Mastercard and SumUp giving small businesses a boost

• Over the next five years, Mastercard and SumUp will bring electronic payment acceptance to several million small and medium-sized companies across Europe
• This partnership is yet another significant step in displacing cash and driving financial inclusion for small European businesses and supporting their entry into the formal economy
• Using payment terminals specifically designed to meet the needs of smaller businesses, retailers and independent entrepreneurs will be able to enjoy the many benefits of electronic payments

Mastercard and SumUp today announced a new partnership that will increase the number of electronic payment acceptance locations across 27 European countries.  Over the next five years, Mastercard and SumUp will bring card acceptance to several million micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSMEs) across Europe.

The partnership will enable micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSMEs) to accept electronic payment via SumUp card readers by card and digital enabled devices, such as smartphones, smartwatches or wristbands. In a world in which consumers expect choice and convenience, it will enable small companies to better serve their customers by giving them the opportunity to pay with their preferred payment method.

Jason Lane, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Europe says: “We’re very excited to be able to partner with SumUp, an innovative and leading player in the provision of payment devices for the small business sector. The scale and breadth of this partnership will significantly advance electronic payments acceptance in Europe. Micro, small and medium-sized companies form the backbone of the European economy and this initiative will help them to better serve their customers by offering them real payment choice. I look forward to expanding this partnership in the future.”

Across much of Europe, cash still accounts for a significant proportion of payments, particularly when it comes to low value payments made to small businesses. However, cash continues to be an inefficient and insecure means of payment. The hidden costs of cash for small business can be substantial. Whether it is transportation costs, security issues, laborious counting, reconciliation or fraud and counterfeit notes, the acceptance of cash comes with many disadvantages. Mastercard and SumUp are committed to helping small businesses overcome these challenges and making payments safer, easier and more convenient by delivering simple and effective payment solutions. With SumUp’s innovative approach to mPOS and Mastercard’s focus on creating an environment in which such solutions can flourish the two companies are perfectly poised to achieve this.

Accepting electronic payments can also bring additional benefits. For example, offering electronic payments has been demonstrated to increase sales, bringing real benefit to a business’s bottom line.  SumUp's data shows that small businesses can grow up to 60% by starting to accept card payments. Mastercard’s research shows that on average, new acceptors of card payments usually see a 10-15% increase in their average transaction size, linked to value and volume as consumers are not limited to the amount of cash in their pocket. This is a particular issue for small shop owners in more remote rural areas where access to cash and ATMs can be scarce.  Not only that, but electronic payments provide a boost to cashflow, enabling the timely crediting of funds with the benefit of a payment guarantee and eliminating the need to chase unpaid invoices and debt.

Marcel Schneider, CCO & EVP Europe at SumUp comments: “There is a card acceptance gap that exists due to smaller businesses historically not being well-served by traditional payment providers. 10% of any population should be able to accept card payments but only around 1% does. It's this gap that SumUp and Mastercard are looking to fill through the partnership. “

With a payment terminal from SumUp, small business owners can focus on their business aspirations, confident that they have a payment solution that will support their business growth.

This partnership is another example of Mastercard’s and Sum Up’s commitment to growing financial inclusion bringing millions of micro-entrepreneurs into the formal economy for the first time.





 

About Mastercard

Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

 

About SumUp

SumUp is a financial technology company that allows businesses of all sizes to receive payments quickly and simply, both in-store and online. Named as Europe’s fastest-growing company in the ‘Inc. 5000’, SumUp has over 4,000 companies joining every day globally - and with its card terminals relied upon by businesses from DHL to black cab drivers - SumUp surpassed an annual revenue of €200 million. In October 2018 SumUp released its 3G reader, a card terminal that lets merchants process payments without the need for a mobile app or constant Wi-Fi connection.

SumUp’s 100% digital sign-up, fast delivery, and quick and easy set-up means that merchants can be empowered by digital transactions within just minutes of receiving their reader. For more information, visit our website (sumup.co.uk), and @SumUp.

Mastercard Communications Contact
Philipp Brüchert, +32 2 352 52 58
philipp.bruechert@mastercard.com

SumUp Communications Contact
Arsenia Nikolaeva, +49 1784576892
arsenia.nikolaeva@sumup.com