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Apps to help solve small business pain points

Is manual admin getting in the way of growth for your business? Common business pain points like stalled cash flow, complex staff management, and disconnected data can hinder your success. Integrating specialised business apps with your Xero accounting software can help you automate repetitive tasks, gain real-time insights, and win more time back.

4 common pain points and how apps can help

1. Late payments and poor cash flow. Give your customers more ways to pay with payments software like Stripe and GoCardless, and automate invoice-chasing and accounts receivable with apps like Paidnice and Chaser. Connecting these kinds of apps to Xero can help you reduce long collection periods and bad debts, and stabilise your bank balance.

2. Time-consuming staff management. Rostering, timesheets, and payroll compliance can drain your energy and your time. Employee scheduling software like Deputy, RosterElf and UpSheets simplify these processes and sync hours directly to Xero payroll. HR apps like Deel can help you build a global team, while Gusto is a great payroll solution for US-based businesses.

3. Manual expense and inventory tracking. Don’t let lost receipts and stock errors lead to more EOFY stress. Data extraction apps like Dext or fileAI capture expenses and bills instantly, while inventory management software like Unleashed or Cin7 Core provide total visibility over stock levels to prevent shortages.

4. Disconnected systems and data silos. Connecting your e-commerce or POS systems to Xero with integrations from Shopify, Etsy or Square helps your sales data flow seamlessly into Xero for easy reconciliation. Or, connect multiple sources with apps like A2X.

Find Xero-connected apps to help

If these pain points sound familiar, explore the full list of apps we recommend to help. Click on an app to find detailed information on how it works and integrates with your Xero account, and see ratings and reviews by other Xero users. Want to try an app? You can then get started directly from the app listing page in just a few clicks.

  1. Accountant tools, Bills and expenses

    Dext

    4.81 out of 5 stars
     1088
    Accountant tools, Bills and expenses
    Automate your bookkeeping with Dext. Capture receipts, track expenses and mileage, and connect to Xero, 11,500+ apps, banks, and more. Save time, reduce errors, boost efficiency. Free trial!
  2. Payroll HR, Time tracking

    Deputy

    3.96 out of 5 stars
     146
    Payroll HR, Time tracking
    Simplify Shift Work with Staff Scheduling, Time Tracking & Labor Compliance. Generate Xero invoices in one click from employees' worked time!
  3. Accountant tools, Ecommerce

    A2X

    4.96 out of 5 stars
     892
    Accountant tools, Ecommerce
    A2X automates ecommerce accounting into Xero for sellers on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, and PayPal. Trusted by 1000s of the world's leading ecommerce accounting professionals. Recent Awards: Xero Practice App of the Year!
  4. Ecommerce, Inventory

    Unleashed Software

    4.57 out of 5 stars
     391
    Ecommerce, Inventory
    Inventory management that’s perfect for manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors everywhere. Thousands of product businesses in more than 100 countries worldwide rely on Unleashed every day.
  5. Ecommerce, Inventory

    Cin7 Core

    4.43 out of 5 stars
     205
    Ecommerce, Inventory
    Cin7 Core is the #1 choice for businesses that want to manage all products, customers, suppliers, contacts, purchases and sales in one easy-to-use system. Try now with a 14 day free trial!
  6. Ecommerce

    Etsy

    5 out of 5 stars
     4
    Ecommerce
    Automate your Etsy sales data directly into Xero for easy accounting. This free integration syncs sales, payouts, and fees, eliminating manual data entry, streamlining reconciliation of deposits and giving you a real-time view of your finances.
  7. Debtor management, Reporting and forecasting

    Chaser

    4.98 out of 5 stars
     374
    Debtor management, Reporting and forecasting
    Automate receivables. Forecast cash flow. Grow with confidence. Improve visibility over accounts receivable and cash flow. Streamline your process and save hours. Reduce DSO and maintain great customer relationships. Xero App Partner of the Year 2023.
  8. Payroll HR

    Deel

    4.12 out of 5 stars
     8
    Payroll HR
    Deel is the all-in-one platform made to simplify all things HR, built for global teams. It helps companies simplify every aspect of managing an international workforce, from culture and onboarding, to local payroll and compliance.
  9. Debtor management, Invoicing and jobs

    Paidnice

    5 out of 5 stars
     67
    Debtor management, Invoicing and jobs
    #1 AR Automation for Xero. Automated Late Fees, Interest, Payment Discounts. Quotes, Email & SMS Reminders. Auto-send Statements & Charge Interest on Aged Debt. 🏆 Winner Xero Global Small Business App of the Year.
  10. Ecommerce

    Shopify integration by Xero

    2.95 out of 5 stars
     140
    Ecommerce
    Connect your Shopify store to your Xero account for easy management of your ecommerce business finances. Shopify integration by Xero supports your accounting and reporting needs, but does not provide the detailed sales tax information required for sales tax filing in your region.
  11. Documents

    fileAI

    4.76 out of 5 stars
     37
    Documents
    fileAI leverages proprietary advanced AI OCR to extract and structure data from receipts, invoices, and bank statements, and more in real time. Eliminate manual entry, ensure always up-to-date, audit-ready records, and sync seamlessly with Xero for faster, more accurate bookkeeping.
Although Xero reviews each app in the Xero App Store, we can’t give any guarantees. It’s up to you to assess the performance, quality and suitability of any app before going ahead.