How to switch from Xero to Countova

Moving your accounts to a new system sounds daunting, but with a bit of planning it is a weekend job, not a nightmare. Here is a practical, step-by-step way to switch from Xero to Countova with nothing lost.

Written by the Countova team · Updated August 2026

Pick the right moment

The cleanest time to switch is the start of a new GST period or financial year. That way your old system holds one complete period and the new one starts fresh, so you are not splitting a return across two tools. In New Zealand that often means 1 April, or the first day of your next two-monthly GST cycle. If you cannot wait, a month end works fine too.

What you are actually moving

A switch is really five lists plus your opening balances:

Chart of accounts, the structure of your ledger.
Contacts, your customers and suppliers.
Items, your products and services with prices.
Open invoices and bills, anything still unpaid on the day you switch.
Opening balances, the closing figures from Xero become your starting figures in Countova.

Step by step

Export from Xero. Pull your chart of accounts, contacts, items and a trial balance as at your switch date. Xero exports these as CSV.
Set your switch date. Draw a line, for example 31 March close in Xero, 1 April live in Countova.
Import the lists. Bring accounts, contacts and items into Countova. Because it is one platform, your items carry straight into invoicing and inventory.
Enter opening balances. Use the Xero trial balance as at the switch date to set your opening ledger, plus any unpaid invoices and bills so your receivables and payables match.
Reconcile the first bank statement. Connect your bank feed and reconcile from the switch date forward.
Run one period in parallel if you want peace of mind. Keep Xero read-only for a period and check the two agree, then cancel it.

Keep the old data. Do not delete your Xero organisation the day you leave. Downgrade or export a full backup first, so you can always look back at history if you need to.

Where Countova makes it easier

Because Countova is all-in-one, the switch also collapses your other tools. Inventory, invoicing and payroll come across into the same system as your accounts, so you are not also migrating a separate stock app or payroll product. NZ GST and Australian BAS are built in, so your first return after switching is prepared from live data. And it is one flat price, so you are not rebuilding a stack of add-ons on the other side.

Common questions

Will I lose my history?

No. Your old system keeps the historical detail, and your opening balances carry the position forward. Most businesses only need live data going forward plus the ability to look back.

How long does it take?

For a small business with clean lists, a day or two. The tidier your Xero data, the faster it goes.

Can you help?

Yes. Start a free trial and our team can walk you through the import on your own data.

One tidy platform for your whole business

Accounting, invoicing, inventory and payroll in one place, with NZ GST and Australian BAS built in. Start free for 14 days, no card needed.

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