The Maths Are the Message
On Karbon, Every Hire Is a Cost Increase. On Sole, It Isn't.
Karbon's automation features — the ones you actually bought it for — are locked behind the Business tier at $89/user/month. The entry Team plan at $59/user gives you 40 templates and no automatic client reminders.
"Karbon's Team plan is a deliberate upsell gateway. The automations that save time — client reminders, permissions, API access — require Business. On Sole, they're available from day one."
Feature
Sole Starter
$399
per month · whole team
Karbon Team
$59/user
per month · 10 users = $590/mo
Workflow templates
Unlimited
40 templates
Auto client reminders
Included
Business tier only
User permissions
Included
Business tier only
White-label portal
Available
Not on any tier
BAS lodgement
Built-in
Integration required
Feature Comparison
Sole vs Karbon — Every Feature
Feature
Sole Practice Manager
Karbon
Pricing model
Per practice — transparent tiers
Per user per month
10-staff cost (Business tier)
$399/mo (Starter)
$890/mo
Auto client reminders
✅ All plans
❌ Business tier only
White-label client app
✅ Available
❌ Not available any tier
Client portal branding
✅ Your brand
⚠️ Karbon's brand
BAS lodgement
✅ Built-in (AU-native)
⚠️ Via integrations
STP Phase 2
✅ Built-in
❌ Payroll integration required
SuperStream
✅ Built-in (AU-native)
❌ Not available
KYC & AML onboarding
✅ Built-in
❌ Not available
Sales pipeline & CRM
✅ Built-in
⚠️ Basic only
AI features
✅ All plans
⚠️ Business+ (Karbon AI)
Australian-built
✅Yes
❌ US-headquartered
API access
✅ All plans
❌ Business tier only
Built for Australia
Karbon Is Built for 34 Countries. Sole Is Built for Yours.
Karbon serves accounting firms globally, which means its compliance features are built for the broadest common denominator. Sole Practice Manager is built in Australia for Australian practices — compliance isn't an integration, it's the foundation.
BAS & IAS Lodgement
Lodge directly from the platform — no Xero or third-party middleware required
STP Phase 2
ATO-compliant Single Touch Payroll built into the platform, not bolted on via integration
SuperStream
Super clearing house built in — manage and clear super contributions without leaving Sole
PAYG & Tax Lodgement
ITR1/ITR2 preparation, lodgement calendar, and PAYG withholding — all built in
White-Label
The Feature Karbon Doesn't Offer.
Karbon for Clients gives your clients a portal — but it carries Karbon's branding, not yours. Sole's white-label client app puts your firm's identity in front of every client interaction.
Sole Practice Manager
Your Brand. Your Portal.
Your logo and colour palette throughout
Your domain name — clients never see "soleapp"
Proposals and documents under your firm's name
Client interactions reinforce your brand, not a software vendor's
Available from $24.99/month per client licence
Karbon
Karbon's Brand. Not Yours.
Karbon for Clients portal available (additional cost)
Karbon's branding is visible to your clients
No white-label option on any pricing tier
Clients are reminded they're using Karbon, not your firm
Not available regardless of plan level
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Is Karbon worth the price for a small accounting firm?
Karbon’s Business plan at $89/user/month works for larger firms where automation ROI justifies the cost. For 5–10 person firms, the per-user pricing can exceed $890/month — more than Sole’s Grow plan at $1,199/month flat, which also includes white-label tools Karbon doesn’t offer.
What's the difference between Karbon Team and Karbon Business?
Karbon Team ($59/user/month) gives 40 workflow templates and basic collaboration. Automatic client reminders, user permissions, and API access all require the Business plan at $89/user/month. The entry plan is structured to drive upgrades.
Does Sole Practice Manager have workflow automation like Karbon?
Yes. Sole includes workflow automation, AI task suggestions, auto-coded job tracking, and risk alerts — available from the Starter plan, not locked behind a higher tier.
Can Australian accounting firms switch from Karbon to Sole?
Yes. Sole covers the same core workflow, WIP, client management, and billing features as Karbon, plus built-in BAS/STP/SuperStream compliance and white-label branding that Karbon doesn’t provide. Migration support is available.