Per-Invoice Pricing vs Monthly Subscription
The real math behind "per result" vs "per month" — without the marketing spin.
| Factor | Nika (per invoice) | Subscription SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost at 50 invoices | 50 × $0.40 | €20-50/month flat |
| Monthly cost at 200 invoices | 200 × $0.40 | €20-50/month flat |
| Cost in a zero-invoice month | €0 | Full subscription |
| Features beyond data entry | None | Reports, reconciliation, integrations |
| Data entry included | Yes — this is the service | No — you still do it yourself |
| Lock-in | None (refundable balance) | Monthly/annual contract |
| Best for | Variable volume, small businesses | Steady high volume, full-feature needs |
What Subscription SaaS does well
A monthly subscription is predictable: you pay the same amount every month regardless of volume, which makes budgeting easy. Most SaaS bookkeeping tools include features beyond data entry — reconciliation, reporting, integrations, payroll. If your invoice volume is high and steady, the subscription cost per invoice drops dramatically.
Where Nika wins
A subscription charges you the same in a month with 5 invoices as in a month with 500. Nika charges $0.40 per processed invoice — no invoices means no cost. For businesses with variable volume, seasonal cycles, or low monthly invoice counts, per-invoice pricing is structurally cheaper. There is also no lock-in: your prepaid balance is refundable.
Verdict
If your invoice volume is steady and above ~150/month, a full-feature subscription may cost less per invoice. If your volume varies, is under 100/month, or you are paying someone by the hour to do the data entry the software cannot, Nika is the cheaper path. The honest answer depends on your actual invoice volume.
Questions
At what volume does subscription become cheaper?
It depends on the subscription price and the per-invoice rate. At $0.40 per invoice, the break-even with a €30/month subscription is roughly around 100-150 invoices per month. Below that, per-invoice is cheaper; above it, subscription may be. But the subscription does not do the data entry for you.
Why not just use free bookkeeping software?
Free software stores entries but does not make them. Someone still opens each invoice, reads it, and types the data. That labour cost — whether yours, a bookkeeper's, or a VA's — is what Nika eliminates.
Do I lose my balance if I stop?
No. Your prepaid balance is refundable. You only pay for invoices actually processed.