Survey Finds Most Small Firms Want Rewards Payments

Prospa and YouGov research shows two in three Australian SMEs would use a rewards-enabled payment platform for business-to-business payments.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Couponing

Brass coins stacked on a pale wooden counter beside an empty ceramic cup, lit by soft warm window light. — Two in three Australian small and medium-sized businesses say they would use a rewards-enabled payment platform for everyday business payments, a Prospa and YouGov survey found. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you route your business payments through a platform that offers rewards?

Prospa and YouGov research found that two in three Australian small and medium-sized enterprises would use a rewards-enabled payment platform if given the option. The findings come as Prospa launched Prospa Rewards, a business rewards platform for eligible small businesses.

Why it matters

Eighty-four percent of Australian SMEs report rising operational costs, and 80% say unavoidable expenses have squeezed their margins over the past 12 months. Rewards on everyday business payments offer a way for owners to recover value from spending they already make.

Across all surveyed SMEs, the average monthly amount put through a rewards-enabled platform was $9,398, with non-sole traders averaging $14,682 and sole traders $6,214. The survey was based on 500 adults who run businesses with fewer than 50 employees, and it is unclear how these averages would apply to firms of other sizes.

The players

Prospa

Prospa is an Australian fintech lender that provides finance and payment products to small businesses.

YouGov

YouGov is a British international research data and analytics group that runs market and opinion surveys.

The details

Prospa Rewards lets eligible customers earn one Prospa Point for every $1 paid on eligible transactions. Points can be redeemed for selected business essentials and gift cards, or converted to Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.

Fieldwork for the survey was conducted between 30 July and 13 August 2026.
Prospa issued its research press release on 16 November 2026.

Market Landscape

Rewards-earning business cards already reach 23% of Australian SMEs, showing that rewards on business spending are an established practice. Prospa's launch extends that model to business-to-business payments, a segment where only 8% of SMEs currently have access to rewards.

Eligible Australian small businesses can earn one Prospa Point for every $1 paid on eligible transactions. Those points can be redeemed for business essentials, gift cards or Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.

The takeaway

Business owners who already pay suppliers and card bills can check whether their payment tools offer rewards on those costs. Recovering value from existing spending can help ease margin pressure without changing what the business buys.