Taking card and Bizum payments in a small business

Terms used

• TPV — The TPV (terminal punto de venta) is the card payment terminal a business uses to take card payments.
• Autónomo — An autónomo is a self-employed person registered with the tax office and social security.
• CIF — The CIF is the tax identification number of a company in Spain.
• Bizum — Bizum is a Spanish mobile payment service that sends money instantly between bank accounts using a phone number.
• Desglosado — A desglosado tariff splits the fee into its separate parts instead of one blended percentage.

Key rules

• Contract length: Many terminal contracts tie you in for 12 to 36 months with an early-exit penalty, so look for a penalty-free exit clause.
• Chargebacks: You bear the disputed amount on a chargeback, often plus a handling fee.
• Bizum: You activate Bizum through your bank or payment provider, not with Bizum directly.
• Business account: You need a Spanish business bank account before you apply, because payouts go there.
• New businesses: Approval can be harder if your business is new, in a high-risk sector or owned by a non-resident.

Pick a route first

You have four ways to take card payments. Each trades cost against setup speed and support.

• Bank terminal (TPV). Banks such as CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA or Sabadell offer them. They suit established shops, and rates are negotiable. Contracts often tie you in.
• Fintech terminal or aggregator. Providers such as SumUp, Zettle, Square or Stripe Terminal set up fast, charge a flat rate and rarely lock you in. The rate is usually higher.
• Online payment gateway. For a web shop, use Redsys (linked to banks), Stripe, PayPal or Adyen.
• Phone as a terminal. Tap-to-pay apps from payment providers or banks turn your phone into a terminal. They are cheap to start but limited in features.

The decision block below helps you choose. The cost comparison below shows the fee types side by side.

Steps to get set up

1. Register your business. Be registered as an autónomo (tax registration plus social security) or have a company with a CIF. You also need a Spanish business bank account.
2. Compare offers. Banks are the usual route. Payment providers and fintechs are the alternative. Choose a physical terminal, a mobile reader or an online gateway.
3. Apply. The documents are listed below.
4. Wait for checks. The provider verifies your identity, runs anti-money-laundering checks and reviews your activity, expected volume and average ticket. Approval is harder for new businesses with no history, high-risk sectors and non-resident owners.
5. Sign the contract. Read the points below first.
6. Receive and set up the terminal.

Banks typically take a few days to two weeks. Fintech readers often arrive in 1 to 3 days.

What fees to expect

Fintech providers publish one flat percentage per transaction, usually with no monthly fee. Bank terminals price by card type, with debit lower than credit. They may add monthly rental and fixed fees per transaction. Your rate depends on your sales volume, your sector and the contract, so use each provider's published tariff.

The fee has three parts: the interchange fee, the card scheme fee and the provider's margin. EU caps on consumer cards are 0.2% for debit and 0.3% for credit. Typical small-business totals run roughly 0.3% to 1.5%. Ask for a split tariff (desglosado) instead of one blended rate, so you can see the margin.

Contract points to check

• Permanence. Many providers tie you in for 12 to 36 months with a penalty for leaving early. Look for a clause that lets you leave without penalty.
• Rental. Terminal rental is often around 15 to 40 euros a month, or you pay a purchase price. Ask about minimum monthly billing, inactivity fees, PCI-compliance fees and extra charges for non-EU or commercial cards.
• Chargebacks. You bear a disputed amount, often plus a handling fee. Check the dispute deadlines and any reserve the provider can hold back.
• Payouts. Money usually arrives the next business day, or within one to three days, in the account you name. Check cut-off times and any fee for faster payout.
• Changes. Check how much notice the provider must give before changing prices, and whether it demands exclusivity.

The checklist and warnings below cover these in short form.

Adding Bizum

You activate Bizum through your bank or payment provider, not directly with Bizum. Ask in your bank's online banking, its app or your branch.

• Bizum Negocios suits in-person or simple payments.
• Bizum at an online checkout comes through your bank's virtual TPV or a gateway such as Redsys, or through providers that integrate it. You need an e-commerce site and a virtual TPV.

You need a business account at a bank that offers Bizum, and to be registered as an autónomo or company. Simple cases can be live the same day or within a few days. A checkout integration takes a few days to weeks. Each bank sets its own fees, usually a small percentage per transaction. Check that your chosen terminal also works with Bizum and contactless.

Choosing between options

Which way should you take card payments?

• Bank terminal (TPV): You are an established shop and want to negotiate rates, and you accept a contract that may tie you in.

• Fintech terminal from a payment provider: You want fast setup, a flat rate and no lock-in, and accept a higher rate.

• Online payment gateway: You sell through a web shop and need customers to pay on your site.

• Phone as a terminal: You want the cheapest start and can live with fewer features.

Choose the bank terminal if cost matters most, and a fintech terminal or phone reader if speed and flexibility matter most. A web shop needs a gateway.

Card terminal and payment tool costs compared

What you really pay

Your real cost is the regulated cap on card fees plus the provider's markup, plus any monthly or fixed fees. A promotion changes that total only for a while. The cap covers only the card-network part of each sale. Everything else is set by the provider, so ask each one for the full price per sale and per month.

Card terminal (TPV)

Compare offers by the total you pay per month for your expected sales, not by the headline rate. Add the per-sale markup, the monthly fee and any terminal rental or purchase cost.

Bank TPV contracts often tie you in for 12 to 24 months. Cancelling early can mean a penalty or a terminal-return charge. Terminals from fintech providers usually have no lock-in, so you can leave if the price rises.

Bizum Negocios

Your own bank offers Bizum for businesses, in shops and online, and your bank sets the terms. Ask for the commission per transaction, any fixed fee and any setup or monthly cost. Ask whether the price is the same in-store and online.

Online gateways

In 2025, a leading gateway's standard rate for European cards in Spain was 1.5% plus 0.25 euros per sale. Premium or UK cards cost about 2.5% plus 0.25 euros, and other international cards about 3.25% plus 0.25 euros. A well-known wallet-style provider charged around 2.9% plus a fixed fee. Bank gateways and other terminal providers set their own rates. Prices change often and can be negotiated once your sales grow, so check each provider's current pricing page before you choose.

When a promotion ends

Promotions are common: free or discounted terminals, no monthly fee for the first months, or a reduced commission. They often last 3 to 12 months. After that the standard price applies, usually with a higher monthly fee or commission.

Before you sign, ask three questions:

1. What will I pay in month 13, once the promotion has ended?
2. How long is the minimum term?
3. What does it cost to cancel or return the terminal?

Compare offers using the price after the promotion ends.

Timeline and deadlines

• Register as an autónomo or set up your company, and have a Spanish business bank account: before you apply

• Compare offers and choose a physical terminal, a mobile reader or an online gateway: before you apply

• Sign the contract, checking the permanence clause: after approval; many banks tie you in for 12 to 36 months

• Receive and set up the terminal: after signing

• Receive your sales payouts in your account: usually the next business day, or 1 to 3 days after the sale

Documents you need

• Your ID or NIE, as issued by the police or your national authorities

• Proof of your tax registration as an autónomo (the Hacienda registration, modelo 036 or 037) or your company's CIF

• Proof of your business activity, which is your IAE heading (the business activity code registered with the tax agency)

• The IBAN of your Spanish business bank account, where sales payouts will arrive

• For a company, the company deeds and the owner's ID

• For an online shop, your website with its legal notices, terms and refund policy

Checklist

• Ask each provider for its published tariff and compare the percentage per transaction.

• Check how long the contract ties you in and look for a clause that lets you leave without penalty.

• Confirm how chargebacks are handled, including dispute deadlines and any reserve the provider can hold.

• Ask your bank to activate Bizum Negocios, or Bizum in your online checkout.

What to watch out for

• Long contract with an exit penalty: Many providers tie you in for 12 to 36 months and charge a penalty if you leave early. Look for a clause that lets you cancel without penalty, or choose a provider with no lock-in.

• Hidden monthly and extra fees: On top of the percentage per sale you may pay rental, a minimum monthly billing, an inactivity fee, a PCI-compliance fee and extra charges for non-EU or commercial cards. Ask for every fee in writing and compare the total cost, not only the headline percentage.

• Chargebacks fall on you: If a customer disputes a payment, you bear the disputed amount, often plus a handling fee, and the provider may hold a reserve. Ask for the dispute deadlines and reserve rules before signing, and keep proof of every sale.

• Application refused or delayed: New businesses with no history, high-risk sectors and non-resident owners find approval harder. Have your documents ready and the business registered before applying, and try a second provider if refused.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Bizum without an online shop?

Yes, you can take Bizum in person through Bizum Negocios, which you ask for at your bank. You need a business account with a bank that offers Bizum and must be registered as an autónomo or company. Simple cases are often active the same day or within a few days.

Can a new business with no history get a card terminal approved?

Yes, but approval is harder for new businesses with no history, high-risk sectors or non-resident owners. The provider checks your identity, the activity, your expected sales volume and your average ticket. A fintech reader is often quicker to approve than a bank, so it can be a fallback.

Does the terminal I choose also need to work with Bizum?

Not always, because Bizum is activated separately through your bank or payment provider. Ask whether the terminal you are offered works with Bizum and contactless before you sign. For an online checkout, Bizum comes through a virtual TPV or a payment gateway.