RMS, a property management platform, has partnered with GoCardless, a global payments company, to give accommodation providers a cheaper payment option instead of card payments. This helps businesses manage their costs, as new rules will prevent them from passing on payment fees to customers.
Right now, card payments cost Australian businesses around 1–3% per transaction in fees. Soon, businesses won’t be allowed to add these extra charges to customers, so they will have to cover the costs themselves or find cheaper options.
For example, a mid-sized hotel handling $500,000 in card payments each year could end up paying an extra $5,000 to $15,000 annually in fees.
The partnership comes at a time when many small businesses in Australia are facing cash flow problems. Data from GoCardless shows that 87% of small businesses are negatively affected because they avoid talking about payments with customers.
Out of these, 30% report losing money, while 23% say it has caused cash flow issues.
Adam Seskis, CEO at RMS said: “Failed payments are a hidden drain on hospitality businesses – impacting both revenue and team productivity. As margins come under pressure from regulatory changes, operators need smarter, more cost-effective ways to collect payments without adding manual work. It’s about helping operators modernise how they take and manage payments as the landscape shifts.”
“The surcharge ban is going to fundamentally change how hospitality businesses think about payments,” says Ian Boyd, General Manager, Australia and New Zealand at GoCardless.
“Operators who start diversifying their payment mix now will be better positioned when the changes take effect. Direct bank payments aren’t just cheaper – they’re also more reliable for recurring charges like longer term rental payments and instalments.”
About GoCardless
GoCardless is a global bank payment company that helps businesses collect and send money easily. More than 100,000 businesses, from startups to well-known brands use it for payments through direct debit, real-time payments, and open banking.
The company handles over $130 billion in payments every year across more than 30 countries. It helps businesses manage both regular and one-time payments without stress or high fees. GoCardless also uses AI to improve payment success and reduce fraud, and connects with over 2,500 banks to help businesses make faster and better financial decisions.
About RMS
RMS is a popular platform used by more than 7,000 businesses in over 70 countries. It helps hotels and other hospitality businesses manage their daily operations and improve guest experiences.
RMS brings together people, technology, and data to support business growth. It offers useful tools and real-time insights that help hotel, serviced apartment, short-term rental, and campground operators run their businesses more smoothly and stay competitive.
