Let’s be real—keeping track of receipts, invoices, and your cash flow while running a farm is about as fun as untangling a hosepipe in the rain. But here’s the good news: Xero farm accounting makes life way easier.
It’s cloud-based, mobile, and plays nice with farming apps like Figured and PaySauce. That means less admin, more time for the important stuff—like checking fences, feeding stock, or maybe even sitting down for a coffee (imagine that).
Modernizing agricultural financial management with Xero
You’re not just running a farm—you’re running a business. A muddy, noisy, full-on business. And you don’t have time to sit at a desk crunching numbers when there are sheep escaping and tractors breaking down.
Xero gets it. With their mobile-friendly tools, you can handle the books from anywhere. Snap a photo of a receipt while you’re out in the paddock? Done. Send an invoice from the passenger seat of the ute? Too easy. Reconcile bank transactions while waiting for the dog to hop in the truck? Sorted.
Plus, Xero automates the boring stuff—bank feeds, expense categorising, transaction matching. Less time clicking around. More time doing actual farm things.
| Traditional Farm Accounting | Xero Farm Accounting |
|---|---|
| Receipts in your glovebox | Snap + store digitally |
| Desk-bound number crunching | Mobile-friendly, do it anywhere |
| Bank recs that take hours | Auto-matching in minutes |
| End-of-year financial surprises | Real-time insights as you go |
Field to finance: key features for agricultural businesses
Farm cash flow is a beast. One month you’re loaded from harvest, the next you’re staring at bills with no money coming in. Xero helps you see it coming.
From the dashboard, you get real-time info about what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what your next few months might look like. Perfect for planning when you’ve got seasons to juggle and expenses that never seem to stop.
Invoices? Easy.
- Brand them with your farm logo
- Send them by email with payment links
- Set automatic reminders so you’re not chasing people
- Offer different ways to pay (some folks still love cheques, bless them)
- See exactly what’s overdue and who owes you what
Bills? Also sorted. Schedule payments, avoid late fees, keep suppliers happy, and protect your cash flow with smart timing.
Not sure about using Xero ? Check out our article Xero vs MYOB for more information.
Integrating specialized agricultural applications
This is where Xero really shines. It’s not just accounting software—it’s a full ecosystem that integrates with apps built for farmers.
Figured
Crop planning, livestock tracking, budgeting, forecasting—it’s all there. And the best part? It links directly with Xero. So your farm data actually talks to your financials. Magic.
Asset.Guru
Got gear? (Of course you do.) Tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems—this app helps you keep track of them all and calculate depreciation. No more guessing come tax time.
PaySauce
Payroll headaches? Gone. PaySauce handles:
- Onboarding seasonal workers
- Tracking hours across different jobs
- Payroll that understands farming classifications
- Filing with IRD
- Paying staff directly
All the stuff you don’t want to deal with, handled in one place. Sole trader and still hesitating using Xero ? Have a quick read of our article Hnry vs Xero.
Real-world impact on agricultural operations
This isn’t just “software talk.” This is real time back in your week. Most farmers using Xero say they save 5 to 10 hours a week. That’s huge.
What would you do with that extra time?
- Check on the herd?
- Fix that gate that’s been dodgy for months?
- Finally sit down and plan for next season?
Plus, with better financial visibility, you’ll start making smarter decisions. Know which part of your business is actually profitable. See where costs are creeping up. Find savings before it’s too late.
Take it from Donovan at Clovalley Farms. “Xero for farming has allowed us to simplify our business and helped us to realize our goals.” It’s not just him—farmers all over the country are seeing results.
And let’s not forget the return on investment. With better cash flow, fewer accounting fees, and less time wasted, Xero pretty much pays for itself.
Final thoughts (and a cheeky plug)
Farming is tough enough without financial chaos. If you’re ready to spend less time wrestling with paperwork and more time actually farming, give Xero and its farm-focused apps a go.
And hey—if you’re not sure where to start or want someone to walk you through it, BH Accounting is here to help. We’ll connect you with pros who speak farm and finance.