No Cost EFTPOS Australia – Keep 100% of Your Sales With Zero Merchant Fees

Australian businesses processing card payments through traditional merchant accounts pay between $1,920 and $3,600 per year in fees — for nothing in return. No cost EFTPOS eliminates that entirely. The terminal automatically calculates a small, compliant surcharge (typically 1.2%–1.6%), displays it to the customer before they tap, and the business receives 100% of the sale amount. Zero fees. Zero rental. Zero setup cost.

APS Business provides no cost EFTPOS across Australia with $0 upfront, no lock-in contracts, and full compliance with Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) surcharging rules. Whether you run a café in Melbourne, a salon in Brisbane, or a market stall in Perth, this model is designed to return every dollar of your card revenue directly to you.

According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, card surcharging has been permitted in Australia since 2003, with rules tightened in 2016 to ensure merchants can only recover actual costs — not profit from surcharges.

What Is No Cost EFTPOS and How Does It Actually Work?

No cost EFTPOS works by automatically passing the cost of card acceptance to the customer as a transparent surcharge — so the merchant pays nothing. The system is built into the terminal itself and requires no manual input from the business owner.

Here is the process in simple terms:

1. Customer presents their card — the terminal reads whether it is eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex.
2. Terminal calculates the surcharge — typically between 1.2% and 1.6%, depending on card type.
3. Surcharge is displayed on screen — the customer sees the exact amount added before they confirm payment.
4. Customer taps, inserts, or swipes — payment is processed and confirmed.
5. Business receives 100% of the sale amount — the surcharge covers the cost of processing.

This is not a hidden fee. Every customer sees the surcharge before they confirm the transaction. The approach is fully transparent and fully compliant with RBA regulations, which require surcharges to reflect only the actual cost of acceptance — not an inflated margin.

A real-world example: a plumber processing a $450 job charges the customer $457.20 (a 1.6% surcharge). The plumber receives $450 into their account. The $7.20 covers the terminal processing cost. The plumber pays nothing.

What Does a No Cost EFTPOS Setup Include?

A no cost EFTPOS setup through APS Business includes every component a business needs to start accepting card payments — with no fees at any stage.

Here is exactly what is included:

• $0 upfront cost — no purchase price for the terminal
• $0 terminal rental — no monthly hardware fee
• $0 setup fees — no installation or onboarding charge
• No lock-in contracts — leave at any time with no penalty
• No exit fees — full flexibility if your circumstances change
• No chargeback fees — disputes are managed without passing costs to you

Accepted payment types include:

• Visa and Mastercard (credit and debit)
• eftpos (Australian debit network)
• American Express
• Apple Pay and Google Pay (NFC contactless)
• Afterpay and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions

Setup is plug-and-play. The terminal arrives pre-configured. Most businesses are processing payments within minutes of receiving the device — no technician required, no complex POS reconfiguration needed to get started.

How Much Does No Cost EFTPOS Save Australian Businesses?

The savings are immediate and ongoing — a business processing $10,000 per month in card payments saves $1,920 or more per year by switching to a no cost EFTPOS model.

Here is the comparison in concrete numbers:

Those numbers represent real cash that stays in the business. For a café owner turning over $30,000 per month in card payments at a 1.6% merchant rate, the saving exceeds $5,760 per year — simply by switching to a no cost model.

The surcharge is averaged across card types for simplicity. Rather than charging different rates for eftpos (typically 0.5%), Visa (typically 0.9%), and Amex (typically 1.6%), many no cost terminals apply a single blended rate — usually around 1.3%–1.6% — that covers all card types without the business needing to manage multiple rate schedules.

APS Business structures these rates to ensure merchants remain compliant with RBA rules while maximising the simplicity of the solution.

Is No Cost EFTPOS Right for Your Business?

No cost EFTPOS suits the majority of Australian small businesses — but the right model depends on your turnover, customer base, and industry.

Here are the business types where no cost EFTPOS delivers the strongest results:

• Hospitality and cafés — high transaction volume, customers accustomed to surcharges
• Restaurants and takeaway — easy to display surcharge on printed menus and at point of sale
• Retail stores — particularly where average transaction value is above $20
• Health clinics and allied health — clients expect professional payment systems; surcharges are common
• Hair salons and beauty businesses — appointment-based model with predictable transaction values
• Tradespeople and mobile service providers — terminal portability is essential; no cost model eliminates admin
• Market stalls and outdoor vendors — battery-powered terminals work without fixed internet

Minimum turnover consideration: Most no cost EFTPOS plans work best for businesses processing at least $10,000 per month in card payments. Below that threshold, volume may be too low to justify the administrative side of surcharge compliance. For businesses below this level, a low-cost blended rate plan may be more practical.

Not every business should apply a surcharge. In some premium retail environments, absorbing a competitive low rate can be a better customer experience decision. APS Business will recommend the right model for your situation — not the most profitable one for the provider.

Surcharging, Compliance, and the Proposed RBA Changes in 2026

Australian surcharging rules are set by the Reserve Bank of Australia, and merchants are legally permitted to pass on the actual cost of card acceptance — provided the surcharge does not exceed that cost.

The current framework, in place since 2016, allows surcharging on all card types. Merchants must not profit from surcharges — the charge must reflect only what the card network and acquirer cost the business. No cost EFTPOS terminals from APS Business calculate this automatically, keeping every transaction within RBA guidelines without any manual input from the merchant.

The 2026 proposed changes: The RBA has proposed banning surcharges on eftpos, Visa, and Mastercard transactions from 1 July 2026. If enacted, this would mean businesses using a surcharge model would need to transition to absorbing costs directly. The proposal does not currently cover Amex.

What this means in practice:

• Businesses on no cost EFTPOS would need to absorb a merchant rate from 1 July 2026 (if the ban proceeds)
• The competitive rate environment means low-cost blended options would likely be available from around 1.0%–1.3%
• The change is not yet legislated — it remains a proposal under RBA review

APS Business is committed to guiding every client through this transition. No client will be left on an outdated or non-compliant plan. If the ban proceeds, clients will be moved to the most competitive low-cost rate available — with full transparency and no lock-in penalties.

The key message: act now to eliminate merchant fees while the no cost model is fully available, and partner with a provider who will manage the 2026 transition for you.

Terminal Features – Battery, Connectivity, Settlement, and POS Integration

The terminals provided through APS Business are commercial-grade, portable, and built for the demands of Australian small businesses across every industry.

Hardware and connectivity:

• Battery-powered — operate tableside, at markets, on job sites, or anywhere without a fixed power point
• WiFi and SIM connectivity — process payments over WiFi or a mobile data connection
• NFC, chip, tap, and swipe — all payment methods supported
• Compact and lightweight — easy to carry, pass to customers, or mount at a fixed counter

Processing and settlement:

• Same-day and next-business-day settlement — funds move to your nominated bank account quickly
• Automated surcharge calculation — no manual input required; the terminal handles every calculation
• Refund processing — when a refund is issued on a surcharged transaction, the surcharge component is also reversed automatically, ensuring the customer receives the full amount back
• Fraud protection — built-in security protocols on every transaction

POS integration:

• Compatible with 450+ POS systems — including Lightspeed, Square, Kounta (Abacus), Hike, and others
• Direct POS connectivity means sales data flows through your existing system without duplication
• No need to replace your current POS to benefit from no cost EFTPOS

Afterpay and BNPL: The terminal supports Buy Now Pay Later solutions, giving customers a flexible payment option without the business needing a separate device or application process.

No Cost EFTPOS vs Low Cost EFTPOS – Which One Suits You?

No cost and low cost EFTPOS are both legitimate, competitive alternatives to traditional merchant accounts — the right choice depends on your business model and customer expectations.

When to choose no cost EFTPOS: A tradie processing $15,000/month in card payments saves approximately $2,400/year. Customers in trade and service industries generally accept surcharges as standard. A market stall operator with no fixed overheads benefits most from paying nothing to process payments.

When to choose low cost EFTPOS: A high-end boutique retailer processing $80,000/month may prefer to absorb a 1.1% rate ($880/month) to avoid surcharge conversations at the counter. At that volume, a competitive blended rate is still far cheaper than a traditional merchant account.

APS Business offers both models. A payment specialist will review your specific situation and recommend the option that keeps the most money in your business.

How to Get Started With APS Business Today

Getting set up with no cost EFTPOS through APS Business takes less than 2 minutes to initiate and the terminal is typically ready to use within days.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit aps.business — complete the short enquiry form with your business name and contact details.
2. A payment specialist contacts you — usually within one business day — to understand your business type, monthly volume, and current payment setup.
3. A tailored solution is recommended — no cost, low cost, or a hybrid depending on what suits your business best.
4. Terminal is dispatched and configured — arrives pre-set and ready to process payments out of the box.
5. You start keeping 100% of your sales — with ongoing support from the APS Business team whenever you need it.

There is no obligation to proceed after the initial conversation. No lock-in contracts. No exit fees if you ever choose to leave.

APS Business also provides ongoing compliance monitoring — so if the RBA's proposed 2026 changes do come into effect, your account is reviewed and transitioned automatically. You will never be left operating on a non-compliant plan.

Start Keeping 100% of Your Sales Today

Australian businesses lose thousands of dollars every year paying merchant fees that a no cost EFTPOS solution eliminates entirely. With APS Business, you get a $0 setup, $0 terminal rental, no lock-in contracts, full RBA compliance, and a payment specialist who will guide you through the 2026 regulatory changes — whatever they look like.

The process takes less than 2 minutes to start. There is no obligation and no cost to enquire.

Visit aps.business today and find out exactly how much your business could save.