# What should a small business owner without an accounting background expect when setting up Xero?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">Picture a founder doing their own books for the first time: I'm writing a piece on what to expect when setting up <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/xero/reviews">Xero</a> without an accounting background. In the G2 reviews I read, the learning sits in the first few weeks, bringing older records across and getting familiar with the advanced features, with support running through tickets. The approach that works is to start with invoicing, expenses and bank feeds, use the online guides at your own pace, and leave advanced features until the basics feel routine. After that, owners describe the day-to-day as straightforward, with an intuitive interface and automation handling routine tasks.</p><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">That makes Xero a good fit in <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting">accounting</a> for owners who want to run their own bookkeeping and stay close to the numbers. The effort is front-loaded rather than ongoing, which suits a founder who can set aside a few focused weeks at the start.</p><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">If you set it up yourself, I'd love to know:</p><ul>
<li>Did you bring history across or start clean?</li>
<li>Which guide helped most?</li>
<li>What made it click?</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">How long before it felt routine?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: about 23 hours ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&quot;&gt;Starting with just invoicing, expenses and bank feeds was the best advice I got. The everyday side felt routine within the first few weeks.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: about 5 hours ago





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