More than 11,000 Swiss farms sell directly from the farm - and more and more of them cashless. But which solution is right 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, 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 self-service on the country road, attended farm shop, weekly market or seasonal sales stall.

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 vending machines with card payment (full control, but high investment). With comparison table, cost calculation for EUR 6–12 per purchase and practical tips for weatherproof QR codes.

For whom: Self-service farm shops without staff, farm stalls by the roadside, selling eggs/honey/vegetables, self-service fridges.

Key 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 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. The guide compares Payrexx (Nexgo N6/N86), SumUp, Worldline and Nexi – with device costs, transaction fees and the crucial question: TWINT on the terminal yes or no? Including a concrete cost calculation for 12 market days per month with an average receipt of EUR 18.

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

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

→ To the Guide: Card terminal for weekly markets and farm shops

Guide 3: Tap to Pay – Smartphone as a card terminal

No hardware · NFC · Android & iPhone · SoftPOS

Tap to Pay turns an NFC-enabled smartphone into a Lector de tarjetas – without any additional device and 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 terminals and TWINT QR, and shows the specific workflow at the market stall.

For whom: Newcomers with no hardware budget, seasonal businesses, mobile Comercianted, backup for peak hours.

Key topics: Android vs. iPhone, TWINT only on Android, battery and power bank, practical workflow (weighing, typing, paying), cost comparison with a EUR 15 purchase.

→ 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 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 compared to the pure TWINT QR sticker: amount control, more payment methods and suitability for tourists. The transaction fee starts at 1.25% + EUR 0.00 (Visa cooperation) – cheaper than TWINT.

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

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

→ To the Guide: QR-Pay for farm shops and weekly markets

Guide 5: Letting tourists pay 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 on a pass road loses 20–40% of sales without card payments. 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 locals and tourists alike.

For whom: Weekly markets in tourist regions, farm shops on hiking trails, seasonal stalls in holiday resorts.

Key topics: The 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 weekly markets and farm shops

Which solution is right for your business?

All five options at a glance – sorted by usage scenario, costs and functional range.

All prices excl. VAT. Fees apply to Swiss consumer cards (Visa/Mastercard). As of 2026, reference values.

Combinations for typical businesses

Self-service farm shop without staff: QR-Pay as the primary solution, TWINT QR sticker as backup. No terminal required.

Attended farm shop business: Card terminal or Tap to Pay for the checkout, QR-Pay as a secondary channel during queues.

Weekly market (regular): Card terminal as the main system, TWINT QR sticker as a supplement, QR-Pay for tourists.

Seasonal sales stall (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

Whichever payment solution you choose – at the end of the market day, the accounts must balance. Modern payment providers supply an online Dashboard with a daily closing statement, CSV export and a breakdown by payment method.

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

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