You've got a parking lot, and EV drivers keep asking whether you have a charger. A café or a winery tasting room is close to ideal for Level 2 charging. People stay an hour or two, which is about what a Level 2 charger needs to add meaningful range.
The question is how they pay. That choice shapes which charger you buy, the yearly fees you're signing up for, and how many drivers bother to plug in at all. Most guides on this are written for parking garages with twenty chargers. This guide is for businesses that are considering adding 1-3 chargers.
The three ways drivers pay at the charger
Tap a card. The charger has a payment terminal built in, like a gas pump. Drivers tap a card or phone and charge, with no app. It's familiar and fast. The chargers cost more, and you'll usually pay for a network plan on top.
Use an app. Big networks and some home-charger brands let drivers pay through an app and account. For drivers who already have that app, it's fine. For everyone else, it means downloading software in your parking lot, and some will simply drive away.
Scan a QR code. The charger has a code on it. Drivers point their phone camera at it and pay on a web page, then start charging. There's no app and no account. It's close to tapping a card for convenience, and the hardware costs much less than a charger with a terminal built in.
Why not add a card reader to a cheap charger?
It sounds sensible, and it rarely works out. California's Air Resources Board looked into retrofitting card readers onto Level 2 chargers back in 2019 and called it "largely infeasible". The readers have to talk to the charger's software, and most chargers aren't built for that. If you want card payment, buy a charger that ships with a reader. Autel, for one, started shipping Level 2 units with factory-installed Nayax card readers in the US in early 2026.
What it costs you per year
Fees decide whether this makes money, so here's a worked example. Picture a small business with one charger, forty sessions a month, about 15 kWh per session (an hour and a half of Level 2 charging), and a price of 40 cents per kWh. Drivers pay about $240 a month, or $2,880 a year. Here's what each setup keeps for itself.
| Setup | Hardware | Ongoing fees | Fees on our example | Driver pays by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boba commercial | $799.99 | 10% of revenue | ~$288/yr | QR code, phone, no app |
| ChargePoint CPF50, Essential plan | $699 MSRP (4G model) | Reported $140/port/yr + 10% | ~$428/yr | ChargePoint app or account |
| OK2Charge | ~$800 | $199/yr + 20% of revenue | ~$775/yr | QR code |
| Blink Series 8 | Quote only | Network plan (one state contract listed ~$480/yr) | $480+/yr | Card, tap, app |
| EVPassport | $0 upfront (they own it) | Reported ~50% revenue share | ~$1,440/yr | Web/QR, no app |
Fees are from vendor materials and public contracts as of October 2026. Some figures aren't published openly (marked "reported"), so confirm with the vendor before you buy. Card processing is included in some fees and extra in others.
Some patterns show up quickly. A revenue share is cheap when traffic is light and expensive when it's heavy. Yearly network fees hurt most at a quiet location. EVPassport's zero-upfront model makes sense for a hotel or apartment building that doesn't want to own hardware. For a café with one charger, giving up half the revenue is a lot.
Which one fits your business?
A busy public lot with many strangers: a card-reader charger is worth the cost. Drivers recognize it, and volume makes the network fees easier to swallow.
A café or tasting room with one to three chargers: QR pay is usually the sweet spot. Drivers don't need an app and there's no subscription. You also keep most of the revenue.
A hotel or apartment building that doesn't want to own anything: a zero-capital provider like EVPassport, if you're comfortable sharing revenue for years.
A charger mostly for staff or regulars: an app-based setup can work, since the same people use it every week.
The rule most small businesses miss
If you charge drivers by the kWh, you're running a commercial measuring device, much like a gas pump. Many states have adopted the national model rules for this (NIST Handbook 44). Those rules require a meter certified for commercial use (NTEP, or CTEP in California). They also require a posted price and a receipt. California and New York have active programs, as do Colorado and Maryland, and some states require registration or inspection. Pricing by the hour doesn't get around it in states like California and New York.
What to look for in a paid charger
- 48 amps if your panel allows it. It needs a 60-amp breaker and 6 AWG copper wire. That's about 11.5 kW, which adds roughly 25 to 40 miles of range an hour.
- A long, commercial-grade cable. Around 25 feet reaches cars that park nose-in or tail-in.
- An outdoor rating: NEMA 4 or IP65.
- Connectivity that works at your site. A charger that loses its connection can't take payment.
- A software plan you can leave. Check what happens to the charger if you cancel the network plan. Some won't charge for the public at all without it.
- Certified metering if you'll bill by the kWh in a state that requires it.
FAQ
Can a Level 2 charger take credit cards?
Yes. Some commercial Level 2 chargers ship with a card reader built in, including units from Blink and Autel. Expect higher hardware costs and usually a network plan. Adding a reader to an existing charger is rarely practical.
Do drivers need an app to pay?
It depends on the charger. Card-reader units and QR-pay chargers don't need one. Many network chargers do, and that's the most common reason drivers give up and leave.
What's the cheapest way to charge customers for EV charging?
For one to three chargers, a QR-pay charger with a revenue share and no subscription usually has the lowest total cost. Yearly network fees weigh heavily at low-traffic sites.
Do I need a certified meter to sell charging?
In many states, yes. If you bill by the kWh, states that follow NIST Handbook 44 require an NTEP- or CTEP-certified meter, and some require registration. Ask the vendor for the certificate number.
How much should a business charge per kWh?
Enough to cover your electricity and fees with a margin left over, priced sensibly against public charging nearby. Public Level 2 typically runs 20 to 35 cents per kWh. See How much should you charge for EV charging at your property?
Boba's commercial charger ships November 18: 48 amps, a 25-foot cable, QR pay with no app for drivers, and 90% of revenue to you. See the commercial charger.