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Migration guide

How to switch from FreshBooks to Xero

A step-by-step playbook for migrating your invoicing data, team, and workflows from FreshBooks ($19/mo) to Xero ($20/mo).

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Why teams switch from FreshBooks to Xero

FreshBooks is strong on beautiful, simple invoices and great mobile ux, but teams often hit limits on limited inventory features. Xero addresses this — it's best for small trade businesses who want a modern quickbooks alternative.

From

FreshBooks

$19/mo

To

Xero

$20/mo

7-step migration plan

  1. 1

    Export your data from FreshBooks (contacts, jobs, invoices, payments) as CSV files.

  2. 2

    Sign up for Xero — most teams use the free trial to test the migration safely.

  3. 3

    Clean your CSVs: dedupe contacts, standardize phone numbers, fix date formats.

  4. 4

    Import customers and historical jobs into Xero. Match custom fields carefully.

  5. 5

    Run FreshBooks and Xero in parallel for 1–2 weeks so your team can validate data.

  6. 6

    Train your office staff and field crews on the new Xero workflows.

  7. 7

    Cancel FreshBooks once you've confirmed all reporting and integrations work.

What you'll gain with Xero

  • Unlimited users on every plan
  • Clean bank reconciliation
  • Huge app marketplace
  • Strong multi-currency

Ready to switch?

Start a free trial of Xero — most teams run it alongside FreshBooks for 1–2 weeks before fully cutting over.

Try Xero

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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to switch from FreshBooks to Xero?+

Most teams complete migration in 1–3 weeks: data export, import/cleanup, team training, and a parallel-run period. Larger teams (10+ users) typically need 4–6 weeks.

Can I import my FreshBooks data into Xero?+

Xero accepts CSV imports for contacts, jobs, and invoices. Export from FreshBooks, clean the file, then import. Custom field mappings may require their support team for accounts >5,000 records.

Why switch from FreshBooks to Xero?+

Common reasons: small trade businesses who want a modern quickbooks alternative. Plus better pricing fit ($20/mo vs $19/mo) and feature differences in invoicing.

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Head-to-head comparisons

Read more reviews: FreshBooks · Xero