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How to Integrate with Accounting Software (What Petboost Doesn't Do)

User Question: "How do I connect Petboost to Xero/QuickBooks?"

Quick Version: Petboost doesn't have a direct integration with Xero or QuickBooks, but here's how to connect your accounting software using Stripe Bank Feeds.

What You're Trying to Do

You want your Petboost payment data to automatically flow into your accounting software:

Common Use Cases:

  • Automatic invoice recording in Xero/QuickBooks

  • Real-time revenue tracking

  • BAS reporting and tax calculations

  • Profit & loss statements

  • Automatic reconciliation between bookings and accounting

  • GST tracking and reporting

What Petboost DOES Offer

Before looking at alternatives, here's what Petboost already does:

✅ Stripe Payment Processing

  • All card transactions processed via Stripe

  • Automatic payment tracking

  • Secure PCI-compliant infrastructure

  • How to access: Settings → Pricing & Payments

  • What it's good for: Reliable payment processing with competitive rates (1.7% + $0.30 AUD)

✅ Professional Invoicing

  • Branded invoices with your business details

  • Downloadable PDF receipts

  • Payment method tracking

  • How to access: Automatic with every payment

  • What it's good for: Customer records, professional documentation

✅ Payment Method Variety

  • Card on File, Card Reader, Cash, Bank Transfer, Pre-Auth, External Payment tracking

  • Comprehensive payment records

  • How to access: Appointments → Payment Processing

  • What it's good for: Flexibility in payment collection

✅ Financial Reporting

  • Revenue tracking by service, package, staff

  • Payment status overview

  • How to access: Reporting & Intelligence > Financial

  • What it's good for: A look at the year's sales

If you need a statement for your accountant, open Billing, select Invoices & Payment, switch the view to EOFY, expand the year, and select Download FY Statement. Petboost is not accounting software. Those figures only cover payments recorded in Petboost. Actual earnings can vary for cash, bank transfer, or another payment machine collected outside Petboost. See How do I get a sales report or statement for the financial year?.

Related guide: Payments Settings

What Petboost DOESN'T Offer

Petboost does not currently include:

  • ❌ Direct Xero API integration

  • ❌ Direct QuickBooks sync

  • ❌ Direct MYOB connection

  • ❌ Automatic invoice pushing to accounting software

  • ❌ Real-time financial data sync with accounting platforms

  • ❌ Two-way sync (accounting back to Petboost)

Why? Xero and QuickBooks are purpose-built for comprehensive accounting-with chart of accounts management, tax calculations, BAS reporting, P&L statements, GST compliance, payroll integration, and multi-entity financial management. We would build a mediocre version of what Xero already does brilliantly. The path for connecting payments to accounting already exists through Stripe Bank Feeds, which users can manage independently.

✅ Recommended Alternatives (What You SHOULD Do)

We recommend using Stripe Bank Feeds to connect to your accounting software:

Option 1: Stripe Bank Feeds → Xero (⭐ Recommended for Most Australian Businesses)

What it does:

  • Stripe automatically syncs transactions to Xero via bank feeds

  • Daily transaction import

  • Automatic bank reconciliation

  • GST tracking

  • Transaction categorisation

  • Bank deposit matching

Pricing:

  • Xero: From $32 AUD/month (Starter plan) to $78 AUD/month (Premium)

  • Stripe Bank Feeds: Free (built into Stripe)

  • No additional integration cost

How to set up:

  1. In Xero:

    • Go to Accounting → Bank accounts

    • Click "Add Bank Account"

    • Search for "Stripe" (it's listed as a direct bank feed)

    • Follow the prompts to connect your Stripe account

    • Authorise Xero to access Stripe transactions

    That's it. Stripe transactions processed through Petboost will flow directly into Xero.

  2. Daily Workflow:

    • Petboost processes payments → Stripe receives funds

    • Stripe automatically sends transaction data to Xero (daily)

    • You reconcile transactions in Xero (match deposits to invoices)

    • Xero handles GST, BAS, and tax reporting

Important: Stripe Bank Feeds only include card payments processed through Stripe. Cash and bank transfer payments recorded in Petboost are not pushed to Xero and must be reconciled manually.

Example workflow:

A dog daycare uses Petboost for all bookings ($15K/month revenue). Stripe processes payments automatically. Every morning, yesterday's transactions appear in Xero via bank feeds. Their bookkeeper spends 30 minutes weekly reconciling transactions - matching Stripe deposits to Xero revenue accounts. End of quarter: BAS report generated from Xero in 5 minutes.

Link: xero.com | Xero: Set up Stripe direct feeds

Option 2: Stripe Bank Feeds → QuickBooks Online

What it does:

  • Similar to Xero Bank Feeds setup

  • Automatic transaction sync from Stripe

  • Bank reconciliation tools

  • GST and tax tracking

  • Financial reporting

Pricing:

  • QuickBooks Online: From $25 AUD/month (Simple Start) to $100 AUD/month (Advanced)

  • Stripe Bank Feeds: Free

How to set up:

  1. In QuickBooks:

    • Go to Banking → Add Account

    • Search for "Stripe"

    • Connect and authorise your Stripe account

    • Confirm transaction sync settings

  2. Daily Workflow:

    • Petboost → Stripe → QuickBooks (automatic)

    • Daily reconciliation in QuickBooks

    • Categorise transactions (revenue accounts)

    • Run financial reports as needed

Important: As with Xero, only Stripe card transactions are included. Cash and bank transfer payments must be reconciled manually.

Best for: Businesses already familiar with QuickBooks or those preferring QuickBooks' interface over Xero

Link: quickbooks.intuit.com

Option 3: Manual CSV Export + Import (Free Alternative)

If you don't want ongoing accounting software subscription:

Steps:

  1. Monthly Export from Stripe:

    • Log into Stripe Dashboard

    • Payments → Export

    • Select date range (e.g., last month)

    • Download as CSV

  2. Import to Accounting Software:

    • Open CSV in Excel/Google Sheets

    • Clean data (categorise transactions)

    • Import to Xero/QuickBooks

    • OR manually enter into accounting software

Time investment: ~2-4 hours per month (depending on transaction volume)

Best for: Very small businesses (<50 transactions/month) wanting to minimise software costs

Limitations:

  • Time-consuming manual process

  • Higher risk of data entry errors

  • No real-time financial visibility

  • BAS/tax reporting more difficult

Option 4: Accountant/Bookkeeper Managed

If you have professional bookkeeping support:

How it works:

  1. Give your accountant/bookkeeper access to your Stripe account

  2. They set up Stripe → Xero/QuickBooks connection

  3. They handle monthly reconciliation

  4. They prepare BAS, financial reports, tax returns

Time investment: 0 hours for you (fully delegated)

Typical cost: $150-400 AUD/month for bookkeeping services (depending on transaction volume)

Best for: Businesses with complex finances or those preferring to outsource accounting

Example:

A grooming business ($20K/month revenue) pays their bookkeeper $250/month. Bookkeeper has Stripe and Xero access, reconciles everything monthly, prepares BAS quarterly. Business owner focuses on grooming-not accounting.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Solo Mobile Groomer - Xero Starter + Stripe Feeds

What they needed:
Simple accounting for BAS reporting and tax time

What they used:

  • Petboost for bookings and payments

  • Stripe for payment processing

  • Xero Starter ($32 AUD/month)

  • Stripe Bank Feeds (free)

How they set it up:

  1. In Xero, added Stripe as a bank feed (10-minute setup)

  2. Stripe transactions from Petboost automatically appear in Xero daily

  3. Weekly reconciliation (15 minutes)

  4. Quarterly BAS from Xero

Result:
Spends <1 hour/week on accounting. BAS and tax time straightforward. Total cost: $32 AUD/month for Xero.

Example 2: Mid-Size Daycare - QuickBooks Online + Bookkeeper

What they needed:
Professional financial reporting, payroll integration, multi-entity management

What they used:

  • Petboost for operations

  • Stripe for payments

  • QuickBooks Online Essentials ($65 AUD/month)

  • Bookkeeper ($300 AUD/month)

How they set it up:

  1. Bookkeeper set up Stripe → QuickBooks connection

  2. Bookkeeper reconciles monthly

  3. Payroll run through QuickBooks Payroll add-on

  4. Monthly P&L and cash flow reports generated

Result:
Professional financial management. Owner focuses on business growth. Bookkeeper handles all accounting. Total cost: $365 AUD/month (QuickBooks + bookkeeper).

Example 3: Small Training Business - Manual CSV Export

What they needed:
Minimal accounting for tax purposes (<30 transactions/month)

What they used:

  • Petboost for bookings

  • Stripe for payments

  • Manual CSV export monthly

  • Spreadsheet tracking

How they set it up:

  1. Monthly: Export Stripe transactions to CSV

  2. Import to Google Sheets

  3. Categorise revenue by training type

  4. Track expenses separately

  5. Send to accountant quarterly for BAS

Result:
Zero ongoing software cost beyond Petboost. Works for very small transaction volume. Takes 2 hours/month. Suitable for side business or very small operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will Petboost add direct Xero/QuickBooks integration in the future?

A: It's under consideration for the roadmap but not confirmed. The Stripe Bank Feeds approach works well for most businesses-Stripe already connects to Xero/QuickBooks, and users can manage that connection independently. We're focused on building pet-specific features that generic systems can't provide. If customer demand for direct integration is high, we'll prioritise it.

Q: Can I use MYOB instead of Xero/QuickBooks?

A: Yes-MYOB also supports bank feed connections. Check if Stripe Bank Feeds work with your MYOB version. The process is similar: connect Stripe to MYOB bank feeds, transactions sync daily, reconcile in MYOB.

Q: How long does reconciliation take each month?

A: For most pet businesses:

  • <50 transactions/month: 15-30 minutes

  • 50-200 transactions/month: 30-60 minutes

  • 200+ transactions/month: 1-2 hours (or hire bookkeeper)

Q: What if I use Cash and Bank Transfer payments (not Stripe)?

A: Petboost does not push cash or bank transfer payments to Xero, QuickBooks, or any accounting software. Stripe Bank Feeds only include card transactions processed through Stripe. Cash and bank transfer payments must be manually recorded as journal entries in your accounting software. Pro tip: include these in your weekly reconciliation routine so nothing falls through the cracks.

Q: Do I need an accountant if I use Xero/QuickBooks?

A: Not necessarily for day-to-day operations, but strongly recommended for:

  • Initial setup and chart of accounts configuration

  • BAS preparation and lodgement (quarterly)

  • Annual tax returns

  • Financial strategy and planning
    Most pet business owners use Xero/QuickBooks themselves daily and consult an accountant quarterly/annually.

Next Steps

If you want to proceed with Xero + Stripe Bank Feeds (Option 1):

  1. Sign up for Xero at xero.com (30-day free trial) if you don't already have an account

  2. In Xero, go to Accounting → Bank accounts → Add Bank Account → search for "Stripe"

  3. Follow the prompts to authorise Stripe - step-by-step guide from Xero

  4. Your Stripe transactions from Petboost will start flowing into Xero automatically

  5. Contact an accountant if you need help with chart of accounts or reconciliation

If you want to proceed with QuickBooks Online (Option 2):

  1. Sign up for QuickBooks at quickbooks.intuit.com (30-day free trial)

  2. Connect Stripe to QuickBooks

  3. Complete initial setup (chart of accounts)

  4. Learn bank reconciliation basics

  5. Consider QuickBooks training or accountant consultation

If you want to use an accountant/bookkeeper (Option 4):

  1. Find a local bookkeeper experienced with pet businesses

  2. Give them access to Stripe and Xero/QuickBooks

  3. Agree on monthly fee and scope of work

  4. Let them handle setup and ongoing reconciliation

  5. Focus on growing your pet business

Related Guides

Last Updated: 22 May 2026
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