Over 11,000 Swiss farms sell directly from the farm – and an increasing number of them accept cashless payments. But which solution is the right one for your business? A self-service farm shop with a QR code, a mobile card terminal at the weekly market, Tap to Pay on a 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, how much 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 is self-service on the roadside, a serviced farm shop, a weekly market, or a seasonal sales stand.

Guide 1: Running a cashless self-service farm shop

Honesty box · TWINT QR · QR code with payment page · Vending machine

The classic honesty box results in shrinkage of around 5%. This guide compares three cashless alternatives for unstaffed farm shops: TWINT QR stickers (simple, but without amount control), QR codes with a payment page (preset amount, all payment methods), and vending machines with card payment (full control, but high investment). Includes a comparison table, cost calculation based on EUR 6–12 per purchase, and practical tips for weatherproof QR codes.

For whom: Unstaffed self-service farm shops, farm stalls on the roadside, sales of eggs/honey/vegetables, self-service fridges.

Key topics: Honesty box vs. TWINT QR vs. QR payment page vs. vending machine, reducing shrinkage, seasonal pricing, weatherproof QR codes, bookkeeping.

→ Go to the guide: Running a cashless self-service farm shop

Guide 2: Card terminal for weekly markets and farm shops

Hardware · 4G SIM · Receipt printing · TWINT on the terminal · Provider comparison

A physical card terminal is the most robust solution for regular use at weekly markets. This guide compares Payrexx (Nexgo N6/N86), SumUp, Worldline, and Nexi – with hardware costs, transaction fees, and the critical question: TWINT on the terminal, yes or no? Includes a concrete cost calculation for 12 market days per month with an average transaction value of EUR 18.

For whom: Market traders with regular operations, serviced farm shops, businesses that need to print receipts, higher sales volumes.

Key topics: Device types (Bluetooth, 4G, All-in-one), SumUp vs. Payrexx vs. Worldline, TWINT on the terminal, the retirement of Maestro, battery life and 4G at the market.

→ Go to the guide: Card terminal for weekly markets and farm shops

Guide 3: Tap to Pay – The smartphone as a card terminal

No hardware · NFC · Android & iPhone · SoftPOS

Tap to Pay turns an NFC-enabled smartphone into a Lector de tarjetas – with no extra device and no fixed costs. Ideal as an entry-level solution or a backup. This guide explains the pre-requisites (Android 8.1+ for Payrexx including TWINT, iPhone XS+ for Apple Tap to Pay without TWINT), compares it with terminals and TWINT QR, and demonstrates the workflow at a market stall.

For whom: Beginners without a budget for hardware, seasonal businesses, mobile Comerciantes, backup for peak hours.

Key topics: Android vs. iPhone, TWINT only on Android, battery life and power banks, practical workflow (weigh, tap, pay), cost comparison based on a EUR 15 purchase.

→ Go to the guide: Tap to Pay at weekly markets and farm shops

Guide 4: QR-Pay – One QR code, all payment methods

No terminal · No smartphone required · TWINT + Card + Wallet · From 1.25% + EUR 0.00

QR-Pay is a QR code that directs customers to a payment page in their browser. There, customers pay using TWINT, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PostFinance Pay. The key advantage compared to a simple TWINT QR sticker: amount control, more payment methods, and suitability for tourists. The transaction fee starts at 1.25% + EUR 0.00 (Visa cooperation) – more cost-effective than TWINT.

For whom: Self-service farm shops (primary solution), serviced market stalls (secondary channel), seasonal stalls (no fixed costs), businesses with international customers.

Key topics: TWINT QR vs. QR-Pay vs. Payment Link, customer journey (scan → select → pay), dynamic vs. static QR, price changes, combining with a terminal/Tap to Pay.

→ Go to the guide: QR-Pay for farm shops and weekly markets

Guide 5: Accepting payments from tourists at weekly markets and farm shops

International cards · Apple Pay · Foreign currency · DCC

TWINT does not work for tourists. Anyone selling in Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, or along a mountain pass loses 20–40% of their turnover if they do not accept card payments. This 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 serves as a universal solution for Swiss locals and tourists alike.

For whom: Weekly markets in tourist regions, farm shops along hiking routes, seasonal stalls in holiday destinations.

Key topics: The TWINT gap for tourists, DCC explained, interchange fees for foreign cards, Alipay/WeChat Pay, English signage, Euro cash.

→ Go to the guide: Accepting payments from tourists at weekly markets and farm shops

Which solution is right for your business?

All five options at a glance – sorted by use case context, costs, and range of functions.

All prices exclude VAT. Fees apply to Swiss consumer cards (Visa/Mastercard). Status as of 2026, guide values.

Combinations for typical businesses

Unstaffed self-service farm shop: QR-Pay as the primary solution, TWINT QR sticker as backup. No terminal required.

Serviced farm shop: Card terminal or Tap to Pay for the checkout, QR-Pay as a secondary channel during busy times.

Weekly market (regular): Card terminal as the primary system, TWINT QR sticker as an add-on, QR-Pay for tourists.

Seasonal sales stand (strawberries, asparagus): QR-Pay or Tap to Pay – no fixed costs outside of the season.

Tourist location (Lucerne, Interlaken): Terminal with international card acceptance + QR-Pay for universal coverage.

Bookkeeping 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 offer an online Dashboard with daily closing reports, CSV exports, and breakdowns by payment method.

Accounting in the Swiss system of accounts SME: You book transaction fees as bank charges (account 6840) – without VAT deduction, as payment services are exempt from tax according to Art. 21 para. 2 no. 19 VAT Act. A clearing account (e.g. 1090) neatly reflects the time delay between customer payment and payout.

Important: Always book the gross revenue as income, not the net payout amount. This ensures that the VAT base remains correct.