POS terminal: accept payments anywhere, at a lower cost

A POS (point-of-sale) terminal is the device you use to accept card and contactless payments from your customers. With Qonto, it connects directly to your business account, so your payments and cash flow stay in one place

Qonto's mobile POS terminal stands apart from typical smart Mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) terminals on the market. That's because our terminal falls into the Smart POS terminal category — these devices don't need to be paired with a smartphone to work, they're fully self-contained.

Directly integrated with your business account, it makes managing your bookkeeping and daily operations easier.

To work, your mobile POS terminal needs a connection to a 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi network. Note: our POS terminals cannot connect via Bluetooth.

It's very easy to use — just follow these steps to take a payment:

1.Turn on your mobile POS terminal

2. Enter the total sale amount on your payment terminal

3. Use the reader to accept the card or contactless payment

4. Ask your customer to enter their PIN

5. Print the receipt or send it by SMS or email

It lets you accept payments via debit and credit cards, with chip or contactless NFC technology, as well as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay.

After each payment, it takes just 1 business day for funds to reach your Qonto business account.

Our payment terminal also complies with the PCI PTS v6 standard, the strictest in the industry, which protects you against fraud and certifies the integrity of the device and its software. Any hacking attempt immediately locks the reader.

To extend the lifespan of your mobile POS terminal:

1. Store the reader in a cool, dry place, ideally at 22°C.

2. Clean the outside of the device with a soft, damp cloth.

3. Never spray liquid directly onto your mobile payment terminal.

4. Avoid exposing the openings to a humid environment.

5. Do not use solvents.

6. Make sure no objects get into the reader through an opening, especially the card slot.

7. Handle the terminal carefully and avoid impacts.

Card payment is one of the most widely used payment methods for businesses today, which is why choosing the right payment terminal matters. To find the offer best suited to your needs, base your decision on the following criteria.

Payment conditions

Start by identifying the payment terminals that match how you work. If you only take payments from a fixed location, any model may suit you — fixed or mobile. If you're often on the move, make deliveries, or run pop-up locations, you'll need a mobile payment terminal you can take anywhere. Take the time to compare mobile payment terminal options against traditional fixed-terminal providers to see which best matches how you work.

The input method

This means thinking about how your customers prefer to pay. For example, if your business mainly serves 18–34 year-olds, you'll want a payment terminal that works with Apple Pay and Google Pay to accept payments via mobile devices and wearables. For PIN entry, look for a "Pinpad" keypad. With our mobile payment terminal, you enter the sale amount on your screen and leave the reader fully accessible to the customer so they can insert their card and enter their PIN.

Communication with the bank

Taking a card payment means connecting your payment terminal to your bank to process authorization requests and electronically transmit the day's transactions. There are three different ways to connect your terminal to your bank:

1. ADSL internet connection: you connect your payment terminal to your internet box via an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi. This isn't suitable if you want to process transactions outside your premises.

2. 3G, 4G, or 5G connection: your payment terminal connects directly to the network via a SIM card, or via your smartphone through a dedicated app. This is by far the most suitable option for processing payments wherever you are, which is why it's the preferred technology for most mobile payment terminals on the market today.

3. Classic phone line: only choose this option if you don't have internet access or your network coverage is poor.

The rise of new sectors, such as home delivery or ride-hailing services, has brought many new companies into the payment terminal market. You'll now find a range of machines and pricing, each aimed at specific types of business.

The fixed payment terminal

This is the classic payment terminal used in most brick-and-mortar shops or offices of self-employed professionals. It needs to be connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable, a phone line, or Wi-Fi to your router, and the merchant needs a till to accept every payment method. The fixed terminal isn't very portable, but it has a long lifespan.

The payment terminal with Pinpad

It closely resembles the classic terminal, but is distinguished by an extension unit equipped with a card reader. This extension gives customers full independence to insert their own card, adding extra security. Like the classic terminal, this product is only intended for brick-and-mortar shops.

The virtual payment terminal

This is a payment terminal that facilitates remote sales. This virtual terminal needs to be installed on the merchant's website to secure their online sales. It can be set up in several ways: via a third-party payment provider, by asking the customer for their card details, or through payment apps such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.

The mobile payment terminal

This category has seen many new players emerge in recent years. It's perfectly suited to merchants and professionals who are frequently on the move for work. Mobile payment terminals are lightweight, have built-in batteries, and work via Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi. Thanks to them, you can accept payments wherever you are. Whether you're a rideshare driver, an on-site tradesperson, or the manager of a brick-and-mortar shop, the mobile payment terminal meets all your needs.

As a Qonto customer, you can already order your mobile payment terminal from the Qonto app. I

f you're a new customer, you can get your mobile payment terminal when you open your business account.

To choose the offer best suited to your business, it's essential to work out the total cost of your payment terminal. This is made up of three elements:

• the price of the device
• the commission on transactions
• additional costs

To offer a solution that fits your needs without a major investment, we offer two payment terminals: Pocket and Pro.

Pocket starts at €99 excl. VAT, with every essential feature to easily accept payments from your customers. Right now, get 30% off, plus 3 months free on your Qonto subscription.*

Unlike our offer, some providers:

• charge fixed fees on top of the transaction commission
• charge for mobile data usage
• require you to open a business account with their own bank

Want to use your mobile phone to accept contactless card payments? That's now possible thanks to NFC technology. 

With Tap to Pay on iPhone and Tap to Pay on Android, your smartphone becomes a genuine payment terminal. 

This payment solution is an excellent option for, for example, taxi drivers or service providers who work at customers' homes