Give your EFTPOS a makeover.

A new generation of beauty and hair professionals are forging their own paths, choosing to work independently rather than seek traditional employment. It’s a shift driven by new technology, social media, and a growing number of specialised co-working spaces. We spoke with Brisbane-based hairdresser Alandra Flatley and Melbourne-based skin and beauty therapist Emily Keane about their decision to go freelance, and how they're using technology, like Zeller, to streamline the transition. On first impressions,  Level 10, The Studio , in Brisbane’s inner suburb of Teneriffe, looks like a regular – albeit beautiful – hair salon. Clients sip lattes with a view out to the river while the team around them cuts, colours, and blow dries. What you don’t notice, however, is that most of the stylists are running their own business. This collaborative work environment, made up of freelancers, contractors, and a handful of employees, represents a significant shift away from traditional top-down business models, and one that is being embraced across the hair and beauty industry. The future looks good. “It’s the way of the future”, says  Alandra Flatley , a hair stylist who has been working from the space since November. After being employed in a salon for 17 years, she decided to go out on her own in early 2023 . “I just wanted more freedom and more flexibility,” she says. “I was keen to get out of that traditional environment and work somewhere where I could see the clients I wanted to see, work the hours I wanted to work, and be able to earn more.” Not ten years ago, this idea might have been a radical one, but with hair and beauty professionals now able to amass a network of followers (and potential clients) on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and rent rooms or chairs within specialised workspaces – the barriers to entry aren’t what they used to be. Service over sales. For Emily Keane, a Melbourne-based skin and beauty therapist specialising in holistic skincare, the decision to become a sole trader was an ethical one. “When I was working for different spas and skin clinics, I wasn’t able to be authentic and fully care for the client,” she explains, “there was a huge amount of pressure on sales… we were told to get customers in for as many treatments as possible as often as possible, and then upsell any sort of products that would work for them… the sentiment was, ‘no matter what treatment they are getting, there's always something to sell them’. Which I just don’t agree with,” Emily says. It came down to the choice to either pivot into beauty education or open her own salon. She chose the latter. After leaving full-time employment, Emily launched  Cared for Skin & Body  from her rental in Caulfield North. “I really expected there to be way more roadblocks… but it just all kind of happened very quickly,” she says. “I can create my own rules and tailor everything to the client, rather than making them fit the box that suits the business.” – Emily Keane New tech tipping the balance. Indeed, both Alandra and Emily are amongst a cohort of first-time business owners who are benefitting from the latest tools and technology available to help them get set up. “Technology is affording so many more opportunities and giving people so much more freedom,” says Alandra, “We’ve got keyless entry into the co-working space, everything can be digitally locked, and there’s so much support now with companies like  Zeller  for managing your finances,  Hnry  for filing your taxes,  Timely  for booking appointments…” she explains. Emily, who also uses Zeller and Timely, agrees, “It's a lot easier now. Services are way more accessible for everyday people who aren’t tech wizards or have studied business. There's a lot of guidance within the companies as well, and a lot of support, so you don't need to be an expert in everything… You can give it all a go and you learn very quickly.” Flawless financial management. When it came to managing their finances, these digital natives were both quick to choose Zeller, citing the ease of creating an account online and the ability to manage their funds all in one place as motivating factors. “I also loved the fact that the  EFTPOS terminal  was such a good price and that I got a bank account and a debit card attached to it,” says Alandra, “Plus the  Zeller Savings Account  has such a good interest rate. So I started putting my tax and GST money in there each week.” Emily agrees, “A lot of what I needed was integrated within just the one tool which has been really important to me. I can do everything primarily through Zeller, including putting money away for tax and savings. It's very easy to keep my finances organised and see what's happening within the business,” she explains. As for accepting payments, Zeller’s range of solutions has also helped give them the flexibility they need for their modern businesses. For Alandra, accepting payments on her smartphone with  Tap to Pay  has given her one less device to charge (or forget at home!), while for Emily, it’s facilitated taking payment on the go when she does product drop-offs at her clients’ houses. Additionally, Zeller’s  online invoicing  solution has meant Alandra can charge the salon when they need help with extra clients, and  Zeller Virtual Terminal  lets Emily send payment links to customers who wish to pre-pay for their appointments or buy gift vouchers. The beauty of being able to accept all their payments and have their money settled nightly into their Zeller Account, means that they get a clear overview of their incoming and outgoing funds. “It shows me more in-depth information on where my money is coming from. I can track my sales and see what days are more popular,” says Emily. “Sometimes I might want to try a specific product but I'll wait until I see my cash flow for the week on  Zeller App  before deciding whether or not I should hold off on the order,” says Alandra. Everybody wins. Armed with modern apps like Zeller, these fiercely independent businesses are able to function efficiently and affordably – which in turn, reduces the pressure on bookings and sales. Both women agree: a lot more income can be generated by working alone. But it’s the clients who are the real winners. “Some people just want to come in and relax. It's a special treat. They don't want to be sold a bunch of stuff or be pressured to rebook at the end. They should be able to just enjoy that experience,” explains Emily. Similarly, Alandra believes that having independent stylists creates more accountability: “If you’re employed, you’re getting paid no matter what. But I know I’d prefer to have my hair cut by someone who really wants to be there, rather than someone who is just showing up for work.” By doing away with outdated sales tactics and sidestepping operational barriers thanks to new technology, these entrepreneurs are taking a modern and refreshing approach to business. And it’s reaping benefits for both them, and their customers.

Discover what it takes to scale a business in a crowded niche. Kings Domain is a small business success story of epic scale. With an in-house training program well above industry standards, a line of professional hair products, and an absolute focus on the customer experience — it’s so much more than a barbershop. The Kings Domain empire began as a humble, single shop front in South Yarra in 2013. Since then, an additional six shops have opened across Melbourne — kept fully staffed by the crème de la crème of its 204 square foot training academy in Collingwood. We sat down with Creative Director and Head Barber Aaron to learn more about scaling a successful barber business with consistently exceptional customer service across every shop, and the tech tools he’s relying on to ensure business runs smoothly. The first of seven barber shops. Old-school barber shops stay true to their traditions. Often, customers are required to walk in, take a seat and wait their turn. Some barbers offer a board for customers to write their name on. “Traditionally, it’s a low cost, high volume business. There’s not usually anyone manning reception or anyone there to speak to you when you walk in. The barber might turn around and say ‘hi’, and expect you to know whether it’s a walk-in business, whether to write your name on the board, or if you need a booking. Sometimes, the barber might not even turn around. You’re just expected to know the drill.” There’s none of that at Kings Domain. With a background in fine dining, Aaron understood the importance of customer service from early on. It’s this absolute dedication to customers’ comfort that lay the foundations for what Kings Domain is today. “There weren't many barbershops around providing a high end service, and coming from a high end salon and prior to that in a fine dining restaurant, customer service was at the forefront of what I wanted to provide.” Aaron streamlined inefficiencies and prioritised the customer experience in one fell swoop, offering customers the ability to book online and get an exceptional haircut in less than the time it takes to get a bite to eat, in convenient locations across Melbourne — with a beer in hand while they enjoy it. “They always say people come for a haircut, and they come back for the experience.” Scaling a successful business. Since its establishment in 2013, Kings Domain has exploded. “At the start we opened the first shop with five chairs and no intention of opening any more shops. Then, six months later, we knocked the back wall down and put another chair in that shop. 18 months later we opened the second shop on Collins Street, and it just kept going from there. In 2017, we opened four shops in one year. It just kept growing.” Far from taking a step back as the business grows, Aaron chose to hire an assistant so that he could continue cutting hair for 20 hours a week — for the benefit of both long-term client relationships, and his own headspace. “Half of my week is cutting hair and the other half is working on the business. I’ve been cutting some of my clients’ hair since I was an apprentice, 16 or 17 years ago, and I see them more than I see my friends or family — so I feel a large responsibility to them,” he says. “Mostly though I just enjoy cutting hair, I find it quite meditative and something I don't have to think about. I just do it.” Along with the expansion of more shop fronts, Kings Domain has established a training academy, produced a line of professional hair products, and revolutionised its tech suite to support further business growth to create efficiencies. Something to take home. The idea for a take-home product line sparked as something for Kings Domain’s growing community of customers, without the intention of widespread distribution. “We wanted to have a product our barbers and client community could feel was their own.” Just like the concept for the barber shop itself, Aaron proved again that if you create something you love, there’s a good chance others will love it too. The Kings Domain Melbourne products are now stocked in over 800 Coles stores across Australia. “It stemmed from doing something for ourselves and then taking the time to refine it and make sure we’re doing it properly. Our line of high performing products are accessible to the wider community now, in price and location.” “I think if you do it that way, with time, you’ll have good growth.” A powerful new tech toolkit. Kings Domain has gone through a significant transformation to ensure its operations are as efficient, and its customer service as optimised, as possible. “We’ve banked with a big-4 and used their terminals since we opened. They served their purpose — the money ended up in the bank account. But since having the Zeller Terminals, we’ve realised how much better terminals can be.” The decision to move to Zeller came about after shifting other business operations to the cloud, and discovering the efficiencies a shakeup can bring about. “The rest of the business has really evolved over the years with new technology. Like instead of having to write rosters on a board in the salon, we’re using cloud based apps for rostering and point-of-sale. And now in hindsight, when I compare Zeller to our old terminals, the old terminal just wasn’t up to date with the latest technology.” For a business that prides itself on customer service, Zeller has a few handy features that make life easy. “The ability for the terminal to connect directly with the client by sending an e-receipt is great. And it means we don’t have to keep a hard copy paper receipt, because it’s all stored online.” Training the next generation. Aaron spotted another opportunity for business growth while training hairdressing students at TAFE. When COVID-19 struck and shuttered barbershops, he got to work. “I used that time to formulate the curriculum and start planning the business model for the academy,” Aaron says. The Kings Domain Academy and Barbershop is housed in a converted warehouse with soaring ceilings and 17 trainee chairs, with an additional three chairs reserved for qualified barbers. This was a strategic decision to ensure trainees aren’t just appropriately skilled in cutting hair, but also in providing exceptional customer service. “The students and apprentices get exposure to a real life working barbershop with the same expectations and standards as all of our other shops.” As part of the Academy, Kings Domain also operates its Refugee Scholarship Program — offering refugees and asylum seekers the opportunity to become fully qualified barbers by undertaking six months of free training at the Collingwood Academy. Scholarship students also receive a $2,000 tool kit donated by sponsors Turnleys and Excellent Edges. “We’ve got this vehicle now where we can really help the community. The main thing we want to do is give people an opportunity to have a fresh start with a new skill, and create awareness about what some people in the community are going through.” Supporting growing Australian business. Kings Domain is a success story of impressive scale. By focusing solely on carving out his own niche within the industry, Aaron has created “something that suited me a little more” than the bright lights and blaring music typical of the hairdressing environment. By drawing inspiration from high-end restaurants, always keeping the customers’ needs at the forefront, and carefully selecting the tech tools the team needs to grow efficiently, Aaron has scaled Kings Domain to heights beyond his dreams.

First opened in 2022, Awaken Pilates and Yoga is a boutique fitness business that has already grown to three locations across Perth’s northern corridor – Yanchep, Ashby, and Mindarie. Founded by husband and wife duo Matthew and Gemma Taylor, the studios offer a mix of reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, yoga, meditation, and infrared sauna. We sat down with Matthew to learn the story behind the business and how Zeller has been able to play a small but positive role in its impressive growth. Building a boutique fitness community. “My wife and I have been involved in the fitness industry for almost 20 years now,” Matthew explains. “About three years ago, we started Awaken, a chain of boutique Pilates studios. We do everything from reformer Pilates to yoga and meditation, so we’re a fitness and wellbeing business.” Beyond instructor-led classes, Awaken offers 24/7 access so members can train independently. “We’re one of only a few in the country who do it,” Matthew says. “People get a 24/7 tag just like a gym. We’ve got screens set up where they can do on-demand classes, and the sauna is 24/7 as well.” At its core, Awaken aims to help members build a stronger connection with themselves, physically and mentally. “What we’re trying to achieve with the members is getting them to fall in love with fitness and focus on themselves,” Matthew says. “We’ve seen over the years how powerful it can be to have a positive relationship with yourself from a wellbeing perspective.” Making retail sales effortless with Zeller POS Lite. While most of Awaken’s revenue comes from membership fees billed weekly through their CRM system, retail sales (like grippy socks, apparel and protein powder) also provide an important secondary revenue stream to the business. Managing these sales efficiently, however, was a little tricky – until Awaken introduced Zeller POS Lite across all three studios. “A lot of our instructors are contractors who work across different studios.” Matthew explains. “So we needed a system that was super intuitive with no real training involved. Zeller POS Lite couldn’t be simpler. When someone wants to buy socks or some protein, the instructor just clicks on an image and it comes up straight away on the machine. They don’t have to work the computer or any sort of complicated point-of-sale system.” Stretching sales while reducing admin. The simplified sales process has made instructors more confident in processing transactions, leading to an increase in retail purchases. “Having that visual point-of-sale system on the EFTPOS machine itself just makes it a lot easier,” Matthew says. “Because it’s so easy to use, we find that the instructors are much more confident in selling the product for us instead of avoiding it because they don’t know how to use the machine or they don’t know the pricing of the product.” When the end of the month draws near, Zeller POS Lite’s in-built reporting function proves very useful. “We utilise the reporting function to gain a deeper insight into how our retail products are performing, what products are resonating with our members and where to better invest in our product offering for the future at each studio. This allows us to maximise the efficiency of our product management and also helps drive our marketing with relation to our retail products,” explains Matthew. Switching from Commbank to Zeller. Before switching to Zeller, Awaken used Commonwealth Bank terminals, but the fees and complex pricing structure quickly became a frustration. “I would never set up another business with a traditional bank again, because you’re paying a monthly fee and then all of your costs on top of that when you go above a certain amount. It actually is just a lot easier to have something like Zeller, which takes a little percentage on each transaction and has a nice, easy portal to navigate.” Beyond transaction fees, Matthew also found the process of upgrading or canceling bank terminals unnecessarily difficult and expensive. “They make it so hard for you,” he says. “You’ve got to pay for someone to collect it and all this sort of stuff. There’s fees and charges all the way through the journey.” A flexible, scalable solution. With transparent pricing, ease of use and a seamless experience for both instructors and members, Zeller POS Lite has helped Awaken eliminate banking frustrations while streamlining their operations. “We’ve got it sectioned into three categories – merchandise, casual sales, and supplements,” Matthew says. “It’s so simple for the instructors to navigate that, it works perfectly.” By choosing Zeller POS Lite, Awaken Pilates and Yoga has found a flexible solution that strikes the perfect balance between simplifying sales, empowering staff, and supporting business growth.