Leaving Hnry? What you need to run your own books in Australia
Hnry is genuinely good at what it does. But if you are ready to take back control - and stop paying a percentage of every dollar you earn - this guide maps exactly what you take on and which tools cover each gap.
Free plan - flat pricing - keep your own bank
Why sole traders leave Hnry
Hnry earns genuine loyalty. But as income grows, the tradeoffs start to show.
The 1% cut (plus GST) grows with you
Hnry charges 1% plus GST of income received into your Hnry account, capped at A$1,500 plus GST per year - an effective ceiling of about A$1,650/yr once GST is added. At A$50k income that is roughly A$550/yr - reasonable for the value. At A$100k it is around A$1,100/yr. At A$150k+ you hit the cap. The more you earn, the better the cap looks - but many sole traders realise the cost scales faster than they expected in the early years.
Losing visibility of your own numbers
Hnry routes every payment into your own Hnry Account before paying you the net amount - that is how it deducts tax automatically. But it also means your real income does not land directly in your own bank. Some sole traders find this creates a disconnect from their cashflow and makes it harder to see where they actually stand.
Wanting more control
Once you understand how GST, BAS, and PAYG instalments work, managing them yourself stops feeling scary. Many sole traders who have been on Hnry for a year or two realise they have learned enough to handle it - and would rather keep the fee and work with an accountant directly.
Wanting your own accountant relationship
Hnry files your return through its own in-house team. Some business owners would rather build an ongoing relationship with a tax or BAS agent they choose themselves - one who knows their industry and can advise beyond just lodgement.
Fair credit where it is due
Hnry is a well-built product. It calculates, deducts, and lodges your income tax and GST automatically - with no effort on your part. If you value zero-admin above all else, and the 1% fee feels worth it, stay. This guide is for people who have decided the tradeoff no longer works for them.
What Hnry handled - and who handles it now
Five jobs Hnry did quietly in the background. Here is exactly how to cover each one yourself.
Invoicing
What Hnry did
Created and sent invoices on your behalf, branded with your details.
How you handle it now
Use an invoicing tool that generates GST-ready tax invoices with your ABN, sends them to clients, and tracks who has paid.
Tool
Invio - free to start, A$19/mo Pro. GST-ready tax invoices, quotes, card payment acceptance.
Payment tracking
What Hnry did
Knew when clients paid because payments landed in the Hnry account. Sent automatic reminders on overdue invoices.
How you handle it now
Track which invoices have been paid and set up automated reminders for overdue ones - so you are not manually chasing every client.
Tool
Invio - payment status dashboard + auto-reminders free to start, unlimited on Pro. Or see the overdue invoice guide.
Expense tracking
What Hnry did
Let you log business expenses inside the Hnry app so they were factored into your tax calculation automatically.
How you handle it now
Snap a photo of each receipt on your phone and log the expense inside Invio - vendor, date, category, and GST. A dedicated business bank account still helps keep personal and business spending separate.
Tool
Invio Expense & Receipt Capture - free on every plan, GST-aware, one-click CSV export for your accountant.
Seeing your own numbers
What Hnry did
Provided income summaries inside the Hnry dashboard, but only for income routed through Hnry.
How you handle it now
You get a full picture of your own money - earned vs received vs owed, who still owes you (worst overdue first), and roughly what to set aside for GST.
Tool
Invio Owner Money Reports - free on every plan. Month, quarter, or financial-year view.
BAS and tax lodgement
What Hnry did
Deducted income tax and GST from each payment automatically. Lodged your BAS and end-of-year return via its own team. You never touched the ATO directly.
How you handle it now
Set aside a portion of every payment for income tax and GST. Register for GST with the ATO once your turnover passes A$75,000. Lodge your BAS (usually quarterly) and file your end-of-year tax return via myGov or with a registered tax agent.
Tool
The ATO's online services (via myGov) for BAS and GST lodgement, plus a registered tax or BAS agent for the annual return. Use the free GST calculator to check the 10% GST component on any invoice.
Is leaving Hnry right for you?
Leave Hnry if you...
Want control over your own numbers and cashflow
Are comfortable setting aside tax and GST (or have an accountant who handles it)
Earn enough that the 1% cut is noticeable - or you are approaching the A$1,500 cap
Want to keep income landing directly in your own bank account
Are happy to pay a flat-rate invoicing tool plus a tax or BAS agent
Stay on Hnry if you...
Want your tax and GST completely handled with no effort
Find BAS and tax lodgement stressful and prefer not to think about it
Are in your first year of self-employment and learning the ropes
Earn under A$50k/year and the fee is small relative to the admin time saved
Do not have a good tax agent relationship yet
What you pay at different income levels
| Annual income | Hnry fee (1% + GST, capped A$1,500 + GST) | Invio flat fee (invoicing only) |
|---|---|---|
| A$30,000 | ~A$330/yr (incl. GST) | A$0/yr (Free plan) |
| A$50,000 | ~A$550/yr (incl. GST) | A$228/yr (Pro at A$19/mo) |
| A$80,000 | ~A$880/yr (incl. GST) | A$228/yr (Pro at A$19/mo) |
| A$120,000 | ~A$1,320/yr (incl. GST) | A$228/yr (Pro at A$19/mo) |
| A$150,000+ | A$1,650/yr (cap incl. GST) | A$228/yr (Pro at A$19/mo) |
Important: this is not a like-for-like comparison. Hnry's fee includes income tax payment and BAS/GST lodgement - neither of which Invio provides. If you leave Hnry, you will need to budget separately for a registered tax or BAS agent and your own time managing those obligations. The table above shows invoicing cost only.
Hnry AU pricing shown (1% + GST, capped at A$1,500 + GST/yr) is current as of July 2026 - check hnry.com.au/pricing for the latest.
Common questions about leaving Hnry
Can I leave Hnry mid-year?
Who does my BAS and tax return if I leave Hnry?
Do I have to use Xero after leaving Hnry?
How do I know how much tax and GST to set aside?
Is Invio a Hnry replacement?
What happens to my invoices and data when I leave Hnry?
See how Invio stacks up against another Australian sole-trader tool: Invio vs Rounded. Need to know exactly what an ATO tax invoice requires? AU tax invoice requirements. Check a GST amount before you send: free GST calculator.
Start invoicing free - no percentage cut
Invio covers the invoicing and expense side of what Hnry did - GST-ready tax invoices, quotes, payment tracking, automated reminders, expense & receipt capture, and Owner Money Reports - at a flat A$0-A$19/month. You keep your own bank and handle BAS your own way.
Free plan - no credit card required - flat pricing forever