Heather Smith - Getting the Most Out of Xero In A Day For Dummies

Getting the Most Out of Xero In a Day For Dummies

Published by
Wiley Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
42 McDougall Street
Milton, Qld 4064
www.dummies.com

Copyright 2013 Wiley Publishing Australia Pty Ltd

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

National Library of AustraliaCataloguing-in-Publication data:

Author:Smith, Heather Nicolette

Title:Getting the Most Out of Xero In A Day For Dummies / Heather Smith

ISBN:9781118572399 (epub.); 9781118572412 (epdf.); 9781118572429 (emobi.)

Series:For Dummies.

Subjects:Xero (Computer program)

Accounting Computer Programs

Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Dewey Number:657.02855369

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Introduction

With your Xero data file set up and running smoothly, you may be twiddling your thumbs wondering, Now my general bookkeeping/accounting system is so quick and easy, what am I going to do with all this extra time? Well, start your engines NOW as this is when the real fun starts! You have time to breathe, step back and think strategically about your business. You have time to set goals, define the destination, tune up your accounts, and position your business for profit and success. This In A Day book is the resource you need to understand how you can customise management information so it automatically generates timely, accurate and useful data you can use in your business decisions.

Business decisions arent all about data; theyre about gut instinct and courage. But without the data (that you can easily access on the go with your Xero dashboards on your iPad on a yacht in the Bahamas) you could be making critical decisions blindly.

Not only does Getting the Most Out of Xero In A Day For Dummies help you understand how to generate awesome management information, it also introduces you to the add-on community of solutions that can further assist the processes of your business and provide you with the capacity to grow.

Note: One of the great features of Xero being a cloud-based accounting solution is that Xero can make upgrades or updates to its pages or processes at any time and the next time you access your file, the upgrades have been implemented. No more waiting for the next software release! But this may mean a page or process youre looking at online isnt exactly the same as that shown in this ebook. Dont worry the process should still be similar enough that you can use this book to guide you through.

What You Can Do In A Day

This ebook explains Xeros key management accounting features. It shows you how to generate useful information for your business and make the most of the different options offered in the cloud-based solution.

Foolish Assumptions

Its never nice to assume anything about people without walking a mile in their shoes. But to write this book I had to assume a few things... firstly, I assumed you buckle down to work with a nice cup of tea, and when things get really hard you grab the chocolate. (Or is that just me?)

Here are some other assumptions Ive made:

You can navigate your way around a computer or a mobile device and know how to access the internet.

You have an existing Xero data file set up.

You dont have a background in bookkeeping or accounting. Through my work Ive been exposed to literally thousands of people who have no accounting or bookkeeping background and Ive trained them in the essentials and got them up and running. So Ive used this experience to write this book in a way that highlights whats important, and breaks it down appropriately.

You probably dont have access to Hermiones Time Turner or Doctor Who s TARDIS, and your time is important to you. You want to work as efficiently and effectively as possible so Ive included lots of productivity enhancers.

Icons Used in This Book

Have a go at a quick exercise and tips with this icon.

This icon marks some of the additional material you can find on the book's companion website at www.dummies.com/go/inaday/gettingthemostoutofxero .

This icon highlights pearls of wisdom you should make a mental note about or even write down for yourself on an actual notebook!

These show handy strategies and short cuts to speed up your productivity or just generally make life easier gained through my own experience.