Chris from Sydney Kayaking Tours finds clear water ahead with Xero

From hospitality to harbour

For most of his working life, Chris Sorrell lived and breathed hospitality. Then COVID hit, and almost overnight, the industry he'd built his career in was gone.

"I felt quite lost for a good year," says Chris. "I was wondering what I was going to do with my life."

It was out of that low point that Sydney Kayaking Tours was born. Chris spotted a gap in the market, drafted a business plan, and, in characteristic fashion, jumped in before he'd worked out all the details.

"I'd already placed my order for kayaks from the US before I'd even secured a launch spot," he laughs. "It was quite a risky strategy, but I knew I needed to launch in time for the high season, so I just went all in and prayed it didn't fall flat on its face."

It didn't. After knocking on the same door multiple times, and weathering seven or eight rejections, Chris finally secured a lease on a harbour launch spot in Sydney. Seven days after opening, his first booking came through. Then another. Then the season took off.

Building a team from scratch

In those early weeks, it was a family affair. Chris's brother, sister, and close friends volunteered their time to help him get through the rush while he found his feet.

"There are a lot of people I owe a big thank you to," he says. "They know that whenever they're moving house, they've got me to help with the furniture."

Two years on, Sydney Kayaking Tours has grown from a one-man operation into a small team of guides, including a former Great Britain kayaker.

Clarity on the water — and in the books

Chris came to Xero from day one, introduced by his accountant. Having used the platform before, he knew it worked for him — especially given his self-described complicated relationship with numbers.

"I don't generally take to maths particularly well," he admits. "But Xero just makes it very simple. The user experience for me is great."

What Chris relies on most is the year-on-year profit and loss view — a snapshot that tells him at a glance how his business is performing compared to the same period last year.

"Looking at that page is absolute relief," he says. "Seeing the net profit versus gross profit, year on year — you're just like, 'Oh my god, it's working in the right direction.'"

He checks in a couple of times a week, primarily to review revenue and track costs. The eagle-eye view Xero provides has helped him identify expenses he didn't realise were adding up — small costs that, left unchecked, compound over months and years.

"When costs are all in front of you, you can see where to tighten the screws — something you could reduce here, a cost you didn't realise you could do without. When it all sits there in front of you, Xero really helps."

That same clarity has made conversations with his accountant sharper and more productive — particularly when it comes to tax planning.

"Now I can have very specific conversations with my accountant. Xero definitely prompts the right questions."

Looking ahead

For Chris, Xero is less about the numbers and more about the peace of mind they bring.

"It's knowing I can take a snapshot and see the health of my business without having a complicated conversation with the accountant," he says. "It's right there, it's easy to read.”

"If you have an opportunity to do something, and there is space for you to do it, just go for it. It can't get any worse than square one. Pull the trigger and give it a go."

You can learn more about Sydney Kayaking Tours at their website sydneykayakingtours.com.au