As a small business owner, offering convenient payment options is crucial. Today, most customers expect to pay with a card, whether they’re at a store, café, or market stall. At the same time, mobile payments like Swish have become incredibly popular in Sweden, and many small businesses still rely exclusively on Swish.
The question is: Is Swish alone enough, or are you losing potential customers who prefer card payments?
In this article, we compare three common ways to accept payments as a small business – from traditional card terminals to modern SoftPOS solutions – to help you find the best option for your business.
Option 1: Card Terminals (Zettle, SumUp, etc.)
The traditional way to accept card payments is through a card terminal. Providers like Zettle (formerly iZettle) and SumUp, as well as various bank-offered terminals, fall into this category.
A card terminal is a physical device where customers can insert, tap, or swipe their card and enter a PIN if needed. To use one, you need to either purchase a mobile card reader (such as Zettle or SumUp’s Bluetooth-connected devices) or rent a terminal from your bank or a payment provider.
👍 Pros of Card Terminals:
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Customers expect to pay by card – almost everyone has a debit or credit card.
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Reliable and widely used technology.
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Money from card payments is usually deposited in bulk, making bookkeeping easier.
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Supports all major card types and contactless payments (such as Apple Pay and Google Pay).
👎 Cons of Card Terminals:
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Requires extra hardware – you must purchase a reader (often €50–€100) or rent one.
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Higher transaction fees – typically 1.5%–2% per transaction (Zettle charges ~1.85%, SumUp ~1.49%).
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Separate agreements for additional payment methods like Swish or Klarna – meaning more admin work.
For many businesses, these fees add up, and having to manage multiple systems can be cumbersome.
egen liten kortläsare eller hyra en terminal via din bank eller leverantör. Ofta paras de moderna, mindre läsarna ihop med din smartphone eller surfplatta via Bluetooth (t.ex. SumUp Air eller Zettle Reader), medan traditionella terminaler kan fungera fristående över mobilnätet.
Option 2: Swish with a QR Code from Your Bank
Another popular option in Sweden is Swish payments. Swish is easy for customers – they simply open the app and send money directly to your business’s Swish number.
To streamline payments, some businesses use a Swish QR code, which allows customers to scan and pay without manually entering the details. Many small businesses prefer Swish because it requires no extra equipment – just a mobile phone and a visible Swish number or QR code.
👍 Pros of Swish Payments:
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Almost every Swede uses Swish – highly familiar and easy to use.
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No need for extra devices or hardware.
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Low monthly cost (typically €4–€5 per month) and fixed transaction fees (~€0.20 per transaction).
👎 Cons of Swish Payments Only:
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Limited to Swish – you cannot accept card payments.
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No combined payouts – each Swish payment is deposited separately, making bookkeeping difficult.
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No built-in receipt function, so receipts must be handled separately.
While Swish is fast and convenient, it is not a complete payment solution. If your customers expect card payments, you could be losing sales. Additionally, tracking Swish transactions can be time-consuming since each payment arrives as an individual deposit in your account.
Option 3: Surfpay – The Smart All-in-One Solution
A modern alternative that combines the best of both worlds is Surfpay CheckoutX app. SoftPOS stands for "Software Point of Sale," meaning that instead of a physical terminal, you simply use an app on your phone to accept payments.
💡 How Surfpay Works:
Surfpay transforms your smartphone into a card terminal – no extra hardware needed. With Surfpay CheckoutX app, you can accept card payments, Swish, and Klarna all from the same system.
🚀 What Makes Surfpay Unique?
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One agreement for all payment methods: When you sign up with Surfpay, you automatically get access to card payments, Swish, and Klarna – no need for separate bank agreements.
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No extra hardware required: Your phone becomes your card terminal, eliminating the need for a separate card reader. Customers can tap their card directly against your phone using NFC technology (supported by most modern smartphones).
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Lower fees & combined payouts: Surfpay charges just 1.29% per transaction for card and Swish – lower than most traditional terminals. Plus, all daily transactions are paid out in one lump sum, making bookkeeping easier than handling hundreds of small deposits.
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Sell online with payment links: In addition to accepting payments in person, Surfpay lets you send payment links so customers can pay remotely. This is perfect for social media sales, invoicing, or online bookings.
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Flexible cash register subscription: If you need a certified cash register (required by the Swedish Tax Agency for businesses exceeding €23,000 in annual sales), Surfpay offers a no-commitment subscription for €14 per month. This feature ensures that your transactions are logged correctly without requiring separate software.
Read more about Surfpays features here »
Conclusion: The Best Solution for Small Businesses
To maximize sales and customer satisfaction, you need to offer multiple payment options.
While card terminals and Swish are valid choices on their own, both have limitations – either high costs and extra hardware or complex bookkeeping and missing features.
Surfpay SoftPOS provides the best of both worlds by integrating card payments, Swish, and Klarna in one solution.
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No extra hardware
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Lower transaction fees
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Simplified bookkeeping
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Accepts payments anywhere
With Surfpay, you save money, reduce hassle, and provide customers with the payment flexibility they expect – all from your phone.
👉 Ready to simplify payments for your business?
Become a merchant now – sign up in just a few minutes! By starting with Surfpay today, you can immediately begin accepting payments in a more modern, cost-effective, and simpler way – allowing you to focus on what you do best: driving your business forward. Click here to register your business »
