When a payment provider offers a free terminal, it is natural to be interested. For a restaurant, café or bar, it can seem like an easy way to get started without a major investment. But as with so many other things, nothing is free.
“Free” often means that the cost is simply located elsewhere. It may take the form of a long commitment period, higher fixed fees or more expensive transactions. You should therefore look beyond what the terminal costs today. You should also examine the full terms and consider how much your business will actually pay over time.
A free terminal can carry a different cost
There are many payment providers on the market, including Flatpay and Verifone, offering free terminals or solutions without a clear upfront price. This can be an attractive model, but it is important to read the small print. A terminal with no purchase price may, for example, involve:
- A long commitment that makes it difficult to change provider.
- A minimum monthly revenue requirement.
- Higher fixed fees that accumulate over time.
- More expensive transactions, where a larger share of each payment goes to the provider.
This does not necessarily mean that every free solution is poor. It means you should evaluate the entire agreement rather than only the offer at the top of the advertisement. For restaurants with fluctuating or seasonal revenue, commitment periods and minimum requirements may be particularly important.
Freedom requires transparency
If freedom is your highest priority, look for a payment provider with no long commitment and no requirement for a particular level of monthly revenue. This gives you greater flexibility if your business changes or if you later find a solution that better suits your needs.
At Lenius, we believe it should be easy to understand what you are paying for. That is why we are transparent about our prices and the providers we use. We believe you should be able to make an informed choice without surprises hidden in the terms.
Look at the total cost
The right solution is not necessarily the one that appears cheapest at first glance. Instead, compare commitment periods, monthly requirements, fixed fees and transaction costs. This gives you a more realistic picture of what the payment solution will cost your restaurant.
A free terminal can be a good offer, but only if the terms suit your business. Read the agreement carefully, ask about the total costs and choose the solution that gives you the freedom and transparency you need.
