Too often for Australia’s 2.6 million actively trading small businesses, sending an invoice means waiting weeks to see the money. Put simply, getting paid late is bad for your business – so what can you do to take a greater level of control over your cash flow? Read on to find out.
Operating with thinner margins and fewer staff means having strategies around pricing, marketing, and your own mental health, are more crucial than ever. Read on to learn what the biggest challenges facing small businesses are, and some practical steps to help overcome them.
This year, Australians are grappling with belt-tightening inflation, the likes of which we haven’t seen in three decades. How small business owners respond to soaring supply costs, continued staff shortages and customers with diminishing spending capacities will determine whether they survive or thrive.
Two billion dollars' worth of pubs has been bought and sold in the last two years. Perhaps spurred on by the unprecedented challenges of trading through a pandemic, an increasing number of experienced publicans are leaving the industry or retiring — ushering in a new generation of publicans.
Australia is rich with vibrant regional communities undergoing a period of transformation, with a record number of people packing their bags and making a tree change. Some are taking advantage of the newfound flexible work arrangements to pull up their city stumps, while for others lockdown was the final push needed to move to greener pastures and start fresh. This migratory shift is already having a ripple effect across local economies.
Every sector across the globe has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hospitality industry is among the hardest hit. In many Australian states and territories, bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes, sandwich shops and delis alike have been shuttered for months on end.
Australian small businesses have weathered a turbulent few years, juggling softer customer spending, rising operating costs, and the ongoing realities of a post-Covid economy. So, how are they feeling about the 2025 festive season? We asked Zeller merchants to share their outlook, along with the practical tips they use to stay confident and competitive. The Christmas trading season is traditionally the busiest—and most lucrative—time of year for many Australian small businesses. Yet this year, many are heading into the peak period with caution rather than confidence. More than half of the 1000 small business owners we surveyed said they feel only average or low confidence in their financial position leading into Christmas, with concern highest amongst retailers (64%) and businesses operating in events and entertainment (76%). Tight cash flow is a major part of that pressure. Nearly three-quarters of business owners report that their cash flow is already strained ahead of the holiday rush, including a striking 80% of retailers and 78% of hospitality operators. At the same time, 59% believe they’ll earn the same—or even less—revenue this Christmas compared to last year. Despite these challenges, the businesses that feel most prepared tend to be those using data to guide their planning. While 57% of owners reviewed their 2024 sales and transaction data to forecast for the season ahead, more than a third did not—and some don’t have the tools to access last year’s performance at all. Against this backdrop of lower confidence and tighter budgets, preparation becomes more important than ever. To understand how businesses can set themselves up for a strong end to the year, we spoke with six retailers to share the practical strategies they use to make the most of the busy trading season. 1. Use data to forecast demand and staff efficiently When preparing for the festive season, a common theme among the six business owners we spoke to was the importance of reviewing the previous year’s sales data. Amanda Flynn of Smellies Flowers in Geelong says it’s now easier than ever to access this information, making forecasting far simpler: “ Every year I review our sales to see which designs were most popular, using data from Shopify, Zeller , and Xero. It’s much easier now to access that information. ” Malcolm McCullough, who runs Bill’s Farm , a busy delicatessen at Queen Victoria Market, takes a similar approach. “ We look at which products sold via our POS to inform our orders, then use the Zeller Dashboard to understand overall sales patterns. This helps us predict when customers are likely to shop this year—including the time of day—so we can roster staff effectively and ensure coverage during peak periods. ” 2. Market to your database, your community, and the customers in front of you Scaling up marketing efforts early in December is crucial for keeping cash flow healthy. Both Smellies and Bill’s Farm rely heavily on their subscriber lists. “ They get first access to new products, which really helps with cash flow, ” says Amanda Flynn. Malcolm McCullough adds, “ This year, we offered our subscribers a $25 gift voucher when they spent $300 or more.” Baffies Oan Books , a small bookshop in Samford, takes a similar approach. A Christmas VIP night in November helps bring subscribers in-store, but owner Leanne Goldsmith says community partnerships are just as important. She’ll run a stall during the local school’s visitor day—offering how-to-read Christmas books to incoming prep students—and set up at the village’s annual Christmas market. “ Being actively involved in the community helps remind people we’re here, ” she explains. Once the Christmas rush hits, the focus shifts to boosting sales per customer. Malcolm runs several promotions advertised on his register’s digital screens. “ We do a $10 off deal when customers buy four or more cheeses, ” he says. “It’s all about encouraging a higher average ticket. ” 3. Cater to all end-of-year celebrations—not just Christmas While Christmas drives the bulk of sales, the end-of-year period in Australia reflects a much broader range of celebrations. “ Over the past few years, we’ve run a number of corporate wreath-making classes. Many companies invest in their staff at this time of year as a bonding exercise ,” explains Amanda Flynn. “ We also see a lot of flowers going out for end-of-season celebrations: schools finishing, offices closing… it’s a time when people retire, change jobs, graduate, or get promoted, so we cater to all of those occasions as well. ” By planning for these wider milestones, businesses can tap into multiple revenue streams, not just Christmas-specific products. 4. Make the most of school holidays to train young staff For Natalie Tripodi and her team at Queen’s Harvest —a fruit and vegetable vendor at Queen Victoria Market—hiring Christmas casuals is essential to supporting the surge in customers: “ Most students are on school holidays, so it's a nice time to get the young ones skilled up for the busy period,” she explains, while Leanne employs those within her own family: “ We put our children to work”, she laughs. Amanda also emphasises that you don’t always need to have highly skilled staff to support operations during the rush, “ We don’t necessarily hire florists. Sometimes it’s actually better to have fewer florists and more staff focused on floral preparation and related tasks. You have to really target the tasks and the staff who are going to be performing those tasks.” 5. Brief staff on what products to push and how to make the decision for your customers For larger businesses like Blackheart & Sparrows , staff training and preparation are essential. Jimi Gill, who oversees the brand’s fourteen retail stores, says he shares curated gifting ideas with teams—such as “Great Gifts for Dad” or the latest craft beers—to help them build compelling in-store displays. Malcolm McCullough emphasises that guidance on the shop floor matters just as much as merchandising. “ We’ve found that customers often want you to make the decision for them. Having staff ready with clear product recommendations is part of our daily routine ” he explains. 6. Put EFTPOS safeguards in place before the rush With such a high volume of trading happening over a short period, fast and reliable payment hardware is essential. “ 90% of our sales come through EFTPOS at that time of year, ” says Malcolm, who has used Zeller Terminal for the past three years. “ Zeller is incredibly fast and reliable ,” says Natalie. “ The terminals are connected via SIM but we can also connect them to WiFi or hotspot, or we can use Tap to Pay on our phones… having those safeguards is key ,” she adds. 7. Plan around the calendar: Christmas and New Year’s Demand patterns shift dramatically depending on which day Christmas falls on. Amanda says Smellies analyses their data from the final fortnight closely, knowing that customers pre-order differently each year. “ When Christmas lands mid-week, a lot of offices close early, which creates different peak days, ” she explains. But Christmas is only half the challenge. Malcolm warns that New Year’s Eve can catch businesses off guard. “ You need enough stock to reopen on the 30th and 31st, because suppliers stop delivering. If you have a huge Christmas and don’t plan for New Year’s, you’re stuck. ” It’s important to map out both events as one continuous trading period. 8. Secure stock early, and work with suppliers who offer terms Stock availability can make or break the season, but so can cash flow. That’s why having suppliers who offer payment terms is invaluable. “ Most of our major suppliers are on account, which really helps with cash flow ” says Leanne. Malcolm takes a strategic blend of approaches: he pre-orders thousands of dollars’ worth of cheese for mid-December delivery (paid upfront), while sourcing other products on 30-day terms so they’re sold long before the invoice is due. “ It’s a matter of pre-ordering what you know will sell, pre-empting what might sell, and then ordering additional stock during the month to ensure you have enough.” For chocolatier Lee Ann Tan at Cheeky Cacao , preparation starts early too: “ Around September or October I put money aside and start buying labels and packaging, and non-perishable ingredients, ” she explains, “ Because every product is handmade in small batches, preparing early also ensures we can maintain the level of quality and care we’re known for, without rushing production during our busiest season.” 9. Use pre-order forms to manage large Christmas orders For Smellies and Bill’s Farm, having a pre-order system is indispensable. Malcolm says they process about 180 pre-orders each year, managed manually with a $50 deposit and a nominated pickup day. “ Some customers order multiple hams, puddings, a turkey… it can be a $500 sale, ” he says. Preparing these orders ahead of time ensures they’re ready the moment the customer arrives, but coordinating them becomes “ a full-time job for the last ten days ,” so a clear pre-order workflow keeps service running smoothly. 10. Review what worked and build a merchandising library for next year Jimi Gill from Blackhearts & Sparrows emphasised that January is the true beginning of next year’s Christmas planning. “ Usually, I do a short review with all the store leaders where I ask ‘What was the busiest day? Why was it busy? What was the best-selling product?’ It’s a way to get quick, instant feedback. I then compile this into an overarching review that we discuss in an early-year meeting, typically around April .” He also invites his team to share photos of their visual merchandising displays, “ We build up a library of examples so that, even though shelves change daily and new products arrive, the stores have a resource to refer to. They can look at it and say, ‘Okay, let’s display this wine like this,’ and use it as a guide .” At Bill’s Farm, notes are taken at the end of each day. “ We make a note of what’s working, what isn’t, what we’ve had to mark down due to short shelf life, what’s sold out, and what we could improve,” explains Malcolm, who recalls a multi-price cheese offer that required too much explanation last year: “ We won’t do that again, it took too long to walk customers through it. ” It’s these insights that have informed their new approach this year.
Whether you’re imposing them or paying them: service charges can be confusing. Here’s everything you need to know. In this article, we break down what service charges are, why businesses use them, how they differ from other types of fees, and the key legal requirements to be aware of in Australia. Plus, if you’re a small business owner, we’ll explain a quick, easy way to add service charges to your sales with Zeller’s free point-of-sale system. What is a service charge? A service charge is a mandatory fee added by a business to a customer’s bill to cover the cost of delivering the service, such as staff labour or administration. Unlike a tip, however, a service charge is not optional and the amount is set by the business and automatically applied to the bill, usually presented as either: A percentage of the total bill (e.g. a 10% service charge on group bookings), or A fixed fee (e.g. a $2 per-ticket booking fee). Why do businesses apply service charges? A service charge allows businesses to recover operational costs that aren’t fully covered by standard pricing. It can provide transparency, showing customers exactly what they are paying for, rather than inflating base prices for everyone. Why businesses apply service charges can vary widely depending on the industry: Hospitality: Weekend and public holiday service charges help cover higher wages, extra staffing, and increased operating costs. Banking and financial services: Fees like account, ATM, and wire transfer charges recover administrative, compliance, and infrastructure costs. Travel and airlines: Baggage, booking, seat selection, and airport fees offset fuel, staffing, and infrastructure costs, while charging only for extra services used. Residential property and accommodation: Strata levies, Airbnb fees, and cleaning charges cover facility maintenance, insurance, repairs, and property management. Utilities: Water, electricity, and connection fees fund infrastructure development, maintenance, billing, and regulatory compliance. What is the difference between a service charge and a surcharge? A service charge is a fee added by a business to cover the additional costs involved in delivering a particular service. Because it’s set by the business, they have full discretion over whether to apply a service charge, what it covers, and how much it is. In Australia, many venues apply a service charge of around 10–15%, but the exact amount varies depending on the business and the service being provided. A surcharge , on the other hand, is a fee added specifically when a customer pays by credit or debit card. Its purpose is to help businesses recover the merchant fees charged by their payment provider for processing that transaction. Unlike service charges, surcharges are regulated by the ACCC : under Australian law, a business cannot charge more than its cost of acceptance—that is, the lowest amount it costs the business to process each card payment type. Read our blogs to learn more about surcharging in Australia and what to be aware of with zero-cost EFTPOS . What are the legal requirements around service charges in Australia? Because every industry and business operates differently, there’s no specific law limiting how much a service charge can be. The ACCC does, however, mandate that businesses be transparent and accurate when presenting any service charges they choose to apply. The key legal requirements are: Prices must be clear and accurate Businesses must clearly communicate the full cost of a product or service before a customer books, orders, or makes a purchase. They cannot mislead customers about prices or hide additional fees. Total prices must be displayed upfront If a service charge is unavoidable or automatically applied, it must be included in the total price shown to the customer. This total must incorporate any taxes, duties, or pre-selected extra fees. Service charges must follow strict display rules If a business applies card payment surcharges or weekend/public holiday surcharges, they must be displayed clearly and prominently so customers understand when and why these fees apply. The following words must be displayed on the menu and/or price display: “ A surcharge of [percentage] applies on [day or days]. ” Additionally, the words must be at least as prominent as the most prominent price on the menu, or made visible elsewhere in your venue. What are the tax implications of service charges? In Australia, service charges are treated as part of the business’s revenue and are subject to tax like any other income. Even if the service charge is applied to cover employee wages, it is still considered assessable income and taxed as part of their regular wages. Tips or gratuities, on the other hand, are directly received by employees. While not technically the business’s income, tips are also considered taxable income and must be reported by the employee to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Can you challenge a service charge? In Australia, whether you can challenge a service charge depends on how it is presented and whether it complies with consumer law. Businesses must clearly display prices, including any unavoidable service charges, before you book, order, or pay. If a service charge is misleading, hidden, or incorrectly displayed, it may be a breach of the law. You can report concerns to the ACCC if you believe a business is not complying with pricing rules. The ACCC can investigate and take enforcement or compliance action if the law has been broken. However, the ACCC does not resolve individual complaints or give legal advice about your rights, so it cannot force a business to remove a service charge for one customer. In practice, your options are: Carefully check the menu and/or price display before paying—the total must include all unavoidable fees. Raise the issue directly with the business if you think a service charge is incorrect or misleading. Report it to the ACCC if you believe there is a systemic breach of pricing rules. Add a service charge to your sales with Zeller POS Lite Zeller POS Lite is a free point of sale that comes in-built with Zeller Terminal . If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution for applying service charges to your sum total, follow the steps below: In Zeller Dashboard or Zeller App, select Items , then Service Charges Tap Add Service Charge (or the + button in Zeller App) Add a percentage or fixed dollar amount Give it a clear name, like “Public Holiday 15%”. This will appear on customer receipts If you have multiple locations, assign the charge to the relevant sites only Your newly created service charge will now appear in Zeller POS Lite under Shortcuts . Apply it to relevant sales and it will automatically appear on your customers’ receipts—no need for manual price edits.
For Australian businesses, choosing the right business bank account isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. Between traditional banks, online-only challengers, and modern fintech alternatives like Zeller, the options are broader than ever – and more confusing. This guide compares some of the top options in Australia, from the Big Four to rising digital banking platforms, so you can choose the right account for your needs, whether you're a sole trader, freelancer, small business or scaling company. Compare top Australian business accounts to see why Zeller Transaction Account stands out. As you can see from the table above, Zeller either matches or beats the big-4 banks in almost every area. Traditional banks like CommBank, NAB, Westpac and ANZ each offer business accounts with in-branch service, cash handling and international payment features. While these can suit businesses that still rely on physical banking, they often come with higher monthly fees and less flexible digital tools. The two limitations to a Zeller Business Transaction Account are depositing cash and multi-currency accounts. Zeller merchants typically overcome this by: – keeping a separate bank account with a traditional bank for the sole purpose of depositing cash, then sending the money directly to their Zeller Business Transaction Account – keeping international currencies with another provider (like Wise or Airwallex). Note: Zeller is working towards offering multi-currency accounts, so watch this space! Understanding business bank accounts: what they are and why they're essential. A business bank account isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a key part of running a compliant, professional and scalable operation. Here’s why you need one: Legal and tax compliance : If you're registered for GST or operate as a company, you’ll need a dedicated account for your business transactions. Simplified admin : Separating personal and business finances makes reconciling income, preparing for BAS, and managing deductions far easier. Professionalism : Customers take you more seriously, and are more likely to trust your business, when invoices and payments come from a business bank account. Cash flow control : Monitor your business incomings and outgoings more clearly to make faster decisions. Access to finance : It’s typically a requirement for business loans, overdrafts, business credit cards, and trade accounts. Types of business bank accounts in Australia. In Australia, there are a few core types of business accounts on offer, such as: Transaction accounts : Your day-to-day account for receiving payments, making purchases, paying suppliers. Savings accounts : For earning interest on unused business funds. Term deposits : Lock away funds for a set time to earn higher interest. Offset accounts : Linked to a business loan, helping reduce interest payments. Key factors to consider when choosing a business bank account. Fees Monthly fees, overdraft fees, dishonour fees, and FX costs can vary widely amongst business banks. For example: – Traditional banks may charge $10-$25/month just to keep the account open – Overdraft fees can be surprisingly high and feel unnecessarily punitive – International payments might include conversion fees or transfer costs – Staff-assisted transactions and even electronic transactions can also incur more fees This last point is worth illustrating with two examples: 1. CommBank charges $5 per staff-assisted transaction on business accounts 2. Bendigo Bank charges $0.40 per electronic transaction on their Business Basic Account In contrast, Zeller Business Transaction Account has no fees whatsoever . For small businesses, especially those just starting out, these savings can quickly add up. Access and convenience In business, time is money. You’ll want an account that’s easy to use and built for purpose. Consider things like: – Does the online banking interface have a clean, modern design? – Does it have powerful transaction filtering and searching? – Is the mobile app easy to use on the go? ( Zeller App is rated 4.2 on the App Store) – Can you access help when you need it? (Zeller offers 24/7 online access and support) More businesses are moving away from needing face-to-face banking and instead placing higher value on mobile-first platforms that work wherever they are. Account features Choosing a business account isn’t just about the basics. The right features can save you time, reduce admin, and give you more control over how your business operates. For example, a Zeller Business Transaction Account offers you: Cards: Zeller lets you issue unlimited free physical and virtual debit cards with custom spending limits. You can also generate single-use virtual cards for added security when shopping online. Multi-user access: Give team members custom access, so they can view balances, send invoices or manage cards, without full account control. Integrations: You can easily connect your Zeller Business Transaction Account to tools like Xero for easy bookkeeping. Reporting: Built-in analytics, spending breakdowns, and receipt capture with Zeller. Access to interest: A Zeller Savings Account allows you to earn significantly more interest than with a traditional big-4 bank. Transaction categorisation: Automatically sort and label incoming and outgoing payments, helping you track spending by type, supplier or category. Multiple accounts: Spin up extra accounts for different projects, teams or business locations – no paperwork or branch visit required. Real-time fund transfers: Move money instantly via Australia's New Payment Platform (NPP). BPAY: Quickly and easily pay suppliers directly from your dashboard using BPAY. Security and regulation Traditional banks are Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs), so deposits are protected by the Financial Claims Scheme (FCS), a government guarantee of up to $250,000 if the bank was to fail. With Zeller, customer funds are held in a segregated account at a fully-regulated, authorised Australian bank. Zeller also maintains strict compliance protocols, and uses advanced encryption, fraud monitoring and multi-factor authentication to keep your business finances secure. For many modern businesses, the benefits of speed, flexibility and innovation make this a smart, secure, and trusted alternative to traditional banking. Customer support Zeller offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email and SMS – so whether you need help setting up your account, have a question about a transaction, or are sorting something urgent during tax time, you can speak to someone when it matters most. Unlike many traditional providers, support isn't limited to business hours or ticket-based systems, you’ll speak to a real human with experience in supporting Aussie businesses. Suitability for your business type Every business is different. The right account for your business should suit your operating model, whether you're client-facing, retail-based, or remote. For example: Sole traders/freelancers often prioritise ease of use and low fees Growing businesses typically look for multi-user access, cards, and integrations Retailers/tradies frequently find POS and EFTPOS integration can make a huge difference International traders need strong FX capabilities and multi-currency accounts. Real-world examples: who should choose what? Not every business needs the same thing from their transaction account. Here are a few common scenarios to help you match features to your business type. Tradie on the road Zeller’s mobile-first setup, SMS invoicing and no-branch model means you can quote, invoice and track payments without ever setting foot in a bank. Freelancer with local clients Zeller gives you all the essentials with no monthly cost, plus faster access to funds to keep your cash flow healthy. Import/export business Wise and Airwallex make more sense here, with multi-currency accounts and competitive FX. Zeller does not currently offer multi-currency accounts yet, but has plans to do so in the future. Brick and mortar retailer Zeller integrates with EFTPOS and provides detailed sales tracking across channels. How to open a business account in Australia. Opening a business account in Australia is fairly straightforward, but exact requirements can vary slightly between providers. Here’s what to expect. In most cases, you’ll need: – A business name – An ABN or ACN – An industry type – Personal ID (driver licence or passport) – Business contact details – In some cases, business structure documentation (e.g. partnership agreement) With Zeller, the process is 100% online and takes just a few minutes. No paperwork. No queues. Just fast onboarding and instant access to your transaction account and cards. Managing your business account effectively. Once you’ve opened your account, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of it: Separate personal and business spending so your bookkeeping is cleaner and reconciling transactions is easier come tax time. Use categories and tags to track expenses by type – this helps you understand where your money’s going and identify areas to reduce spend. Review reports monthly to spot trends, catch anomalies, and stay on top of cash flow. Set up automatic payments to ensure bills, wages and subscriptions are always paid on time. Stay on top of GST and BAS by regularly exporting your records, so you’re never scrambling at lodgement time. Zeller makes all this easy, with built-in notes, digital receipts, auto-categorisation and integrations that connect your financial activity directly to your accounting software. So, which account is right for your business? The best business account depends on your priorities, but if you're an Australian business looking for a modern, mobile-first, all-in-one platform that’s free to use, integrates with your tools, and helps you manage everything from invoicing to spending, Zeller offers a strong alternative to the big-4 Australian banks. A Zeller Business Transaction Account is fast to set up, simple to use, and purpose-built for how Aussie businesses operate.