{"title":"APS Payment Readiness Tool — Articles","description":"Surcharge-ban resources for Australian SMBs","source":"https://readiness.aps.business","generated":"2026-05-14T03:17:42.378Z","count":8,"posts":[{"slug":"interchange-fee-changes-explained","title":"Interchange fees explained — and what's changing in October 2026","description":"What interchange fees are, who pays them, why the RBA is cutting them, and what the October 2026 changes mean for AU merchants.","excerpt":"Interchange fees are the wholesale cost of card processing. They're dropping in October 2026. Here's what that actually means for what you pay.","category":"explainer","readingTime":"6 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/interchange-fee-changes-explained","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/interchange-fee-changes-explained","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared"]},{"slug":"bookkeepers-october-2026-client-guide","title":"Bookkeepers: what your clients need to know about October 2026","description":"A reference for AU bookkeepers and accountants — the October 2026 surcharge ban changes, what to tell clients, and how to help them prepare.","excerpt":"If you're a bookkeeper or accountant serving AU SMBs, here's the briefing pack for the October 2026 surcharge ban — what changes, what to advise, and red flags to look for.","category":"partner","readingTime":"6 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/bookkeepers-october-2026-client-guide","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/bookkeepers-october-2026-client-guide","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/interchange-fee-changes-explained"]},{"slug":"hair-beauty-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","title":"Hair & beauty: surcharge ban survival guide for salons and clinics","description":"Hair salons, beauty clinics, nail bars — what the October 2026 surcharge ban means for service-based businesses with appointment-based revenue.","excerpt":"Service-based businesses face a different shape of the surcharge ban problem. Here's the hair, beauty, and clinic-specific approach.","category":"industry-guide","readingTime":"5 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/hair-beauty-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/hair-beauty-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/retail-surcharge-ban-survival-guide"]},{"slug":"retail-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","title":"Retail merchants: surcharge ban survival guide","description":"Boutique retail, specialty stores, and chains — what the October 2026 surcharge ban means for retail and how to prepare.","excerpt":"Retail-specific playbook for the October 2026 surcharge ban. Margin protection, pricing tactics, and what to negotiate with your provider.","category":"industry-guide","readingTime":"6 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/retail-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/retail-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared"]},{"slug":"hospitality-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","title":"Hospitality merchants: surcharge ban survival guide","description":"Cafés, pubs, restaurants — the October 2026 surcharge ban hits hospitality hardest. Here's what to do.","excerpt":"High volume, thin margins, and a surcharge ban hitting in 5 months. Here's the hospitality-specific playbook for the October 2026 RBA changes.","category":"industry-guide","readingTime":"7 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/hospitality-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/hospitality-surcharge-ban-survival-guide","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared"]},{"slug":"tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared","title":"Tyro vs Square vs APS vs Zeller — 2026 EFTPOS rates compared","description":"Side-by-side comparison of Australia's biggest payment processors. See which is cheapest for your monthly volume in 2026.","excerpt":"Tyro, Square, Zeller, APS, Stripe — all advertise different headline rates. Here's how they actually compare for typical AU SMB volumes in 2026.","category":"comparison","readingTime":"8 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/how-much-card-fees-cost-2026","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained"]},{"slug":"how-much-card-fees-cost-2026","title":"How much will absorbing card fees cost your business in 2026?","description":"After the October 2026 surcharge ban, you'll absorb card processing costs you currently pass to customers. Here's how to estimate the dollar impact.","excerpt":"Once surcharges are banned in October 2026, every dollar of card-processing cost comes out of your margin. Here's how to estimate the bite.","category":"explainer","readingTime":"5 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/how-much-card-fees-cost-2026","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/how-much-card-fees-cost-2026","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/tyro-vs-square-vs-aps-rates-compared"]},{"slug":"october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","title":"The October 2026 RBA surcharge ban, explained for Australian businesses","description":"From October 1, 2026, AU merchants can no longer surcharge eftpos, Visa, or Mastercard payments. Here's what changes, what it costs, and what to do.","excerpt":"From October 1, 2026, you can no longer pass card processing fees to your customers via a surcharge. Here's exactly what changes and how to prepare.","category":"explainer","readingTime":"6 min","publishedAt":"2026-04-28","url":"https://readiness.aps.business/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","markdownUrl":"https://readiness.aps.business/api/blog/october-2026-surcharge-ban-explained","related":["https://readiness.aps.business/blog/how-much-card-fees-cost-2026","https://readiness.aps.business/blog/interchange-fee-changes-explained"]}]}