(And Why It Made Selling So Much Easier)
When I first started building side hustles, I spent an embarrassing amount of time thinking about logos, colours, Instagram posts, websites and packaging.
You know…the fun stuff.
What I did not think about was the moment somebody would actually want to buy something.
Because that is the thing nobody really tells you when you start a small business or side hustle: eventually somebody asks a very simple question:
“Can I pay by card?”
And suddenly you realise that setting up a way to accept card payments for a small business was not actually on your endless to-do list.
For me, that became a bigger thing when I started selling products in person and looking seriously at growing my side hustle businesses.
Whether it is jewellery, markets, events, handmade products, pop-up stalls, or even services, people increasingly do not carry cash anymore.
I cannot remember the last time I carried more than a few coins myself.
So after researching the best card readers for small businesses in the UK, looking at portable payment machines for market traders, and trying to find something beginner friendly that did not require me to sign my life away with contracts, I came across SumUp.
And honestly? It solved a problem I had been massively overthinking.
Why I Chose SumUp For My Side Hustle Business
I did not need some giant business payment setup.
I was not opening a supermarket.
I was not processing thousands of transactions every week.
I just wanted a simple card payment system for my small business that meant customers could actually buy things without awkwardly saying:
“Sorry…I only have card.”
Because if you sell at:
- craft fairs
- comic cons
- pop-up markets
- local events
- handmade markets
- small business stalls
- beauty appointments
- side hustle events
…you will hear that sentence constantly.
And every time it happens, there is a potential lost sale.
That is why having a portable card machine for small businesses and side hustles suddenly became much more important than I originally thought.
The Things I Personally Like
It feels beginner friendly
One thing I noticed immediately was that I was not staring at pages of confusing business jargon.
When you are learning how to accept card payments as a new business owner, the last thing you want is another system that requires a degree in technology.
It felt straightforward.
For small business owners who are already juggling:
social media
stock
content creation
customer messages
websites
marketing
simplicity matters.
A lot.
It works for markets and events
This was a huge one for me.
If you sell handmade products, jewellery, crafts or attend markets, carrying cash-only signs can actually put people off buying.
Having a card payment machine for craft fairs and market stalls makes your business feel more established and removes barriers for customers.
The easier buying becomes, the better.
Contactless payments are basically expected now
People tap phones for coffee.
People tap watches.
People tap cards.
Customers increasingly expect quick payment options.
And if you are building a side hustle while trying to make things feel professional, having contactless payment options just feels easier for everyone.
Is SumUp Worth It For Small Businesses?
For me personally, I like tools that remove stress.
I already spend enough time worrying whether Instagram will behave itself, whether my latest post will disappear into algorithm oblivion, and whether I accidentally ordered packaging in the wrong size.
I do not need complicated payment systems joining the chaos.
If you are looking for:
best card machine for side hustles UK
easy card reader for beginners
how to accept card payments at craft fairs
best portable card machine for handmade businesses
small business payment systems for creators
…it is definitely worth a look.
You can check it out here:
My affiliate link:
https://join.sumup.com/pkwHt0zb?share_id=tf0k4iUpkwht0zb
If you use the link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support my content and fuels the coffee required to keep side hustles functioning.
Because small businesses are usually built on caffeine, late nights and slightly questionable levels of optimism.