Merchant Rentals

What Merchant Rentals does

Merchant Rentals Limited is a UK-based, FCA-regulated (registration number 720500) asset finance provider specialising in payment terminal equipment. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Welwyn Garden City with operations in Haydock, the company offers two core products: long-term Payment Terminal Finance (rental/lease agreements spreading the cost of POS hardware over agreed terms) and Short Term Hire (event and seasonal rental without long-term commitment). Its finance portfolio covers countertop, portable, Android-based and Linux-based terminals from major manufacturers (Castles, Ingenico, Verifone), all equipped with contactless and mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay), with exploration of SoftPos/Tap-to-Pay on commercial off-the-shelf devices.

The business operates a sales-led model combining direct enquiry capture (website, telephone) with channel referrals from acquirers (Lloyds Cardnet, EVO, Worldpay) and terminal vendors. It supplements direct sales with a proprietary customer onboarding system designed to accelerate merchant boarding, and operates its own technical helpdesk support for the terminal brands it finances. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across UK retailers of all sizes, multi-outlet chains, event organisers and hospitality businesses, with 100% tax-deductible monthly rentals marketed as the core financial benefit.

Since February 2021, Merchant Rentals has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of PayPoint plc (LSE-listed), alongside Handepay, operating under PayPoint's distribution umbrella. Strategic activity in late 2025 and early 2026 — a FreedomPay channel partnership (February 2026, first joint client live across 1,000+ terminals) and an EIT supplier agreement (January 2026) — points to channel-led expansion and a stated ambition to become Europe's leading asset finance provider for the merchant acquiring industry.

Name

Merchant Rentals

Legal name

Merchant Rentals Limited

Website

https://merchantrentals.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Merchant Rentals Limited provides FCA-regulated asset finance and rental solutions for payment terminals across the UK, serving retailers, multi-outlet chains and event businesses via direct sales and acquirer/vendor referral channels, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PayPoint plc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Terminal Asset Finance

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Finance Lessors (6172)

akta.pro primary industry

POS Hardware Leasing, Financing & Rental (FSAMADAI)

Keywords

• Payment terminal finance
• Asset finance solutions
• Merchant acquiring services
• POS equipment leasing
• Terminal rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Haydock

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Payment Terminal Rental and Finance: Merchant Rentals generates revenue by providing asset finance solutions for payment terminals. Businesses enter into hire/financing agreements with fixed monthly rental payments over an agreed term. The company retains ownership of the equipment while the customer uses it for accepting card payments.
2. Short-Term Terminal Hire: Short-term rental revenue from hiring out payment terminals for temporary events, trade shows, exhibitions, and seasonal retail periods. Customers pay for equipment only for the duration they need it.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Merchant Rentals provides asset finance and rental solutions for point-of-sale (POS) payment terminals, allowing UK businesses to access card-acceptance equipment without the upfront capital outlay of purchase. The company offers long-term payment terminal finance with fixed monthly rentals and tax-deductible payments, as well as short-term terminal hire for trade shows, exhibitions, and seasonal retail peaks. All financed terminals support contactless payments and mobile wallets including Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Product overview

Merchant Rentals provides a portfolio of payment terminal asset finance and rental solutions. The core offerings consist of Payment Terminal Finance (long-term rental agreements for point-of-sale equipment) and Short Term Hire (temporary rental for events and seasonal use). Both products are supported by UK-based technical help services and are equipped with contactless, Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay capabilities. The company operates as part of the PayPoint Group, acquired in February 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Payment Terminal Finance Long-term asset finance solution enabling businesses to rent payment terminals over an agreed term rather than purchasing outright, providing improved cash flow, fixed monthly repayments, and 100% tax-deductible payments against UK tax. Terminals include contactless, Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay support.
• Short Term Hire Short-term payment terminal rental for temporary events such as trade shows, exhibitions, festivals, and seasonal retail periods (e.g., Christmas and Easter), offering flexibility and pay-as-you-go pricing without long-term contractual commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% tax deductible rental payments against UK tax
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FreedomPaycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 February 2026Merchant Rentals partnered with FreedomPay, a global leader in Next Level Commerce solutions. The partnership enables FreedomPay to offer Merchant Rentals' tailored leasing and financing options for POS technology to its merchant clients. The first joint client is already live across more than 1,000 terminals. The agreement was signed in December 2025 and announced in February 2026, expanding both companies' offerings in the UK merchant acquiring market.
• EIT (European Information Technology)coreTechnology or Integration · 7 January 2026Merchant Rentals signed a supplier agreement with EIT, a trusted provider of payment, logistics, and IT services across the UK. EIT provides flexible acquiring options and a wide range of agnostic terminal choices from leading brands including Castles, PAX, and Verifone. The partnership expands Merchant Rentals' range of hardware options for its clients. The agreement was signed in December 2025 and announced in January 2026.
• PayPoint GroupcoreOthers · 1 February 2021In February 2021, Merchant Rentals (along with Handepay) was acquired by PayPoint plc. The PayPoint Group is the leading provider of cutting-edge digital payments solutions, innovative retail technology, and essential in-store services serving millions of consumers every week. Merchant Rentals operates as part of the PayPoint Group while maintaining its own brand identity.
• Lloyds CardnetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLloyds Cardnet is an acquirer that works with Merchant Rentals for payment terminal supply. Lloyds Bank Cardnet supplied Merchant Rentals contactless terminals to the Royal British Legion for the 2017 Poppy Appeal. Merchant Rentals provides acquiring support for Lloyds Cardnet-acquired customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Handepay: Sister company of Merchant Rentals, also owned by PayPoint plc, offering payment terminals and merchant services to UK SMEs. The most directly comparable business, sharing the same management and parent, with overlapping product and channel set.
• Newlane Finance: US-based specialist in point-of-sale equipment leasing for small businesses, working with payment processors and ISOs to offer terminal financing. Closest international equivalent in product and business model.

Broad incumbents

• GRENKE AG: Global leasing specialist focused on small-ticket IT and office equipment, including payment and POS terminals, serving SMEs across Europe. Comparable as an established European asset finance lessor with adjacent equipment categories.
• DLL (De Lage Landen): Global vendor finance company providing asset-based financing solutions including for retail technology and payment hardware. Comparable as a large, established equipment finance lessor with adjacent vertical exposure.
• BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions: European leader in equipment and asset finance, offering vendor and direct leasing programmes across multiple asset classes including retail technology. Comparable in scale, geography, and finance-leasing orientation.
• Siemens Financial Services: Captive and third-party equipment financier offering leasing for technology and industrial assets. Comparable as a large, established lessor in adjacent commercial equipment categories.
• Worldpay (FIS): Global payment processor and acquirer offering merchant services including terminal supply and increasingly bundled financing. Comparable as a major acquirer partner and adjacent competitor for terminal finance opportunities.

Emerging players

• AlphaCard Payments: US merchant services and payment equipment provider that bundles hardware and financing options for small businesses. Comparable in serving the SME terminal finance niche with bundled offerings.
• SumUp: Global mPOS provider offering compact card readers with bundled pricing rather than leases. Comparable as a payment acceptance solution competing for the same SME terminal wallet, but with a software-first model that pressures the dedicated-terminal financing model.
• Zettle (PayPal): Mobile point-of-sale provider offering low-cost card readers and integrated software to UK and European SMEs. Comparable in competing for the SME payment acceptance wallet, representing a structural threat to dedicated terminal demand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/merchantrentals

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Merchant Rentals