The small business payment space just got rocked. Xero, the accounting platform trusted by millions, has officially scooped up Melio - the go-to platform for easy B2B bill pay. This isa signal that how you handle payments, cash flow, and even your accounting stack could change faster than you think.
If you’re a business owner or accountant who’s been relying on Melio to pay vendors or manage bills, this move raises big questions. Will pricing shift? Will integrations stay functional? And most importantly, is now the moment to rethink your payment strategy before the dust settles?
Key Takeaways
- Xero’s acquisition of Melio signals significant changes ahead for small business payment processing and integration strategies.
- Melio earned loyalty through free ACH transfers, vendor onboarding simplicity, and clear pricing but these features could shift post-acquisition.
- Acquisition integrations often result in feature deprecations, pricing changes, and customer support delays, especially for non-core user groups.
- Nickel stands out with unlimited free ACH transfers, high-value transaction support up to $1 million, and native QuickBooks Online integration.
- Industrial small businesses benefit from Nickel’s tailored workflows, including net terms management and customizable approval chains.
- Acting early allows businesses to test alternatives and migrate vendors smoothly, avoiding rushed transitions later.
- Start with Nickel now to eliminate ACH fees, streamline payments, and future-proof your payment strategy against post-acquisition uncertainty.
What the Melio-Xero Deal Actually Means
Melio’s big announcement sounds reassuring at first glance: they’ll keep operating independently and tap into Xero’s scale and accounting expertise to “accelerate innovation.”
In plain English, they’re saying nothing will change for now. Current users are promised uninterrupted support.
But let’s be real. When a massive player like Xero buys an agile platform like Melio, history shows there’s usually more under the surface. Feature sets shift. Pricing models get “revised.” Integrations that worked perfectly pre-acquisition suddenly need updates.
It’s not doom and gloom - it’s just what happens when corporate priorities kick in.
If your business is running thousands of dollars in payments through Melio each month, sitting back and waiting isn’t a strategy. This is the moment to review your options, benchmark costs, and make sure you’re not blindsided by changes in the next six to twelve months.
Get ahead of the game and start using a modern payment platform like Nickel - complete with 100% free ACH transfers and native QuickBooks integration.
Why Businesses Loved Melio (And What They Might Lose)
Melio earned its following by solving real problems for small businesses drowning in manual payment processes. It wasn’t just another ACH tool or clunky bank portal.
It gave small business owners and bookkeepers something they rarely get in B2B payments: simplicity, control, and clear pricing.
Automation That Saves Time
The platform’s accounts payable automation stood out immediately. It synced with leading accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero, which eliminated duplicate data entry and cut out tedious manual uploads. Paying vendors suddenly felt professional instead of painful.
Vendor Onboarding Without the Headaches
Melio also nailed vendor onboarding. Instead of chasing routing numbers or awkwardly asking suppliers for bank details, users could send an invite and let vendors set their own preferences. That single feature removed one of the biggest headaches in small business payments.
Workflows That Make Scaling Easier
Payment scheduling and approval workflows rounded out the appeal. Businesses could set spending limits, define approval chains, and keep full visibility of pending and completed transactions - without the complexity (and cost) of enterprise-grade software.
Pricing That Small Businesses Can Predict
The pricing model sealed the deal. Free ACH transfers with transparent card fees made costs predictable. Small businesses processing moderate payment volumes could finally plan around payment expenses instead of getting surprised by hidden fees.
The Hidden Risks of Acquisition Integration
Xero’s acquisition of Melio might eventually deliver stronger integrations and new features. But the reality for businesses is that the transition period often brings friction long before benefits arrive.
Features Can Change or Disappear
Feature disruption is one of the first things to watch. When companies merge, overlapping tools get streamlined or removed. Features that work seamlessly today may disappear or change, forcing teams to adjust workflows they’ve relied on for years.
Pricing Models Rarely Stay the Same
Pricing shifts are another common outcome. Even when a company promises “no changes,” history shows that new fee structures often roll out quietly - free services gain new limits, transaction fees climb, or tiered pricing suddenly appears. Small businesses that built their budgets around Melio’s current model could get caught off guard.
Support Quality Often Suffers During Mergers
Support quality often dips during integration too. As internal teams merge, resources shift toward back-end projects rather than front-line service. That usually means longer wait times and fewer specialists who deeply understand the platform’s quirks.
Focus May Shift to Xero Users First
Finally, platform focus tends to tilt toward the acquirer’s core user base. Xero’s priority is its accounting customers. While Melio users on QuickBooks or other systems are promised continued support, they might find feature updates arriving slower or customer feedback carrying less weight over time.
Smart Alternatives for Forward-Thinking Businesses
Businesses frustrated with Melio’s shifting model are already looking for better options. Nickel has quickly become one of the strongest alternatives on the market, not only matching Melio’s features but improving on them in ways that matter to small and mid-sized companies processing high-value transactions.
Unlimited Free ACH Transfers Without Caveats
One of Nickel’s biggest draws is its truly unlimited free ACH transfers. Unlike Melio, which has introduced subscription fees and caps, Nickel lets you send and receive ACH payments at no cost - no limits, no hidden conditions.
For businesses processing frequent payments, this can translate into thousands of dollars saved annually.
To put that in perspective: a company making 50 ACH payments each month avoids roughly $660 in fees each year compared to Melio’s current pricing structure. That’s pure savings businesses can reinvest into operations, hiring, or growth initiatives.
Built for Industrial Small Businesses
Nickel isn’t trying to be everything for everyone. It’s purpose-built for industries like wholesale, distribution, construction, and manufacturing - companies managing large invoices, multiple vendors, and strict payment terms.
Features like high-value transaction support (up to $1 million per payment), customizable approval workflows, and net terms management directly address the complexity these industries face.
Instead of retrofitting a generic payments platform, Nickel starts with industrial use cases in mind. That means faster vendor onboarding, better credit decision workflows, and real-time visibility across accounts receivable and accounts payable in one place.
QuickBooks Integration
Nickel’s QuickBooks Online integration is native and real-time. Invoices and bills sync automatically, and every payment updates across your accounting system without manual entry or CSV imports.
Even better, Nickel’s one-to-one settlement model ensures every transaction matches your bank statements perfectly, eliminating the headaches of reconciling batch deposits.
This saves hours every month for finance teams and reduces the risk of costly bookkeeping errors.
All-In-One Payment Cycle Management
Nickel combines accounts receivable, accounts payable, and trade credit into a single platform. You can pay vendors, extend net terms to customers, and accept multiple payment methods (ACH, cards, checks) from one dashboard.
That consolidation replaces the patchwork of spreadsheets, portals, and manual workflows many businesses still rely on, giving finance teams full visibility and control over cash flow.
With features like recurring billing, vendor onboarding via email, and customizable approval thresholds, Nickel scales with you as transaction volume grows.
Transparent Pricing and Fast Settlements
Nickel’s pricing is simple: free ACH transfers, 2.9% flat-rate card processing (with credit card fee pass-through capabilities), and optional premium plans for advanced workflows. There are no surprise markups or hidden surcharges.
ACH transfers settle twice as fast as many competitors, and same-day settlement is available on higher tiers. This speed and transparency make Nickel a practical choice for businesses that can’t afford payment delays.
Why Nickel Stands Out Right Now
The acquisition of Melio by Xero has left many small businesses uncertain about pricing changes, feature availability, and future support - especially for QuickBooks users.
Nickel fills that gap with a platform that feels purpose-built for the exact challenges Melio’s original customers wanted to solve: predictable costs, automation that actually works, and support you can reach when something goes wrong.
Add in a 4.9-star G2 rating and trust from over 10,000 businesses, and it’s easy to see why Nickel is becoming the go-to payment solution for companies ready to move past the uncertainty of post-acquisition transitions.
Why Timing Matters for Your Payment Strategy
The months immediately following an acquisition announcement are often when the smartest businesses act. Waiting until integration problems surface means reacting under pressure instead of planning ahead.
By evaluating alternatives now, you can compare features, test platforms, and transition vendors at your own pace rather than scrambling later.
Current Melio users are in a prime position. While the platform is still operating normally, you have the freedom to assess competitors like Nickel, migrate accounts gradually, and ensure everything works before fully committing. This proactive approach eliminates stress and reduces the risk of vendor disruptions down the road.
The Rise of Modern Accounts Payable Solutions
The accounts payable automation market looks nothing like it did when Melio launched. New players, especially Nickel, now match or exceed Melio’s original strengths with unlimited free ACH transfers, faster settlements, and native integrations for QuickBooks Online.
Switching barriers that once scared businesses off have largely disappeared. Improved onboarding, seamless data migration, and real-time syncing make moving to a new platform faster and far less disruptive than it used to be.
What Accountants and Bookkeepers Should Consider
For accountants managing multiple clients on Melio, this acquisition is a mixed bag. There’s potential upside if you serve clients using Xero, since deeper Melio-Xero integration could improve workflows for that specific group.
The bigger risk? Most small business accountants work primarily with QuickBooks, not Xero. If Melio pivots its focus toward Xero users, QuickBooks clients could face slower updates, reduced functionality, or new fees.
That creates extra work for accounting professionals - renegotiating client agreements, managing unexpected cost increases, and retraining teams on altered workflows.
Why Diversifying Payment Tools Protects Your Practice
Accounting professionals benefit from having more than one payment solution in their toolkit. Diversification reduces risk and provides flexibility for clients with different accounting setups.
Nickel’s accountant-focused features let you manage multiple client accounts from a single login, apply custom approval workflows, and maintain truly free ACH transfers - a sharp contrast to competitors introducing fees and caps. Offering these benefits can strengthen your value proposition and set your practice apart in a crowded market.
Questions Every Business Should Ask Right Now
Before Melio and Xero begin rolling out changes, ask yourself a few important questions to determine if staying put makes sense or if switching now will save headaches later.
How Much Are You Really Spending on Payments?
Look beyond subscription costs. Factor in credit card processing fees, check printing, and the staff time required to manage vendor payments. Many businesses discover they’re paying far more than expected once they account for all these hidden expenses.
Are You Over-Reliant on Melio’s Unique Features?
If your workflows depend on Melio-specific tools that could change post-acquisition, now is the time to find comparable alternatives. Testing other platforms ensures you won’t be blindsided by feature deprecations or interface overhauls.
What’s Your Backup Plan If Service Quality Drops?
Integrations often create short-term turbulence. Having a pre-vetted alternative like Nickel in place ensures uninterrupted payments and stable cash flow if Melio’s support response times slow or features shift unexpectedly.
Are You Getting the Best Value for Your Volume?
Businesses processing high monthly ACH volumes often save thousands annually with platforms like Nickel, which offer unlimited free transfers and flat-rate card processing. Compare your current total cost of payments against what competitors provide - the savings may surprise you.
The Bigger Picture: Market Consolidation and Your Options
The Melio-Xero deal is part of a larger trend in B2B payments: big players are buying up nimble fintechs to create all-in-one ecosystems.
Accounting software companies want to own the full financial workflow, from invoices to payments, while banks scramble to keep pace by building or acquiring their own fintech tools.
This wave of consolidation brings both promise and risk. On one hand, tighter integrations and richer feature sets can simplify life for small businesses. On the other hand, fewer players controlling more of the market means less competition, higher fees, and less flexibility when something changes. Smart business owners stay ahead by keeping their options open and avoiding dependence on any single platform.
Why Diversification Protects Your Business
The most resilient businesses do not rely on just one tool for every payment need. Instead, they create a mix: a primary platform for recurring vendor relationships and specialized tools for one-off transactions or high-value payments. This approach keeps costs predictable and minimizes disruption if one platform shifts pricing or features.
The Shift Toward Free ACH Payments
Free ACH transfers are no longer rare perks; they are becoming the new standard. Businesses can now send and receive bank transfers without caps, hidden fees, or waiting days for settlement. By adopting platforms that offer unlimited free ACH, companies slash payment costs while keeping workflows professional and scalable - an important edge as transaction volumes grow.
Taking Action: Your Next Steps
This acquisition announcement is your cue to review your payment strategy before integration changes ripple through the system. Acting early lets you evaluate alternatives on your terms instead of scrambling later.
Audit Your Current Costs
Start by mapping out your total payment expenses. Include subscription fees, credit card processing costs, check printing, and the labor hours spent managing vendor payments. Most businesses underestimate their true costs until they see the full picture.
Test Alternative Platforms Now
Modern payment tools make it easy to test-drive their systems without disrupting your existing setup. Process a few sample transactions, sync with your accounting software, and compare how each platform handles vendor onboarding, approvals, and reconciliation. This firsthand experience makes it clear which option actually fits your workflow.
Choose a Platform That Scales With You
Your payment needs today will not look the same a year from now. Pick a solution that can handle higher transaction volumes, more vendors, and growing complexity without forcing another costly transition down the line. Platforms like Nickel that are built for high-value B2B transactions often deliver this scalability out of the box.
The Bottom Line
The Melio-Xero acquisition marks a turning point for small business payments. While Melio users are promised continuity, history shows that major acquisitions often lead to pricing shifts, feature changes, and evolving platform priorities. Businesses relying on Melio should act now rather than react later.
Evaluating alternatives like Nickel allows you to secure free ACH transfers, scalable workflows, and QuickBooks-native integration before any disruptions begin.
Nickel’s focus on high-value B2B transactions and transparent pricing positions it as a standout replacement for companies that want predictable costs and reliable performance without waiting to see what changes Xero might roll out next.
Ready to find alternatives that eliminate ACH fees while maintaining professional payment capabilities? Get started with Nickel's free unlimited ACH transfers and see how much your business could save while reducing dependence on platforms undergoing major corporate changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Nickel Differ From Melio After the Acquisition?
Nickel is designed for high-value B2B payments, while Melio historically targeted broader small business use cases. With unlimited free ACH transfers, QuickBooks-native syncing, and support for transactions up to $1 million, Nickel provides cost savings and scalability that many companies may lose if Melio’s features or pricing change under Xero’s ownership.
What Industries Benefit Most From Switching to Nickel?
Nickel serves wholesale, distribution, construction, and manufacturing companies particularly well. These industries manage complex vendor networks, strict payment terms, and large invoices. Nickel’s vendor onboarding tools, approval workflows, and net terms management are purpose-built for these needs, making it a better fit than generalist payment platforms.
Will Nickel Continue to Offer Free ACH Transfers Long Term?
Unlimited free ACH transfers are a core feature of Nickel’s pricing model, not a temporary promotion. By keeping ACH free, Nickel positions itself as a cost-effective alternative to competitors introducing caps or hidden fees, which ensures businesses can predict expenses even as transaction volumes grow.
Can Nickel Handle Both Accounts Payable and Receivable?
Yes. Nickel unifies accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade credit into a single platform. Businesses can pay vendors, accept customer payments, and extend net terms without juggling multiple tools. This structure improves cash flow visibility and simplifies operations for companies processing high-value payments.
How Does Nickel Help With QuickBooks Reconciliation?
Nickel uses one-to-one settlement, meaning every transaction aligns directly with your QuickBooks records and bank statements. This eliminates batch deposit confusion and manual reconciliation errors. Real-time syncing ensures payments update instantly, saving finance teams hours each month and reducing the risk of reporting mistakes.
Is Now the Right Time to Switch From Melio to Nickel?
Switching early lets businesses evaluate Nickel’s workflows and migrate vendors before any Melio changes take effect under Xero. Acting now prevents rushed decisions if pricing or features shift and immediately provides cost savings through unlimited free ACH transfers and faster, more predictable payment processing.
