MYOB - Maybe

Hey there!

Love that you’re doing your homework—and totally get the confusion, especially with all the mixed info floating around. Let's break it down a bit and get you the clarity you need (digital gratitude accepted in advance 😉).

First up: Yes, you can transfer your data from MYOB Solo (or Lite) to another platform using downloadable Excel reports. It’s a pretty straightforward process and doesn’t put extra load on you or your accountant.

It also sounds like your accountant might be more familiar with Xero—which is totally common—but it’s worth knowing that Solo and Lite are different products within MYOB:

• Solo is our mobile-first app designed specifically for sole traders and one-person businesses. Super easy to use, with glowing app reviews (seriously—check 'em out!) and features like invoicing, expenses, and Tap to Pay.
• Lite, on the other hand, is more like our entry-level version of the full MYOB Business suite. It’s browser-based and designed for slightly more complex setups.

If you're running a 1-man Pty Ltd, you might be leaning more toward Lite than Solo—but I’d love to know more about what you actually need day to day. Are you GST registered? Need payroll? Paying contractors regularly? The more we know, the better we can guide you.

And yes, the internet can be a brutal place for reviews 😅—but a lot of what’s out there lumps all MYOB products together. Solo, in particular, is getting a lot of love from sole operators who want simplicity without the fluff.

Happy to help however I can—just shout! 🙌

Hi, 

MYOB & XERO are both the same if someone wants to switch it just means they don't know how to use MYOB that well so is that accountant the right person for you? I have been using both for over 10 years now and as a 1 man band there is really no difference and I wouldn't spend too much money on converting to xero as everything is already working well in MYOB. 

Just remember Accountants aren't bookkeepers, maybe you're after a bookkeeper instead?

Thanks for reply!   Yes, GST registered, no payroll, no contractors, and only 1-3 invoices a month

WRT "downloadable Excel reports"   - would they be generic named  & value?  (like my current spreadsheet)  or do they align with a standardised  tax return or P&L ledger named?  if  its generic my Accountant is going to say he has same work to assign values in my spreadsheet (or worse csv)  to his  import process 

Thanks CN. 

I am the bookkeeper, that seems well within my skillset, even with Excel,   but my worksheet is too generic and Accountant doing tax returns has to go through each month, multiple columns and assign the values each month to whatever prepares the return at his end, xero I assume 

eik - Solo being a mobile app.   I dont like doing much or any of this serious type work on a mobile phone.  Much prefer a pc+web browser  app at least 

That sounds very long winded, if you have MYOB and the bank feeds as long as everything is coded into the correct account all your accountant needs is the P&L and balance sheet and should be able to prepare the tax return pretty easily.