Sole App alternative to Xero: The Australian Sole Trader's Choice

Why Australian Sole Traders Are Switching

Every year, thousands of Australian sole traders move from Xero to Sole App. The reasons are concrete and financial:

• Cost: Xero's entry plan is $29/month; Sole App is $12.90/month. That's a saving of $193.20 per year on the entry plan alone. If you're on Xero's Standard plan at $46/month, switching to Sole App's top plan at $19.90/month saves $313.20 annually.

• BAS lodgement: Xero requires you to export BAS data and lodge via the ATO portal or an accountant. Sole App lodges directly with the ATO in a few clicks, saving you up to 2 hours per quarter.

• Simplicity: Xero's dashboard is packed with features for accountants and multi-user businesses. Sole App strips away everything you don't need, so you can find your invoices, expenses, and tax obligations in seconds.

• No hidden add-ons: Xero charges extra for payroll, expenses, and advanced features. Sole App includes everything a sole trader needs in one flat price.

Pricing Deep Dive: What You Actually Pay

Let's break down the real numbers for a typical sole trader. Xero's Starter plan costs $29/month and includes limited invoices and expenses. To get bank feeds and more features, you need the Standard plan at $46/month. Sole App's base plan at $12.90/month includes unlimited invoices, expense tracking, and bank feeds. Even if you choose Sole App's highest plan at $19.90/month, you're still paying less than half of Xero's Standard.

Annual Savings Example

Consider a freelance graphic designer earning $80,000/year. They need invoicing, expense tracking, and quarterly BAS. With Xero, they'd likely choose the Standard plan at $46/month, costing $552/year. With Sole App, they'd pay $19.90/month, or $238.80/year if billed annually. That's a saving of $313.20—enough to cover a new software subscription or a nice dinner.

Even if they opt for Xero's Starter at $29/month, Sole App's annual billing at $9.90/month saves $229.20 per year. Over five years, that's over $1,100—real money for a small business.

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GST and BAS: The Sole Trader's Nightmare, Solved

For Australian sole traders, BAS is a quarterly ritual that consumes hours. Xero helps you track GST but stops short of lodging. You must export reports, log into the ATO portal, and manually enter figures. Sole App automates the entire process: it calculates GST, prepares the BAS, and lodges it directly with the ATO. You review and submit in under five minutes.

How It Works

• Connect your bank accounts and Sole App automatically categorises transactions.

• At quarter's end, Sole App generates your BAS with all figures pre-filled.

• You review, click submit, and Sole App sends it to the ATO.

• You receive confirmation and can store the record digitally.

This feature alone saves the average sole trader 6-8 hours per year—time that could be spent on billable work.

Invoicing and Payments: Get Paid Faster

Invoicing is the lifeblood of any sole trader. Xero offers robust invoicing, but Sole App's templates are designed specifically for Australian businesses, with ABN, GST, and payment terms built in. You can create a professional invoice in under 30 seconds.

Payment Integration

Sole App integrates with Stripe and PayPal, allowing clients to pay directly from the invoice with a credit card or bank transfer. Xero also offers payment links, but they require additional setup and may incur extra fees. Sole App's payment processing is seamless, and you can track when invoices are viewed and paid.

Recurring Invoices

For retainer clients, Sole App lets you set up recurring invoices with automatic sending. Xero has this too, but it's buried in settings. Sole App makes it a one-click setup, so you never forget to bill.

Who Is Sole App Actually For?

Sole App is built for the solo operator—the tradie, the consultant, the freelancer. Here are three scenarios where it shines:

1. The Freelance Consultant

You bill clients monthly, track expenses like software subscriptions and travel, and need to lodge BAS quarterly. Sole App's clean dashboard shows your income and expenses at a glance, and the BAS lodgement takes minutes. You don't need complex project costing or payroll—you need simplicity.

2. The Sole Trader Tradie

You're on the tools all day, not in front of a computer. Sole App's mobile app lets you snap photos of receipts, create invoices on-site, and track your income. At tax time, everything is organised. Xero's app is powerful but cluttered with features you'll never use.

3. The Side Hustler

You have a full-time job and a side business. You need to track income and expenses without a steep learning curve. Sole App's onboarding takes 10 minutes, and you can start invoicing immediately. The low monthly cost means you're not losing money before you've earned it.

Migration: How to Switch in a Weekend

Switching from Xero to Sole App is straightforward. Here's a step-by-step plan:

1. Export your data from Xero: Go to Settings > Export > Export all transactions as CSV. Also export your chart of accounts and contact list.

2. Sign up for Sole App: Start your free trial at soleapp.com.au. You'll be asked for basic business details.

3. Import your data: Sole App's support team will help you import your CSV files. If you have a complex history, they offer a white-glove migration service.

4. Reconcile your opening balances: Ensure your bank account balances match your last Xero statement.

5. Set up your bank feeds: Connect your bank accounts to Sole App to start automatic transaction imports.

6. Cancel Xero: Once you've verified everything, cancel your Xero subscription to stop future charges.

Most users complete the migration in under two hours. Sole App's support team is available via chat and email to assist.

Who Should Stay with Xero?

If you have employees, need complex project costing, or work with an accountant who requires Xero's ecosystem, then Xero may still be the right choice. But for the vast majority of Australian sole traders, Sole App offers everything you need at a fraction of the cost. Make the switch today and keep more of your hard-earned money.

This comparison was published with Alt Hunt.