We estimate that Xero is already 50% quicker than desktop bookkeeping solutions, but you can achieve even more time saving with these top tips:
Use the search facility
The search facility in Xero is a vast improvement on manually locating all sorts of things.
Use it to quickly locate invoices, credits, bills, amounts, contacts… the list goes on. With a click of the magnifying glass or a tap of the \ key, you are in the search facility – simply type what you are looking for and you are in.
If you are unsure what to search, there are some shortcuts that you can use, as shown here:
Bank rules rule
Whilst doing the bank reconciliation you can quickly reconcile items you regularly have coming in or out of your bank.
These are simple to set up and once set up, they very accurately tell Xero where to post these items.
We recommend creating rules for frequently visited items for one month and then in the second month watch the time savings roll in!
Repeating invoices
If you send out the same invoice each month, then save the time you spend copying it out each time and simply set it up to repeat. The invoice can be repeated either to draft, to post or to be sent to the customer.
If you are invoicing customers in stages, set up the invoices to run over the stages so that you do not forget to raise them.
Invoices by default
You can set default credit terms so that every time you raise an invoice it defaults to 30 days or similar. You can then tweak this for your individual customers. This means you don’t have to write out the same information over and over again.
Whilst we are on the subject of invoices, why not put your most commonly sold items in inventory so that when you raise a sales invoice you are again eliminating typing out the same information repeatedly.
There is help out there
Most software helps menus are, quite frankly, no help at all and are full of complicated information written by technical people without any thought for the user. Xero is different. Not only is the help very easy to read and well written, but our preferred technique is to search the help videos only.
To do this click the help Icon on the top right of the screen, search for an item and then untick all options apart from video:
This will return the video results – we find it much easier to watch a two-minute video than scrawl through pages of text.
To access a library of all these videos, select help centre:
Scroll to the bottom of the help centre and look for the ‘Getting started’ section:
Click on Xero TV for a list of videos that can help – we recommend Xero 101 for a great ‘getting started’ course.
Support as Standard
Xero includes unlimited support by email, but sometimes you want to just call and ask. This is the reason we include unlimited Xero support for all of our clients. In addition, we give every client free Xero training to make sure you get the most out of Xero.
Not on Xero yet? Please call us on Tel: 01622 671 835 or email will@accsysltd.co.uk to find out more
