• Business Growth & Optimisation

10 Reasons Why You Should Switch to a Zeller Transaction Account

5 min. read23.10.2023
By Team Zeller

Gone are the days when managing your money was synonymous with paperwork, bank tellers, and hidden fees. Enter the new age of business finance with Zeller.

In the same way that video streaming platforms replaced movie rental shops, online-only financial service solutions are rapidly becoming the preferred alternative to traditional, outdated business banks. While the idea of perusing aisles of dusty DVDs may fill us with a warm nostalgia, no one is mourning the loss of queuing at the bank. Zeller is one such digital financial institution tailored to Australian businesses. From securely storing and saving your funds to paying employees, invoices and bills, Zeller’s free Transaction Account has everything you’ve come to expect from a traditional bank account, but with less fuss, and more features designed with the unique needs of business owners in mind. If you’re tired of inefficient processes, paperwork, and complex fee schedules, here’s ten reasons why you should make the switch to a Zeller Transaction Account today.

1. It takes less than 6 minutes to sign up.

If you’re 18 years or older, have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or are a Sole Trader, you’ll be able to sign up in a matter of minutes. The process to sign up for a Zeller Account is simple, and done entirely online. All you’ll need is a current passport or Australian drivers’ licence. Once your identity has been verified, you’ll be able to create your own Zeller Transaction Account – with a BSB and account number – as well as your Zeller Dashboard, where you can access and manage all other Zeller services. For more complex business types such as a trust or company, our team may reach out to you to request some additional information.

2. It’s free.

Once your Transaction Account is up and running, there are no monthly fees, and no lock-in contracts. You will only ever pay a fee if you choose to start accepting payments via Zeller EFTPOS Terminal (1.4% per in-person payment, or 1.7% for over-the-phone payments) and/or Zeller Invoices (1.7% + $0.25 per transaction). What’s the catch? There isn’t one. Read more about our transparent pricing here.

3. Create unlimited debit cards and sub-accounts.

Zeller Transaction Account is designed to be configured to your unique business needs. You can create as many sub-accounts and Zeller Debit Cards as you like, at no additional cost. You may choose to open one sub-account for storing operating funds, one for tax savings, and one for profits for example. Or, if your team has to regularly pay for expenses, you might create sub-accounts for each member of staff, and then give them each a Zeller Debit Card.

Rather than dealing with petty cash or expense claims, Zeller Debit Cards – which can be physical or virtual – take the hassle out of team expenses, while also giving you complete control. Unlike with traditional banks, Zeller cardholders are not required to be signatories on the account, which means only you, as the business owner, will have admin access to your Zeller Transaction Account.

4. See your cash position at a glance with visual charts and quick-access insights.

From your Zeller Dashboard, you can access a real-time, single-page overview of your business financial position. A simple chart tracks your end-of-day balance over the last 90 days, allowing you to quickly identify spending patterns and make informed business decisions such as rostering, inventory orders or the best time to push marketing. On the same page, you will find a preview of your most recent transactions, as well as the cash position of all your sub-accounts and debit cards.

5. Pay bills with BPAY.

BPAY is an easy and secure way to manage and pay bills online. From your Zeller Transaction Account, you can assign contacts to bills paid with BPAY to track expenses over time, as well as reconcile bill payments with BPAY through Zeller and Xero Bank Feeds. Unlike many banks and other financial institutions, BPAY with Zeller is entirely free to use. Plus you benefit from the combined security of BPAY and Zeller to give you extra peace of mind.

6. Attach invoices, receipts and notes to transactions.

Get the full picture when it comes time to do your taxes, reconcile your expenses, or find proof of purchase, thanks to Zeller’s handy feature that lets you attach invoices, receipts or notes to your transactions. Rather than storing payment records or important information relating to transactions in a folder somewhere, store them right alongside the transactions themselves where they can be accessed from anywhere you have an internet connection. It will keep you organised, reduce paper (better for the environment!), and save you time in the long run.

7. Assign contacts and customers to each transaction.

Zeller Contact Directory lets you store business and personal details, and assign them to relevant transactions. Whether you’re transferring money, taking a payment, searching for a previous transaction or comparing how much you spend at various businesses, Zeller makes it easy to identify payers or payees. Simply select a contact to view your shared transaction history or direct a transfer.

8. Send invoices and receive online payments.

Every Transaction Account holder has access to Zeller’s all-in-one invoicing solution. From Zeller Dashboard, you can choose to create or import a library of items, build customised invoices and send them immediately or at a later scheduled date via email or SMS. Your customers can then pay you securely via an online link using their debit or credit card – no need for bank details means you get paid faster. You can then track and report the payment status of your invoices or send automated reminders to make sure nothing goes unpaid.

9. Streamline your accounting with Xero.

Whether you use Xero for invoicing, bookkeeping or both, Zeller’s integration with Xero keeps things simple. By connecting Zeller online payments to your Xero invoices, customers can pay in a click and you can receive your funds directly into your Zeller Transaction Account. Plus, you can sync your Zeller transaction and settlement data with Xero Bank Feeds making end-of-month reconciliation a breeze.

10. Access your business finances on the go with Zeller App.

Access your business finances from a tablet or smartphone with Zeller’s top-rated app. From tracking sales and expenses to creating new accounts, issuing cards, and configuring account settings, Zeller’s full suite of tools and features is available from the palm of your hand. We understand that business owners are time-poor, which is exactly why we’ve carefully designed this app to allow you to manage all your finances on the go, simply and securely.

Ready to try Zeller for yourself?

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If you’re an existing Zeller customer, simply log into your Zeller Account to create a new, free Transaction Account today. If you are not yet using Zeller, sign up for free here and start growing your business with Zeller’s suite of financial tools.

Swap your Business Bank for a Zeller Transaction Account

Discover a better way to store and spend business funds. Zeller Transaction Account is a powerful business transaction account that makes keeping on top  of your spending, transactions, payments, settlements and invoices, and making managing your business financial health simple and straightforward. When you sign up for Zeller, you get a free Zeller Transaction Account instantly  — there’s no paperwork or need to visit a bank. Some business bank accounts are outdated. Many are simply a secure place to store funds. With Zeller Transaction Account, you can replace your outdated business bank account with next-gen technology that gives you one place to see your incoming and outgoing transactions in real time, understand customer and business spending, and track payments across your entire business — right from your computer or smartphone. New enhancements make the Zeller Transaction Account the most powerful transaction account for any business stage or type. Whether you operate a start-up or a scale-up, sell face-to-face or online, or manage contractors as part of an agency, Zeller has the right financial services solution for you. Zeller Transaction Account can be used together with other Zeller products, or as a standalone Transaction Account for businesses that: need a place to settle funds to don’t have an established banking history, yet need a transaction account fast want solutions to help manage expenses across a wide range of employee or contractor types, without the fuss. Keep reading to discover how Zeller Transaction Accounts work. An all-in-one solution Zeller’s suite of products support all of your business’ financial needs. Funds accepted via Zeller Terminal are settled to your Zeller Transaction Account nightly, 365 days a year, and then instantly available to spend with your Zeller Debit Card . Plus, with your own Account Number and BSB, you can invite customers, clients and other third parties to transfer funds directly to your account when paying your business for invoices. Alternatively, Zeller Transaction Account can be used as a standalone business account to store, save and manage your funds. Meet your new Transaction Account Zeller Transaction Account is an all-in-one business account for growth-minded merchants. Complete with BSB and Account Number, it’s packed with all of the tools you need to manage, categorise and spend business funds. Instant setup Create your Zeller Transaction Account in a few simple steps online , with no lengthy paperwork or need to visit a bank branch. In fact, it’s the fastest and simplest way to sign up for a business transaction account, anywhere in the world — most business owners can be set up with a new account in under 5 minutes. You can create as many free Transaction Accounts as your business needs — whether that’s one for every business location, one for saving and another to store petty cash for employees to spend with their Zeller Debit Cards , or any other setup. No matter your business stage or type, Zeller can support the way you run your business. Real-time and unlimited transfers Outdated business banks will make you wait days to receive your funds — and even longer on weekends and public holidays. With Zeller Transaction Account, funds are transferred in real-time. Powered by the New Payments Platform, Zeller enables faster, simpler, smarter payments for every business. With your Zeller Transaction Account, you can send and receive funds in real-time for instant cash flow. All businesses need fast cash flow. Whether you're a market merchant needing their funds settled to buy fresh produce, an agency wanting to pay its contractors faster for completed work, or an online seller needing to pay a drop-shipper to release the goods so you can fulfil orders — Zeller’s nightly settlement gives you the fastest way to access your hard-earned money. Instant, fee-free spending Create and issue virtual Zeller Debit Cards, or order physical cards, online in an instant. Then, connect your card to one of your Zeller Transaction Accounts so you and your staff can spend business funds to make purchases in-store and online. Simple expense management Zeller Transaction Account is the most powerful account for modern businesses. That means you have the ability to upload receipts, add notes, categorise transactions, and assign contacts to transactions so you better understand the customers spending with your businesses as well as the businesses you’re purchasing from. Powerful business insights Real-time transaction lists and reporting, available in both Zeller Dashboard and the Zeller App (coming soon), empower you with the insights you need to run a successful business. Plus, funds settled to and withdrawn from your account are easily accessible, from wherever business takes you. Xero Bank Feeds integration Rely on Zeller’s up-to-the-minute integration with Xero bank feeds to reduce the admin load of manual transaction uploads and reconciliations. When funds are settled to your Zeller Transaction Account, transaction information appears in your Xero organisation instantly. Secure access can be granted to third parties like your bookkeeper or accountant, ensuring you’re working as efficiently as possible from the exact same data. Get started today Zeller Transaction Account gives you complete oversight of your finances to help you make smarter business decisions. Having the ability to see your true financial position at any point in time enables you to identify opportunities for business growth and see where savings could be made. Open your free Zeller Transaction Account online in minutes today.

Replace your Outdated Business Bank with Zeller

Everything you'd expect from a business account — and more. As a business owner, you want to focus on growing your business. Whether your goal is to scale up, increase your profits, or explore new opportunities — our growing range of financial services products enable you to take that next step. We have expanded our product suite to include three new, powerful products that will help more Australian businesses — like yours — to grow. Zeller Debit Card New and improved Zeller Transaction Account Zeller App As with all Zeller products, these new offerings work just as well together as they do with your existing solutions. When used in conjunction with Zeller Terminal, they give you a complete view of your incomings and outgoings — enabling you to get a better handle of your business cash flow. Yet, as part of the exciting evolution of Zeller, you can also opt to use each of these products as a standalone replacement for your current business bank account . Zeller is a new and powerful replacement for your business accounts and cards, enabling you to store, save and spend your money better. Keep reading to learn more about how Zeller is reimagining business banking by developing innovative products to help you run your business better — with no lock-in contracts, monthly fees or need to visit a bank. Reimagining business banking for Australian businesses In 2021, over 3 in 5 Australian business owners reported that they would prefer to manage their business finances through a non-big 4 bank. Tired of the lengthy set-up processes and paperwork, slow settlement, hidden account fees and fine print, it was clear that business owners desired a powerful new alternative. Zeller launched that same year to offer a smarter alternative to outdated business banking solutions serving Australia’s thriving business ecosystem — supporting merchants to grow their cash flow and profitability as they emerged from the pandemic with products that enable them to access their funds faster, gain valuable business insights, manage expenses more efficiently, and sell to their customers in more locations. Now we’ve expanded Zeller’s suite of products to offer a complete financial services solution that’s everything you'd expect from a business bank, but better. The release of these new products marks an important milestone for Zeller in becoming a financial services provider that meets all of your business financial needs — from accepting payments to managing your finances, paying employees and bills, tracking your expenses, reporting on business growth, streamlining bookkeeping and more. With Zeller, you can say goodbye to your outdated business bank. No matter what your financial services needs are, we are developing the solutions to power them — with no monthly fees, no paperwork, no need to visit a branch, and no lock-in contracts. Meet Zeller’s suite of new, powerful financial products Use them all or pick one to plug into your existing tech stack, Zeller offers a suite of financial services products to power up your business — including EFTPOS payments and invoices, accounts and cards, with new solutions for expense management coming soon. Zeller Transaction Account When you sign up for your Zeller Account, you get a free, powerful Zeller Transaction Account that you can use to replace your traditional business bank. Or, simply sign up for your free Zeller Transaction Account and use it without any other Zeller products. It’s the most powerful business Transaction Account for any business stage or type — complete with your own BSB and Account Number. Once set up, you can create as many additional accounts as you like. Zeller Transaction Account comes with features to see a full overview of all of your payments, transactions, expenses, spending and invoices across your top suppliers and customers, and manage expenses in real-time with ease. You can transfer funds to and from your Zeller Transaction Account instantly, then rack all your incomings and outgoings with up-to-the-minute Xero Bank Feeds, to streamline reconciliation. Using your Zeller Transaction Account in conjunction with Zeller Termina l gives you the fastest possible access to your funds, so you can put your money to use. Funds accepted via Zeller Terminal are settled to Zeller Transaction Account nightly, 365 days a year. Zeller Debit Card As you grow your business, you’ll need to purchase stock; pay bills, suppliers and employees; and keep track of it all so your budget is under control. Zeller Debit Card , which replaces Zeller Mastercard, is linked to your free Zeller Transaction Account so you can spend funds as soon as they settle to your account. With Zeller, you can create unlimited, free virtual cards and assign cards to employees in seconds so they can make business purchases in-store and online. Then, add notes and upload receipts so you know where your money is going. If your card ever goes missing, it’s simple to lock or cancel the card in an instant via Zeller Dashboard or Zeller App. Whether it’s a round of coffee for staff, or your business’ electricity, you can pay for it with Zeller Debit Card — plus, you’ll get access to exclusive cardholder benefits and rewards with every dollar you spend. Purchases made in Australia are always fee-free, and there are no annual card fees. Zeller App The Zeller App is the only app you need to manage your accounts and cards, EFTPOS and payments, invoicing and expense management, and more. Whether you operate a startup or a scale-up, you can run all of your business finances from your mobile phone, no matter where you are in the world. With Zeller App , you can: transfer funds fast between accounts order and issue, activate and cancel Zeller Debit Cards for you and your team view sales reports view your entire transaction list and details for all your Zeller Transaction Accounts, Zeller Debit Cards and funds settled from Zeller Terminal add notes to your transactions and more. Zeller App is available and free to download from Apple’s App Store  and Google Play . Zeller Terminal Whether you’re accepting payments in-store, on the go or over the phone, Zeller Terminal ensures customers are able to pay for your goods or services quickly and securely. When you’re just starting out, having an EFTPOS machine helps establish legitimacy with customers and affords incredible efficiencies; you don’t want to be sending customers to an ATM or requesting bank transfers. When you’re operating a busy business, an EFTPOS machine that processes customer payments in seconds helps to cut down queues and increase customer satisfaction — ensuring their final touchpoint with your business is a positive one. Make use of intelligent functionality such as: integrations with 600+ point-of-sale systems to streamline payments custom surcharging to pass on your cost of acceptance in full tipping prompts to grow your tips by 30% customisable receipts for additional business branding and much more. With 99.999% uptime and the option to add a Zeller SIM Card so you can process payments when Wi-Fi or personal hotspot isn’t available, Zeller Terminal ensures you’re always ready to sell. In-person payments cost just 1.4% per tapped, dipped or swiped transaction, while over-the-phone payments cost 1.7% to reflect the additional security measures required to keep your business safe. If your business processes over $250K in card payments per year, you may be eligible for a custom rate. Funds accepted via Zeller Terminal are settled to your Zeller Transaction Account overnight, 365 days a year, and available to spend using your Zeller Debit Card the very next day. Zeller Terminal comes in black and white, and is available from Zeller Shop , with free express shipping and same-day dispatch. There are no lock-in contracts, terminal rental fees or hidden charges. Zeller Dashboard Having the ability to see, track and report on your incomings and outgoings is key to running a successful business. Zeller Dashboard provides one convenient location to see your incomings and outgoing in real-time, manage your EFTPOS terminal settings, create reports, keep track of business performance and more — from wherever you are. Understanding where your money is coming from, and then being spent, is key to healthy cash flow. It also makes tax time easier and enables you to find opportunities to cut spending to support business growth. For example, using Zeller Dashboard you can instantly identify which times and days of the week your business is the quietest. With this information in hand, you can make informed decisions about whether to change your opening times, close on public holidays, reduce your staff, and much more. Zeller Contact Directory works hand in hand with Zeller Dashboard, allowing you to better understand the customers who shop with you and get valuable insights about the businesses you spend with. This powerful functionality gives you one place to see every EFTPOS payment, transaction and account transfer processed with an individual or another business — and it’s included free. Make the switch today Whether your business is big or small, Zeller products can help you run more efficiently and meet your next growth milestone. Plus, all Zeller merchants get free access to live support in under five minutes. Our team of experts is on hand to help you with any queries you may have, and are available via phone call or text, email, and social media. Sign up for your free Zeller Account today in under five minutes to get started, or speak to Zeller Sales about a custom package designed to suit your business needs.

3 Accounts Every Business Owner Should Have

Each account is a financial tool with an important role to play. Money management is a skill that can take time to master. However, no business owner can afford to let this one slip through the cracks. Keeping a close eye on your incomings and outgoings from the outset is critical to keeping doors open. One of the simplest and most effective techniques to effectively manage your money is to set up three separate accounts: operating account tax account profit account. Each account has its own purpose. By keeping your funds in separate accounts, you will always have enough money on hand to carry you through quieter periods, take care of your tax obligations, or spend in case of emergencies. When you sign up for Zeller, you get a free Zeller Transaction Account . Setting up multiple Zeller Transaction Accounts is simple, and can be done in seconds. What is a business bank account? A business bank account is a facility that protects a business’s capital while enabling it to spend its funds. You’ll use a business account to receive payments from customers, fulfill invoices, track business expenses, and generally keep your accountant happy. A business bank account is not a personal account. For tax and bookkeeping purposes, banks, accountants and payments providers strongly recommend that merchants separate personal from business funds in separate accounts. To open a business account, business owners used to need to gather their documentation together, visit a bank branch in person to meet with a representative, and then send various forms via fax, postal or electronic mail. Eventually, you’d receive a card and checkbook in the mail. Instead, you can sign up for a free Zeller Transaction Account in minutes. A  Zeller Terminal can be purchased from the online shop , with free express shipping and same-day dispatch. Funds accepted via Zeller Terminal will be available in your Zeller Transaction Account for spending, the very next day, or you can simply use Zeller as your primary financial services provider without taking payments through Zeller Terminal. When comparing business accounts, it’s important to spend time on working out what’s important to you and which features your business needs. Read our blog about opening your first business account. 3 important accounts to open There are three basic business accounts you should consider opening. Of course, there are more sophisticated ways of managing your funds; you could be pouring over your budget every day. However, for simple and straightforward money management, keep reading. Zeller merchants can set up multiple sub-accounts to tailor their funds management to fit their unique business set-up. Not only does this give you a better overview of your business's finances, it also gives you the ability to more easily manage your money — with quick and seamless transactions between your main and sub-accounts. Here are the three accounts every small business owner needs. 1. Operating account The first account you’ll need is your operating account. Your operating account is where you run the day-to-day operations of your business. It’s where you: receive your income pay your bill pay your wages and so much more. Basically, all your day-to-day cash inflows and outflows go through this account. Most businesses should have one of these accounts already. For most Zeller merchants, this will be your Zeller Transaction Account . Funds are collected from your Zeller Terminal , settled and cleared into your Zeller Transaction Account overnight — so they’re available for spending the very next day. It’s the fasted way to get access to your takings and speed up your cash flow. Sign up for Zeller and you could have your Business Transaction Account in less than five minutes. Once your account is set up, stop using cash and do all your transactions electronically. If you’re paying suppliers in cash, it’s easy to lose track of the payment. If you pay electronically, you can always find a record of the transaction — ensuring you don’t miss out on claiming GST (if you are registered for it), or other tax deductions. Bigger businesses may choose to use a traditional bank for their operating account, because they offer overdraft facilities (subject to approval). These banks likely charge a monthly fee for the service. 2. Tax account The second account that you’ll need is your tax account. Your tax account is where you start putting money aside for tax. By separating it from your operating account, you will be less likely to spend it. It's easy to accumulate funds in your account, forgetting that at some point down the line there's tax to pay. Entrepreneurs and business are legally obliged to pay a number of different taxes, such as sales tax, trade tax, income tax, and wage tax. When you first start trading, you’re not paying tax on your earnings. But the year after you lodge your first tax return in net profit, you get a tax bill for that year — plus all of a sudden you also have to pay PAYG installments. Depending on which type of tax you pay, you will be required to make specific quarterly or monthly payments in advance to tax authorities. These advance payments help your business to budget and plan ahead, by spreading the business’s tax burden over the entire year. If you set aside money in a sub-account on a regular basis, it can help to make sure that you have sufficient financial resources available to pay your taxes on time. Each week or each month, start to put money aside money that will cover your obligations such as: Good and Services Tax (GST) Pay As You Go Tax (PAYG) superannuation income tax, and so on. 3. Profit Account Finally, the third account you’ll need is a profit account. This is where you put money aside for the profits of your business. So, as your business makes a profit, simply put a portion of that money aside. Again, if you leave it in your operating account, it’s far easier to spend. But if you put it aside in your profit account, it will be available when you want to make any changes in the business. This could be things like: paying out dividends purchasing new tools or assets for your business reinvest in the growth of your business giving all your staff a bonus investing in additional COVID-safe measures. The beauty of starting to manage your money this way is that you’ll be able to start choosing where you spend your accumulating profits, rather than your takings being simply absorbed in the day-to-day operations. Set these three accounts up today and use them frequently — you’ll soon find that you’ll have the money that you’ll need to scale your business. Once your business grows, it’s a good idea to look for a high-interest business savings account. This will let you earn interest on extra funds that you don’t need right now; effectively, it’s another revenue stream as it allows you to make money on business assets. Introducing smarter business banking With Zeller, you can accept payments from customers, track spending and manage your business's finances online. It’s an all-in-one solution for merchants looking for the most straightforward way to start or grow their business — no hidden fees or lock-in contracts required. In Zeller Dashboard , you can see: details of every sale the number and value of sales your business has made at any point on time where business funds have been spent account totals and so much more. By putting valuable insights at your fingertips, we hope to enable Zeller merchants to be able to make important business decisions with ease. Sign up to the Zeller Business Blog for more business tips delivered straight to your inbox. Please note this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute advice.

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