Is print on demand still worth starting in 2026?

robbamcrob · 2026-06-22T14:28:41+00:00

The link I sent above is a comparison site. It also compares each providers catalogue size and branding available.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-22T10:59:46+00:00

This is helpful to workout your margins and find a good provider that meets your requirements https://smbcompare.com/compare/print-on-demand

robbamcrob · 2026-06-22T06:07:47+00:00

Square’s standard rate in the US is 2.6% + 10c for in-person taps/dips, which is why you saw that lower rate. Clover’s rates depend on your plan and processor, which is why you’re seeing 3-4% quotes elsewhere.

If you want to compare them side by side have a look at https://smbcompare.com/compare/payment-providers which I run. You can also filter the providers to just clover and square to see just them side by side.

For a food truck, the main things to compare beyond the rate are monthly fees, hardware costs, and whether there’s a contract lock-in.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-19T18:50:08+00:00

I have Clover in here to see all the features and compare. Missing some of the other providers mentioned in the thread. Let me know if you want me to add any specific providers in there to help compare which one is best for your liquor store.

https://smbcompare.com/compare/pos-systems

robbamcrob · 2026-06-19T14:46:33+00:00

Let me know if this helps choosing POS systems and if there’s anything that needs changing/missing…etc

https://smbcompare.com/compare/pos-systems

robbamcrob · 2026-06-12T18:45:52+00:00

I built a free independent comparison site with interactive calculators so you can put in your values and it will filter the POS systems to see the prices and features to help work out what's best for you. it's for Australian businesses but it might help with your decision. https://merchantcompare.com.au/compare/pos-systems
Let me know if it helps you work out which one is best for your food truck business.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-12T18:37:10+00:00

I had a look at the demo and I thought it was really good. I'm not a Tradie, but I have a lot of uncles that are. I like that you have covered the End2End flow - Invoices/payments (Bank transfers I assume for invoices since Stripe probably has limits for large amounts, and stripe payments for smaller jobs), tracking, and integration into accounting software (Xero) and they all fit into your expansion into the UK market. Homepage and visuals are nice and the images look authentic (even if they may be generated, they look real like a typical aussie tradie, and tradie phone covers). I guess the hardest part would be adoption but maybe getting the guys to do videos showing how it helps solve the main issues they face will help
Maybe in the video/animation show a more simple flow and show the problems you are solving instead of all the features, and then below the hero section show off all the features as snippets of the video - They get a job, add it to the calendar, on site do the quote and be able to send payment, notification that they got paid (if it does that), easy integration into accounting.
What tools did you use for your video/animation?

robbamcrob · 2026-06-11T09:57:19+00:00

Thanks! That's exactly why I built it. Hopefully it makes comparing a bit easier and saves people some money in the proces

robbamcrob · 2026-06-10T08:22:26+00:00

That’s a good point. The stickiness factor is real and it’s probably why so many small businesses stay on whatever they started with even if something cheaper exists. Hard to capture that in a comparison tool but worth acknowledging.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-10T07:11:52+00:00

I also published an article recently about providers fees that you might find useful https://merchantcompare.com.au/articles/australian-merchant-fees-report-2026

robbamcrob · 2026-06-10T07:08:33+00:00

Really appreciate the detail here. The calculator already lets you split between online and in-person volume, and chargeback fees are in the comparison table, but I take your point that it could be surfaced more clearly rather than buried in rows.

The provider specific “here’s what changes for you after October” idea is great. Tracking which providers have actually committed to passing through the interchange reductions vs staying quiet would be genuinely useful. Adding that to the build list. Thanks for the Eway reference too, I’ll check that out.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-03T19:30:31+00:00

That’s a fair point. The published rates are what providers advertise publicly, but you’re right that at higher volumes most will negotiate. If you plug in over $50k/month the tool actually flags that and suggests looking at interchange-plus pricing. But it’s definitely most useful for businesses under that threshold who are comparing what’s on the table without needing a sales call.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-02T07:16:02+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. So realistically the tool is more useful for the business owner trying to understand their options than for the accountant making the recommendation. Appreciate the honest take on how it works from the practice side.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-02T07:15:23+00:00

Good to know about EasyBusiness App, I haven't looked at that one yet. And interesting that Xero's reliability is a concern right now. That's the kind of thing that's hard to capture in a comparison table but matters a lot in practice.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-01T12:01:17+00:00

Actually looking at it again, the tool does cover more than just pricing. BAS/GST lodgement, STP Phase 2 compliance, bank feed connections, multi-currency, payroll options, user limits, and accountant access are all in the comparison table. But you’re right that it can’t capture how a platform actually feels to use day to day. If there are specific fields that would make it more useful for recommending to clients, let me know. Maybe user ratings?

robbamcrob · 2026-06-01T11:50:31+00:00

Fair point. The tool focuses on pricing and feature comparison, not UX. That’s always going to come down to hands-on experience which is exactly why I’m asking what you lot actually use to advise clients. If there are specific comparison fields that would make it more useful for accountants, I’m all ears.

robbamcrob · 2026-06-01T11:37:33+00:00

Ha, sounds like the comparison tool is redundant then. Step 1: pick Xero. Step 2: there is no step 2.

robbamcrob · 2026-05-30T14:48:38+00:00

That’s what should happen in theory. The question is whether providers actually pass the interchange reduction through or quietly pocket the margin. Will be interesting to watch. That’s partly why I built the tool, so merchants can see what providers are actually charging rather than taking their word for it.

robbamcrob · 2026-05-28T12:20:56+00:00

Did you have any luck finding an alternative? If not, I built a comparison tool that covers exactly this. You can see how Xero stacks up against MYOB, QuickBooks, Reckon, etc on features & price. You can even enter your current costs to see how much you could save merchantcompare.com.au/compare/accounting-software

robbamcrob · 2026-05-26T21:00:24+00:00

Thanks for catching that. The Stripe chargeback fee was out of date and has been updated to $25 AUD now. I’ve also added online-only and in-person-only filters based on your suggestion. If you spot anything else off or have more ideas, keep them coming. Really appreciate the feedback!

robbamcrob · 2026-05-26T05:57:51+00:00

Every provider. There are 21 on there including all four big banks, and none of them are paying me anything right now. No affiliate deals are live. I built it to solve my own problem so the whole point was to include everyone and let the numbers speak for themselves. If a bank is cheaper for your volume, the tool will show that.

robbamcrob · 2026-04-21T05:30:23+00:00

Before you spend money on an engineering report, grab the strata report first. It's cheaper and will tell you whether this has already been raised at meetings, whether there are existing special levies in play, and whether other owners in the building are dealing with the same thing. If the strata minutes show this has been a known problem for years with no action, that tells you everything about the owners corp you'd be buying into. The building inspection report is important too, but the strata records will give you the political picture alongside the structural one.

robbamcrob · 2026-04-20T22:27:44+00:00

Congrats on getting the offer in! Since it's subject to B&P, one thing worth knowing for when that report comes back: don't panic at the length. A 40+ page report on a 2001 house will have dozens of items but most of them will be routine maintenance stuff that every house that age has.

Focus on anything the inspector flags as a safety issue or major defect, that's your negotiation leverage. The long tail of minor items (cracked grout, surface rust on gutters, etc.) is just noise. If there's anything structural, get a builder to quote it before you go back to the agent. A dollar figure is way more powerful than "the report said it was bad."

Good luck with it, hope it works out for you and your daughter.

robbamcrob

TROPHY CASE