Ad disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our figures or rankings. How we make money.
Card machine contract exit calculator
Leaving a card machine contract early usually costs something. This shows whether the savings from switching cover that cost, and how quickly.
How to read the result
There are two ways to switch: pay to leave now and start saving straight away, or wait until the contract ends and start saving then. The calculator compares both over the period you choose.
Switch now: net saving = monthly saving × months compared − exit cost. Wait: net saving = monthly saving × (months compared − months left). The break-even month is when the savings since switching first cover the exit cost.
A few things the numbers can't capture: whether the new provider's rate is fixed or can rise, whether you'll need new hardware (add its cost to the exit fee), and any notice period. If your current provider offers to match the new price, that may beat both options. The switching guides cover the practical steps.
Worked example
Ten months left at £20 a month, no stated exit fee (so £200 assumed), saving £35 a month by switching. Over 24 months, switching now saves £35 × 24 − £200 = £640; waiting saves £35 × 14 = £490. Switching pays for itself in month 6.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my early termination fee?
What if I don't know the exit fee?
Will a new provider pay my exit fee?
How do I work out my monthly saving?
Last reviewed 14 October 2026 by Oliver Burton. Editorial policy.