Make It Cheaper
Zembl is an Australian business energy comparison and procurement platform that helps commercial and SMB customers compare, negotiate, and switch gas and electricity plans via expert-led consultation, an in-house Energy Intelligence Platform, and a panel of 12+ retail energy partners. Founded ~2010 in Sydney, it has served 30,000+ Australian businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Make It Cheaper does
Zembl is a privately held Australian business energy comparison and procurement platform founded around 2010 (per company history; firmographics note 2009) and headquartered in Sydney. The company serves Australian businesses across two distinct segments: smaller businesses (under $3,000/month energy bills) via a 10-minute expert-led bill comparison and switching service, and larger commercial customers (over $3,000/month) via dedicated procurement, multi-site management, energy efficiency consulting, and ongoing advisory relationships. Its product suite spans Commercial Energy Procurement, Business Energy Bill Comparison, Multi-site Business Energy Advice, Energy Intelligence Insights (continuous meter data analysis), Energy Efficiency Consulting, Solar & Batteries, and Re-Zembl (an existing-customer review service).
The underlying technology consists of an Energy Intelligence Platform that performs continuous meter data analysis to generate efficiency roadmaps for commercial customers, complemented by a Commercial Electricity Tendering System for procurement workflows. The company pairs this technology with a human expert-led inside-sales GTM motion, distributing services through obligation-free callbacks (phone), an online self-serve intake portal, and dedicated account management for enterprise clients. Monetization is driven primarily by commissions from a panel of 12+ retail energy partners (A GL, Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia, Shell Energy, Engie, OVO Energy, Smartest Energy, Flo Energy, nectr, Momentum Energy, Next Business Energy, BlueNRG) when customers switch via the platform, supplemented by ongoing advisory and energy efficiency consulting revenue from larger commercial contracts.
Zembl is B Corp certified, a signatory to multiple National Customer Codes (for Energy Brokers/Consultants/Retailers and for Energy Comparators & Energy Moving Services) and the Energy Comparator Code of Conduct, and lists itself as serving 30,000+ Australian businesses over its operational history. The company operates exclusively in the Australian market, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and 51-100 employees per firmographic records.
Make It Cheaper firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Make It Cheaper
- Legal name
- Zembl
- Website
- https://makeitcheaper.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Zembl is an Australian business energy comparison and procurement platform that helps commercial and SMB customers compare, negotiate, and switch gas and electricity plans via expert-led consultation, an in-house Energy Intelligence Platform, and a panel of 12+ retail energy partners. Founded ~2010 in Sydney, it has served 30,000+ Australian businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Make It Cheaper industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Energy Brokerage
- SIC
- Gas & Other Services Combined (4932)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auto-Switching & Price Comparison Platforms (EUAGAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bill Auditing, Tariff Analysis & Utility Cost Optimization (EUAGAEAF), Energy Supplier Partner Networks / White-Label Brokerage Programs (EUAGAEAK), Supplier Tendering / RFP Management & Contract Negotiation Services (EUAGAEAE)
Keywords
Where Make It Cheaper is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Make It Cheaper business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Energy Procurement Commission: Zembl earns commissions from retail energy partners when customers switch providers through their platform. The company compares, negotiates and secures competitive rates for businesses.
- Energy Advisory Services: Ongoing expert services beyond the initial bill, including continuous plan optimization and energy efficiency consulting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Smaller businesses (under $3,000/month energy bill) - Bill comparison service |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Larger businesses (over $3,000/month energy bill) - Commercial energy procurement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Make It Cheaper product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Make It Cheaper (now operating as Zembl) is a free, dedicated price comparison and switching service for Australian businesses. The company connects commercial customers with retail energy partners, comparing and negotiating electricity plans on their behalf, and provides ongoing procurement and energy efficiency advisory services across a network of 13 retail energy partners.
Product overview
Zembl is a commercial and business energy comparison and procurement platform offering a suite of interconnected services. The core offerings include Commercial Energy Procurement for larger businesses (over $3,000/month) and Business Energy Bill Comparison for smaller businesses (under $3,000/month). Supporting services include Multi-site Business Energy Advice, Energy Intelligence Insights (with continuous meter data analysis), Energy Efficiency Consulting, Solar & Batteries, and Re-Zembl for existing customer reviews. The platform combines expert consultation with technology-driven analytics to help businesses compare, negotiate, and secure competitive energy rates while providing ongoing efficiency optimization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 26% cost reduction for commercial customer (WF Energy Controls)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Make It Cheaper
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Make It Cheaper technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Make It Cheaper partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Flo EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- OVO EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- nectrcoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- Smartest EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- Shell EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- Origin EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- Next Business EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- Momentum EnergycoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- EngiecoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- EnergyAustraliacoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- BlueNRGcoreRetail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- AGLcoreMajor Australian retail energy partner in Zembl's network offering competitive energy plans to businesses through Zembl's procurement services.
- National Customer Code for Energy Brokers, Consultants and RetailerscoreRegulatory partnership where Zembl is a signatory, demonstrating commitment to ethical standards and customer protection in energy brokerage.
- Energy Comparator Code of ConductcoreRegulatory partnership where Zembl is a signatory to the Energy Comparator Code of Conduct, ensuring compliance with industry standards for comparison services.
- Strata Energy ServicesminorPartner for strata/building energy services, linked from Zembl website navigation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Make It Cheaper competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Make It Cheaper (UK): UK-based business energy comparison and switching service operating the same brand family as the Australian entity; uses a commission-based model connecting businesses to retail energy suppliers, making it the closest direct functional analogue.
- iSelect: Australian comparison platform covering energy, broadband, and insurance; competes head-to-head with Zembl in the SMB energy-switch funnel and serves overlapping customer segments.
- CovaU: Australian energy retailer that also runs a comparison-style acquisition funnel for small commercial customers; partially overlaps with Zembl's procurement service as both an indirect partner and a competitor.
- Compare the Market Australia: Australian energy and insurance comparison brand with switching functionality for small businesses and consumers; direct competitor for the SMB bill-comparison use case Zembl addresses.
- Selectra Australia: Energy comparison and switching service active in Australia offering both consumer and business energy comparisons; competes in the same bill-comparison and procurement workflows as Zembl.
Emerging players
- Canstar Blue: Australian comparison and ratings platform that includes energy plans in its reviews and rankings; overlapping audience with Zembl but a different monetisation model (lead referral rather than full-service procurement).
- Strata Energy Services: Australian energy broker focused on strata/building-managed properties; already linked from Zembl's site navigation and addresses an adjacent commercial segment (strata committees vs. owner-operators).
Broad incumbents
- Origin Energy: Major Australian integrated energy retailer with a substantial business energy sales team; competes with Zembl for large commercial customers while also being a partner that pays commissions when Zembl switches customers to Origin.
- AGL Energy: Largest Australian retail energy provider and one of Zembl's listed channel partners; offers its own commercial energy sales and account management that overlaps with Zembl's procurement service for larger businesses.
- EnergyAustralia: One of Australia's 'Big 3' retailers with dedicated commercial energy account management; competes for the same large-business procurement mandate as Zembl's commercial tier.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Make It Cheaper social profiles
Digital presenceMake It Cheaper compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Make It Cheaper financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Make It Cheaper leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Make It Cheaper funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Make It Cheaper M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Make It Cheaper
What does Make It Cheaper do?
Make It Cheaper (now operating as Zembl) is a free, dedicated price comparison and switching service for Australian businesses. The company connects commercial customers with retail energy partners, comparing and negotiating electricity plans on their behalf, and provides ongoing procurement and energy efficiency advisory services across a network of 13 retail energy partners.
Is Make It Cheaper a public or private company?
Make It Cheaper is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Make It Cheaper founded?
Make It Cheaper was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Make It Cheaper based?
Make It Cheaper is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Make It Cheaper make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Energy Procurement Commission is the primary driver. The others are energy Advisory Services.
Who are Make It Cheaper's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Make It Cheaper (UK), iSelect, CovaU, Compare the Market Australia and Selectra Australia. Emerging players are Canstar Blue and Strata Energy Services. Broad incumbents are Origin Energy, AGL Energy and EnergyAustralia.
Does Make It Cheaper have an API?
No public API is recorded for Make It Cheaper.
What industry is Make It Cheaper in?
Make It Cheaper's product category is Commercial Energy Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAGAEAD, Auto-Switching & Price Comparison Platforms, with a secondary code of EUAGAEAF, Bill Auditing, Tariff Analysis & Utility Cost Optimization. Its SIC code is 4932.