Payment solutions for Swiss farm shops, weekly markets, and direct marketing – 5 practical guides
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Over 11,000 Swiss farms sell directly from the farm – and more and more of them cashless. But which solution is right for your business? Self-service farm shop with QR code, mobile card terminal at the weekly market, Tap to Pay on your smartphone, QR-Pay for all payment methods or a solution for international guests? Our five guides show you step-by-step how each option works, what it costs and which sales situation it is suitable for.
This overview page summarises the five guides and helps you find the right payment solution for your business model – whether it's self-service on the country road, attended farm shop business, weekly market or seasonal sales stand.
Guide 1: Running a self-service farm shop cashless
Honesty box · TWINT QR · QR code with payment page · Vending machine
The classic honesty box causes around 5% shrinkage. This guide compares three cashless alternatives for unattended farm shops: TWINT QR stickers (simple, but without amount control), QR code with payment page (amount specified, all payment methods) and card payment vending machines (full control, but high investment). With comparison table, cost calculation at CHF 6–12 per purchase and practical tips for weatherproof QR codes.
For whom: Self-service farm shops without staff, farm shops by the roadside, egg/honey/vegetable sales, self-service fridges.
Core topics: Honesty box vs. TWINT QR vs. QR payment page vs. vending machine, shrinkage reduction, seasonal pricing, weatherproof QR codes, accounting.
→ To the guide: Running a self-service farm shop cashless
Guide 2: Card terminal for weekly market and farm shop
Hardware · 4G SIM · Receipt printing · TWINT at the terminal · Provider comparison
A physical card terminal is the most robust solution for regular use at the weekly market. The guide compares Payrexx (Nexgo N6/N86), SumUp, Worldline and Nexi – with device costs, transaction fees and the crucial question: TWINT at the terminal, yes or no? Including a concrete cost calculation for 12 market days per month with an average transaction value of CHF 18.
For whom: Market traders with regular operations, attended farm shops, businesses that need to print receipts, higher sales volumes.
Core topics: Device types (Bluetooth, 4G, all-in-one), SumUp vs. Payrexx vs. Worldline, TWINT at the terminal, end of Maestro, battery and 4G at the market.
→ To the guide: Card terminal for weekly market and farm shop
Guide 3: Tap to Pay – Smartphone as card terminal
No hardware · NFC · Android & iPhone · SoftPOS
Tap to Pay turns an NFC-enabled smartphone into a card reader – without additional devices, without fixed costs. Ideal as an entry-level solution or backup. The guide explains the requirements (Android 8.1+ for Payrexx including TWINT, iPhone XS+ for Apple Tap to Pay without TWINT), compares it with terminal and TWINT QR and shows the concrete workflow at the market stall.
For whom: Beginners without hardware budgets, seasonal businesses, mobile merchant:and, backup for peak hours.
Core topics: Android vs. iPhone, TWINT only on Android, battery and power bank, practical workflow (weigh, tap, pay), cost comparison for CHF 15 purchases.
→ To the guide: Tap to Pay at the weekly market and farm shop
Guide 4: QR-Pay – One QR code, all payment methods
No terminal · No smartphone needed · TWINT + card + wallet · From 1.25% + CHF 0.00
QR-Pay is a QR code that leads to a payment page in the browser. There, customers pay with TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PostFinance Pay. The key advantage over the pure TWINT QR sticker: amount control, more payment methods and suitability for tourists. The transaction fee starts at 1.25% + CHF 0.00 (Visa cooperation) – cheaper than TWINT.
For whom: Self-service farm shops (primary solution), attended market stalls (secondary channel), seasonal stands (no fixed costs), businesses with international clientele.
Core topics: TWINT QR vs. QR-Pay vs. payment link, customer journey (scan → select → pay), dynamic vs. static QR, price changes, combination with terminal/Tap to Pay.
→ To the guide: QR-Pay for farm shop and weekly market
Guide 5: Letting tourists pay at the weekly market and farm shop
International cards · Apple Pay · Foreign currency · DCC
TWINT does not work for tourists. Anyone selling in Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt or on a mountain pass loses 20–40% in sales without card payment. The guide shows which payment methods international guests expect (Visa, Apple Pay, Alipay), how Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) works and what interregional transactions cost. QR-Pay as a universal solution for Swiss customers and tourists.
For whom: Weekly markets in tourist regions, farm shops on hiking routes, seasonal stands in holiday resorts.
Core topics: TWINT gap for tourists, DCC explained, interchange fees for foreign cards, Alipay/WeChat Pay, English signage, Euro cash.
→ To the guide: Letting tourists pay at the weekly market and farm shop
Which solution is right for your business?
All five options at a glance – sorted by application scenario, costs and functional scope.
Solution | Hardware | Fee from | TWINT? | Ideal for |
CHF 0 | 1.25% + 0.00 | Yes | Self-service, supplement, tourists | |
TWINT QR-Sticker | CHF 0 | 1.30% | Yes (TWINT only) | Micro-amounts, entry level |
CHF 0 (own phone) | 0.95% + 0.15 | Android: Yes | Seasonal operation, mobile merchants | |
From CHF 0–39 | 0.95% + 0.15 | Depending on provider | Regular market operation, receipt printing | |
Vending machine | From CHF 3,000 | Provider-dependent | Partially | High product value, full control |
All prices excl. VAT. Fees apply to Swiss consumer cards (Visa/Mastercard). As of 2026, guidance values.
Combinations for typical businesses
Self-service farm shop without staff: QR-Pay as primary solution, TWINT QR sticker as backup. No terminal needed.
Attended farm shop business: card terminal or Tap to Pay for the cash register, QR-Pay as a second channel in case of queues.
Weekly market (regular): card terminal as main system, TWINT QR sticker as addition, QR-Pay for tourists.
Seasonal sales stand (strawberries, asparagus): QR-Pay or Tap to Pay – no fixed costs out of season.
Tourist location (Lucerne, Interlaken): Terminal with international card acceptance + QR-Pay for universal coverage.
Accounting and billing for farm shops and market traders
No matter which payment solution you choose – at the end of the market day, the till must balance. Modern payment providers supply an online Dashboard with daily closing, CSV export and breakdown by payment method.
Booking in the Swiss chart of accounts SME: You book transaction fees as bank charges (account 6840) – without VAT deduction, since payment services are tax-exempt under Art. 21 para. 2 no. 19 VAT Act. A suspense account (e.g. 1090) neatly reflects the delay between customer payment and payout.
Important: Always book the gross revenue as income, not the net payout amount. This ensures that the VAT assessment basis remains correct.
Frequently asked questions about payment solutions for farm shops and weekly markets
Which payment solution is the cheapest for your small farm shop?
QR-Pay (from 1.25% + CHF 0.00, no fixed costs) and the TWINT QR-Sticker (approx. 1.30%, no fixed costs) are the cheapest options. Both work without hardware and without a monthly subscription.
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Can you use multiple solutions at the same time?
Yes. Many businesses combine: TWINT QR stickers for quick micro-amounts, a terminal or Tap to Pay for the main checkout, and QR Pay for self-service areas or tourists.
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Do you need internet at your farm shop or market stall?
For QR-based solutions (QR-Pay, TWINT QR-Sticker): No. The payment runs via the customer's mobile network. For card terminals and Tap to Pay: Yes, you need 4G or Wi-Fi.
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How much does cashless payment cost you for a weekly market stall per month?
That depends on the turnover and the chosen solution. With a card turnover of CHF 5'000 per month, the total costs are between CHF 63 (QR-Pay only) and CHF 150 (terminal + subscription). You can find details in the individual guides.
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What is the difference between a TWINT QR sticker and QR Pay?
The TWINT QR-Sticker only accepts TWINT, without amount control. QR-Pay leads you to a payment page with all payment methods (TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay) and the option to specify the amount.
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Can you start right away or do you need a business registration?
If you are already selling as an agricultural business, you do not need an additional business registration for cashless payments. You only need a bank or business account and KYC verification with the payment service provider.
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