UK business hit by 'daylight robbery' 1500% price hike for invoicing software
Richard Haldenby says his average monthly bill for Harvest had risen from $130 (£95.50) to $2,110.
Businesses in the UK are fuming after a popular invoicing software, Harvest, increased its prices by up to 1500%. Richard Haldenby, head of UK consultancy firm Salentis, revealed that his monthly bill jumped from $130 to $2,110. This dramatic price hike caught many businesses off guard, as their annual payments were coming due. Harvest, which was acquired by Italian tech company Bending Spoons in 2025, introduced a new usage-based pricing model the following year.
This means businesses are now charged based on factors like active projects, clients, tasks, and revenue generated through the platform, in addition to the previously flat monthly fees.
For Salentis, a company employing up to 15 staff, the new pricing structure is completely unaffordable. Haldenby, who has been using Harvest for 15 years, expressed shock at the change, stating that accepting the increase would double the company's IT expenses for the year. He has opted for a discount on the next year's payment, but plans to migrate to a similar but less expensive service.
Industry experts have criticized Harvest's pricing strategy, calling it a lack of transparency and a sign of shifting corporate priorities. Mark Peacock, head of consultancy firm PriceMaker, emphasized that customers should be able to easily understand their costs before being billed. Damian Foks, head of consulting at Valueships, noted that the price hike could be a result of Bending Spoons' acquisition strategy, as the company has a history of raising prices after acquiring other tech firms.
Past acquisitions by Bending Spoons, such as Evernote, Vimeo, and WeTransfer, have seen significant price increases and changes to free tools.
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