Managing payments and accounting can be a headache for online sellers. You’re selling across platforms, processing card payments, tracking Stripe fees, and trying to keep your Xero books accurate — all at once. That’s why Xero Stripe integration is a must-have for modern eCommerce businesses.
By connecting Stripe with Xero, you bring your payment gateway and accounting software into perfect sync. Every customer payment, transaction fee, and payout from Stripe flows directly into Xero — automatically.
No more manual data entry.
No more reconciliation struggles.
Just clean, accurate, real-time financials.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Xero Stripe integration — including how it works, setup steps, benefits, use cases, and expert tips from eSeller Accountant, your trusted Xero migration and integration partner.
What Is Xero Stripe Integration?
Xero Stripe integration is the process of connecting your Stripe payment gateway to your Xero accounting software. Once linked, the integration automatically syncs payments, fees, and settlements, helping you record income and reconcile transactions with zero manual effort.
Every time a customer pays via Stripe — whether it’s an invoice, subscription, or eCommerce sale — the payment data automatically appears in Xero. The integration records:
- Customer name and payment reference
- Gross amount received
- Stripe processing fee
- Net amount deposited to your bank
This seamless flow allows for accurate bookkeeping, faster reconciliation, and up-to-date financial insights.
Why Connect Stripe to Xero?
If you’re running an online store or digital business, connecting Stripe to Xero helps you manage payments and accounting in one place. You’ll save time, eliminate errors, and improve cash flow visibility.
Here’s why Stripe Xero integration is so valuable for eCommerce sellers and small businesses:
1. Automated Payment Reconciliation
Manually matching invoices to payments is one of the biggest time drains for small businesses.
With Xero Stripe integration, payments are automatically matched to corresponding invoices — including Stripe fees. The system does the reconciliation for you, keeping your books up to date.
2. Faster Online Payments
By connecting Stripe with Xero, you can enable “Pay Now” buttons on invoices. Customers can pay instantly using credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
This small feature helps businesses get paid up to 50% faster.
3. Accurate Fee Tracking
Stripe automatically deducts its transaction fees before transferring funds. With the integration, Xero records those fees automatically under the correct expense account — giving you true net income data.
4. Real-Time Financial Data
Your Xero dashboard updates as soon as Stripe processes payments. You’ll always have real-time visibility of your sales, cash flow, and profitability.
5. Less Manual Work
No need to import CSV files or enter transactions manually. Xero Stripe connection handles it all automatically — giving you back hours each week.
How to Set Up Xero Stripe Integration (Step-by-Step Guide)
Setting up Stripe integration in Xero is straightforward but requires careful configuration to ensure transactions sync correctly.
Step 1: Log in to Your Xero Account
Sign in to your Xero dashboard and navigate to Business → Invoices.
Step 2: Choose ‘Get Paid with Stripe’
Click “Get Paid with Stripe” or “Connect Stripe”. This option allows you to start the linking process between Xero and Stripe.
Step 3: Sign In to Stripe
If you already have a Stripe account, log in. If not, you’ll be guided to create one instantly.
Step 4: Authorize the Integration
Approve the connection between your Xero organization and Stripe account. Once done, you’ll be redirected back to Xero.
Step 5: Configure Your Settings
In Xero, you can:
- Select the account that will receive Stripe deposits
- Assign Stripe fees to a specific expense account
- Enable “Pay Now” buttons on invoices
Step 6: Send a Test Invoice
Send yourself a small test invoice to confirm that payments and reconciliations work properly.
Once connected, Stripe and Xero will work hand-in-hand, syncing payments automatically in the background.
How Xero Stripe Integration Works Behind the Scenes
The integration uses APIs to exchange data securely between Stripe and Xero. Here’s what happens each time you receive a payment:
- Customer Pays Invoice or Checkout
- The customer pays via Stripe using their preferred method (card, Apple Pay, etc.).
- Stripe Processes the Payment
- Stripe deducts its processing fee and transfers the net amount to your bank.
- Xero Imports the Transaction
- Xero automatically creates a payment record, associates it with the invoice, and records the Stripe fee.
- Automatic Reconciliation
- Xero matches the Stripe payout from your bank feed with the payment record, completing reconciliation automatically.
This automation removes the need for spreadsheets or manual balancing — everything aligns perfectly.
Common Issues with Xero Stripe Integration (and How to Fix Them)
Even though Xero and Stripe work well together, a few setup issues can appear. Here are the most common problems and their fixes:
1. Duplicate Transactions
Cause: Both your eCommerce platform (e.g., Shopify or WooCommerce) and Stripe send data to Xero.
Fix: Choose one source (preferably Stripe) to send payment data to Xero.
2. Reconciliation Mismatch
Cause: Stripe payouts don’t match the total of recorded payments.
Fix: Check that Xero’s bank feed matches Stripe’s payout totals, not individual payments.
3. Missing Stripe Fees
Cause: Fees not mapped correctly in your chart of accounts.
Fix: Ensure your Stripe fees are assigned to an expense account like “Stripe Fees” in Xero.
4. Delayed Syncs
Cause: Batch syncing or API connection timeout.
Fix: Reauthorize Stripe in Xero settings to refresh the integration.
If these problems sound familiar, eSeller Accountant can help troubleshoot, audit, and optimize your integration setup.
Use Cases: Who Benefits from Xero Stripe Integration
This integration is not just for big brands — it’s perfect for small business owners, freelancers, and growing eCommerce brands.
🛍️ eCommerce Stores
Whether you sell on Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix, connecting Stripe to Xero ensures every sale, fee, and payout is automatically recorded.
💼 Service-Based Businesses
Send invoices through Xero and collect payments online via Stripe — ideal for consultants, accountants, and agencies.
🔄 Subscription Businesses
If you use Stripe for recurring payments, Xero automatically records subscription income and reconciles monthly payouts.
💳 Start-ups & SMEs
For growing companies, automation saves valuable admin time and keeps finances investor-ready.
How to Reconcile Stripe Transactions in Xero
Even with automation, knowing how reconciliation works is key. Here’s a simple process:
- Check the Stripe Clearing Account
- When payments sync, Xero records them in a Stripe clearing account.
- Match the Bank Feed
- When Stripe pays out to your bank, Xero matches that payout to the total from your clearing account.
- Verify Fees
- Ensure Stripe fees appear as an expense line — this ensures your profit margins are accurate.
- Reconcile and Review Reports
- Click “OK” in the reconciliation tab. Your Stripe payments, fees, and deposits are now balanced perfectly.
Best Practices for Managing Stripe Payments in Xero
To make the most out of Stripe Xero integration, follow these expert tips:
- Set up a dedicated Stripe clearing account in Xero
- Create bank rules for automatic fee categorization
- Reconcile weekly to prevent data backlog
- Use tracking categories in Xero to monitor revenue sources
- Review integration logs regularly to catch sync errors early
- Consult experts for setup, migration, or troubleshooting
By maintaining clean and consistent data, you’ll get reliable financial insights every time.
Xero Stripe Integration vs. PayPal Integration
Many sellers also use PayPal. So, how does Stripe integration with Xero compare?
Feature | Stripe + Xero | PayPal + Xero |
---|---|---|
Speed | Instant online payments | Often slower settlements |
Fees | Lower for most card types | Higher for cross-border payments |
Data Sync | Real-time | Batch imports |
Invoice Button | Yes (“Pay Now”) | Yes, with setup |
Reconciliation | Automatic | Manual adjustments sometimes required |
Stripe’s integration with Xero generally provides smoother automation, especially for online stores and modern checkout systems.
How eSeller Accountant Can Help with Xero Stripe Integration
At eSeller Accountant, we help eCommerce sellers and small business owners across the UK and USA get the most out of their accounting technology.
Whether you’re setting up Xero Stripe integration for the first time or migrating from another platform like QuickBooks or Zoho, our experts handle it all.
Our Services Include:
- Xero + Stripe setup and configuration
- Stripe reconciliation and fee mapping
- Integration troubleshooting and cleanup
- Full accounting migration and setup
- Ongoing advisory for eCommerce accounting
We’ve helped hundreds of sellers automate their Stripe payments, reduce manual work, and improve bookkeeping accuracy.
FAQs on Xero Stripe Integration
1. Does Xero automatically import Stripe payments?
Yes. Once connected, Xero automatically imports Stripe transactions, fees, and payouts daily.
2. Can I use Stripe with multiple Xero organizations?
Yes, but you’ll need to manage permissions carefully to avoid duplicate data.
3. Is there an extra cost for Xero Stripe integration?
Xero doesn’t charge extra, but standard Stripe processing fees apply.
4. Does Xero support recurring payments via Stripe?
Absolutely. You can use Stripe to handle recurring invoices and subscriptions directly through Xero.
5. Can eSeller Accountant help if I face integration issues?
Yes — we specialize in Xero Stripe integrations, troubleshooting, and setup for online sellers.
Final Thoughts about Xero and Stripe
Integrating Stripe with Xero is one of the smartest decisions any online business can make. It simplifies your payment workflow, enhances financial accuracy, and gives you real-time visibility into your cash flow.
Instead of juggling spreadsheets, manual entries, or disconnected systems, you can have Xero and Stripe working together — automatically syncing transactions, fees, and reports.
If you’re ready to set up or optimize your Xero Stripe integration, partner with eSeller Accountant — the trusted experts for eCommerce accounting and Xero migration services.