I had an interesting discussion with my bookkeeper yesterday when she was doing the books for me. You see I use MYOB AccountRight Plus in my business to handle all the things I need. I’ve used it now for 6 years and in that time it’s worked well. In the early days I had need of support and I found the MYOB support was quite good.
I got a renewal notice in the mail in which they asked me to renew my MYOB Cover at a cost of $714.00. That’s funny I thought, I was sure I’d seen that you could buy MYOB AccountRight Plus for less than that. A quick check of Harris Technology website indeed showed that you can get it for $678. A further search on the internet showed I can get it for as low as $599 if I wanted. I asked my bookkeeper why should I renew the MYOB Cover and why not just go and buy the software again given the price they were charging. My bookkeeper basically told me that for my use, the only thing I needed was the tax tables which were provided in the updates. I honestly didn’t need any of the new features and in fact based on what I’ve heard out there in the community, the newer version was in fact causing many people big problems as it lacked many of the reports that the older version had and needed quite a bit of training to get things running. I decided at that point that I didn’t think it worthwhile to spend the $ on the MYOB Cover when in fact we could update the tax tables manually.
Coincidentally, today I received an email from MYOB with the same renewal I got in the post. I figured why not ask them about the price difference, so I did. I asked them the following.
Why is it more expensive to pay your MYOB Cover than it is to buy the product outright from Harris Technology? Why would I go with you on this when I can get the same cheaper from one of your resellers?
I sent the email and expected to not hear from anyone. Surprisingly I got a phone call within a few hours from a young lady in the MYOB customer service team (I‘ll call her Elle for this post). They wanted to answer my question personally. Anyway – Elle was most helpful. She told me that I needed cover to ensure that I got the updates for the tax tables and also so I could in future upgrade to the new all singing all dancing cloud version. Honestly – I told her that I do my accounting offline, therefore the cloud version has no value for me, and that the tax tables could be updated manually in 10-15 minutes. Also given that I’ve had no need for support for the past 5 years, why would I want to spend another $700 for features I didn’t need. Why not just wait till I need the new version and buy it?
Elle then informed me that given I was already an MYOB customer, that they would charge me $150 to “unlock” my MYOB company file so that it could be used on another copy of MYOB of the same version. That would be on top of the price of purchasing the software if I chose to buy it new. That sounds a little rich to me. I was not liking the thought that I was locked into paying MORE than a new user to continue to use the software. I told Elle that I really was not happy with this concept and that I would likely not renew my MYOB Cover. We ended the call there.
I’m left wondering though about the tactics MYOB are employing here and I’ve got to seriously consider, is this something that I need? Is this really showing loyalty to a customer who has purchased your product for years in which you are effectively charging them MORE to stay under maintenance than a customer who has purchased their product for the first time?
Personally – with all the bad comments I’ve seen about upgrading from MYOB 19.6 to the new improved SQL based version, I really don’t think that I need to do the upgrade at all. I certainly don’t need the Cloud version that they talk about as I much prefer to do my accounts offline, sometimes whilst in transit on planes which don’t have any connectivity. Sorry MYOB, I don’t see enough value in this, so I think that I’ll skip this upgrade.
Naturally your case may vary and you need to make your own assessment, but I still have concern over the concept of customer loyalty that means existing clients pay more than new clients year on year for the same product. What are your thoughts on this?
I will have to check this when ours comes to renew and if given the same response you were given I will ask to see what the ACCC think about this surely illegal business practice?
I too have received the letter and the email for renewing. As an OMB, I use Account Right Standard V19 and it is $420 to renew! I renewed last year (for only $330) with promises of all sorts of upgrades and received nada! I have also decided against upgrading to the next version because all I really use it for is entering CW invoices, supplier invoices and BAS. I’m sure that there are other applications out there that will do the same for less spend.
As a side note, I didnt renew my MYOB cover and around 2 weeks later, I received an email offering me a 10% discount to renew, without me doing anything. If I really want to renew now, all I need to do is pay $378 instead of $420. Desperate times call for desperate measures, well at least for MYOB!
This is a reason produict/services like Xero are going to start taking more and more customers from QB and MYOB. Although Xero doesn’t help you out with your need for offline accounting… can I suggest there are some more interesting business related tasks to pass the time while flying than doing accounts?
How do you update the tax table in MYOB Premier version 19.6 or the latest version of AccountRight Plus
I am glad I found this blog. I too was about to buy a copy from Harris Technology and would have been ropable if MYOB had charged me for ‘unlocking’ MY files.
I have been using MYOB for close to 20 years but I am fed up with this rip-off attitude the last few years. And I will start looking for an alternative, enough is enough. And the move to ‘cloud based’ software will make that a necessity too.
I use Accountright Plus because I need the time billing.
Any suggestions for alternative software?
I have just called MYOB to upgrade my “Account Right Plus V19” as was told I could pay $59 per month or pay over 700 for a yearly renewal. I to am very dissapointed in MYOB. It seems to be getting more expensive per year. All I need is the tax upgrade, and there are places out there that you can buy the tax tables which are myob compatible, which is something I might look in to. I use the new version of MYOB at work, and have found it terrible. Something I would not recommend. I cant even upgrade my one file, have send it to them twice, and even they cant fix it. So here I am at work, using the old version for the one companies and all the others are on the new version. Nice going MYOB. I do beleive that they think they have the monopoly in the bookkeeping world, and most prob they do. Maybe an alternative would be some other accounting package, which I will be looking into. I wont be bullied into buying their so called upgrade.
I agree. I just checked the prices I’ve paid for renewing Cover since 2009: $459, 2010 $493, 2011: $569 and now they want $714. How can they justify that when nearly all computing software is going down in price? I don’t use all the bells and whistles and have only rung them once in the last two years. I’ll also be looking for a more reasonably priced alternative. Does anyone tweet? how about starting a movement?
I am running MYOB AccountRight Plus V.19.6 and I refused MYOB’s cover and bought the tax tables. Easily availabe on the internet I have had no problems and highly recommend to all MYOB usesr and for God’s sake do not up grade to the next Cloud, Earth, Space, Planet what ever the hell they want to call it. Not going to pay to have my file unlocked!
I ended my cover at the end of July when I too received notice of the price increase. I call them for assistance perhaps twice a year and when I really needed help most – in June – I couldn’t even get through. I just got a recorded message stating how busy they were and to call back. Terrible service! I now find myself in the dilemma that I have had to acquire a new laptop and am left wondering how to transfer my updated software over as the last disc I have obviously does not have the new tax tables? Does anyone know how to update these as per above comment???
Well is MYOB going soft, just received an email today telling me I can have MYOB cover for a mere $59.50 per month (gee that’s only $714.00 a year)It’s still $714.00 a year for tax tables – look for alternatives people, they are out there!
Agree with all the above about the cost of cover. I also note now that MYOB have released the cloud version, they now only sell software by monthly subscription. It seems you can no longer buy a standalone package outright from MYOB. About manually updating the tax tables, this is not possible as they are encrypted. Do a net search on MYOB Tax Tables and you will find alternative suppliers. They might also be able to help unlock your file.
If you follow this link
http://www.fghtables.com/MYOB/index.php#.UXYxLspFsg5
you can download the MYOB tax tables for $37. Beats paying the annual “support” fee.
Thanks Paul – I’ve used that myself although they were $58 last year 🙂
I’ve never been impressed by the accounting practices of MYOB, but the more experience I have in fixing friends and families problems (I only fix MYOB problems, I don’t actually use the software) the more I believe that MYOB are really bleeding you guys for everything that they can. The reason I came to this blog today was that my mother-in-law was just sent a bill for MYOB cover membership which she believes she hash’t asked for.
The product has never felt great to me and I wouldn’t recommend at all except that there are plenty of people out there who can’t manage a decent spreadsheet or database application themselves or have a business structure that is too complex for them to map to their own application. GnuCash also isn’t great, but at least it’s free.
My Dad’s been using the same version of MYOB for about 10 years now. It doesn’t run on modern Windows, so he just runs XP in a virtual computer. Problem solved. He’s never mentioned anything to me about changes to tax tables – so now I assume he updates them himself.
From the sounds of most complaints on this blog, I would suggest looking into cloud alternatives – these automagically stay up to date (but require internet access). Otherwise look into GnuCash or spreadsheet templates that people provide for free on the internet.
A very informative read thank you. I find I use Xero more often now for my clients as we kept having issues with myob.
Brilliant idea with tax tables link.
Definitely these days used by MYOB to convince customers to upgrade.
Cloud programs a total disaster at moment
OK the new contractor reporting helps but easy if have only few to do and arrange chart of accounts to accommodate this.
I just wanted an upgrade from V19.5 to V19.10 and was told same price as the one year subscription of $714.00. What a joke!!!
So if don’t need for heaps of subcontractors and standard payroll. Sounds better to get these tax tables available.
Sorry actually costs $840.00 now for subscription
We are now looking at the MYOB pricing too. It’s now become so stupid that we’ve started looking at switching products, which we’ve been avoiding due to the retraining we’d need to do.
If MYOB wants us to retrain for the “cloud” version (which we’re avoiding too), why shouldn’t we retrain for a product sold for half the price that does the same thing? I wonder if MYOB has noticed Reckon’s prices…
This forum was exactly what I needed. I couldn’t work out the pricing, just didn’t make sense. How could they charge so much for an ongoing subscription because obviously, it was hugely more expensive than just buying it off the shelf. The additional fee to unlock information was the last straw for me. Was going to buy or subscribe, will now look for other alternatives. Way too pricey for what it is.
I’m over MYOB price rises as well: February 2014 $71.50 per month by September 2014 $99 per month. That is an astounding 38.5% increase in 9 months. I queried the increase and was told it was because of the MYOB Cloud option. I said I don’t want to use this option but that doesn’t matter apparently. You pay anyway. Well not this little black duck. After 20 years we are over MYOB. I will find out how to download the tax tables manually as well. That’s literally all we ever get out of the support anyway.
Another option if you only have a basic need for features is to get back to the older versions in both myob and quickbooks as some years ago I used to be able to manually key in the coefficients to calculate tax supplied in the ato website. Not sure what version would be able to do that. I have a copy of Premier V8 so might see if it can still do that or if that file is still locked on that. Has anyone tried that?
I know someone who works for them… And their staff are regularly given holidays… He was in Vietnam recently… And Is Now off to Vegas and Mexico…. So if your wondering where your monthly fees are going… Certainly not to servicing your accounting software needs…
The whole issue for Myob is the fact that it was purchased by Bain Capital (a big American Investment conglomerate) who have engineering the software (terribly I may add) so that it can be controlled by them and for them to sell it off to other investors at a profit, with no regard for the users of the software.
Their goal is to have this make everyone subscribe to it firstly, then are looking at offloading Myob as it’s own company onto the stock market. They are making it look like that the business is a sound investment by having generate a lot of money. They then will sell their share stock when the price rises, then leave the newly formed company to deteriate when people then realise it is a blue duck, as subscribers will drop, therefore less revenue, hence to drop in value of share price.
I always had liked the older V19 version of the program, but the “Huxley” version is a disgrace in alot of areas. Firstly in it price (and subsequent subscription fees), it lack lustre of the reports, the system resources that it uses to operate and storage (4 times as much as the previous version), and that having it in the cloud will only generate other income for them as well as they will most probably do loiok at your file for marketing purposes.
Sadly, I think it stinks on how Myob has changed over the past 5 years, but only to its detriment.
Hi There I am in the same position as just about everyone above, can anyone suggest alternative software (that) you just buy that will do the books for small business, I Still have my accountant do my tax every year Don’t need the subscription or where they are at. Its nearly being forced or coerced into the annual subscription.
I bought MYOB Account Edge Basic for $360 last January when I discovered my MYOB First Edge program wouldn’t work on the new Mac which replaced my trusty old, ailing Mac. The other day I received a Membership Renewal invoice for $480. I thought failure to renew would mean losing access to the program but, bolstered by the info on this forum, I called the MYOB billing Dept to query the invoice and was told I own the program and wouldn’t lose access to it; only to the upgrade from v5 to v6 and to tech support. I’m happy to lose both so, even though the billing dept person offered me a 10% discount, I won’t be renewing.
I think this particular MYOB business practice is way off-track. In contrast, Apple tech support never lapses and upgrades are offered as and when available, yet no on has ever accused Apple of missing a trick business-wise. I think MYOB has a cheek and is alienating its clientele. If I knew a simple way to switch out of MYOB, I would.
Thank you to this forum for giving me the confidence to resist what I thought was a very expensive, non-negotiable licence requirement.