If you've just signed up to Xero and don't know what to do next, or you've been on it for a while and never really got it - this is where to start. I'll set it up properly the first time and teach you how to use it confidently afterwards.
The first one to two months with a new client looks different from the months that follow. I'll sit alongside you on every transaction, every expense. I'll show you what to claim, what to flag, and what to leave alone. I'll explain why each one matters.
This is the part that most bookkeepers skip. They do the setup, hand you a working Xero account, and leave you to it. You end up clicking buttons you don't understand and flagging your accountant down twice a year. The settling-in period is the difference between using Xero and actually understanding what's happening in your books.
By the end of those two months, most clients can run Xero confidently on their own. They know what each transaction means. They know which questions to ask before they hit them. They understand the patterns in their own business in a way they didn't before.
From Hnry
Hnry is good for keeping things simple, until you want better visibility into your business or you've outgrown the fee structure. I move clients from Hnry to Xero regularly - migrating historical data, setting up tax correctly, and making sure you understand the difference between how Hnry handles tax and how you'll do it on Xero.
From spreadsheets
Whether it's a tidy Excel file or a chaotic Google Sheet, I'll get your data into Xero in the right structure. Most clients are surprised by how much time it saves once they're used to Xero's automation - bank feeds, recurring invoices, GST calculated for you.
From another system
MYOB, Reckon, Wave, Hubdoc only, paper records - I've migrated clients from most of them. The principle is the same: get the data across cleanly, set up the structure to match how you actually run, and train you on the day-to-day so the move actually sticks.
Setup gives you a working Xero account. The settling-in period gives you confidence with the day-to-day. But businesses change - you take on staff, you start invoicing differently, you add a new income stream. When that happens, I'm a phone call or an hour's booking away. No relearning Xero from scratch - just the bit that's new.
Xero setup and training is $85/hr by the hour, or included in the Starter monthly package from $315/month.
That's exactly the moment to talk. Xero is a powerful tool and the default setup won't fit your business. I'll configure your chart of accounts, bank feeds, tax settings, and invoicing so it reflects what you actually do - then I'll walk you through how to use it day-to-day.
Not when it's done properly. Hnry handles tax for you, which is convenient until you outgrow it or want better visibility into your business. I migrate clients from Hnry to Xero regularly - getting your historical data across, setting up the tax treatment correctly, and making sure you don't lose anything in the move.
Yes - this is one of the most common starting points. I'll take your existing spreadsheet data, get it into Xero in the right structure, and show you how to keep it tidy going forward. Most clients are surprised how much time it saves them once the muscle memory kicks in.
The setup itself usually takes a few hours of focused work. But the training and settling-in period takes one to two months - that's where the real value is. Rushed setup is bad setup.
That's what the settling-in period is for. For the first couple of months you can ask me anything, as often as you need. After that, you can either book hourly when something tricky comes up, or move onto a monthly package so I'm there ongoing.
No - I work remotely with clients all over New Zealand. Xero is cloud-based, video calls work for training, and screen sharing means I can sit alongside you on your own books from wherever you are.
Tell me where you are now - just signed up, on spreadsheets, coming from Hnry, or stuck somewhere in the middle. I'll come back within a working day with a plain answer.
Or call me on 027 283 5312