Running a small business isn’t easy — especially when you’re juggling receipts, chasing payments, and trying to figure out payroll. But the right tools can take a load off your shoulders.
Whether you’re a sole trader, freelancer or growing limited company, these five powerful apps are here to help you save time, stay compliant, and actually enjoy managing your business finances (well, almost!).
Let’s look at the best apps that integrate with Xero to make your business life simpler.
Xero – The Heart of Your Accounting
If you’re not already using Xero, let’s start there. It’s cloud-based, intuitive, and designed with small businesses in mind. With Xero, you can:
Create and send invoices
Track expenses and mileage
Reconcile your bank accounts in seconds
Run real-time reports
Xero works from anywhere, making it easy to stay on top of your numbers, even if you’re working from your sofa. It’s HMRC-recognised, MTD-compliant, and connects with hundreds of apps (including all the ones below).
Top tip: Stick to Xero and its official app partners for the smoothest experience and best support.
GoCardless – Get Paid on Time, Everytime
Fed up with late payments? GoCardless is your new best friend. It lets you collect money directly from your customer’s bank account via Direct Debit, no more “the cheque’s in the post” excuses.
It’s perfect for:
Monthly retainers
Instalment plans
Recurring invoices
And it syncs with Xero, so everything matches up without you lifting a finger.
Cash flow win: Fewer late payments = less stress = happier business owner.
BrightPay – Payroll That Makes Sense
Payroll doesn’t have to be painful. BrightPay helps you pay staff, stay on top of PAYE, and handle pensions with ease. It’s designed for UK businesses, and yes, it keeps you compliant with HMRC rules.
With BrightPay you can:
Generate payslips in a click
Calculate tax and National Insurance
Submit RTI and auto-enrolment info straight to HMRC
It’s user-friendly and ideal whether you’ve got one employee or fifty.
Dext – Say Goodbye to Shoebox Accounting
Tired of typing up receipts? Dext takes care of that. Snap a photo of your receipt, and Dext will extract all the details, sort it, and send it straight into Xero.
Perfect for:
Keeping on top of business expenses
Storing digital copies for HMRC
Avoiding hours of admin at tax time
Game-changer: Just take a photo, the app does the rest.
Starling Bank – Stay Ahead of Your Tax Bills
Managing your business bank account and saving for tax bills? Starling makes it easy. It’s a UK-based digital bank designed with small business owners in mind — and it plays nicely with Xero.
The real magic? Spaces (or “Tax Pots”). These let you set money aside as soon as it hits your account, so when that HMRC bill arrives, you’re ready.
Here’s what makes Starling a favourite:
Open a free business account in minutes
Use Spaces to set aside money for VAT, Corporation Tax, or rainy days
Get instant notifications on spending and income
Connect directly to Xero for automatic bank feeds
Smart move: You can even automate transfers into your Tax Pot based on income — so you’re always one step ahead of your next bill.
Wrapping Up: One App at a Time
You don’t need to download everything at once. Start with what’s slowing you down the most, whether it’s chasing payments, sorting payroll, or digging through receipts. Each of these tools works brilliantly with Xero, so you can build a toolkit that fits your business.
Ready to make your accounting less of a headache? These apps are here to help you spend less time on paperwork and more time doing what you love.
Need a hand setting up Xero or choosing the right apps?
We help UK businesses get the most out of Xero and its partner apps. Get in touch or check out our blog for more practical tips on running a smoother, smarter business.
Comments are closed