Category: Competition Websites

For UK competition websites in 2026, Cashflows is the leading specialist payment gateway and Zempler Bank is the strongest business banking option. Mainstream providers including Stripe, PayPal, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, and NatWest prohibit or close competition business accounts and should not be used. Cashflows charges £500 setup and 2% plus 5p per transaction, with approval in 3 to 10 working days. Backup gateways include Radiant Pay, Axcess Merchant Services, Merchant Connect, and Corepay. Zempler Bank supports high-risk businesses with no setup fee and opens accounts in 1 to 3 working days, while Revolut Business works well as a secondary day-to-day account. Nera Marketing is a Cashflows integration partner, so operators we onboard receive preferential rates and we handle the full application as part of every competition website build.

To start a competition website in the UK, you need a registered UK limited company, a compliant competition structure with a genuine free entry route, a specialist payment gateway, and a purpose-built website. Raffle sites are a specialized type of competition website, often featuring bespoke design and easy management with platforms like WordPress, supporting operators in running and scaling their raffle or competition business effectively. This complete guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you have a comprehensive resource to avoid common mistakes and achieve success. A structured launch typically takes four to eight weeks and requires a realistic budget covering build, payment onboarding, prizes, and marketing.