If you’re currently using Hnry and thinking about switching to Solo, you’re not alone.
One of the most common things we hear from sole traders is:
“Hnry was fine when I started, but now I want more control over my money and tax.”
The good news is that switching from Hnry to Solo is straightforward, and you can move across at any time during the tax year.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
- the key differences between Hnry and Solo
- why sole traders switch
- how tax works when leaving Hnry
- and how to get set up with Solo.
Hnry vs Solo — what’s the difference?
Both Hnry and Solo are designed to help New Zealand sole traders manage tax. But they take very different approaches.
Hnry handles your tax for you
With Hnry:
- your clients pay into a Hnry bank account
- Hnry deducts tax and fees before paying you
- Hnry files tax returns on your behalf
- Hnry acts as your tax agent.
For many people, this works well when they’re first starting out. But over time, some sole traders start wanting:
- more visibility over their finances
- more flexibility
- lower fees
- and more control over their own money.
That’s where Solo comes in.
Solo helps you confidently manage tax yourself
Solo is built around a simple idea:
Sole traders can absolutely manage their own tax — with the right tools.
Instead of taking control of your income and tax money, Solo gives you live tax calculations, simple filing tools, and clear guidance so you can stay in control yourself.
With Solo:
- you get paid directly into your own bank account
- your tax money stays with you until it’s due
- tax is calculated live as you earn and spend
- you file directly with the IRD
- and you pay a flat monthly subscription instead of a percentage of your income.
For many sole traders, that means:
- lower costs as income grows
- better cash flow
- and a clearer understanding of how their business actually works.
“We’ve just moved over from using Hnry and are so impressed with Solo – it’s easier to use, so much more logical and we like that we don’t have to get our clients to pay us into a random Hnry bank account!”
Why sole traders switch from Hnry to Solo
Every business is different, but these are some of the most common reasons people switch.
1. Hnry’s percentage fee becomes expensive
Hnry charges a percentage of your income. That can feel reasonable when you’re just getting started, but as your income grows, the fees can become significant.
Solo charges a flat monthly subscription instead. That means your costs stay predictable no matter how much you earn.
How much can you save with Solo?
Based on Solo’s Premium yearly subscription. All amounts exclude GST.
2. You want control over your tax money
With Hnry, tax is automatically deducted before you’re paid.
With Solo, the money stays in your account until tax is actually due.
Many sole traders prefer this because:
- they can earn interest on the money
- offset their mortgage
- improve cash flow
- have access to their tax money in an emergency
- and have more visibility over what’s happening.
Solo still calculates your tax live, so you always know how much should be set aside.
3. You want to understand your business finances
A lot of sole traders eventually want more visibility into:
- profit
- expenses
- GST
- income tax
- ACC
- and cash flow.
Solo is designed to make tax understandable, not hidden away behind a managed service. You can see your numbers update live as transactions come in.
4. You don’t want to rely on a tax agent
Hnry acts as your tax agent and files returns for you.
Solo takes a different approach. We generate all the figures and guide you through filing directly with the IRD yourself. For many sole traders, this becomes surprisingly simple once they have the right tools. And if you ever need help, our support team is here to assist.
“I am loving this app after HNRY ”
What happens to the tax you paid to Hnry?
This is usually the biggest concern people have when switching.
The short version is: You do not lose the tax money you paid through Hnry.
When you leave Hnry:
- some tax may already have been paid to the IRD on your behalf
- and any remaining tax money held by Hnry is generally refunded back to you.
Depending on the timing, this can include income tax, GST and ACC amounts.
If income tax payments have already been made to the IRD, those payments can still be recognised in Solo so your tax calculations remain accurate.
Is it difficult to switch?
Not at all. Most people can get fully set up in under an hour. The basic process is:
Step 1: Create your Solo account
Sign up and connect your bank account. Solo will automatically import your transactions.
Step 2: Categorise your income and expenses
Solo calculates tax using:
- your bank transactions
- and IRD income data for pre-taxed income.
You generally do not need to recreate all your old invoices from Hnry.
Step 3: Connect your IRD account
Solo can automatically sync any pre-taxed income sources, such as salary, wages, schedular payments or bank interest, directly from the IRD. No data entry needed.
Step 4: Enter any business assets
If you depreciate assets, simply recreate them in Solo so depreciation can continue automatically.
Step 5: Start tracking tax live
Once your transactions are categorised, Solo will begin calculating GST, income tax, provisional tax and ACC live throughout the year.
Can you use Solo and Hnry at the same time?
Yes. Many users run Solo alongside Hnry temporarily while getting comfortable with the switch.
This can be a great way to:
- compare calculations
- learn how your tax works
- and transition gradually.
Is Solo right for everyone?
Probably not. If you want a completely hands-off managed tax service where someone else controls everything for you and you’re happy to pay extra, Hnry may still be a better fit.
But if you:
- want more control
- want to understand your finances
- want to keep more of your money
- and like the idea of confidently managing your own tax
then Solo may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Final thoughts
For many sole traders, Hnry is a good starting point. But over time, a lot of people outgrow the managed-service model and want something more flexible, transparent, and cost effective.
That’s what Solo was built for. Simple tools. Live tax calculations. No percentage fees. And complete control over your own business finances.
If you’re thinking about switching from Hnry to Solo, we’d love to help.
Start your free trial or contact us if you have any questions.
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