Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business. Make Xero your own by connecting other apps to the Xero accounting software. While the obvious lack of live support might not always be the best part of the overall package there is much to like with this service.
Pricing and features
In the rare moments he’s not working he’s usually out and about on one of numerous e-bikes in his collection. To its credit Xero does have quite a lot of how much should i set aside for taxes help and support options at your disposal. There are handy built-in options that can get you around any minor issues you might encounter during setup.
- Other features include reconciling bank transactions and capturing bills and receipts with Hubdoc.
- Except for a few minor inconveniences, we were impressed with Xero’s invoicing capabilities.
- Has robust reporting tools and report customization options, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app; Early plan limits the number of invoices and bills.
- Sync Xero with software you already love or easily find and try new apps designed to save your business time and money at the Xero App Store.
- Small businesses, accountants and bookkeepers locally and across the world trust Xero with their numbers.
Entry-level plan limits
A bar at the top of the interface contains several drop-down menus that house Xero’s features. Like other major accounting packages, such as QuickBooks, Xero’s feature-packed interface can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. However, compared to competitors we reviewed, Xero excels at presenting information in an easy-to-understand way. For example, Xero’s cash flow bar chart displays cash going out of the company as a gray line and cash coming in as a blue line. A business owner trying to maintain positive cash flow would look for the blue line to remain above the gray line (see the screenshot below for an example).
Accounting software for your small business
Once you’ve got your bank information in Xero, the software will help you match up your transactions for reconciliation (Figure B). Keep in mind that bulk reconciliation is not included with the cheapest discuss the purpose of the cutoff bank statement in the audit Early plan, so you might have to pay to upgrade if you want this feature. I wish it was included in all plans, because manually reconciling one transaction at a time is very tedious for many businesses.
In the Early plan, the least expensive subscription, you can send up to 20 invoices and schedule up to five bill payments only. That can be limiting, even for freelancers and sole proprietors. For unlimited invoicing and bill-paying capacity, you’ll need to upgrade to the Growing plan. Includes project tracking tools in most expensive plan; has transaction tracking tags; lacks industry-specific reports; users with multiple businesses must pay for separate subscriptions. Has robust reporting tools and report customization options, basic inventory tracking in all plans and a capable mobile app; Early plan limits the number of invoices and bills. Learn about the eight core bookkeeping jobs, from data entry to reporting and tax prep.
In general, we were pleased with Xero’s customer support options. However, they were not as comprehensive as what we found in our review of QuickBooks Online. Phone support is not available immediately; you must contact customer service first via email or live chat.
Unlike Xero, QuickBooks allows unlimited invoices on the cheapest Simple Start plan — but limits you to 1 billable user and 2 accountant firm users. If you need only 1 person to use the software but plan to send a high number of invoices and bills, QuickBooks may be a more cost-effective choice than Xero. Xero often gets praised for its robust feature selection by its customers, and we have to agree. Overall, Xero has a set of features that easily rival competitors like QuickBooks Online.
This is most notably handy thanks to the question mark up in the right-hand corner of the interface, which delivers and express-lane dialog box for solving many common queries. If you didn’t receive an email don’t forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support. Xero has a reputation for some of the strongest cloud security out there. Security measures include data encryption, two-step authentication, and 24/7 monitoring at multiple locations. Data is backed up daily across various servers, and regular security audits are performed. Xero has never offered phone support and has relied on email support.
Business.com aims to help business owners make informed decisions to support and grow their companies. We research and recommend products and services suitable for various business types, investing thousands of hours each year in this process. For example, you can give all employees the ability to send quotes and invoices, allow some to enter expenses and limit who can see the company’s complete financial picture. To keep things organized, Xero logs every action users make and compiles the history of every transaction. Xero may be harder to learn than a simpler invoicing platform like Square Invoices or Zoho Invoice. However, it’s generally considered easier than QuickBooks Online.
It’s also a good fit if you want to integrate Gusto Payroll to your accounting platform. With a regularly updated appearance, and new features being added all the time even during the coronavirus pandemic, Xero continues to expand its popular appeal and now enjoys a healthy following. If you’ve got a business that’s going places, needs dynamic accounting capacity and the ability to add in multiple users then the newest version of Xero requires further investigation.
It’s keeping track of what your business spends and what your business receives. Use simpler versions of Xero for small businesses and clients whose needs are more limited. An accountant or bookkeeper can be useful set of hands to help with the accounting heavy lifting. Invite your advisor to work with you on the online accounts anywhere, anytime. Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Once you know your needs you can begin searching for a bookkeeper who’ll be the ideal fit for your business.
However, we are disappointed that Xero lacks tax support, doesn’t have more advanced inventory, and doesn’t have more invoice templates. Additionally, Xero offers a 30-day free trial, so you and your employees can test the software before you buy it. Not every accounting software provider offers a free trial, so we appreciate this feature.
Sage 50 Accounting’s Cash Flow Manager tool is a helpful feature for people who want to better understand how future transactions could impact their business. The tool direct vs indirect cash flow also lets you adjust the time frame to see how your business has changed over time. Instead, customers can visit the Xero Central support site or raise a case online.
