Australian businesses have run on Petboost since 2022, including teams from Pawfinity
The short version
Pawfinity handles retail inventory, which we don't. It's US-billed, so Australian cards carry conversion and international card fees. If selling shampoo and product lines is a real part of your revenue, buy theirs. If you want Australian rates and one system for grooming, daycare and boarding, we're the closer fit.
Why businesses choose Petboost
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses. No compromises.
Built for Australian Businesses
AUD pricing, No FX Fees
AUD
No FX
1 system, 1 plan, multi-category
Grooming, daycare, boarding, walking, training. All included.
The USD subscription attracts your card's international transaction fee, and Pawfinity adds its own 2% fee for non-USD currencies. Processing only differs if you take payments through Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Built in Sydney
Australian
Founded
2022
Headquarters
Sydney, Australia
Focus
Multi-vertical pet services
Customers
Australian pet businesses, running since 2022
Australian presence
Native. Built in Sydney, with Australian data residency, same-timezone support and pricing in AUD.
Pricing
$65-240/mo plus a 1.2-1.4% booking fee on card payments. Subscription $0 once your card volume reaches $7,500 a month on Pro, or $20,000 on Max.
No lock-in, cancel anytime
Where Petboost Shines
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Stripe AU 1.7% + $0.30; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%
SMS Payment Links
SMS payment links
Petboost differentiator: SMS payment links
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Route Optimisation
Mobile route planning with traffic
Pawfinity Mapping & Routes plus Precision Location is generally available. Petboost Magic Optimise is a paid add-on (Trips Booster), capped at 25 stops in one run
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Trips Booster add-on
Inventory Management
Retail stock tracking and POS
Pawfinity has a full inventory system. Petboost sells products but does not track stock levels
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Products on invoices and in-store, no stock control
Time Clock/Payroll
Employee time tracking and payroll
Pawfinity has built-in employee management
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Course Management
Training course lifecycle
Petboost has purpose-built course management
P
Pawfinity
Basic (as appointments)
P
Petboost
Native courses with templates/instances
Package Management
Prepaid package credits
Petboost more customer-friendly for package purchases
P
Pawfinity
Credit packages available
P
Petboost
Self-service 24/7 purchase + coffee-card tracking
Automation
Workflow automation levels
Petboost offers more control over automation
P
Pawfinity
Standard automation
P
Petboost
5 automation settings
SMS/Notifications
Appointment reminders and alerts
Both offer 2-way SMS (Petboost through Communications Booster); Petboost uses Australian +61 numbers
P
Pawfinity
2-way SMS (US-focused)
P
Petboost
SMS from Australian +61 numbers, 2-way inbox via Communications Booster add-on
Accounting Integration
Financial software sync
Petboost via Stripe bank feeds; Pawfinity has direct QuickBooks
P
Pawfinity
QuickBooks Connect
P
Petboost
Stripe (bank feeds to Xero)
Review Management
Customer review collection
Both collect reviews. Pawfinity Review Booster automates the sending; Petboost review requests are sent per appointment by your team
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Report Card star rating with private-feedback routing, plus email review requests and SMS ones with Communications Booster
Document Storage
Digital paperwork and files
Both support secure document storage
P
Pawfinity
P
Petboost
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Petboost supports multi-location via Enterprise
P
Pawfinity
Contact for options
P
Petboost
Yes (Enterprise)
Mobile App
Mobile access
Similar web-based mobile approach
P
Pawfinity
Modern App (web-based)
P
Petboost
Pet owner + business full screen web apps
Feature comparison
Pawfinity vs Petboost
P
Pawfinity
USA
P
Petboost
Australian-built
Pet Owner Booking Experience
Self-service booking flow for pet owners
Petboost has frictionless phone-first auth; Pawfinity requires account setup
Stripe AU 1.7% + $0.30; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%
SMS Payment Links
SMS payment links
Petboost differentiator: SMS payment links
Route Optimisation
Mobile route planning with traffic
Pawfinity Mapping & Routes plus Precision Location is generally available. Petboost Magic Optimise is a paid add-on (Trips Booster), capped at 25 stops in one run
Trips Booster add-on
Inventory Management
Retail stock tracking and POS
Pawfinity has a full inventory system. Petboost sells products but does not track stock levels
Products on invoices and in-store, no stock control
Time Clock/Payroll
Employee time tracking and payroll
Pawfinity has built-in employee management
Course Management
Training course lifecycle
Petboost has purpose-built course management
Basic (as appointments)
Native courses with templates/instances
Package Management
Prepaid package credits
Petboost more customer-friendly for package purchases
Credit packages available
Self-service 24/7 purchase + coffee-card tracking
Automation
Workflow automation levels
Petboost offers more control over automation
Standard automation
5 automation settings
SMS/Notifications
Appointment reminders and alerts
Both offer 2-way SMS (Petboost through Communications Booster); Petboost uses Australian +61 numbers
2-way SMS (US-focused)
SMS from Australian +61 numbers, 2-way inbox via Communications Booster add-on
Accounting Integration
Financial software sync
Petboost via Stripe bank feeds; Pawfinity has direct QuickBooks
QuickBooks Connect
Stripe (bank feeds to Xero)
Review Management
Customer review collection
Both collect reviews. Pawfinity Review Booster automates the sending; Petboost review requests are sent per appointment by your team
Report Card star rating with private-feedback routing, plus email review requests and SMS ones with Communications Booster
Document Storage
Digital paperwork and files
Both support secure document storage
Multi-Location
Multiple business locations
Petboost supports multi-location via Enterprise
Contact for options
Yes (Enterprise)
Mobile App
Mobile access
Similar web-based mobile approach
Modern App (web-based)
Pet owner + business full screen web apps
Last checked 7th September 2026 • Based on publicly available information
Our Focused Approach
We do fewer things exceptionally well rather than many things adequately. Our customers consistently tell us our design and user experience is miles ahead. Here's where we've intentionally focused elsewhere:
Route optimisation
Available
Magic Optimise in Trips orders a day's run (up to 25 stops) with per-leg drive times, arrival times and a Google Maps hand-off. It is a paid add-on (Trips Booster) on Pro, Flex and Max, included on Enterprise
Inventory management
Focused elsewhere
Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. Use Xero or dedicated inventory software.
Time clock/payroll
Focused elsewhere
Use Deputy, Xero, or dedicated HR software
Automated review requests
Considering
Manual review request tracking now available; automated sending may come later
QuickBooks integration
Focused elsewhere
Xero is the Australian standard; use Xero instead
Feature
Status
Our Approach
Route optimisation
Available
Magic Optimise in Trips orders a day's run (up to 25 stops) with per-leg drive times, arrival times and a Google Maps hand-off. It is a paid add-on (Trips Booster) on Pro, Flex and Max, included on Enterprise
Inventory management
Focused elsewhere
Petboost sells products as retail line items you add to an appointment invoice or sell in-store. What we do not do is stock control: no stock levels, reorder points or cost of goods. Use Xero or dedicated inventory software.
Time clock/payroll
Focused elsewhere
Use Deputy, Xero, or dedicated HR software
Automated review requests
Considering
Manual review request tracking now available; automated sending may come later
QuickBooks integration
Focused elsewhere
Xero is the Australian standard; use Xero instead
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Pawfinity may be better suited for your current needs.
Real Cost Comparison
Based on typical Australian pet business transaction volumes.
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
Cost Type
Pawfinity
Petboost
Annual Subscription
~$924-1,848 AUD (~$660-1,320 USD)
$780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo)
Subscription FX Fees (~2%)
~$18-37 AUD
$0 (AU-based)
Payment Processing (est. 2.9-5%+ with intl fees vs 1.7% on $240K)
~$6,960 AUD
Stripe 1.7% + $0.30 online, 1.7% + $0.10 in person
Petboost Booking Fee
N/A (included above)
1.2-1.4% on card payments
Total Annual Cost
~$7,902-8,845 AUD
The subscription and rates above, applied to your volume
You may be paying twice with Pawfinity
$55-110 USD/month subscription (plus 2% FX fees for Australian payments), plus US-based payment processing: 2.9-5%+ (vs Stripe 1.7% + $0.30 through Petboost; Petboost booking fee 1.2-1.4%). With Petboost, you pay $65/month (waived at $7,500+ in card payments), a booking fee on card payments (1.2% to 1.4% by plan), and Stripe's Australian rate as a separate Stripe charge.
What Could You Save?
Calculate your potential savings
Your savings depend on your business size and payment volume. Use the calculator below for a personalised estimate.
Business Pro starts at $65/month with 450 appointments included. Business Max at $240/month gives you unlimited appointments.
Total customer payments (all methods)
$1k$25k$50k
Appointments you expect each month
50450 (Pro)2,5005,000
Reminders and notifications sent
0500 (Pro)1,000 (Max)2,000
What percentage of payments go through card on file?
$2,000 cash/EFTPOS
80%card on file
$8,000 card
All cash/EFTPOSAll card on file
Business Pro
Subscription waived
Subscription waived. Your $65/month fee is $0.
Monthly fee$65$0
Appointments (100/month)Within limit
Team members$0
SMS (300 messages)Within 500 limit
Booking fee (1.4% on card payments)~$112
Stripe processing (card payments)~$160
Your Total Cost~$272
Hidden Costs of Non-Card Payments
$408/mo
20 of your 100 appointments are paid without card on file
Your card-on-file fee: $28/mo→Saves: $408/mo
$1 in fees saves $15 in hidden costs
Annual impact: $4,892/year in recoverable losses
Generous SMS Limits
Business Pro includes 500 SMS/month. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You're well within your limit!
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at 1,000 appointments/month. You're at 100.
Your Savings
Save $569+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
• $65/month (waived at $7,500+ card payment volume)
• 450 appointments included
• $0.40/appointment after 450
• 500 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Flex
• $135/month (waived at $13,500+ card payment volume)
• 650 appointments included
• $0.50/appointment after 650
• 700 SMS/month included
• 1.4% booking fee on card payments
Business Max
• $240/month (waived at $20,000+ card payment volume)
• Unlimited appointments
• No per-appointment overage fees
• 1,000 SMS/month included
• 1.2% booking fee on card payments
All plans include SMS Power-Up Packs at $15 for 100 additional SMS if needed.
* Estimates based on $10,000 total revenue (80% card on file), 100 appointments, and 300 SMS. Hidden cost estimates use industry averages for no-show rates, cancellation losses, and admin time. Actual costs vary.
Calculate your potential savings
Enter your business numbers and compare total costs including international card and currency conversion fees.
Cost Comparison Calculator
See exactly what you save with Petboost
Start from a business like yours
$2K$50K$100K
11020
Pawfinity
Groom & Train
Subscription$85/mo($60 USD)
Payment processing$332/mo
Int'l card fee (+1.5%)+$150/mo
Currency conversion (+1%)+$100/mo
Total$667/mo
For grooming, training, nail, or dental services
Save $327/mo
Petboost
Business Pro
Subscription$0 (waived)
Stripe processing (AU 1.7% + $0.30)$200/mo
Booking fee (1.4%)$140/mo(build into pricing)
Staff fees$0 (unlimited)
Foreign card fees$0 (AU Stripe)
Total$340/mo
If the booking fee is built into pricing: $200/mo
Annual savings: $3,928
Compared to Pawfinity Groom & Train at 100 transactions/month
Pawfinity pricing from their pricing page. Verified 2026-09-07. USD converted to AUD at current exchange rates.
From solo operators to multi-location groups
Petboost fits your business. Whether you're a one-person mobile groomer, running a large facility with multiple staff and spaces, or managing several locations at once.
Solo Superstars
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
1-tap booking management
Automated invoicing & receipts
After-hours self-service booking
SMS reminders on autopilot
Growing Teams
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
Multi-staff scheduling
Per-resource capacity limits
Team permissions & roles
Shared customer database
Large Operations
Multi-space daycare and boarding, high-volume salons, and busy multi-service businesses.
Bulk operations & admin
Multi-space capacity tracking
Volume pricing available
Advanced automation rules
Petboost Enterprise
Multi-location groups and franchises running every site from one HQ dashboard.
It's easier than you think. Here's what to expect if you decide to move from Pawfinity.
Migration Complexity
Customer Data
Standard data export; import assistance provided
Easy
Booking History
Loaded for you from your go-live date; you review and confirm it
Medium
Package Balances
Credit balances can be migrated
Easy
Inventory Data
Products can be recreated as Petboost retail line items. Stock levels and cost of goods have no equivalent, so keep those in a separate system (e.g., Xero)
Easy
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical; straightforward transition
Easy
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Pawfinity, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Pawfinity.
Route optimisation is essential for your mobile grooming business
You need built-in inventory management for retail sales
Time clock and payroll features are important
You are US-based and want local support
QuickBooks is your accounting software
You prefer fixed monthly subscription pricing
You're satisfied with your current setup and change isn't needed
Recommended
Petboost?
You're an Australian business wanting local support
Payment processing costs matter to your bottom line
You want a subscription waived at $7,500+/month in card payments
You value granular automation control
You need native course management for training
SMS Payment Links are important for your workflow
You prefer Xero for accounting
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Still unsure?Book a no-pressure demo and we'll help you figure out if we're the right fit, even if that means recommending someone else.
Honest about change
The little bit of pain is generally 4 to 6 weeks. Then it clicks.
Switching to any new system is a big adjustment. Buttons are in different places, naming might be different, and the muscle memory you have built does not transfer overnight. We tell every customer the same thing: give it 4 to 6 weeks. Then, one day, you realise it is so much better.
Last verified: 7th September 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.pawfinity.com
Exchange rate: AUD figures converted at 1 USD = $1.4 and 1 GBP = $1.91, the European Central Bank via Frankfurter rate as at . Rates move daily, so the AUD amounts above are indicative; we re-check them every week.
GST: every price on this page is what you actually pay. Where a competitor quotes before GST, we have added the 10%. Where a competitor prices in another currency, the local tax treatment is theirs to set, so check it before you compare.
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Pawfinity® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pawfinity.
Petboost vs Pawfinity | AU Pet Business Comparison | Petboost
