Xero Blog

Launching and running a business is no easy feat. Entrepreneurs wear many hats, and some may not have the training or know-how to manage the financial aspect of their ventures. Founders may overlook accounting lapses and problems.

Ask any business owner, and they’ll no doubt tell you that running a small business is a highly emotional experience. From the joy and pride of starting up, to the pleasure and pain of working with family and friends, and the often relentless pressure of running the show day to day – it’s nothing short of a roller coaster.

“Love” and “accounting” are not two words you would usually hear in the same sentence. But at Xero, we enjoy walking around in our company-branded t-shirts because it opens up conversations with business people who use—and yes, love—our cloud accounting software.

It’s so exciting to be back at Fieldays this year, showing how we can help empower small businesses in the agri sector to run their business smarter. As the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere, Fieldays is the perfect opportunity for farming teams to stop, take a breath and evaluate their farm processes and management – and we love being right at the heart of all of it.

Small businesses have the power to kickstart huge change. And with the fashion industry recently declared one of the world’s largest polluters; now is the time for a fresh new perspective.

As humans, we tend to have a funny relationship with change. Objectively, we understand that it can add infinite value to our careers and personal lives. But, let’s face it, the unknown can also prove a little daunting.

Change is coming for Australia’s 730,000 small business owners with less than 19 employees. With the ATO legislation for Single Touch Payroll (STP) going into effect from 1 July, countless small businesses will be required to start using accounting software technology for payroll reporting.

Xero’s app marketplace has over 700 apps which help small businesses and their advisors reach their goals. Each month we celebrate an app partner who stands out for helping small businesses thrive – find out more about Xero’s app partner program here.

Fieldays 2019 will be my second time at the event as Xero’s New Zealand Head of Agribusiness and Practice Strategy, and I’m really excited to engage first hand with some of the thousands of small businesses in the agri sector.