Handl + MYOB: The Complete Agency Finance Stack
Built to Work Together
If you are an Australian or New Zealand agency comparing Handl and MYOB, the answer is straightforward: use both. MYOB handles your accounting — BAS lodgement, GST, payroll, bank reconciliation, and everything the ATO needs from you. Handl handles the client-facing side — proposals, milestone invoices, automated payment reminders, scope management, and a client portal.
MYOB has been the backbone of Australian small business accounting since the early 1990s. It knows Australian tax compliance inside out. But it was never designed to manage how agencies bill for complex project work. There is no milestone billing, no change order workflow, and the invoicing is basic line-item style.
Handl integrates natively with MYOB. Your billing data flows into your books automatically. No double entry, no CSV exports, no reconciliation headaches.
How they stack up
An honest look at where each tool wins.
| Feature | Handl | MYOB |
|---|---|---|
| Milestone-based billing | ✅ | ❌ |
| Automated payment reminders (AI) | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic only |
| Client portal | ✅ | ❌ |
| Digital signatures | ✅ | ❌ |
| Change order management | ✅ | ❌ |
| PM tool integrations | ✅ | ❌ |
| BAS/GST compliance | ❌ By design | ✅ |
| Single Touch Payroll | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bank reconciliation | ❌ By design | ✅ |
| Starting price | $29/mo flat | $13/mo |
| Per-seat pricing | ❌ Flat rate | ❌ Flat rate |
See the difference for yourself
Try Handl free for 14 days — no credit card, no commitment.
Simple pricing vs. per-seat costs
One flat price for your whole team, or pay more for every person who touches an invoice.
- Business Lite: basics + GST
- Business Pro: + payroll
- AccountRight Plus: advanced
- Single Touch Payroll
- BAS/GST compliance
- Australian accountant standard
What are our strengths?
Both tools do some things really well. Here's where each one shines.
- Milestone billing. Bill when project phases complete, not on arbitrary dates. MYOB has no concept of deliverable-linked invoicing.
- AI-driven payment reminders. Automatic, intelligent follow-ups that handle the awkward chasing for you. MYOB reminders are manual and basic.
- Client portal. Clients see proposals, invoices, and project status in one place. MYOB has no client-facing view.
- Change order management. Log scope changes, get approval, and bill accordingly. MYOB has no scope management.
- PM tool integrations. Connect Jira, Asana, Monday directly to your billing. MYOB connects to nothing project-related.
- Digital signatures on proposals. Send a quote, get it signed digitally, start work. No PDF chains.
- Revenue forecasting. See what is coming in before it arrives. MYOB reports on what already happened.
- Project health scoring. AI flags at-risk projects before they blow the budget. MYOB has no project-level intelligence.
- BAS and GST compliance. Built specifically for Australian tax requirements. Handl does not handle tax lodgement — MYOB does it natively.
- Single Touch Payroll. Compliant payroll with direct ATO reporting. Essential for any Australian business with employees.
- Bank reconciliation. Automatic bank feeds with smart categorisation. Keeps your books accurate with minimal effort.
- Accountant familiarity. Most Australian accountants know MYOB. The advisor portal gives them direct access to your books.
- 30+ years in the AU market. Deeply embedded in Australian business culture. Lenders and the ATO trust MYOB data.
- Inventory management. Track stock levels, costs, and reorder points. Useful for agencies that also sell physical products.
- Full double-entry accounting. Proper general ledger and financial statements that meet Australian accounting standards.
- Local support. Australian-based support team that understands local business requirements and compliance nuances.
When to choose each tool
Choose the right tool based on how your agency bills and what problems you're solving.
When to choose
Handl
Choose Handl if your main frustration is the billing workflow, not the accounting. If you are writing proposals, breaking projects into milestones, dealing with scope creep, or spending time chasing clients for payment — Handl automates all of that.
The native MYOB integration means your billing data flows directly into your books. You do not give up MYOB — you add Handl on top. Your accountant still sees clean MYOB data at BAS time. You just stop doing manual invoice creation and payment follow-ups.
For Australian agencies growing past 2-3 people, the flat $29/month pricing makes more financial sense than trying to force MYOB's basic invoicing to handle complex project billing. And if your team uses Jira, Asana, or Monday, Handl connects your delivery to your billing in a way MYOB cannot.
When to choose
MYOB
MYOB is the right choice if you need Australian-compliant accounting software. BAS lodgement, GST calculations, Single Touch Payroll, and ATO integration are all built in. If those are your primary needs, MYOB does them better than almost any alternative in the Australian market.
It is also the right choice if your billing is simple. If you invoice the same clients monthly for retainer work, or if your projects do not involve milestones, scope changes, or multiple deliverable phases, MYOB handles basic invoicing fine. Not every business needs the complexity Handl offers.
And if your accountant is already on MYOB, staying in their ecosystem has real value. BAS time, year-end reviews, and financial planning are all smoother when everyone works in the same tool. The relationship with your accountant matters more than the software features — and most Australian accountants know MYOB inside out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Handl and MYOB together?
Yes — Handl integrates natively with MYOB. Invoice and payment data syncs automatically so your books stay accurate without manual data entry.
Does Handl replace MYOB?
No. Handl handles client-facing billing — proposals, milestone invoicing, payment reminders, client portal. MYOB handles accounting — BAS, GST, payroll, bank reconciliation. Use both for the complete picture.
Is Handl compliant with Australian tax requirements?
Handl generates invoices with ABN, GST amounts, and all required Australian invoice fields. The tax compliance and lodgement side is handled by MYOB once the data syncs across.
Does MYOB have milestone billing?
No. MYOB has standard line-item invoicing. You cannot tie invoices to project phases or trigger billing when deliverables are completed.
What if my accountant only uses MYOB?
That is fine — Handl pushes data into MYOB. Your accountant sees clean, accurate financial data in the tool they already know.
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