Xero accounting software review
We tested the top web-based accounting software for small businesses and mid-sized companies, i.e. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication.
Xero’s pros
We deliver timely updates, interesting insights, and exclusive promos to your inbox. The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. However, some customers say that they wish they could get a prompt answer from live support instead of being steered toward a self-help article, and many customers lament not being able to contact Xero via phone. Customers cite speed, efficiency, and the tendency to go the extra mile as things they love about Xero’s customer support. The business snapshot table shows some of the key differences between Xero’s analytics and Analytics Plus features.
In addition to the features on the Early plan, the Growing plan includes bulk transaction reconciliation to speed things up. Using Xero Analytics feature, users can generate reports on the financial health of the organization. It offers an idea about short-term cash flow and shows the impact of invoices and bills. It tracks income and expense metrics to identify trends and help with financial health.
Entry-level plan limits
Xero wins out over the competition as far as price, scalability, and integrations go. However, other accounting software such as QuickBooks Online and FreshBooks provide a phone number for customer support. The only way to contact Xero with questions is to sign up for a free trial or bookkeeping vs accounting purchase a plan, and then submit queries online.
Is Xero Easy To Use?
To ensure an unbiased review, we gathered factual data from official websites and analyzed user feedback from various sources to provide comprehensive how to enter expenses into quickbooks insights and detailed reviews. Despite some criticism I have about Xero, I feel they are a strong billing and invoicing software. The customization capabilities is probably the best out of all online accounting software.
We spend hours researching and evaluating each accounting software system we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate our ratings. All in all, Xero’s essential features, user-friendliness, and affordability make it a great choice for sole proprietors and small businesses that are just starting out or that are looking to scale. Customers say that they love how easy it is to use the software, and the dashboard feature that provides a snapshot of all your business stats in one place is a big draw. Customers praise Xero’s speedy customer service; however, some customers say that it would be nice if Xero offered a phone number for quick answers to common questions. Business owners on Xero’s Growing or Established plans can purchase Inventory Plus for an additional $39/month.
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- Unlike Xero, QuickBooks allows unlimited invoices on the cheapest Simple Start plan — but limits you to 1 billable user and 2 accountant firm users.
- Gusto is cloud-based payroll software that can support businesses of all sizes, from contractors to enterprise organizations.
- The only way to contact Xero with questions is to sign up for a free trial or purchase a plan, and then submit queries online.
- If you’re looking for an accountant who specializes in Xero, you can search for an accounting advisor through their website by location and industry.
Here’s a deep dive into Xero features, best use cases, pricing, customer support, and other purchase factors. Xero may be harder to learn than a simpler invoicing platform like Square Invoices or Zoho Invoice. They keep the language simple which is great for users who don’t know accounting terminology. Instead, you can integrate a payroll add-on called Gusto, recommended for up to 100 employees. It’s a full-service option with unlimited, automated payroll runs and direct deposit. Things start out at the Dashboard, which is just that; the area that lets you move into the other sections of the site and from which you can manage the overall way it ticks.
The layout is, on the face of it, pretty simple with a user-experience that delivers quick and easy access to core features. These are found via a top menu that houses not only the Dashboard, but Business, Accounting and Contacts options too. Even then you can tend manufacturing financial statements to find yourself getting a little tied up in knots such is the powerful array of features on offer. In that respect the built-in help will pay dividends as you use it to navigate any of the trickier aspects of the cloud-based layout.
