03/09/2026
Four days at Fine Food Australia, and two topics came up more than any other: the card surcharging ban starting 1 October and 'Free' POS plans.
Operators are working through what the card surcharging ban means for their pricing, their POS setup, and their margins, and rightly so. It's a big shift for the industry.
The other conversation we kept having - 'Free' POS plans. A few operators mentioned being offered no-cost systems from other providers, then asked us to explain why we charge a software subcription and for hardware.
Easy answer: those 'free' plans are usually tied to a payment processor, and the transaction fees add up fast, especially as sales grow. You pay off your hardware in year one, then keep paying for it over and over again.
A flat monthly rate and paying for your hardware up front means you know exactly what you're paying, no matter how big a month you have.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the stand this week. If the surcharge ban is raising questions for your venue, give us a call.
๐ 1300 784 666
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