Software and migrations
Xero setup and migration
A Xero file configured for a Canadian business from day one, or a move into Xero from QuickBooks or Sage, with the chart of accounts, GST/HST tax rates and bank feeds carried across cleanly. History is tied out to the prior system rather than simply copied over.
Migration checklist
Illustrative client · August 2026
CAD
- Old file backed up with full historyDone
- Chart of accounts mapped line by lineDone
- Opening balances agreed to the old fileDone
- Bank feeds connected and testedIn progress
- First month closed in the new softwareNext
Illustrative. An example of the document, not a client's figures.
Xero in a Canadian context
Xero ships with generic tax rates that need adjusting before a Canadian business can rely on them. We configure GST/HST rates for the province or provinces the business operates in, set up tracking categories for department, location or project reporting, and connect bank and payment feeds so nothing needs re-entry once the file is live.
Moving history across cleanly
A migration into Xero starts by confirming an opening balance date, then importing historical data with balances tied out to whatever system the business used before, whether that was QuickBooks, Sage 50 or a spreadsheet. Contacts, open invoices and bills get reviewed during the move rather than dumped in unreconciled, and any Canadian dollar and US dollar transactions get separated so exchange gains and losses reconcile instead of disappearing into a rounding difference.
Multi-currency for cross-border businesses
A lot of Canadian businesses invoice in US dollars or buy inventory priced in USD. Xero's multi-currency setup handles that, but only if the base currency, exchange rate source and revaluation settings are configured correctly from the start; getting that wrong is one of the more common reasons a Xero file in Canada does not tie out at year end.
Timeline and handover
Most single-entity migrations into Xero complete in two to three weeks once we have access and a confirmed starting balance date. The engagement ends with a short written handover memo covering what changed and why, and a named pod stays on the account afterward for anything that needs adjusting once the file is live.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Xero setup and migration
Do you configure GST/HST rates correctly for our province in Xero?
Yes, tax rates are set to match whether GST alone applies or HST applies in a participating province, so returns pull from the right accounts.
Can you migrate a Sage 50 file into Xero?
Yes, including chart of accounts mapping, historical balances tied out, and contacts and open items reviewed during the move.
Do you handle multi-currency setup for USD invoicing in Xero?
Yes, including base currency selection, exchange rate settings and reconciling revaluation gains and losses each period.
How long does a Xero migration for a Canadian business take?
Most single-entity migrations complete in two to three weeks once access and a clean starting balance date are confirmed.
What exactly is included in xero setup and migration?
Chart of accounts and tracking categories set up to match reporting needs, and bank and payment feeds connected and rules configured. This work runs inside Xero or QuickBooks Online, whichever your business already has in place, and it rolls into your regular monthly close rather than sitting off to the side as a separate, unreconciled process.
Do you handle multi-currency setup in Xero?
Yes, including base currency selection, exchange rate settings and reconciling revaluation gains and losses.
How long does a Xero migration take?
Most single-entity migrations complete in two to three weeks once we have access and a clean starting balance date.
How is xero setup and migration priced?
Pricing for xero setup and migration depends on your transaction volume, the software you use, and how much cleanup is needed before ongoing work starts. Current ranges are published on the pricing page, and your exact fee is confirmed in writing before anything begins.
What software works with xero setup and migration?
Xero setup and migration runs inside Xero or QuickBooks Online, whichever you already use. If you are not yet set up in either, we can configure a file in your name so you keep ownership of it once the engagement is under way.
Related services
- Software and migrationsQuickBooks setup, cleanup and migrationA new QuickBooks Online file built to fit the business, or an existing file cleaned up and reconciled, plus migration from spreadsheets or another platform without losing history.
- BookkeepingMonthly bookkeepingOngoing monthly bookkeeping: transactions sorted into categories, accounts reconciled and month-end reports delivered in the software you already use.
Industries
- Ecommerce (Amazon and Shopify)Bookkeeping for online sellers on Amazon, Shopify, Etsy and their own storefronts, built around clean payout and sales tax data.
- Agencies and consultanciesBookkeeping for marketing agencies, design studios and consulting firms billing clients on retainers and project fees.
Next step
Talk to the team that would run your books
A short call covers your setup, your software and what a first month would look like. You get a written scope and price after it.