How to Get Paid On-Site as a Gas Engineer (Without a Card Machine)
While card machines make getting paid quick and easy, they aren’t the only option if you want to get paid on-site.
Why Getting Paid On-Site Matters
For sole traders especially, late payments aren’t just frustrating. They’re the difference between being able to take on the next job and having to wait. When your cashflow depends on a handful of invoices each week, even one slow payer can throw your whole month off.
Getting paid before you leave site removes all of that. No chasing, no wondering, no awkward texts. The job’s done, you’re paid, and you move on.
The Card Machine Route — What It Actually Costs
Card readers from SumUp, Zettle, or Square are the most obvious option. They’re small, portable, and customers know how to use them. You tap, they tap, job done.
But the costs add up faster than most engineers realise. The hardware runs between £30 and £80 upfront, and every transaction costs between 1.5% and 2% depending on which company you go with. On bigger jobs, that percentage stings. A 2% fee over £3,000 worth of jobs is £60 gone before you’ve even thought about tax.
Then there’s the practical side. You need to keep the reader charged, connected to your phone, and somewhere you can actually find it in the van. Some providers also charge monthly fees or hold your funds for a few days before releasing them.
Card machines work. They’re a legitimate option. But they’re not the only way to get paid on the spot — and they’re not always the cheapest.
Payment Links and QR Codes — The Smarter Alternative
Open banking payment links are the option most gas engineers haven’t come across yet. The idea is simple: instead of tapping a card reader, your customer scans a QR code or taps a link on their invoice. Their banking app opens with everything pre-filled — your account details, the exact amount, the reference number. They confirm the payment with a tap, and you get a notification within minutes telling you it’s done.
No hardware to carry. No percentage taken off every job. No waiting days for funds to clear.
If you’re using Gas Engineer Software, the Crezco integration adds a payment link and QR code to every invoice automatically. The cost is £1 plus VAT per invoice paid through the system — flat fee, regardless of job size. No monthly subscription, no sign-up cost, no transaction percentages. On that same £3,000 boiler install, you’d pay £1.20 instead of £60.
The customer experience is smooth too. They’re not entering your sort code and account number manually or downloading a separate app.
They just scan from the invoice you generate on-site, confirm, and pay — using the bank they already use every day.
Card Machine vs Payment Link — A Quick Comparison
Neither option is wrong. But for gas engineers invoicing for installs, servicing, or landlord work, the flat fee and zero hardware make payment links hard to beat.
| Card Machine | Payment Link / QR Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £30–£80 for hardware | Nothing |
| Per-transaction fee | 1.5%–2% | £1 + VAT (flat) |
| Fee on a £3,000 job | ~£50 | £1.20 |
| Hardware needed | Yes — reader + phone | No — it's on the invoice |
| Speed of payment | Funds in 1–3 days | Funds in minutes |
| Customer experience | Tap card on reader | Scan QR code or tap link |
What About Bank Transfers?
Bank transfers are what many engineers default to — and they work fine, eventually. The problem is they’re not really an on-site payment method.
You finish the job, text or email your bank details, and then you wait. The customer means to pay that evening but forgets. You chase once, feel awkward, chase again. There’s no confirmation, no automation, and no way to guarantee the right amount lands in the right account with the right reference.
Which Option Suits You?
If you do a lot of small callout jobs under £100, a card reader might make sense — customers are used to tapping, and the benefits of getting paid quickly far outweigh the transaction fees.
That being said, using payment links provides the same benefit without the cost or hassle of a physical card reader. Ultimately, they’re simpler and cheaper.
If you’re already using Gas Engineer Software, the Crezco integration takes about two minutes to set up — and every invoice you send will include a payment link and QR code automatically. Try it on your next job!