SumUp POS: Powering Your Business, Simplifying Your Life

Company Overview

Initially, SumUp POS began as a company focusing on a single card reader but has since significantly expanded their operations to provide a comprehensive array of services aimed at efficient payment processing. In 2020, they took a further step to broaden their services by introducing a full product suite, which includes offerings such as gift cards, invoices, and mobile payment solutions, all designed to assist small business owners in enhancing their operations. In 2024, SumUp POS reached a significant milestone by securing a $1.6 billion investment, marking one of the largest private credit deals in Europe’s recent history. This achievement underscores their growing influence and prominence in the financial technology sector.

SumUp provides retail stores and restaurants with industry-targeted features, giving them the tools to manage their operations seamlessly and securely, whether on location or far away. Customers can buy online or in-store, never compromising their experiences, for better retention rates. They also offer the option to choose from three different packages, each providing the same design and ease of use, working to ensure stability and flexibility.

SumUp operates within industry security standards, including PCI-DSS, SSI, TLS, and PGP. Additionally, the system uses third-party verification services to secure sensitive information further and help you stay compliant.

Features & Services Overview

SumUp aims to provide everything small business owners need to succeed, from customer acquisition to money management. The company provides merchants with a basic selection of features, including the following:

• POS software: SumUp's POS software and feature set can streamline your business's operations. Included are customer relationship management (CRM) tools, an item catalog (IC) for product organization, and item modifiers (IM) for personalization. Additionally, they offer staff management tools for efficient employee oversight and a customer directory to keep track of all your customer information
• Hardware: They let merchants customize their hardware package options to meet their unique business management needs. When you purchase their POS system, you can receive a customer touch screen and an employee touch screen register. In addition, you can buy SumUp card readers or accessories from third parties, including KDS screens, cash drawers, barcode scanners, and more
• In-depth reporting and analytics: Using SumUp, you can evaluate marketing and sales data to make better decisions. Their reporting and analytics tools allow you to track crucial information like commissions, best sellers, profit margins, and tips. You can also easily assess the efficiency of your marketing initiatives and get simple summaries of your sales success using the business and marketing dashboards
• Training: The provider states their software is easier to use than many competitors, and they offer a straightforward training mode that allows you to prepare your staff by creating fictitious orders. Customer support is also available if you need assistance with training or have questions regarding setup or using the system's features
• Customer loyalty programs: Customer loyalty programs help you efficiently market your business and retain customers, ultimately increasing your profits. SumUp makes it easy to implement loyalty programs by gathering data and helping you use it to offer rewards and savings to your most loyal customers

Pricing & Plans

SumUp promises transparent price plans, stating they never charge admin costs or costly annual renewal fees. You can choose between the following three POS packages:

POS with Connect Lite

• $99 a month
• Cloud-based POS
• Customer database
• Installation and training

POS with Connect Plus

• $199 a month
• Cloud-based POS
• Customer database
• Customer rewards
• Two standard SMS and email promotions a month
• Installation and training
• Money-back guarantee

POS with Connect Pro

• $289 a month
• Cloud-based POS
• Customer database
• Customer rewards and automated marketing
• Daily AI-enhanced SMS and email promos
• Installation and training
• Google Review boost
• Money-back guarantee

With SumUp's transparent processing fees, you can make payments no matter where you are. The transaction fee when making in-person purchases using debit or credit cards is 2.6% plus 10 cents for each transaction; for online transactions or manually entered card information, they charge a fee of 3.5% plus 15 cents; and for invoice payments, a fee of 2.9% plus 15 cents per transaction is applied.

As for their hardware options, the SumUp Plus is priced at $54, the SumUp Solo at $99, and the SumUp Solo Printer Bundle at $169.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

• Remote access: For merchants who are always on the move, SumUp allows you to access your account remotely via their client dashboard. This means you can monitor your transactions, income, payments, and monthly fee reports whenever and wherever you choose
• Third-party integration: To guarantee compatibility and easy operation with current software, SumUp seamlessly interfaces with several third-party apps. These programs include QuickBooks, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Wix
• Customizable options: SumUp gives merchants the basic tools to make their online stores their own, including layouts, optimization, and branding. You can design your homepage any way you like by adding banners, headlines, sections, promotions, and logos. These options help you make your online store look professional and seamlessly designed
• No contracts: SumUp allows small business owners to modify as required with flexible pricing and no-long commitments. You can add or remove services whenever you want without paying cancellation costs
• Free trial and demo: You can explore SumUp’s features risk-free with free online demos and a 7-day free trial. These options let you test out the platform’s features before you commit, which is great for small company owners who aren’t experienced with point-of-sale systems

Disadvantages

• Limited features and tools: Although SumUp's minimalist approach is ideal for some new merchants, it may not appeal to experienced merchants or those who want more tools. The company promises to offer everything you need to run your business intuitively, but some providers may offer more features
• Slow payment processing: Some merchants express dissatisfaction with slow payment processing due to sluggish loading times, errors, and disconnections. We encourage you to talk to current customers about these issues to gain greater insight because slow processing times can raise issues during peak hours
• Limited support: Unlike some providers, they do not offer 24/7 live support. They only provide services Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 11 PM and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 10 PM. If problems arise after hours and you cannot get support, your checkout line could come to a standstill, so this is something to consider and further research

What Is the User Experience Like?

SumUp has a C-rating with the BBB, 1.4 out of 5, 30 customer complaints, and no accreditation. The provider also received 4.2 out of 5 stars from Trustpilot and 9.7 out of 10 stars from TrustRadius.

Positive feedback

Many merchants like the simplicity and straightforward nature of the SumUp POS, which requires less of a learning curve than more complex systems. Reviews speak of easy customizations, low processing rates, no contracts, and flexibility. Merchants also enjoy being able to take payments wherever they conduct business, even on the go, while others speak highly of fast payment processing.

Critical feedback

Some merchants report a sluggish payment processing platform and do not like that the company releases a new card reader almost every year, requiring them to make updates. Several customers are unhappy with the customer support team, stating that employees never offer consistent information and wait times can become lengthy. Additionally, some customers complain about the lengthy verification processes that sometimes cause their payouts to reach a standstill.

Proactive approach

SumUp responds to most customer complaints with compassion, transparency, and solutions. One customer complained about broken equipment and being forced to pay the return postage, but SumUp offered to refund their costs. Another customer complained about a payment issue and a delayed response from the provider, but the company stepped in and talked to the customer by phone to resolve the matter. Additionally, the company quickly resolved most of the complaints received on the BBB.

Customer Services & Support

You can call 1 (888) 250-2164 to speak to a customer support team member Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 11 PM and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 10 PM ET. You may also email the provider at [email protected]. The provider offers a Help Center page that allows customers to search for and view help topics, and they operate a YouTube playlist with installation guide videos. Furthermore, merchants can find an FAQ page that answers customers' many common questions about SumUp services.

Conclusion

Since their start in 2012, SumUp POS has grown into a top provider of point of sale solutions, catering to more than one million merchants worldwide. With a focus on supporting small companies, SumUp provides easy-to-use solutions for retail and restaurant businesses. Despite facing challenges such as sluggish payment processing and restricted support availability, they remain responsive to customers, striving for continuous improvement. To assist companies in improving operations and increasing customer experiences, SumUp offers clear pricing plans and focuses on simplicity and flexibility. 

Finally, SumUp POS has established themselves as a trustworthy partner for retailers worldwide due to their commitment to innovation, satisfaction, and flexibility. SumUp helps small businesses stand out in an ever-changing industry by offering clear pricing, intuitive features, and helpful customer service.

Finding a POS provider that matches every specific need can be challenging, as each merchant has unique requirements. We recommend thorough research to select a system that best suits your needs. Read our comprehensive POS system reviews and learn about the available options in the industry to make an informed choice. We also offer a detailed comparison page that helps readers understand how each system stacks up against the competition. Finally, we invite you to read our blog and stay abreast of changing technology and products in the POS industry.

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