Migration
Xero to Zoho Books migration: a practical guide (UK, Australia, NZ)
By Harikrishnan, Founder & Chief Zoho Consultant, Flowpeak · 10+ years in Zoho · Published · Last updated
To move from Xero to Zoho Books, choose a cut-over date at a VAT or GST period start, migrate the chart of accounts, contacts, items, opening balances and open invoices and bills, recreate tax rates and tracking categories, connect bank feeds, then match the trial balance. With Flowpeak it starts from USD 590 (£460, €520, A$890) and takes two to four weeks.
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Xero is popular in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Businesses usually move to Zoho Books to run accounting next to Zoho CRM and Inventory on one platform. The key is aligning the switch with your VAT or GST period.
What moves, and how
| From Xero | To Zoho Books | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chart of accounts | Chart of accounts | Account codes can be kept |
| Contacts | Customers and vendors | With tax numbers, addresses and payment terms |
| Inventory items | Items | Use Zoho Inventory if you track stock in detail |
| Tracking categories | Reporting tags | Keeps department or project reporting |
| Trial balance at cut-over | Opening balances | Must match exactly |
| Open invoices and bills | Invoices and bills | So ageing matches |
| Repeating invoices | Recurring invoices | Recreated with the next run date |
| History | Usually kept in Xero | Can be moved at extra cost |
Align with your tax period
| Country | Tax | Best cut-over |
|---|---|---|
| UK | VAT (Making Tax Digital) | Start of a VAT quarter |
| Australia | GST and BAS | Start of a BAS period |
| New Zealand | GST | Start of a GST period |
That way each tax return is filed entirely from one system.
Setup checklist in Zoho Books
Checks before go-live
- Trial balance matches Xero at cut-over
- Receivables and payables match by contact
- Bank balances match statements
- Recurring invoices have the right next dates
- Accountant sign-off
Payroll
If you run payroll in Xero (common in the UK and Australia, including Single Touch Payroll in Australia), consider keeping payroll where it is and posting payroll journals to Zoho Books, or moving it to a dedicated payroll provider. Zoho Payroll is not available in every country.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Xero to Zoho Books migration cost?
With Flowpeak, from USD 590 (£460, €520, A$890, C$810) for a standard data set.
Does Zoho Books support MTD for VAT?
Yes, for UK businesses.
Does Zoho Books handle Australian GST and BAS?
Zoho Books supports GST for Australia and BAS reporting. Confirm your setup with your accountant.
Can I keep Xero and use Zoho CRM instead?
Yes. A Xero and Zoho CRM integration starts from £290 or A$570.
Will tracking categories carry over?
Yes, as reporting tags in Zoho Books.
Can payroll move too?
Often payroll stays in Xero or a payroll provider and posts journals to Zoho Books.
How long does it take?
Two to four weeks for most small businesses.
Will my historical data move?
Most businesses move balances and open items. Full history can be moved at extra cost.