Founded by Ben Adler. Built for businesses that deserve better reputations.
Starworks was founded by Ben Adler in Melbourne after working at Betty's Burgers and seeing first-hand how crucial customer experience and reviews are. After running other small businesses too, we saw how just a few bad experiences going public can seriously impact reputation and sales, even when most customers are happy. That's why we built Starworks: a simple system that helps businesses consistently follow up, earn more positive reviews, and respond professionally when things go wrong.
We Tried the Existing Solutions. They Weren't Built for Us.
Before building Starworks, we looked at every reputation management platform on the market. The two biggest names — Podium and Birdeye — were enterprise tools with enterprise pricing. Great for chains with hundreds of locations, but a terrible fit for a local business that just wants more Google reviews.
Podium
$399+/mo USD- ✗12-month lock-in contracts with auto-renewal
- ✗D- rating on the Better Business Bureau
- ✗50+ bundled features most small businesses never use
- ✗No transparent pricing — requires a sales call
Birdeye
$299+/mo USD- ✗90-day cancellation notice required or you're locked in another year
- ✗Up to $1,500 in setup and onboarding fees
- ✗8% automatic price increase at every renewal
- ✗200+ integrations and 10+ AI tools — overwhelming for a local business
Priced for enterprise
Both platforms charge $300–800+/month — designed for multi-location chains, not a local cafe or tradie.
Trapped in contracts
12-month lock-ins, auto-renewals, and early termination fees. Cancel at the wrong time and you're stuck for another year.
Feature bloat
Payment processing, VoIP phones, social media management, referral marketing — all bundled in whether you need them or not.
Poor support, real complaints
BBB complaints about continued billing after cancellation, misleading sales practices, and support tickets going unanswered.
So we built something better.
Starworks does what Podium and Birdeye do for review management — AI-powered responses, automated SMS requests, smart review routing — for $49/month AUD. No contracts. No setup fees. No hidden price increases. Cancel anytime.
Managing Your Reputation Shouldn't Be a Second Job
Most local businesses don't have a reputation problem. They have a follow-up problem.
You deliver great service, but asking for reviews feels awkward, following up takes hours you don't have, negative reviews catch you off-guard, and responding professionally under pressure is hard.
Meanwhile, your competitors with dedicated marketing teams pull ahead. Not because they're better, but because they're more visible.
of customers never leave a review without being asked
Businesses spend per week managing reviews manually
Positive reviews needed to offset one negative review
Automation That Feels Human
We don't believe AI should replace your voice. It should amplify it. Starworks learns how you communicate, then handles the repetitive work: sending follow-ups at the right time, drafting responses that sound like you, and catching issues before they become public reviews. You stay in control. We handle the grunt work.
Set It and Forget It
Most platforms need constant babysitting. Ours runs in the background, requesting reviews automatically based on your schedule. You focus on your business.
AI That Learns Your Voice
During setup, we analyze how you talk to customers. Our AI drafts responses that match your tone, and you just approve or edit before sending.
Managed Service Option
Don't want to touch it at all? Our onboarding team sets up your first campaign for you. We configure templates, import customers, and guarantee results.
What Drives Us
Guarantee Results, Not Promises
We don't say 'increase your reviews'. We guarantee results. Our platform automates review requests and AI-powered responses to grow your reputation on autopilot.
Built for Busy Owners
You shouldn't need a manual. Setup takes under 10 minutes. Most customers never log in again because the system just works.
No Vendor Lock-In
Cancel anytime. Export your data anytime. Your customer list and review history belong to you, always.
Australian, Through and Through
Built in Melbourne for Australian businesses. We understand local business challenges, the stress, and the importance of genuine relationships with customers.
Perfect for Local Service Businesses
We built Starworks for businesses where reputation directly impacts revenue:
Gyms & Fitness
Turn every happy member into a 5-star review
Cafes & Restaurants
Build a reputation that fills tables
Allied Health
Let patient satisfaction speak for itself
Trades & Services
Win more jobs with social proof
Beauty & Wellness
Grow your client base through word-of-mouth
Who we might not be for
If you're a large enterprise with a dedicated marketing team, you might outgrow us (though many stay). We work best for businesses with 5-100 employees who want more reviews without more work.
Ready to see how it works?
Questions? Email us at support@starworks.com.au