Software and migrations
Xero setup and migration
Xero is the platform most UK limited companies and their accountants default to. Finbryn configures a new Xero file or moves an existing one across from Sage, FreeAgent or QuickBooks, with bank feeds, VAT settings and historical balances tied out before the old system is switched off.
Migration checklist
Illustrative client · August 2026
GBP
- 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.
Why Xero is the default for so many UK companies
Most UK accountancy practices are built around Xero, which makes it the platform of least friction when a company changes bookkeeper or moves off a desktop system. That does not mean every Xero file is set up well: tracking categories copied from a template that does not match the business, bank rules that miscode recurring transactions, or a VAT setup that predates the company's current Making Tax Digital obligations are all common on files we take over.
What setup and migration cover
We build the chart of accounts and tracking categories around the reports the directors actually read, connect bank and payment feeds with rules tuned to how the business trades, and import historical data with balances tied out to the prior system rather than assumed correct. For companies trading in more than one currency, multi-currency gets configured with the base currency and revaluation handled properly rather than left to post as noise in the profit and loss.
Making Tax Digital and the VAT setup
Since MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment extends to sole traders and landlords above £50,000 of qualifying income from April 2026, and down to £30,000 from April 2027, any Xero file supporting a sole trader or partner needs digital links built in from the start rather than retrofitted later. VAT-registered companies get the same check regardless of MTD ITSA status, since VAT has required digital records for several years already.
What you get at handoff
A Xero file in the company's own subscription, a short written memo on what moved and why, and a reconciled starting point that connects directly into ongoing bookkeeping once the migration is signed off.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Xero setup and migration
Can you move a company from Sage 50 desktop into Xero?
Yes, including nominal ledger mapping, open invoices and bills, and a reconciled opening trial balance before the Sage file is retired.
Do you set up multi-currency in Xero for companies invoicing overseas clients?
Yes, including base currency selection and reconciling the exchange gains and losses that multi-currency invoicing creates.
Can Xero cope with FreeAgent's simpler self-employed setup once a business incorporates?
Yes, moving from FreeAgent to Xero is common once a sole trader incorporates, and we carry across contacts, invoices and history as part of the migration.
Can bank rules and automation from the old system carry over into Xero?
The logic can generally be rebuilt in Xero even if the exact rule format does not transfer automatically, since most platforms use a similar rule structure. We rebuild the recurring rules that matter most rather than leaving you to recreate every one from scratch after go-live.
Do you test the new Xero file before we start relying on it?
Yes, we reconcile opening balances against your prior system's closing figures and run a parallel check on at least one full month before treating the migration as complete, so an error is caught during testing rather than discovered mid-way through your first live close.
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.
- HospitalityBookkeeping for hotels, short-term rentals and hospitality operators reconciling booking platform payouts and occupancy-driven revenue.
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.