We Don't Just Use Xero. We Helped Build It in Canada.

Zenbooks is one of Canada's original Xero certified accounting partners. While other firms were still debating whether the cloud was ready, we were already in it, running client books, working directly with Xero's team, and helping shape how the platform works for Canadian businesses.

If your business runs on Xero, or you're ready to move to it, you want an accounting firm that knows it from the inside.

Most Xero Partners Use the Platform. We Helped Shape It.

There are hundreds of Xero-certified accountants in Canada. Here is what makes Zenbooks different.

[Zenbooks was a finalist as a Xero Community Partner in 2023]

We were here at the beginning.

Zenbooks was among the first accounting practices in Canada to become a Xero certified partner. When Xero was still establishing its Canadian presence, we were already advocating for it, onboarding clients onto it, and building workflows around it.

We work directly with Xero's team.

Our relationship with Xero goes beyond certification. We've collaborated with Xero's Canadian communications and product teams on initiatives, participated in panels alongside Xero leadership, and maintained an ongoing working relationship that keeps us close to what's coming next on the platform.

[Eric Saumure, CPA, CA Principal at Zenbooks with Mike Cascone, VP Government Relations and Public Policy, Americas at Open Banking Expo 2025]

[Eric Saumure, CPA, CA Principal at Zenbooks with Mike Cascone, VP Government Relations and Public Policy, Americas on the Open Banking Expo Unplugged Podcast]

We introduced TaxCycle to Xero. Xero later acquired it.

We facilitated the introduction between TaxCycle's founder and Xero's team at a time when Canadian tax integration in Xero was a gap in the market. That introduction eventually led to Xero's acquisition of TaxCycle, deepening Canadian tax functionality inside the platform. We're not just users of the ecosystem. We've contributed to building it.

[An email from Cameron Peters, founder of TaxCycle, after Xero's acquisition was announced. Eric made the introduction.]

We helped bring GIFI mapping to Xero.

GIFI (General Index of Financial Information) mapping is a uniquely Canadian requirement for corporate tax filing. We worked directly with Xero's development team in the early stages of making this a reality for Canadian businesses. From early discussions through beta to the live launch, we were part of the conversation that made Xero materially better for Canadian SMEs.

We have a video with Xero on record.

Your Books Are in Xero. But Is Your Accountant Actually in Xero?

There's a difference between an accountant who logs into Xero to pull your numbers, and one who configures it correctly, integrates the right tools, builds the right chart of accounts, and uses it to give you real financial visibility.

We hear the same frustrations from businesses who come to us:

• Their Xero setup was rushed and the chart of accounts is a mess
• Reconciliation is always behind
• Their integrations (Stripe, Shopify, payroll) are dumping data in wrong
• Their accountant produces reports but can't explain them
• Nobody is using Xero's actual capabilities, it's just the basics

This is what happens when a firm treats Xero as a data repository instead of a financial management system. We treat it as the latter.

What Working With a Real Xero Practice Looks Like

Xero Setup and Migration

Whether you're starting fresh or migrating from QuickBooks, Wave, or a desktop platform, we configure Xero for your business specifically: chart of accounts built for your industry, tax settings correct for your province, opening balances verified, and integrations connected from day one.

Bank Reconciliation and Clean Books

Reconciliation done properly, on schedule, every month. No backlog. No surprises at year-end. You always know where your numbers stand.

Integration with Your Full Tech Stack

Xero is most powerful when it's connected. We integrate and manage your full ecosystem: Dext or Hubdoc for document capture, Plooto or Wise for payments, Wagepoint or Payworks for payroll, Stripe, Square, or Shopify for revenue, ApprovalMax for controls, Float for cash flow forecasting, and Spotlight Reporting or Fathom for management reporting.

Monthly Management Reporting

We produce reporting packages that go beyond the standard P&L. Cash flow position, KPIs relevant to your business, variance analysis, and forward-looking commentary. Delivered on a schedule you can rely on.

CFO-Level Advisory

Through our CFO services practice, led by co-founder Colin Robinson, we bring strategic financial leadership to businesses that aren't ready for a full-time CFO. Budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, investor-ready financials, board reporting. All built on top of your Xero data.

Every Tool We Connect to Xero

One of the most common reasons SMEs underuse Xero is that their accountant only knows Xero. We know the entire ecosystem that surrounds it.

Document Capture: Dext, Hubdoc

Payments and AP: Plooto, Wise, Bill.com, ApprovalMax

Payroll: Wagepoint, Payworks, Gusto

Expense Management: Expensify

Cash Flow Forecasting: Float

Reporting and Analytics: Spotlight Reporting, Fathom

Revenue and Commerce: Stripe, Square, Shopify

Sales Tax: Avalara, TaxJar

Industry-Specific: JaneApp, WorkflowMax, Huumans

If your business runs on any of these platforms, we already know how to connect it to Xero and keep it clean.

Built for the Way Modern Canadian Businesses Actually Run

Professional Services Firms

Agencies, consultancies, law firms, engineering practices, and other project-based businesses that need clean job-level profitability, trust account handling, and reporting that reflects billable work. We integrate Xero with WorkflowMax and time-tracking tools to give you visibility at the project level, not just the P&L.

SaaS and Tech Startups

Subscription revenue, deferred revenue, U.S. incorporation, Stripe as your primary processor, Gusto for your American employees, and investors asking for clean financials. We work with Canadian tech companies at every stage, from seed to Series A, and know how to set up Xero to handle the complexity of a growing SaaS business.

Shopify and E-commerce Businesses

Shopify accounting is not standard bookkeeping. Payout timing, Shopify Payments reconciliation, multi-channel inventory, Canadian and U.S. sales tax, and the constant flow of refunds and fees all require a firm that knows the platform. We work with Shopify merchants regularly and have built workflows specifically for getting Shopify data into Xero correctly.

Why Zenbooks

• One of Canada's first and longest-standing Xero certified practices
• Fully remote, serving Canadian SMEs from coast to coast
• 300+ clients across professional services, tech, e-commerce, and more
• Integrated CFO services through co-founder Colin Robinson
• Regular contributors to Canadian small business finance policy and media
• We advocate for SME interests even when it's not commercially convenient for us

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zenbooks a Xero certified partner?

Yes. Zenbooks is a Xero certified practice and has been since the early days of Xero's Canadian expansion. We are among the longest-standing Xero partners in the country.

Can you migrate my business from QuickBooks to Xero?

Yes. We handle QBO-to-Xero and QuickBooks Desktop-to-Xero migrations regularly. This includes mapping your chart of accounts, migrating historical data, verifying opening balances, and setting up your integrations correctly from the start.

Do you work with businesses outside of Ottawa?

Yes. Zenbooks is a fully remote practice. We serve 300+ Canadian SMEs across every province. Our clients are distributed across Canada and we operate entirely in the cloud, which is why Xero is such a natural fit for how we work.

What if I'm already using Xero but my books are a mess?

This is one of the most common situations we step into. We conduct a Xero health review, identify the issues, and clean up your setup. Most clients are surprised how quickly the books can be brought current when someone who actually knows the platform takes over.

Do you work with Shopify businesses on Xero?

Yes. Shopify-to-Xero reconciliation is a specific area of expertise for us. We handle Shopify Payments, multi-channel revenue, payout timing, and Canadian and cross-border sales tax within Xero.

Do you work with SaaS companies on Xero?

Yes. We work with Canadian SaaS businesses at various stages of growth. We handle Stripe reconciliation, deferred revenue, U.S. team payroll through Gusto, and investor-ready financial reporting out of Xero.

What does a discovery call involve?

It's a 30-minute conversation with no obligation. We learn about your business, your current setup, and what's not working. You learn whether we're the right fit. If we are, we'll walk you through next steps. If we're not, we'll tell you honestly.

Ready to Get More Out of Xero?

If your books are in Xero but your accountant isn't really in Xero, it's time to talk. Book a 30-minute discovery call and let's figure out if we're the right fit for your business.