In this guide · 8 sections
- 01Xero advisor vs integration specialist: who does what
- 02When you need an integration specialist
- 03App Store connectors and what they actually do
- 04Clearing accounts for payouts
- 05Chart of accounts and tax rate mapping
- 06Xero plan prices in Singapore and which plan integrations need
- 07Do it yourself or get help?
- 08Frequently asked questions
Short answer
Hire a Xero advisor (accountant or bookkeeper) for bookkeeping, GST returns and year-end. Bring in an integration specialist when sales, payouts or stock come from other apps and reconciliation is slow or wrong. Either way, get a written handover of accounts, tax mapping, apps and clearing accounts.
Xero advisor vs integration specialist: who does what
The roles overlap, and some firms do both. What matters is knowing which job you are hiring for.
Xero advisor (accountant or bookkeeper)
- Bookkeeping and monthly reconciliation
- GST F5 returns and IRAS correspondence
- Year-end accounts and tax filing
- Advice on tax treatment of transactions
Best for: Every business that needs its books kept and returns filed.
Integration specialist
- Connects Shopify, Stripe, HitPay, POS and payroll to Xero
- Sets up clearing accounts and mapping
- Fixes duplicate or missing transactions from apps
- Builds automations where no app exists
Best for: Businesses where sales and payouts come from several systems.
Xero lists certified advisors in its find an accountant or bookkeeper directory. Integration work is often done by app vendors, developers or IT providers rather than accounting firms. Ask an accounting firm directly whether it handles app set-up or expects you to bring it in clean.
When you need an integration specialist
If all your income arrives as bank transfers against Xero invoices, a bank feed and a bookkeeper are usually enough. The signs that you need integration work are different.
Signs your Xero set-up needs integration work
App Store connectors and what they actually do
The Xero App Store lists connectors for most platforms Singapore businesses use. They vary a lot in how they send data.
| Connector style | What arrives in Xero | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Per order | One invoice per sale | Thousands of invoices and hitting plan limits |
| Daily or payout summary | One entry per day or payout | Less detail, but much easier to reconcile |
| Payment feed | Payouts and fees as bank-style transactions | Needs matching rules and a clearing account |
| Two-way sync | Contacts, items or stock both ways | Conflicts if both systems are edited |
Choose summary-style posting for high-volume stores unless your accountant needs per-order detail. Our guide to connecting Shopify, Stripe and HitPay to Xero shows how the common Singapore set-ups fit together.
Clearing accounts for payouts
Payment platforms collect from customers, deduct fees, and pay you a lump sum later. If you record only the payout, your sales are understated and fees vanish. A clearing account fixes this: sales go in at gross, fees come out, and the payout clears the balance to zero when it lands in your bank.
Create a clearing account per platform
For example, "Stripe Clearing" and "Shopify Payments Clearing", set up as bank or current asset accounts.
Post gross sales into the clearing account
From the connector or a daily summary, with the correct GST tax rate.
Post fees out of the clearing account
As an expense, with GST only where the provider's tax invoice shows GST.
Match payouts from your bank feed
The payout in your DBS, OCBC or UOB feed is a transfer from the clearing account to the bank account.
Check the balance monthly
The clearing balance should equal payouts in transit. A growing balance means something is not being recorded.
If the bank side is the problem, our guide to Xero bank feeds for DBS, OCBC and UOB covers connecting and fixing feeds.
Chart of accounts and tax rate mapping
Connectors post to whatever accounts and tax rates you map. A sensible chart of accounts makes reports useful; a messy one makes GST returns risky.
- Separate income accounts for the streams you want to report, such as online, in-store and services, without creating one per product.
- Map each connector's sales to the correct tax rate: standard-rated, zero-rated for genuine exports, or out of scope where the IRAS rules say so.
- Map shipping charged to customers and refunds explicitly, so they do not land in a catch-all account.
- Agree the mapping with your accountant before the first sync, not after.
Our Xero GST F5 pre-submission checklist covers the checks to run before each return.
Xero plan prices in Singapore and which plan integrations need
Xero announced that Singapore subscription prices change on 1 November 2026. Prices are in SGD and include GST.
| Plan | Until 31 Oct 2026 | From 1 Nov 2026 | Limits that matter for integrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | S$39/mo | S$42/mo | Quotes and 20 invoices, 5 bills; auto-reconcile is an S$8/mo add-on |
| Standard | S$70/mo | S$77/mo | Bulk and auto-reconcile included |
| Premium | S$95/mo | S$99/mo | Adds multiple currencies |
Per-order connectors can create many invoices, which matters on Starter. If you sell in foreign currencies or receive USD payouts, Premium is usually needed. Our Xero vs QuickBooks comparison covers the alternatives.
Do it yourself or get help?
If you have one payment platform and a bank feed, you can usually connect them yourself using the vendor's guide, then ask your accountant to check the mapping. Get help when there are several platforms, high volumes, or reconciliation that never quite balances.
Whoever does the work, ask for a written handover: the chart of accounts changes, tax rate mapping per connector, each clearing account and how it should balance, the apps connected and who owns their logins. Our Xero / QuickBooks Integration (S$390, fixed price) connects Stripe, HitPay or Shopify and your bank feed, brands invoice templates, sets up payment reminders and includes a short guide for your bookkeeper. We do not do bookkeeping or file returns; that stays with your accountant.
Frequently asked questions
A Xero advisor is usually an accountant or bookkeeper who keeps your books, files GST returns and prepares year-end accounts. An integration specialist connects Xero to other systems such as Shopify, Stripe, HitPay, POS and payroll, and sets up clearing accounts and mapping so transactions arrive correctly. Some firms do both.
In most cases, yes. Payment platforms pay out net of fees, often combining many sales in one payout. A clearing account lets you record gross sales and fees separately, then match the payout from your bank feed. Its balance should equal payouts still in transit.
From 1 November 2026, Xero's Singapore prices are S$42 a month for Starter, S$77 for Standard and S$99 for Premium, including GST, up from S$39, S$70 and S$95. Starter limits invoices and bills and charges extra for auto-reconcile. Check Xero's pricing page for current offers.
Some can, especially larger Xero partner firms. Many prefer to receive a clean set-up and focus on bookkeeping and tax. Ask whether they handle app connections, clearing accounts and troubleshooting duplicates, and agree the chart of accounts and tax mapping with them before any connector is switched on.
A written handover covering chart of accounts changes, the tax rate mapping for each connector, each clearing account and how it should balance, the list of connected apps and who owns their logins, and what to check each month. Without it, the next person has to reverse-engineer your set-up.