# Accounting cost analysis — three illustrative Australian scenarios

Observed / calculated: 2026-09-11, Australia/Sydney  
Method: original calculation from sourced listed prices (integer cents).  
Not: a product ranking, a review score, a paid-app test, or a claim about unpublished promotional checkout totals.

Pilot products: Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online.

## Scenarios

1. Sole trader — GST-registered, BAS lodgement, no employees paid.
2. Five-person employer — five people paid each month; five published user seats where a numeric cap exists.
3. Growing business needing documented multi-currency — payroll not required.

## GST and currency

All listed prices used here are AUD including GST. Totals are not converted.

## Recurring versus introductory

12- and 24-month totals use standard monthly listed prices (Then-price / after-offer / price-update table). Public introductory offers conflicted on every vendor (Xero 90% off 3 months vs one month free; MYOB card vs legal ongoing; QuickBooks 70% for 6 months vs 3 months vs 50% for 12 months). Checkout was not started. Introductory 12-month totals are unknown.

## Independently calculated expected totals (monthly billed)

Sole trader: Xero Ignite 3700×12=44400, 3700×24=88800; MYOB Lite 3500×12=42000, 3500×24=84000; QuickBooks Simple Start 3300×12=39600, 3300×24=79200.

Five-person employer: Xero Comprehensive 10700×12=128400, 10700×24=256800; MYOB Pro 7000+(300×5)=8500, 8500×12=102000, 8500×24=204000; QuickBooks Plus 8400+(600×5)=11400, 11400×12=136800, 11400×24=273600.

Growing multi-currency: Xero Comprehensive 10700×12=128400, 10700×24=256800; MYOB Premier 21000×12=252000, 21000×24=504000; QuickBooks Essentials 6000×12=72000, 6000×24=144000.

## What these totals are not

Not a blanket winner. Not a fabricated review score. Plans differ on invoice caps, users, payroll inclusion and desktop vs cloud. See `/guides/accounting-cost-comparison`.