You do not work behind a counter. You are on a roof, under a sink, in a driveway, or at a customer's kitchen table writing up the final invoice. A desktop eftpos terminal is useless to you. What you need is a mobile payment solution that actually works — one that fits in a ute glovebox, takes payment on the spot, and does not leave you chasing invoices for weeks.
Here is a practical guide to eftpos for Australian tradies, based on what we see working (and not working) with the sparkies, plumbers, builders, landscapers and mechanics we work with every week.
Why Getting Paid on the Spot Changes Everything
Invoicing at the end of the job and waiting for the bank transfer is where tradies get burned. Customers forget, delay, dispute, or ghost you. The cash flow hit is real, and chasing unpaid invoices is a full-time job you did not sign up for.
A portable eftpos terminal (or a mobile tap-to-pay app on a phone) fixes this. You finish the job, take payment on the spot with the card tapped on the terminal, and walk away with the money already processing. No invoice chasing. No awkward follow-up texts.
Types of Mobile Eftpos for Tradies
1. Portable 4G Terminals
These are handheld terminals with a built-in SIM card. They work anywhere with mobile reception — on a jobsite, in a customer's driveway, in a rural property. They are battery powered, usually last a full day, and accept tap, insert and swipe payments.
Providers like Tyro, Zeller, Smartpay, and the major banks all offer 4G portable terminals. Monthly rental and transaction fees vary widely, which is why comparison matters.
2. Bluetooth Terminals Paired to a Phone
A small card reader that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Square, Zeller and Stripe all offer these. Cheap to buy, no monthly rental on some plans, and good for low-volume trades.
3. Tap to Pay on Phone
The newest option — no hardware at all. You tap the customer's card (or phone or watch) directly on the back of your own smartphone. Available from several providers in Australia now. Brilliant if you want zero gear and zero setup cost.
What Tradies Should Actually Look For
- 4G coverage. If you work rural or remote, make sure the terminal's SIM is on a network with strong coverage in your area. Telstra-connected terminals are usually the safest bet outside the metros.
- No lock-in contracts. Your work volume moves around. Avoid providers that lock you in for 24 or 36 months with exit fees.
- Fast settlement. Same-day settlement is gold for cash flow. Some providers offer it, others do not.
- Invoice integration. Some providers integrate with Xero, MYOB, ServiceM8 and Tradify so your payments are automatically reconciled to your invoices.
- Surcharging. If you want to pass the processing fee to the customer (totally standard for trades now), make sure the provider supports it.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Tradies regularly get caught out by hidden fees — monthly minimums, inactivity fees, PCI compliance charges, statement fees, chargeback handling fees. A rate that looks sharp on the quote can be twice as much in practice once all the extras stack up.
This is exactly where a broker earns their keep. We know which providers hide fees in the fine print and which ones are genuinely transparent.
Common Mistakes
- Using the bank's eftpos by default. Banks rarely offer the sharpest deal for small-scale trades.
- Picking the cheapest option without checking 4G coverage. A cheap terminal that will not connect on a regional jobsite is worthless.
- Not surcharging. If you are absorbing 1–2% on every card transaction, you are giving away margin. Most customers accept surcharging without a second thought.
- Ignoring rewards. Even trade businesses can earn Qantas Points on processing volume through certain providers.
Let a Broker Do the Shopping
At Eftpos Brokers we deal with trade businesses constantly. We know which providers are best for mobile, which are best for Xero integration, and which ones will actually work when you are 40km from the nearest town. We compare 20+ providers, our service is free, and we only recommend something if it is actually better than what you have now.
Book your free consultation here or call us free on 1800 595 340.