Check it works on site
Charge it, test it and check how it connects. Some readers need a phone signal and some use their own.
Guide hub
Taking payments at events
A mobile card reader or a QR payment link lets you take cards at most events. Check the mobile signal first, keep a cash float as a backup and understand the fees before you choose a provider. These guides cover each part.
JM
Written by Jason MaceSpecialist in entrepreneurship and payments
The short answersCard reader QR payments Cash Backup
Four things to sort before the first sale
Let customers pay by phone
A QR code lets customers pay from their own phone, which suits queues and busy stalls.
Keep a float
Carry enough change for the first hour and a safe place to hold takings.
Plan for no signal
Mobile signal can drop at busy events, so keep a second way to take payment.
The guides
Every guide on payments
Taking card payments at events
Choosing and setting up a way to take cards at a stall.
Card reader or QR payment?
How the two compare for a market or festival stall.
Payment fees for market traders
The charges to look for and how to compare providers.
Handling cash safely at events
Floats, change and keeping takings secure.
What to do when the signal drops
Backup options for a busy event with poor coverage.
Keeping takings safe
Practical ways to protect cash and card data at a stall.
Setting up QR code payments for a stall
Choosing a provider, testing the flow, displaying the code and keeping a backup.
Common questions
Payments: frequently asked questions
How do I take card payments at an event?
A mobile card reader or a QR payment link will both work. Check the mobile signal at the venue first, because both need a connection, and keep a small cash float as a backup.
Is a QR payment safe for customers?
Customers pay through their own banking or payment app, so card details stay out of your hands. Choose a provider that follows recognised security standards.
What fees will I pay on card payments?
Providers charge per transaction, a monthly fee, or both. Compare the total cost at your expected sales before you choose.
How much cash should I carry as a float?
Carry enough small change for the first hour of trading, based on your prices. Top it up through the day.
What if the mobile signal drops?
Keep a second way to take payment, such as a cash float or a reader that can store transactions and send them later. Ask your provider how its reader behaves offline.
From Gala Tent
Gazebos built for regular pitches
Once a pitch is confirmed, the stall needs to fit it. Gala Tent makes market stall gazebos for traders who set up week after week.
More from the Gala family
Useful pages on our sister sites
Event Industry Trader is published by Gala Tent. These pages from Gala Tent and the wider Gala group go further on the kit, branding and payments covered here.
Sources
Where to check the rules
Rules vary by council and by event. Confirm requirements with the organiser and the relevant authority before you act.