Accounting software for self-employed Australians
Running a business in Australia means managing invoices, GST, and BAS – often on your own. Xero handles the bookkeeping and tax admin so you can focus on your work. Invoicing, GST and expense tracking, and BAS prep in a user-friendly package – 91% of customers agree Xero is easy to use.
Self-employed accounting software that simplifies your financial admin
4 in 5 Xero customers save 6 hours a month on manual data entry. Xero gives you more time for work that actually earns money.
Connect your Australian bank and automate your books
Xero bank feeds pull transactions into Xero. Less manual data entry!
Create professional invoices and get paid faster
Customise invoices with PayTo, Zip, and Tap to Pay, and automate reminders cut the time you spend chasing payments.
Track GST and prepare your BAS with confidence
Xero tracks GST automatically and prepares your BAS – 93% of AU customers agree Xero helps them stay compliant.
Get paid sooner with smart invoicing
Get money in your account faster! Customise quotes and invoices, and give clients more ways to pay online – like PayTo, Zip, SMS invoicing, and Tap to Pay. Then set recurring invoices for regular clients, and skip the chasing with Xero’s automated payment reminders.
- Xero customers say they spend 50% less time chasing payments (Source: Xero survey of SBs in Australia, 2024)
- Quote and invoice from the Xero Accounting app – iOS and Android
- Use the Xero Accounting mobile app to send invoices, capture receipts, and stay on top of cash flow from anywhere.
Track every expense, claim more deductions
Hubdoc document capture comes with all Xero plans. Snap a receipt and Hubdoc extracts the data – supplier, amount, GST – creates a transaction, and attaches the document. Categorise your transactions using Xero’s chart of accounts and tracking categories for more detailed reporting. Simple!
- 4 in 5 Xero customers save 6 hours a month on manual data entry (Xero survey, 373 SBs globally, Oct 2025)
Prepare your BAS and GST without the stress
Xero automatically tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS. At BAS time, Xero tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS. Your records also support PAYG instalment calculations.
- 93% of AU customers agree Xero helps them stay compliant (Xero survey of 1505 SBs in Australia, May 2024)
- Invite your accountant or bookkeeper at no extra cost. With Xero’s unlimited general users, it’s easier to get help at BAS time.
Automate your bookkeeping with bank feeds
Xero connects to your bank and pulls in transactions automatically. Xero suggests matches for your bank transactions, and bank rules help with regular repeating ones – so you can reconcile in just a few clicks and keep your records accurate. Check your cash position at any time, from any device.
- Xero brings all your accounting data into one place – one source for your business finances
- Bank feeds give you an always-current picture of your cash – so you can make confident business decisions.
Plans to suit your business
Grow
for the first 3 months
Then $78 per month
Go beyond the basics - automate tasks and access performance dashboards.
- Send invoices and quotes
- Accept online invoice payments^
- Automate bill entry and track bills
- Auto-reconcile bank transactions (Beta)
- Track GST and lodge BAS
- Smart document capture basic extraction
- View real-time reports
- Automate superannuation
- Payroll for 2 people
- 60 day cashflow forecast
- Visualise performance with graphs
- Customise performance dashboards
- Claim expenses and mileage for 1 user
Comprehensive
for the first 3 months
Then $107 per month
Optimise profitability - tailor your insights for greater control.
- Send invoices and quotes
- Accept online invoice payments^
- Automate bill entry and track bills
- Auto-reconcile bank transactions (Beta)
- Track GST and lodge BAS
- Smart document capture
- View real-time reports
- Automate superannuation
- Payroll for 5 people
- 90 day cashflow forecast
- Visualise performance with graphs
- Customise performance dashboards
- Claim expenses and mileage for 5 users
- Use multiple currencies
- Tailored financial health scorecards
for the first 3 months
Then $143 per month
Future proof your scaling business - with advanced tools and analytics.
- Send invoices and quotes
- Accept online invoice payments^
- Automate bill entry and track bills
- Auto-reconcile bank transactions (Beta)
- Track GST and lodge BAS
- Smart document capture
- View real-time reports
- Automate superannuation
- Payroll for 10 people
- 180 day cashflow forecast
- Visualise performance with graphs
- Customise performance dashboards
- Claim expenses and mileage for 10 users
- Use multiple currencies
- Tailored financial health scorecards
- Analyse KPIs and ratios
- Track projects for 10 users
- Benchmark against the industry
Know where your business stands
Xero brings your accounting data into easy-to-read reports: profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow forecasts. Customise by date range for quarterly or EOFY planning. 88% of customers agree Xero improves financial visibility, and your accountant can access everything in real time.
- 88% of customers agree Xero helps improve financial visibility (Xero survey of 2634 SBs, May–June 2024)
- Cash flow forecasts help you plan ahead and manage spending, so you can see what money is expected to move in and out of your business.
Extend Xero with over 1000 connected apps
Customise Xero by connecting more than 1,000 apps – from payment services like Stripe and PayPal to tools you already use through the Xero App Store. Discover new tools or build your own custom integrations.
- Xero businesses that use app integrations report a 26% average productivity boost when (Xero survey, 266 SBs, Oct 2025)
- Connect payment processors, ecommerce platforms, time-tracking tools, and more. Everything syncs automatically with your Xero account.
FAQs, on self-employed accounting software in Australia
Accounting software is often the best choice. Spreadsheets can work for simple businesses – but they struggle to keep up as your income grows and you spend more time on manual reconciliation and tax prep.
Xero accounting software for sole traders, automates these tasks. Xero connects to your bank, tracks GST automatically, and generates BAS-ready reports. Accounting software can help you prepare your tax return accurately and identify eligible tax deductions.
Accounting software is often the best choice. Spreadsheets can work for simple businesses – but they struggle to keep up as your income grows and you spend more time on manual reconciliation and tax prep.
Xero accounting software for sole traders, automates these tasks. Xero connects to your bank, tracks GST automatically, and generates BAS-ready reports. Accounting software can help you prepare your tax return accurately and identify eligible tax deductions.
Xero automatically tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS. At BAS time, Xero tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS, and helps you lodge BAS simply and securely with the ATO. Whether you lodge quarterly or monthly, your GST records are always up to date.
For further guidance on BAS obligations, visit the Australian Taxation Office website.
Xero automatically tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS. At BAS time, Xero tracks GST as you go, ready for your BAS, and helps you lodge BAS simply and securely with the ATO. Whether you lodge quarterly or monthly, your GST records are always up to date.
For further guidance on BAS obligations, visit the Australian Taxation Office website.
For Australian self-employed professionals, the must-haves are:
- automated bank feeds and bank reconciliation
- GST tracking and BAS-ready reports
- professional invoicing with Australian payment methods
- expense tracking and receipt capture
- mobile app access
- and accountant collaboration
Xero includes all of these – and you’ll find other tools on the Xero App Store.
For Australian self-employed professionals, the must-haves are:
- automated bank feeds and bank reconciliation
- GST tracking and BAS-ready reports
- professional invoicing with Australian payment methods
- expense tracking and receipt capture
- mobile app access
- and accountant collaboration
Xero includes all of these – and you’ll find other tools on the Xero App Store.
Prices vary by plan and provider. Xero offers three business plans: Early, Growing, and Established. Start a 30-day free trial of Xero. Hubdoc (for receipt and bill capture) and unlimited general users are included in every plan.
Prices vary by plan and provider. Xero offers three business plans: Early, Growing, and Established. Start a 30-day free trial of Xero. Hubdoc (for receipt and bill capture) and unlimited general users are included in every plan.
Yes. All Xero plans include unlimited general users at no extra cost. This means you can invite your accountant or bookkeeper to work on your accounts with you in Xero, in real time – hugely helpful for BAS preparation, EOFY reconciliation, and tax return support.
Yes. All Xero plans include unlimited general users at no extra cost. This means you can invite your accountant or bookkeeper to work on your accounts with you in Xero, in real time – hugely helpful for BAS preparation, EOFY reconciliation, and tax return support.
Yes. Xero connects bank accounts using automated bank feeds, and most banks can be connected automatically for daily updates. Xero pulls in your transactions automatically and matches them using smart rules. Set up bank rules for recurring expenses to speed up reconciliation further.
Yes. Xero connects bank accounts using automated bank feeds, and most banks can be connected automatically for daily updates. Xero pulls in your transactions automatically and matches them using smart rules. Set up bank rules for recurring expenses to speed up reconciliation further.
Cash-basis accounting records income and expenses at the time money changes hands. Accrual accounting records them when they're earned or incurred, regardless of when the payment takes place.
Cash-basis accounting records income and expenses at the time money changes hands. Accrual accounting records them when they're earned or incurred, regardless of when the payment takes place.
Speak to your accountant or bookkeeper about which method suits your situation best.
Cash-basis accounting records income and expenses at the time money changes hands. Accrual accounting records them when they're earned or incurred, regardless of when the payment takes place.
Cash-basis accounting records income and expenses at the time money changes hands. Accrual accounting records them when they're earned or incurred, regardless of when the payment takes place.
Speak to your accountant or bookkeeper about which method suits your situation best.
Don’t worry: switching mid-year is fine with the right support. Xero makes it simple to switch mid-year. You can enter your opening balances, connect your bank account, and import other business data into Xero as you get set up.
Xero's 24/7 support team and personalised 1:1 set-up assistance make the process straightforward. There’s also step-by-step guidance in Xero Central's getting started guide.
Don’t worry: switching mid-year is fine with the right support. Xero makes it simple to switch mid-year. You can enter your opening balances, connect your bank account, and import other business data into Xero as you get set up.
Xero's 24/7 support team and personalised 1:1 set-up assistance make the process straightforward. There’s also step-by-step guidance in Xero Central's getting started guide.
Xero’s financial reports, like the Profit and Loss report, help you track your business’s finances, and you can work with your accountant to use your financial data for tax time and planning. You can invite your accountant to access these reports in Xero to help you with PAYG calculations and EOFY planning.
For further guidance on PAYG, check out the ATO's EOFY preparation guide.
Xero’s financial reports, like the Profit and Loss report, help you track your business’s finances, and you can work with your accountant to use your financial data for tax time and planning. You can invite your accountant to access these reports in Xero to help you with PAYG calculations and EOFY planning.
For further guidance on PAYG, check out the ATO's EOFY preparation guide.
Xero includes Australian tax features like GST tracking, BAS preparation, and bank feeds to help keep your records up to date. Accounting software can save time by automating tasks like bank reconciliation, GST tracking, and BAS preparation.
Xero offers a 30-day free trial, so you can try out Xero’s features before committing. And self-employed accounting software subscriptions are tax-deductible!
Xero includes Australian tax features like GST tracking, BAS preparation, and bank feeds to help keep your records up to date. Accounting software can save time by automating tasks like bank reconciliation, GST tracking, and BAS preparation.
Xero offers a 30-day free trial, so you can try out Xero’s features before committing. And self-employed accounting software subscriptions are tax-deductible!
Xero works for your self-employed business
Whether you're a tradie, consultant, or ecommerce seller, Xero adapts to your work with integrations and workflows built for your industry.
Trades and contractors
Manage quotes and invoices, and track materials. Manage quotes and invoices, and use Xero Projects to prepare
Consultants and professional services
Track time, invoice by project, and manage retainer clients.
Ecommerce sellers
Connect Shopify to reconcile your payouts in Xero. Multi-currency available on supported Xero pricing plans.
Start using Xero for free
Access Xero features for 30 days, then decide which plan best suits your business.
Explore useful features to run your business
Xero’s online accounting software is designed to make life easier for small businesses – anywhere, any time.
