An alternative to Xero plus a job app.
Xero is accounting software. Many trades pair it with a job app such as Tradify, Fergus or ServiceM8 for quoting, scheduling and site work. Countertop Office does both in one system, for $19 a month solo or $49 a month for up to 20 users. It has no payroll or live bank feeds, so here's where each one fits.
Which one suits your business.
Neither is right for everyone. If the second list describes you, Xero is probably the better choice.
- You're paying for Xero and a job app, and want one system instead.
- You need crew scheduling, site visits and on-site sign-off next to the books.
- You'd rather pay one flat price for jobs and accounts.
- You don't run payroll, or it's handled elsewhere.
- You run payroll. Xero includes it on Comprehensive and Ultimate, and Countertop Office has none.
- You want live bank feeds instead of importing statement files.
- You want to lodge BAS with the ATO from inside the software.
- Your accountant or bookkeeper works in Xero and wants to stay there.
Countertop Office and Xero compared.
The differences that usually decide it: how you're charged, where the books live, and what each one leaves out.
| Topic | Countertop Office | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Business management with double-entry accounting built in. | Accounting software, with quotes and invoices. |
| Pricing | Solo $19 a month for 1 user. Business $49 a month for up to 20 users. No GST added. | Plans from Ignite to Ultimate. Comprehensive is usually $107 a month and Ultimate $143 to $250 a month, including GST. |
| Jobs and scheduling | Jobs with phases and tasks, crew scheduling, visits, checklists, sign-off, time, materials and variations. | Project time and cost tracking on Ultimate plans. Crew scheduling usually comes from a separate job app. |
| Payroll | None. Wages go on the BAS by hand as W1 and W2. | Included on Comprehensive and Ultimate, with the number of people paid set by the plan. |
| Banking | Statement import, matching, bank rules and reconciliation. No live feeds. | Bank feeds and automatic reconciliation. |
| BAS | Prepared from your records. You lodge in ATO Online services with a field-by-field guide. | Prepared and lodged with the ATO from within Xero. |
Xero details are from Xero's public pricing page, checked on 25 October 2026. Plans and prices change, so check their site before you decide. Xero is a trademark of its owner, and Countertop Software isn't affiliated with it.
How switching works.
Move the books at a clean break, such as the start of a BAS period, so each return comes from one system.
- 01
Export your lists
Export your chart of accounts, contacts and items from Xero as CSV or Excel files.
- 02
Map and import
Upload ledger accounts, tax codes, clients, suppliers and products. Countertop Office suggests the column matches, and you confirm them.
- 03
Opening balances
Enter opening balances with a journal at your switch date, using the trial balance from Xero.
- 04
Set up the work side
Apply a starter kit for services, job templates and quote templates, then start quoting and scheduling.
Common questions from Xero users.
Straight answers on price, accounting and what changes when you move.
Can Countertop Office replace Xero?
For many small trades, yes: it keeps double-entry books, reconciles bank statements, and prepares BAS and TPAR. It isn't a full replacement if you need payroll, live bank feeds or lodgement straight to the ATO from the software.
Does Countertop Office sync with Xero?
No. Countertop Office is the accounting system, so it replaces Xero rather than syncing with it.
Can my bookkeeper work in it?
Yes. Your bookkeeper gets their own login, with a role that opens on the accounting views, and can run the trial balance, P&L, balance sheet and GST reports themselves. Their login counts as one of your users.
How do I handle payroll?
Keep payroll in a separate payroll service. Post wages to the books with a journal, and enter W1 and W2 on the BAS by hand. Everything else on the BAS is calculated from your invoices, purchases and journals.
See how Countertop Office fits your trade, or how it compares.
Each page is plain about what the product does and doesn't do, so you can rule it in or out quickly.
Quote one real job and see how it runs.
Solo and Business both include every Countertop Office feature. Choose 1 user or up to 20, with no GST added.