How Long Does a Xero Migration Really Take? Realistic Xero Migration Timeline & Key Steps to Ensure a Smooth Switch
Migrating to Xero isn’t just about moving data—it’s about setting your business up for smarter, faster accounting. Before starting, it’s crucial to understand the Xero Migration Timeline to plan effectively. But one of the first questions we get asked is: “How long does it actually take to migrate to Xero?”
The answer depends on your current system, your data complexity, and how well you prepare. In this guide, we break down realistic Xero migration timelines, what happens at each stage, and how to plan properly.
We help clients move from Sage 200, Access Financials, Microsoft Dynamics, Twinfield, and more—with up to 10 million transactions and 30+ entities per group. So yes, we’ve seen it all.
How Long Does a Typical Xero Migration Take?
| Current System | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Sage 50 | 1-2 business days |
| Sage 200 | 1-5 business days |
| Access Financials | 3–7 business days |
| Microsoft Dynamics | 3–7 business days |
| QuickBooks Desktop/Online | 3–5 business days |
| Twinfield or others | 5–10 business days |
🧠 Note: Complex structures, group consolidations, or attachments can add time—but they’re worth doing right.
Pre-Migration: What to Do Before Moving to Xero
The quality of your migration depends heavily on your prep work. Here’s what we recommend:
1. Close All Open Periods
- Post all month-end journals.
- Reconcile accounts and finalise VAT returns.
2. Finalise Transactions
- Enter all bills, invoices, and receipts.
- Make sure bank reconciliations are up to date.
3. Gather Key Documents
- Trial balance by period
- Customer & supplier balances
- Nominal activity (ideally monthly)
- Full list of transactions
4. Backup & Export from Legacy System
- Securely back up your old system data
- Export in Excel or CSV formats if possible
Our Xero Migration Process (Step-by-Step)
We don’t just transfer numbers—we ensure a structured, clean, and usable setup from Day 1.
🔹 Step 1: Discovery & Scope
We assess your needs, systems, and goals. This helps us determine the migration method (e.g., MoveMyBooks, manual import, or hybrid).
🔹 Step 2: Data Extraction & Clean-up
We extract your data and clean it—removing duplicates, outdated contacts, or irrelevant codes.
🔹 Step 3: Rebuild & Restructure in Xero
We rebuild your chart of accounts, tracking categories, and naming conventions to fit Xero’s logic and future-proof your processes.
🔹 Step 4: Trial Import & Testing
We import a test version to validate structure, run reports, and fix mismatches early.
🔹 Step 5: Live Migration & Go-Live Support
Your data goes live, with optional add-ons such as:
- Document & attachment migration
- Bank feed setup
- Xero Payroll
- Hubdoc or LightYear integration
Post-Migration: What Happens After the Switch
Once you’ve migrated, the real work begins—adapting your team and unlocking Xero’s full potential.
Training & Support
We offer bespoke Xero training for:
- Bookkeepers
- Business owners
- Finance teams
Training includes:
- Reporting in Xero
- Bank rules & reconciliation
- Tracking categories & custom reports
- Payroll & VAT
🎓 We include free 1-month support post-training and can tailor sessions by role or department.
Health Checks & Optimisation
We follow up with reviews to:
- Optimise processes
- Automate reporting
- Set alerts and bank rules
- Build management dashboards
Common Delays to Avoid
- Missing historical data or trial balances
- Unreconciled accounts or incomplete periods
- Overlapping payroll or VAT periods
- Not assigning clear internal responsibilities
Why Choose Migrate My Accounts?
At Migrate My Accounts, we’re not just experts in Xero—we’ve:
- Migrated over 10 million transactions
- Handled 33+ entity group conversions
- Become a Xero Gold Partner
- Built bespoke data restructures that save clients 10+ hours per month
We specialise in complex, multi-system migrations—and we’re obsessed with detail, quality, and speed.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re moving from Sage, Access, Dynamics, or QuickBooks, understanding your timeline helps you plan properly. Xero is an investment—and when it’s implemented the right way, it transforms your finance team.
Want to talk about your system? Let’s review your setup and map your switch to Xero together.
👉 Contact us now to get started.
