Published rates, negotiated rates, and the actual cost difference — explained plainly for Australian business owners.
The cheapest EFTPOS option for most Australian businesses is a negotiated rate below the published flat rates. UrPay offers rates from 1.3% with no monthly fee and no lock-in contract — lower than Zeller's 1.4% flat rate and well below Square's 1.6%. For businesses that prefer a fixed published rate with no negotiation, Zeller charges 1.4% flat with a free terminal.
There are two types of EFTPOS pricing in Australia: published flat rates (Square, Zeller) and negotiated rates (Tyro, UrPay). Understanding the difference is the starting point for finding the cheapest option for your business.
| Provider | Rate | Monthly fee | Lock-in | UrPay advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 1.60% flat | $0 | None | 0.5% cheaper per transaction |
| Zeller | 1.40% flat | $0 | None | 0.3% cheaper per transaction |
| Tyro | From ~1.40% | ~$29/mo | 12 months typical | No terminal fee, no lock-in |
| UrPay | From 1.3% | $0 | None | Negotiated — often lower |
A 0.3% rate difference sounds small. At scale, it adds up quickly.
| Monthly GTV | Square (1.6%) | Zeller (1.4%) | UrPay (from 1.3%) | Annual saving vs Square |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $800/mo | $700/mo | from $650/mo | from $1,800/yr |
| $100,000 | $1,600/mo | $1,400/mo | from $1,300/mo | from $3,600/yr |
| $200,000 | $3,200/mo | $2,800/mo | from $2,600/mo | from $7,200/yr |
| $500,000 | $8,000/mo | $7,000/mo | from $6,500/mo | from $18,000/yr |
UrPay rate confirmed per business on application — from 1.3% based on volume, industry, and transaction profile. Businesses with higher volumes and stable transaction profiles often qualify for the lowest available rate.
The headline rate is not the only cost. Consider:
No. Rate and service quality are separate. UrPay's lower rates are possible because of its acquirer-agnostic structure — negotiating across multiple acquirers rather than being locked to one. Service quality (support, uptime, settlement speed) is independent of the rate charged.
Yes — with providers that use negotiated pricing (Tyro and UrPay). Square and Zeller use fixed published rates with no negotiation. If you process more than $50,000/month in card payments, requesting a negotiated rate from UrPay almost always results in a lower rate than any published flat rate.
For a small business processing under $30,000/month, Zeller's 1.4% flat rate with a free terminal and no monthly fee is a strong starting point. For businesses above $50,000/month, UrPay's negotiated rates from 1.3% with no terminal fee and no lock-in typically represent a lower total cost.
From 1 October 2026, merchants cannot add surcharges to card transactions. Businesses currently recovering EFTPOS costs via surcharging will absorb those fees directly. This makes your transaction rate the critical lever — a business paying 1.6% with Square that was previously surcharing now has 1.6% as a direct P&L cost. Switching to a lower negotiated rate before October reduces that direct impact.
The calculator shows a starting rate. Your actual rate depends on volume, industry, and transaction profile — and is almost always lower than any published flat rate. Tell us about your business and we'll confirm a specific number within one business day.