Request a sample report with traceable amounts.
For support, distinguish contact availability from a guaranteed resolution time. Ask what happens when a terminal fails during service and how replacement equipment is handled.
Plan the switch with outstanding matters covered
Payment services may require verification of the company, representatives and account before use. Adyen’s verification documentation illustrates the process. Do not set the changeover before confirmed approval and tested payments.
Agree how older purchases can be refunded and how disputes, reports and final payouts are handled after switching. Retain necessary access until outstanding matters are resolved. Check that new payments are not recorded twice during the transition.
Vendion acquiring connects to the POS and terminals in the same solution. Request a walkthrough using your figures, and compare the full written offer before choosing.
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