Give your retail EFTPOS a boost.

When co-founders Jake Nolan and Michael Vlassis opened Woolcott Street in 2016, their goal was simple: transform men’s wardrobes and the way they shop for their attire . Many of their clients had grown tired of wandering through department stores, unable to find garments that fit well or advice they could trust. “It might be a bit of a cliché, but the majority of men don’t really like to shop,” Jake says. “If they do like to shop, fantastic – we’ve got a lot of different fabrics, and we can do a lot of different styles. But if they don’t, well, we try to make the whole process a lot more enjoyable than the typical chain-store suit purchase.” The result is a service designed around long-term relationships, understanding clients’ preferences, and delivering bespoke garments that look and feel right for each person. Over the years, Woolcott St has grown from two talented tailors into a team of seventeen, serving thousands of people across Sydney, Australia, and beyond. Tailoring a personalised experience The Woolcott St experience is, above all, personal. “It’s about having someone who cares about what’s in your wardrobe and what’s not,” Jake explains. By getting to know each client – their lifestyle, the events they attend, the image they want to project – the team ensures that every garment reflects who they are. The tailoring process starts with an initial consultation, either in the showroom or at the client’s home or office. From there, Jake and his team create an action plan based on timelines, fit, and preferences. After patterns are created and cloth selected, fittings take place four to six weeks later, with adjustments logged back into the client’s pattern to ensure consistency. An atmosphere fit for any occasion The showroom at Woolcott St adapts to suit the occasion. During the week, fittings with corporate clients feel calm and focused. On weekends, groups of groomsmen bring energy and laughter, often with a beer or whiskey in hand. “The general idea is that it’s fun, it’s helpful, and it’s a place where someone can step back from their day, relax, not feel pressured or overwhelmed, and know they can get the right advice to make the right decisions,” Jake says. Exceptional customer service woven in For Jake, exceptional customer service comes down to one thing: taking the time to understand the person in front of you. “It’s about not assuming things, asking the right questions, figuring out who they are as a person, what they’re comfortable in, and what the right options are for them,” he says. This approach means Woolcott St doesn’t just make clothes – they help clients feel confident in their choices. Many of their clients have been returning for years, becoming advocates for the business and sharing their experiences with others. This long-term approach is reflected in Woolcott St’s reputation, with 721 Google reviews averaging a perfect five stars. “We don’t want to see someone just once, make them something, and never see them again,” Jake says. “It’s not about one garment, ideally it’s about working with them for life and doing a really good job.” Cutting time from every invoice Behind the scenes, Zeller Invoices has transformed the way Woolcott St bills clients. Creating an invoice takes less than a minute, with products and client details pre-saved. “By streamlining the process, we’ve cut down the time it takes dramatically. Compared to manually making up PDF invoices, the difference is night and day,” Jake explains.  Payments also come through faster. “As a rough percentage, I’d say our invoices are paid about 50 percent faster than before, usually within 12 to 24 hours,” Jake says. Clients appreciate the convenience, too. “The easier you make things, the less barriers there are, the better the experience. Removing friction and making it simple for people to pay via a link in a text or email has been really positive.” Business spending, neatly hemmed Zeller Corporate Cards have also proved useful. Woolcott St uses different transaction accounts within Zeller Dashboard for different business activities, with corporate cards attached to several. “We give employees corporate cards with set limits for various activities, which means they don’t need to come to us to get approval each time,” Jake explains. “It makes business activity and tracking much easier." A savings account that measures up (where the big-4 don’t) Woolcott St chooses to keep its cash reserves in the Zeller Savings Account. “We use the Zeller Savings Account because it gives us a much higher interest rate compared to the big four,” Jake says. “Plus there are no fees or hoops to jump through. If the money’s in the account, it’s earning interest. Simple.”  A seamless suite of solutions  For Jake, the biggest advantage of Zeller is integration. “Having everything all in one place with Zeller – accounts, payments, invoices – really helps us as a business,” he says. “Instead of being spread across different platforms, everything’s integrated, which makes keeping track of everything so much easier.” Zeller’s support team, he adds, is also more responsive and easier to deal with than traditional banks. Stitching together what’s next Woolcott St has its sights set on becoming Australia’s number one tailoring outfit, with plans to open offices across the country. And while the business grows, Jake still finds joy in the craft itself. “When asked for his favourite suit, Jake doesn’t hesitate. “I’m a classic man myself – I don’t tend to go for things that are too loud. That said, I always find it interesting when we get to make something we haven’t before. Whether it’s different colour combinations or a rare fabric, or combining different garments into a unique outfit, those are the ones that really stand out to me.”

If you’re a business owner, who is open to the idea of embracing new technology, but haven’t yet entered the chat with artificial intelligence, this article is for you. Here, we outline the best AI tools for small business, and how you can use them to save time – and money – in your day-to-day operations. Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a staple tool for business owners who want to save time and work more efficiently. According to the Australian Government, 41% of small and medium-sized enterprises are already using it. While there are a growing number of highly sophisticated paid platforms that can do everything from automating complex workflows (think Zapier , Make , and Power Automate ) to integrating AI agents to respond to social comments or customer queries ( Manychat , Tidio , and Intercom ), and automate inventory operations ( Zoho and Cin7 ), not every business needs these advanced tools. AI for small businesses with fewer resources and smaller budgets looks a little different. Read on to discover the best free AI tools and how best to use them for your small business.  But first, what is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence – like understanding language, recognising images, or making decisions. By analysing large amounts of data and learning from patterns, AI tools can generate insights, create content, and improve their performance over time. What are AI tools? AI tools are applications that use artificial intelligence to carry out specific tasks – such as writing text, designing images, analysing data, or answering questions. They take the complex capabilities of AI and package them into easy-to-use software that anyone can access, often for free or at a low cost. Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Canva AI, are three such tools, which we will discuss in more detail below. The best AI tools for small businesses are those that simplify and reduce the time spent on essential but time-consuming tasks – like copywriting, marketing, branding, customer service, or design – freeing you up to focus on the core aspects of your business. Top three AI tools for small businesses: 1. Perplexity What is Perplexity? Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search and answer engine that combines natural language understanding with real-time web research. It retrieves factual information with citations for its answers, and continuously updates from the internet, providing current and trustworthy data. What it’s great for: doing research and generating concise, factual answers. What it’s not great for: creative content generation or conversational dialogue.  How to use Perplexity AI for small businesses 2. ChatGPT  What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that understands and generates human-like text by analysing language patterns from vast amounts of data, enabling it to deliver natural, helpful responses. It can answer questions, write and edit content, brainstorm ideas, and simplify complex topics.  What it’s great for: creative and conversational tasks like writing, brainstorming, and coding. What it’s not great for: doing research, as it can produce inaccurate or outdated information. How to use ChatGPT for small businesses 3. Canva AI What is Canva AI? Canva AI is an artificial intelligence tool built into Canva that helps users quickly create professional-looking designs. It can generate images, illustrations, social media graphics, templates, and other visual content from simple prompts, saving time and making design accessible even for non-designers. What it’s great for: creating professional-looking, simple designs and visuals for digital use. What it’s not great for: creating highly customised or complex designs, or anything that will be used for large-format printing. How to use Canva AI for small businesses A word of warning when using AI for small businesses While AI tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Canva AI can save time and inspire creative ideas, they aren’t perfect. Always double-check facts, verify sources, and review content for accuracy before using it to make business decisions. Similarly, AI-generated designs can be great, but the imagery may not always be 100% accurate – it’s not unusual for a hand to have an extra finger, or for objects to be floating in midair! So ensure you always inspect the images closely before using them. Also, AI-generated designs can resemble stock images or copyrighted styles and will lack the resolution required for printing, so if you are going to be sharing the assets widely (for example in a paid advertising campaign or printed on a product label), it’s important to involve the expertise of a professional graphic designer. Always remember to treat AI as a helpful assistant – not a replacement for your judgment or expertise.

Whether you’re scaling up and looking to streamline your payroll and inventory, or need a bit of support managing your business cash flow and tax compliance, Xero and MYOB are two names that have probably crossed your desk. Within the accounting software  landscape, these are the two biggest players in Australia. Both offer an all-encompassing suite of accounting features that are equally as suitable to sole traders as they are to midsize companies. Navigating the features and functionality of each is no small task though, and ultimately comes down to what’s right for your business. To assist you in your decision, we’ve summarised the key points of comparison. What is accounting software? Accounting software is used for managing financial transactions and records within an organisation. It allows businesses to automate accounting tasks and helps them keep track of their financial information efficiently and accurately. By streamlining processes in invoicing and billing, managing accounts payable and receivable, and generating financial reports, the software can provide valuable insights into the financial health of the business. Accounting software also provides a centralised platform for managing financial data, saving time and increasing accuracy, which will not only be a huge advantage at tax time, but can also make it easier to apply for loans and financing should you ever need it. Key differences between Xero and MYOB Usability Anyone can use either Xero or MYOB. Both cater to small business owners, sole traders, and freelancers as much as they do seasoned bookkeepers and accountants. However, if you are just starting out, Xero’s user-friendly interface is generally regarded as an easier point of entry for people with limited to no accounting experience. If you are a skilled bookkeeper or accountant, you may prefer MYOB for its more advanced features with regard to payroll and inventory tracking. Both Xero and MYOB offer a 30-day trial, so the best way to get a feel for the user experience is to try them out for yourself. Cloud vs. desktop When MYOB launched in the early 1980s, it was a computer-based software designed for users to install and use locally. When Xero entered the scene in 2006, it had the advantage of building internet capability directly into the software and, as such, has always relied on cloud accounting (software that is accessible from an internet browser). To keep up with demand, MYOB has now transformed all its packages to cloud-based plans but still gives users the option to choose online or desktop versions for the MYOB AccountRight subscriptions. The beauty of having data stored in the cloud rather than on your desktop is that it allows you to access your account from wherever you have an internet connection. What’s more, it also offers enhanced security with access control, user authentication, data encryption, and network protection. Mobile apps Managing your admin and bookkeeping on the go is now also made possible with Xero and MYOB’s mobile applications. Xero offers an all-in-one mobile business app that lets you view insights, manage invoices and quotes, track your cash flow, reconcile bank transactions, and upload photos of physical receipts. MYOB on the other hand has three separate applications: MYOB Capture for uploading receipts, MYOB Invoice for creating and sending online invoices and quotes and MYOB Team for creating rosters, approving timesheets, and tracking worksite locations. So, while Xero’s all-in-one app wins on convenience, MYOB does offer additional functionality for business owners who need to manage rostering on the go. Third-party integrations From point-of-sale systems to payment gateways, rostering and payroll, there are thousands of third-party providers that help small businesses from every industry streamline their processes. By integrating your accounting platform to other business apps and software you use on a day-to-day basis, you’re able to streamline bookkeeping and simplify reconciliation. How Xero and MYOB integrate with these applications is a vital consideration when choosing one over the other. Whether you use Shopify for your e-commerce, Deputy for your staff scheduling or Zeller for your invoicing payment gateway, you’ll need to choose an accounting software that will integrate with the programs your business uses. Xero’s App Store is by far the largest, boasting over a thousand third-party integrations — including Zeller App . MYOB’s integration library is less robust, and currently only offers several hundred integrations. Bank feeds The available bank feeds will be an important factor in informing your decision to choose Xero or MYOB. Rather than reconciling transactions manually, bank feeds offer a much easier and quicker solution. This process allows data to flow directly into your accounting software where it can be coded and matched off with sales, invoices, purchases and payroll entries, saving you hours of data entry and reducing human error. Bank feeds are available for bank accounts, loan accounts and credit cards, but the list of available connections will differ between accounting software. MYOB currently offers a longer list of supported bank connections than Xero, but Xero is more up to date with next-generation financial service providers including Zeller . For a full list of compatible bank feeds for Australian-based businesses, see Xero’s list here and MYOB’s here . Note that if you are planning on setting up more than two bank connections, the MYOB Lite package will not support this (it is limited to two), however every other plan from both Xero and MYOB offer unlimited connections. Accounting features Most importantly, choosing between Xero and MYOB will come down to the features that each one offers and how best they suit your needs. For most small business purposes, both platforms offer everything you’ll need. For that reason, we won’t exhaustively cover the features of each, but we will mention what sets them apart. Inventory management MYOB has a comprehensive inventory system integrated into the software that lets you manage orders and suppliers and run stocktake. Which subscription you choose will depend on how many items and locations your business has. Xero, on the other hand, offers limited features suitable for small inventory needs, but its customisation capabilities with third-party apps ensure it stays competitive in this area.  Automation and AI Xero has advanced its AI capabilities with JAX (Just Ask Xero) – a financial superagent that automates routine accounting tasks and delivers business insights. JAX uses multiple AI agents to learn how a business operates, adapting to handle workflows like bank reconciliation, invoicing, data entry, and payment tracking. It also understands natural language, allowing users to ask questions and instantly access financial data or generate documents. MYOB, by contrast, offers more basic automation focused on improving efficiency and accuracy through workflow automation, predictive analytics, and smarter resource planning for complex businesses. Payroll Both MYOB and Xero allow you to process superannuation payments automatically, support Single Touch Payroll and offer advanced reporting. However, for large companies, MYOB has the advantage of supporting unlimited employees with its BusinessPro and AccountRight plans. The cost of Xero increases once your business grows to over 50 employees, and caps out at 200. Online and phone support Xero offers extensive online resources and benefits from a wide community of online users, so help is never far away, however they do not offer phone support. MYOB on the other hand do offer business-day phone support, which can be very helpful if you get stuck. Sign-up and implementation Integrating or replacing your existing processes is easy with Xero and MYOB’s cloud-based subscriptions, however, if you are planning on installing MYOB AccountRight to your local desktop, it is important to note that this is only available for Windows. Cost Both Xero and MYOB offer four tiers of monthly-based subscription pricing. The more you pay, the more functionality you get. When choosing a subscription, it is important to select one whose inclusions will not only serve your purposes today, but also as your business scales in the future. The cost differences between the two platforms are outlined in the table below. Xero vs. MYOB: which is right for your business? What accounting software you choose is ultimately going to depend on the needs of your business, and your personal preference. Before making your decision, you need to weigh up who will be using the software (you or your accountant), where you'll be using it (desktop or cloud), whether having a mobile app is going to be vital in your day-to-day accounting, and what integrations and bank connections you require. Of course, most important is, will it integrate with your Zeller Account .