Retail Merchant Services

What Retail Merchant Services does

Retail Merchant Services Ltd is a UK-based payment services provider founded in 2007 and headquartered in Milton Keynes, serving small and medium-sized businesses across retail, hospitality, mobile, and e-commerce. The company operates a bundled platform spanning card machines (countertop, portable, mobile, and smart variants from Ingenico and Verifone), an online payment gateway with Hosted Payment Page and customisable API integration, a PCI-DSS v3.2.1 compliant virtual terminal for MOTO/phone payments, and EPOS systems with industry-specific software packages for retail and hospitality. Its proprietary SmartBridge cloud layer integrates third-party EPOS systems with RMS card machines to synchronise data and consolidate reporting.

Underlying acquiring is provided through partnerships with Elavon and Global Payments, with settlement accelerated via a Same Day Settlement service (funds delivered within hours on batches closed by 3:01 pm) against the industry-standard 3–5 day window. The business model combines transaction-based take rates on card payments, recurring terminal and EPOS rental income, an 18-month RMS Plus membership programme with a £5,000/month minimum card turnover threshold, and a Merchant Cash Advance product (£1,000–£1,000,000) delivered in partnership with Liberis and repaid as a percentage of card transactions.

Go-to-market is primarily direct sales to UK SMBs via website quote and callback funnels, supported by an expanding partner channel of EPOS providers, ISVs, SaaS companies, and developers who embed RMS payments into their platforms. The company reports helping 'thousands' of small businesses with 85% of surveyed customers indicating high satisfaction with transaction speeds, and claims up to 30% processing-fee savings versus competitors. Leadership is led by CEO Kevin O'Keefe; ownership and external funding are not disclosed in the source data.

Name

Retail Merchant Services

Legal name

Retail Merchant Services Ltd

Website

https://retailmerchantservices.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Retail Merchant Services is a UK-based payment services provider offering card machines, an online payment gateway, EPOS systems, and Same Day Settlement to thousands of small businesses across retail, hospitality, mobile, and e-commerce sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Merchant Payment Services

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Merchant Acquiring Banks & ISO/MSP Acquirers (FSAMABAB), Embedded Card Issuing & Card-as-a-Service (FSAGALAC), Merchant & Commercial Acquiring (POS/eCommerce acquiring for corporates) (FSABAIAH)

Keywords

• Card payment processing
• Merchant services
• Payment gateway solutions
• EPOS systems
• Merchant cash advance

Headquarters

HQ city

Milton Keynes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Card Transaction Processing Fees: RMS charges transaction fees on every card payment processed through its card machines. Pricing is transparent and competitive, with claims of saving businesses up to 30% compared to other providers. Rates vary by channel (online, phone, face-to-face) and card type.
2. POS Terminal Rental: RMS provides card machines on rental/agreement basis with flexible agreement lengths. The membership model includes an 18-month contract for the RMS Plus programme. Cancellation fees may apply for early termination.
3. EPOS System Rental: RMS offers complete EPOS systems that include hardware (touch-screen terminal, receipt printer, cash drawer) and industry-specific software, bundled with a card machine on a monthly rental agreement.
4. Business Finance / Merchant Cash Advance: RMS, in partnership with Liberis, offers Revenue Finance and Business Cash Advance products. Repayments are made via a percentage of card transactions, providing unsecured funding from £1,000 to £1,000,000 with advances released in 1-5 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Retail Merchant Services (RMS) provides card payment processing services to UK small businesses, supplying card machines (countertop, portable, mobile, and smart), an online payment gateway, a virtual terminal for phone payments, EPOS systems, Same Day Settlement, and Business Cash Advance funding in partnership with Liberis. Transactions are routed through acquiring banks Elavon and Global Payments, with the proprietary SmartBridge platform integrating EPOS systems with card machines for consolidated reporting.

Product overview

Retail Merchant Services offers a comprehensive payment solutions platform for small businesses in the UK, comprising card machines (countertop, portable, mobile, and smart variants), online payment gateway with API integration, virtual terminal for phone payments, and EPOS systems with industry-specific software packages. Key products include Same Day Settlement for accelerated fund delivery, Business Cash Advance for flexible funding, and SmartBridge for integrated EPOS-card machine connectivity. The company works with payment processors Elavon and Global Payments, and offers a membership programme called RMS Plus with exclusive perks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Card Machines A complete range of card payment terminals enabling businesses to accept face-to-face card payments. Available in countertop, portable, mobile, and smart variants with wireless connection, contactless payments, and Same Day Settlement.
• Countertop Card Machines Wired card machines using broadband or phoneline connection for fixed payment points at retail stores, salons, and high-volume environments. Models include Ingenico DESK 3500 and Ingenico iCT250.
• Portable Card Machines Wireless card machines with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G/GPRS connectivity for use anywhere on business premises. Ideal for restaurants, pubs, and businesses taking payments at multiple locations. Models include Verifone V240m, Ingenico MOVE 3500, Ingenico iWL252, and Ingenico iWL258.
• Mobile Card Machines Mobile card machines with integrated SIM card using GPRS or 3G technology for businesses operating anywhere with UK or Ireland mobile network coverage. Designed for food vans, market traders, and mobile businesses. Models include Ingenico iWL251.
• Online Payments / Payment Gateway A secure online payment gateway enabling businesses to accept card payments through websites 24/7. Supports all major cards and digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, WePay, Alipay, Masterpass) in 140+ currencies. Offers Hosted Payment Page and Fully Customised API integration options.
• Virtual Terminal A web-based card machine for taking payments over the phone (MOTO / Mail Order Telephone Order). Merchants enter customer card details into a web browser form. PCI-DSS v3.2.1 compliant. Supports multiple users with different permission levels, recurring payments, and refund management.
• SmartBridge Integrated Payments A cloud-based software connecting EPOS systems and card machines, enabling data synchronisation, consolidated reporting, and elimination of manual data entry. Allows separate payment channels to work together through the cloud.
• EPOS System (Electronic Point of Sale) A complete EPOS system combining hardware (touchscreen terminal, receipt printer, cash drawer, card machine) and industry-specific software. Available in Retail and Hospitality packages. Features include real-time reporting, stock management, employee performance tracking, customer profiling, and loyalty programmes. Supports 100+ third-party business application integrations.
• Retail EPOS Software Package Industry-specific EPOS software for retail businesses including clothing, convenience stores, electronics, gift shops, vape shops, trade desks, jewellers, and mechanics. Features barcoding, pay on account, hardware integration, online store integration, promotions, booking system, invoicing, and stock management.
• Hospitality EPOS Software Package Industry-specific EPOS software for hospitality businesses including bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, cafés, takeaways, hotels, bed & breakfasts, and health spas. Features table plan, cloud syncing, printer support, master products, quick login, split bills, online booking, and loyalty system.
• Same Day Settlement A service that speeds up delivery of funds from card payments to merchant bank accounts, typically delivering funds within hours on the same day instead of the standard 3-5 days. Batch times determine settlement speed.
• Business Cash Advance / Revenue Finance Business funding product offered in partnership with Liberis, providing flexible unsecured funding from £1,000 to £1,000,000. Repayment occurs via card machine or e-commerce site through percentage of customer transactions. Designed to help SMEs access funding while protecting cash flow.
• RMS Plus Membership Programme A bespoke membership programme offering exclusive perks and benefits. Requires an 18-month contract with a minimum card turnover of £5,000 per month.
• Pay by Link A service allowing merchants to send unique payment links directly to customers by email to initiate payment requests. Used for e-invoices and late payment collection. No website required.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of customers reported being 'very' or 'extremely happy' with transaction speeds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ElavoncoreTechnology or IntegrationElavon serves as one of RMS's acquiring banks, processing card transactions from RMS's merchant customers. RMS provides card machine configuration guides for Elavon terminals (Verifone V240m, VX680, VX675, Ingenico models) and merchant portal access through Elavon Connect for statement viewing and transaction management.
• Global PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal Payments serves as one of RMS's acquiring banks, processing card transactions from RMS's merchant customers. RMS provides card machine configuration guides for Global Payments terminals (Ingenico DESK 3500, iCT250, iWL252, iWL258, iWL251, MOVE 3500). Merchant statements are generated monthly and accessible via the Global Payments merchant portal (Lite and Pro versions).
• LiberiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRMS partners with Liberis as a trusted funding partner to offer Revenue Finance and Business Cash Advance products to RMS's merchant customers. This partnership enables small businesses to access unsecured funding from £1,000 to £1,000,000, with advances released in 1-5 days. Repayments are made via a percentage of card transactions.
• EPOS Providers / ISVs / SaaS Companies / DevelopersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRMS partners with software and hardware suppliers including EPOS providers, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), SaaS providers, and developers. These partners add payment functionality to their platforms, scaling their product offerings and opening new revenue streams by accessing RMS's large merchant network.
• GoogleminorOthersRMS uses Google Analytics for web traffic monitoring and Google Ads for remarketing. Google AdSense is used to serve display advertising. Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on is referenced for user privacy.
• FacebookminorOthersRMS uses Facebook remarketing to advertise to previous website visitors on the Facebook platform. Facebook's interest-based advertising and privacy settings are referenced in the privacy policy.
• TwitterminorOthersRMS uses Twitter remarketing to advertise to previous website visitors. Twitter's interest-based advertising and privacy policy are referenced.
• AdRollminorOthersRMS uses AdRoll remarketing to advertise across third-party websites to previous visitors. AdRoll advertising preferences are referenced for user opt-out.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stripe: Stripe is a global payments platform that overlaps with RMS on online payment gateway, developer APIs, and SMB acquiring. While RMS is more card-present focused, Stripe increasingly targets the same UK SMB market via Terminal and integrated solutions.
• Tyl by NatWest: Tyl by NatWest is the UK bank-owned SMB payments provider offering card machines, online payments, and POS. As a bank-affiliated incumbent with NatWest's customer base, it competes with RMS in the SME acquiring space.
• Worldpay (FIS): Worldpay, owned by FIS, is a major UK and global acquirer serving merchants of all sizes. It overlaps with RMS on UK SMB card-present acquiring and competes via direct channels and partner programmes.
• Lloyds Cardnet: Lloyds Cardnet is the merchant acquiring arm of Lloyds Banking Group, offering card payment acceptance to UK businesses including SMEs. It overlaps with RMS in UK SMB card-present acquiring as a bank-affiliated competitor.

Direct peers

• Square (Block): Square (part of Block) is a direct competitor providing card readers, POS software, online payments, and business lending to SMBs globally, including the UK. It competes on integrated hardware-plus-software stacks versus RMS's bundled approach.
• Paymentsense (Handepay): Paymentsense (including Handepay) is a UK-focused SMB payment service provider offering card machines and online payments. It is a direct RMS competitor in the SME counter-top and portable card machine segment.
• Takepayments: Takepayments is a UK-based payment service provider targeting SMBs with card machines, online payments, and EPOS solutions. It competes directly with RMS on bundled SME payment packages.
• SumUp: SumUp is a direct competitor offering card readers, online payments, and POS solutions targeting SMBs across the UK and Europe. It competes head-to-head with RMS on countertop/mobile card machines, transparent pricing, and integrated POS bundles.
• Dojo: Dojo is a UK SMB-focused card payment provider offering countertop, portable, and mobile card machines plus integrated POS partnerships. It is one of the closest direct UK competitors to RMS in the SME acquiring segment.
• Zettle by PayPal: PayPal's Zettle is a direct SMB-focused competitor offering card readers, POS, and online checkout. Zettle competes with RMS in the UK across hardware-led acquiring and SMB e-commerce.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RMSCardPayments
• Facebookfacebook.com/retailmerchantservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retail-merchant-services

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Retail Merchant Services