Number of Seats/Users: Cobalt offers discounts based on the number of users or seats. A higher volume typically leads to a better discount structure, especially for enterprise-level usage.

Commitment to a Long-Term Contract: Discounts are often provided to companies that commit to using the service for a longer period (e.g., 1-year or 3-year contracts). A longer commitment shows Cobalt that the company is serious and willing to invest in the platform long-term.

No Active Discounts: Companies that are not already receiving other active discounts may have a better chance of qualifying for additional discounts from Cobalt. Cobalt reserves discounts for new customers or those not currently under promotional pricing.

Volume or Usage Commitment: Cobalt offers discounts if you agree to a minimum amount of usage or transaction volume. This could be based on data storage, transactions, or other metrics tied to how much you will use the platform.

Enterprise-Level Negotiation: Companies that qualify as “enterprise” due to their size or complexity (e.g., having large teams, multiple departments, or geographical presence) may be eligible for additional discounts from Cobalt. Such companies are often in a position to negotiate for better pricing.

Early Renewal or Prepayment: Cobalt often offers discounts if you renew early or prepay for the entire contract period. This is a common approach to securing a lower price.

Here at Spendbase our internal data shows that Cobalt hits the sweet spot for small Kiwi businesses that want simple, local-focused invoicing and accounting without the bloat.

Overall sentiment from Spendbase clients is strongly positive, with particular praise for ease of use, local support, and time savings on admin work.

Key strengths our clients highlight:

• Ease of use & onboarding
• Very intuitive interface, even for non-accountants
• Fast setup for invoicing and expense tracking

• Simple GST handling and reporting

• Invoicing & payments

• Easy to create and customize invoices
• Recurring invoices and automatic reminders reduce manual chasing

• Stripe integration is valued for quick online payments

• Accounting & reporting

• Expense tracking with categories makes tax time smoother
• Clear financial dashboards for at-a-glance insights

• GST returns are easier thanks to built-in reports and calculators

• Support & local focus

• Clients appreciate that it’s built for New Zealand conditions and tax rules
• Direct, responsive support from the product owner is a recurring positive
• Many mention they like supporting a small NZ business

Areas for improvement our internal data picks up:

• Some clients would like:
• More flexible GST tools (e.g., auto-calculation from GST-inclusive amounts)
• Additional advanced features for growing businesses (more complex reporting, maybe deeper integrations)

Impact on spend and efficiency (from a Spendbase discount lens):

• Time savings
• Less time spent on manual invoicing and GST calculations

• Faster client payments through online payment links and reminders

• Cost efficiency

• For small businesses and freelancers, Cobalt often replaces a mix of spreadsheets and more expensive, complex tools
• Particularly attractive for clients who don’t need full enterprise-grade accounting systems

In short, our internal data shows that Cobalt is a strong fit for New Zealand-based freelancers and small businesses who want streamlined invoicing, straightforward accounting, and friendly local support, while keeping software spend efficient and under control.