Leaving Hnry? What you need to run your own books in NZ
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 grows with you
Hnry charges 1% plus GST of income received, capped at $1,500 plus GST per year (as of June 2026). At $50k income that is roughly $500/yr - reasonable for the value. At $100k it is $1,000/yr. At $150k+ you hit the $1,500 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 all self-employed income through a 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 bank. Some sole traders find this creates a disconnect from their own cashflow and find it harder to understand where they actually stand financially.
Wanting more control
Once you understand how GST and provisional tax 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 for the annual return.
Support wait times
Hnry has grown fast. A common complaint in NZ founder communities is that support response times have stretched. If you hit an issue with an invoice or a tax deduction, waiting a day or two for a reply is frustrating when it is your livelihood. Sole traders who want faster answers often prefer to own the whole process themselves.
Fair credit where it is due
Hnry is a well-built product. It calculates, pays, and files income tax, GST, and ACC for you 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
Four 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 invoices, sends them to clients, and tracks who has paid.
Tool
Invio - free to start, $5/mo Pro. GST-ready 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 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. Invio stores everything for year-end and exports a CSV your accountant can use. A dedicated business bank account still helps keep personal and business spending separate.
Tool
Invio Expense & Receipt Capture - free on every plan. 8 NZ-friendly categories (materials, fuel & vehicle, tools, and more), GST-aware, financial-year totals, one-click CSV export.
Tax set-aside and filing
What Hnry did
Deducted income tax, GST, and ACC from each payment automatically. Filed your returns via their team of accountants. You never touched IRD directly.
How you handle it now
Set aside roughly 20-30% of every payment into a separate savings account. Register for GST on myIR if applicable. Pay provisional tax in three instalments per year. File your end-of-year return via myIR or with an accountant.
Tool
IRD myIR for GST returns + provisional tax. A chartered accountant for the annual return. Use the NZ income tax calculator to know how much to set aside.
Is leaving Hnry right for you?
Leave Hnry if you...
Want control over your own numbers and cashflow
Are comfortable setting aside tax (or have an accountant who handles it)
Earn enough that the 1% cut is noticeable - or you are approaching the $1,500 cap
Want to keep income landing directly in your own bank account
Are happy to pay a flat-rate invoicing tool + an accountant for the annual return
Stay on Hnry if you...
Want your tax completely handled with no effort
Find tax stressful or confusing and prefer not to think about it
Are in your first year of self-employment and learning the ropes
Earn under $50k/year and the fee is small relative to the admin time saved
Do not have a good accountant relationship yet
What you pay at different income levels
| Annual income | Hnry fee (1% + GST, capped $1,500 + GST) | Invio flat fee (invoicing only) |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | ~$345/yr (incl. GST) | $0/yr (Free plan) |
| $50,000 | ~$575/yr (incl. GST) | $60/yr (Pro at $5/mo) |
| $80,000 | ~$920/yr (incl. GST) | $60/yr (Pro at $5/mo) |
| $120,000 | ~$1,380/yr (incl. GST) | $60/yr (Pro at $5/mo) |
| $150,000+ | $1,725/yr (cap incl. GST) | $60/yr (Pro at $5/mo) |
Important: this is not a like-for-like comparison. Hnry's fee includes income tax payment and filing, GST filing, and ACC management - none of which Invio provides. If you leave Hnry, you will need to budget separately for an accountant (typically $400-$1,200/yr for a sole trader annual return) and your own time managing tax obligations. The table above shows invoicing cost only.
Hnry pricing shown is current as of June 2026 - check hnry.co.nz for the latest.
Common questions about leaving Hnry
Can I leave Hnry mid-year?
Who does my tax if I leave Hnry?
Do I have to use Xero after leaving Hnry?
How do I know how much tax 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 Hnry directly: Invio vs Hnry. Considering Xero as your next tool? Invio vs Xero. Need to know how much tax to set aside? NZ income tax calculator.
Start invoicing free - no percentage cut
Invio covers the invoicing and expense side of what Hnry did - GST-ready invoices, quotes, payment tracking, automated reminders, and expense & receipt capture - at a flat $0-$5/month. You keep your own bank and handle tax your own way.
Free plan - no credit card required - flat pricing forever