With this plan businesses can pay and get paid in multiple currencies, track projects, claim expenses, and access customized analytics and predictions. As with the Growing plan, businesses on the Established plan get unlimited invoices, purchase orders, and bills. We also ensure that the software offers most standard accounting features and reports, awarding higher rankings to those that provide advanced services, like tax filing. Xero and QuickBooks Online have a lot of similarities, as both have strong features and numerous integrations. QuickBooks Online is limited to 25 users on its most expensive plan but is easier to use, offers tax support, and has stronger mobile apps. Xero is a great option for large teams and small- to medium-sized businesses that need high-level accounting systems.
If you want to learn how the software works, there’s a comprehensive knowledge base that contains learning materials such as help articles, videos, guides, and online courses. But if you want to get in touch with customer support, you must start a free trial. Businesses and accountants seem to be fans of the software’s accounting capabilities. Quite a few Xero software reviews comment that its wide range of integrations makes running their business a lot easier.
We researched and analyzed dozens of the best accounting and invoicing software solutions to help small businesses choose the right accounting software for their needs. Our what dose the accrued surplus /deficit quantity imply information sources included the company’s website and software demos. Additionally, we studied user reviews for independent opinions on the software’s pros and cons.
Once these steps are complete, you’re ready to use Xero as part of your regular accounting process, though we recommend hiring a financial professional as well, such as an accountant or bookkeeper. Filter stock by location, fulfill orders and pay for shipping, view data on your sales channels and collect sales tax. Once you sign up for the software or the free trial, you’ll be taken to a step-by-step onboarding process explaining how each feature works. The onboarding process is a combination of help articles and videos. You can also explore a demo company to learn how Xero works without worrying about making mistakes. Xero lets you capture data without any manual work using a tool called Hubdoc.
Though it’s not quite as immediate as a direct phone call to Xero’s support team, we felt that this was a passable alternative. For self-guided education and troubleshooting, Xero offers support articles in Xero Central. If you have additional questions, click the “Contact Xero support” button at the bottom of any support article and Xero will contact impairment definition you by email. To view your invoice tax rates, click on “view tax calculation” toward the bottom of Xero’s invoice creation interface. You’ll see the city and state sales taxes levied on each item as well as their percentages and amounts. We found this transparency refreshing and felt the same about the information in Xero’s sales tax reports.
In this Xero review, we’ll see if this online software might fulfill your accounting and bookkeeping needs. Katherine Haan is a small business owner with nearly two decades of experience helping other business owners increase their incomes. The customer support was excellent, 5/5 for that, but they don’t currently have the feature I (and many other organisations) need. A friendly & knowledgeable Xero adviser responded to my query on behalf of Slate Legal and resolved the issue promptly and within 2 short phone calls and a screen share. It is now required by the UK government that you use MTD compatible software when submitting returns as a VAT-registered business.
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. Xero gets a 4.3 out of 5 stars rating on software review site G2, and a 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, a consumer review site for businesses, with many reviews praising its customer service.
We collaborate with business-to-business vendors, connecting them with potential buyers. In some cases, we earn commissions when sales are made through our referrals. These financial relationships support our content but do not dictate our recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates products based on thousands of hours of research. Learn more about our full process and see who our partners are here. You can enjoy project conversations, file sharing and project due dates, but these features are most helpful for individual or small-team projects.
FreshBooks doesn’t offer quite as many connections, with just 100 partner apps. However, you’ll be able to find integrations to help you analyze data, book appointments, manage projects, run payroll and so much more. Xero lets you connect your credit card and bank accounts directly to the software, or you can manually import your bank statements.
Everything is done in the cloud, meaning you can edit invoices without the hassle of resending them to customers. You can email invoices directly from the software; Xero integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Square and other payment processors, so you can accept payments online. This plan is designed for sole proprietors or early-stage enterprises and includes 20 invoices and five bills or purchase orders per month.
This is a notable feature for accounting software; often, lower-tier plans allow fewer users while only higher-tier plans allow unlimited users. 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. However, we were disappointed to find there was no direct customer service phone number, in contrast to other accounting software solutions, such as the one in our QuickBooks review. Instead, you must create a support ticket to receive Xero assistance. Although Xero’s native inventory management features aren’t huge standouts, its Inventory Plus add-on caught our attention.
If you take time to learn Xero’s ropes you’ll find that it soon starts to reward you by producing a comprehensive and slick picture of your business and its innermost workings. To its credit Xero does have quite a lot of 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.
Xero includes extensive features that make it suitable to handle complex accounting processes for small- and medium-sized businesses as well as larger ones. The software makes it easy to pay bills, claim expenses, accept payments, track projects, manage contracts, store files and more. Compared side by side, Xero is clearly the winner when it comes to features. FreshBooks starts at $19 per month after the signup discount and incorporates standout features like team roles and time tracking on all plans. The basic plan allows users to send unlimited invoices and estimates and track unlimited expenses up to 5 clients, so if you have more clients than that, you’ll need to upgrade. Unlike many other competitors that cap the number of users per plan (looking at you, QuickBooks), Xero offers unlimited users even on the lowest tier plan.
Once your debit and credit cards are saved in the system, the process takes only a few seconds. Similarly, your clients and customers can send money immediately with the Pay Now button on your online invoices. This function is powered by the best payment transaction apps, such as Stripe and PayPal, ensuring speed and security. While FreshBooks has a live chat option for sales inquiries, you have to send an email or request a phone call for customer support. ET, so if you’re having a late-night issue trying to sort out an invoice, you’ll have to wait until morning for in-person help. Since FreshBooks is mainly software for freelancers who often don’t follow traditional working schedules, this could be a drawback, especially if you’re working in a remote time zone.
Xero offers a 30-day free trial (no credit card required) for new users and affordable plans for small businesses of all sizes. Businesses that are just getting started or sole proprietors can sign up for the Early plan starting at just $15/month, and then upgrade to its Growing or Established plans as they scale. However, Xero is the better choice if you want more advanced features and support for unlimited users, as additional users are only available for a fee if you use FreshBooks. The other appeal of the software was that each plan came with unlimited users, access to every Xero feature, and payroll. Xero helps transform the data you enter into actionable information at every subscription level.
To get the most out of your software, Xero has over 800 integrations to choose from. If this isn’t enough, Xero also integrates with Zapier, connecting the software state payday requirements to hundreds of additional add-ons. Some Xero integrations are country-specific, so make sure they are compatible before you make any additions or purchases.
Xero is compatible with over 1,000 apps and has its own app store. Users can access connected apps or add new ones by clicking on the app launcher icon. 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 also lets you adjust the time frame to see how your business has changed over time. You can also scroll through Xero’s default chart of accounts and customize it as needed, or import an already existing chart of accounts.