For many small business owners, digital payment transformation feels like a catch-22. You know that fewer people carry cash, and you’ve seen firsthand the frustration on a customer’s face when they discover you don’t accept card or mobile payments.
But upgrading to modern point-of-sale (POS) systems has often required hefty upfront costs – an investment that can feel out of reach when you’re also juggling wages, rent, and stock.
This tension has left many small operators stuck on the sidelines of the cashless economy. Until now.
Access over ownership
Over the past two decades, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in the way both consumers and businesses approach capital investment. Streaming replaced DVD collections, software moved to subscription models, and even cars can now be leased on flexible terms.
The logic is simple: instead of locking up capital in an asset that may become obsolete, businesses gain access to the latest tools through predictable, manageable fees.
The payments industry is similarly embracing rental models that give businesses access to advanced POS systems without the upfront capital outlay. Instead of paying thousands of dollars for hardware, operators can roll costs into a predictable monthly fee, which can be lower than a dollar per day.
In Australia, Nayax is currently the only provider offering this rental model, making it a unique option for small operators looking to modernise without financial strain. By turning what was previously a capital expenditure into an operational one, small businesses can gain the benefits of cashless technology while preserving cash flow.
To put it in perspective: a laundromat or arcade owner can access a fully featured, modern POS system for less than the cost of a single load of washing or a single arcade play per day. For businesses where every dollar counts, that’s a game-changer.
Beyond digital payments alone
Today’s POS devices are not just payment processors. The latest systems combine secure payments with operational oversight and customer engagement tools. They can provide inventory visibility, deliver software updates remotely, and even run promotions or loyalty programs through on-screen interactions.
A modern POS can act as a digital employee who accepts payments, communicates with customers, and provides valuable business insights.
By offering these capabilities through a rental model, technology providers are making it possible for businesses of all sizes to take advantage of tools that were once out of reach.
Flexibility and agility are everything
Beyond simply lowering costs, rental payment models are the key to flexibility and resilience. Businesses can scale up as demand grows, swap out devices when better technology arrives, and adapt to changing customer preferences without taking on the burden of ownership. In an economy where agility matters more than ever, that flexibility can be the difference between treading water and thriving.
The shift toward rental-based payment systems comes at a crucial time for Australian businesses. With new cash acceptance legislation requiring businesses selling essential goods and services to accept cash payments from January 2026, operators need flexible payment solutions that can handle multiple transaction types without requiring multiple systems.
Rental models provide this flexibility while ensuring compliance with evolving regulations like PCI PTS standards, without the complexity of managing these requirements independently.
For small business owners who have been waiting for the right moment to modernise, that moment has arrived. The tools are available, the costs are manageable, and the barriers are lower than ever.
Embracing cashless technology through a rental model is not just about keeping up with consumer expectations. It is about positioning your business for sustainable growth in a future where access matters more than ownership.
Contributed by By Dylan Winik, CEO of Oceania at Nayax