Case Study

Solbevi: Turning Premium Spirits into Premium Rewards

Discover how Solbevi are turning Australia’s biggest tax bill into Business Class rewards through better payments systems.

Pay.com.au business payments platform dashboard interface

Rewarded on excise tax

Paid high alcohol tax bills with Amex, unlocking valuable Membership Rewards that were previously missed.

Double Stacked Every Payment

Earned full Amex credit card rewards plus PayRewards Points on supplier and tax payments.

Flew Business, Grew the Business

Used points to fly Business Class – saving on travel while opening new business opportunities.

Solbevi is a premium beverage company specialising in authentic limoncello, including Australia’s first limoncello in a can.

INDUSTRY FMCG
LOCATION Melbourne, Australia

How they used pay.com.au

AMEX RewardsEarn AMEX points for business transactions
Qantas PointsEarn Qantas points for business transactions
PayRewardsRedeem points for travel, gifts, experiences

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Background

Solbevi is an Australian spirits brand, making limoncello products using traditional methods and vibrant citrus flavours that honour Italian heritage. What started as a passion for authentic spirits quickly evolved into a modern, fast-growing beverage business – including the groundbreaking launch of Australia’s first ever limoncello in a can.

The Challenge

High Alcohol Tax Costs: Excise tax, the highest in Australia, placed ongoing pressure on cash flow, especially as volumes grew.

Limited Payment Efficiencies: Paying large bills through traditional methods was slow and cumbersome, costing time that could be spent on customers and production.

Reward Opportunities Left Behind: Significant payments weren’t earning credit card rewards or points, limiting the ability to offset costs elsewhere in the business.

Frequent Customer Travel: Regular travel to meet venues, distributors, and partners added up quickly, with rising flight costs and no easy way to reduce spend.

"We pay hefty tax bills every month for Excise tax – highest tax in all of Australia being in spirits. They really hurt you financially. At least putting it on your credit card, firstly buys you some more time, but then I get the points through pay.com.au."

Stefan Di Benedetto Founder at Solbevi

How pay.com.au helped Solbevi

Pay Large Bills: With pay.com.au, Solbevi can now pay alcohol tax using an American Express card, earning full Amex rewards plus PayRewards Points on every payment.

Faster, Simpler Payments: What used to be a time-consuming process is now done in three simple steps, making day-to-day operations smoother and more efficient.

Improved Cash Flow: Using Amex for major expenses gives Solbevi extra breathing room with extended credit card terms, easing cash flow pressures during peak periods.

Rewards That Go Further: Every payment now earns valuable points, which Solbevi uses to fund Business Class flights with Qantas, reducing travel costs and supporting ongoing customer visits.

The Results

Substantial Cost Savings on Travel: Solbevi now flies Business Class to Europe and across Australia using points instead of cash, turning unavoidable tax and supplier payments into premium travel experiences.

More Time Back: Simplified payment workflows save hours each month, allowing more time to focus on sales, product growth, and customer relationships.

Better Cash Flow Management: Extended credit card terms provide smoother financial planning, creating breathing room during heavy tax cycles and production surges.

New Business Opportunities: A conversation on a Qantas Business Class flight, booked on points, led to Solbevi being served in Business Class cabins, opening powerful new exposure and distribution.

"For me, points has always been about, I'm spending the money anyway, might as well let my bills work for me."

Stefan Di Benedetto Founder of Solbevi

Getting started with pay.com.au

For spirits brands with large tax bills and production costs, pay.com.au is more than a payment platform. It simplifies operations, eases cashflow pressures, and turns everyday business expenses into powerful rewards.

Businesses not using pay.com.au are leaving value on the table in efficiency, in rewards, and in the ability to reinvest time and resources back into their growth. “You’d be silly not to start using pay.com.au”.