Looking for a Xero upgrade? See the best mid-market upgrade, how it compares, and a practical migration path — without disruption.
Many mid-sized businesses start out with Xero because it’s easy to use, affordable, and widely supported. But as organisations expand, the cracks begin to show: reporting becomes time-consuming, consolidations rely on spreadsheets, and integrations strain under growing complexity.
When finance teams reach this stage, the question naturally arises: what is the best Xero alternative that can handle mid-market requirements without adding unnecessary risk or disruption? This guide sets out the key signs you’ve outgrown Xero, the criteria for choosing a replacement, and why Sage Intacct stands out as the leading option.
Who is this guide for
You might be running finance in a mid-sized business where Xero once felt like the perfect fit. Now, things are different. Month-end takes longer, consolidations spill into spreadsheets, and pulling the right management reports means patching together data. Approvals, controls, and integrations don’t feel as reliable as they should.
If you’re evaluating a step up from Xero and you need a clear view of what to choose, how to migrate, and what to expect across people, process and technology — this guide is written for you.
Or if you're ready to enjoy the benefits of a system that grows with you, book a call with us:
Book Your free 15-minute Discovery Call
Signs You’ve Outgrown Xero
Xero is designed for small businesses, but growing organisations eventually hit limits that can’t be solved with add-ons or extra spreadsheets. If you’re noticing more time spent patching processes than analysing results, it’s a clear signal that Xero is holding you back.
Here are the most common signs it’s time to consider an alternative:
You spend more time shaping reports than using them. Customising views or drilling into specifics is clunky, so answers for management take longer than they should.
The add-ons that once worked smoothly now feel like patches. Data doesn’t always flow the way it should, and finance ends up fixing sync errors instead of focusing on value.
Approval workflows, version histories, and audit evidence feel scattered. When auditors come calling, your team scrambles to pull everything together.
Read our detailed guide
Evaluation Criteria for Your Next System
Once you’ve recognised that Xero no longer supports your growth, the next step is choosing a replacement that won’t just fix today’s pain points but will also scale with you in the years ahead. These are the core areas to keep in mind when evaluating your options:
- Architecture & scale
Your new system should be truly cloud-based and built to handle higher transaction volumes. It needs to perform just as well when you’re managing one entity or many, and give you confidence that it can grow alongside the business.
- Financial control & reporting
Look for native multi-entity and multi-currency consolidation, flexible chart of accounts, and dimensional reporting that goes beyond standard P&L. The right system should deliver clear answers for management without workarounds.
- Automation & AI
Routine tasks like approvals, allocations, and reconciliations should run automatically. Modern systems also include AI-driven features such as anomaly detection and close acceleration, freeing your team to focus on strategy.
- Ecosystem & integrations
Finance doesn’t operate in isolation. Your system should connect seamlessly with CRM, HR, inventory, and operational tools, using open APIs and certified connectors that ensure data flows in real time.
- Compliance & auditability
As the business scales, so does scrutiny. Role-based permissions, detailed audit trails, and built-in compliance features give you peace of mind and make audits far less disruptive.
- Time-to-value & TCO
It’s not just about software, it’s about how quickly and effectively your team can use it. A structured implementation approach, clear training, and ongoing support are essential to maximise return on investment and ensure adoption sticks.
The Best Xero Alternative? Here’s Our Quick Answer
The best Xero alternative for mid-sized businesses is Sage Intacct. It delivers built-in multi-entity consolidation, dimensional reporting, and strong automation features, while scaling easily as operations grow. Finance teams gain faster closes, stronger compliance, and real-time insights without relying on spreadsheets or fragile add-ons.
Why Sage Intacct Fits Mid-Market Requirements
- Multi-entity and consolidation built in
Sage Intacct is designed for organisations with complex structures. Intercompany eliminations, currency conversions, and consolidated reporting are built into the system, so month-end doesn’t depend on fragile spreadsheets.
- Dimensional reporting and dashboards
Instead of expanding your chart of accounts every time you need a new view, you can tag transactions with dimensions like department, project, or location. That means one source of truth with dashboards that actually answer management’s questions.
- Automation and AI tools
Recurring entries, revenue recognition, approvals, and allocations run automatically. AI-powered features also flag anomalies and help speed up the close, so finance can focus more on analysis than administration.
- Integration-ready
Sage Intacct’s open API framework and certified connectors mean Sage Intacct connects cleanly to the systems you already rely on — from CRM and HR platforms to industry-specific tools. Data flows in real time, keeping finance aligned with operations.
- Control, compliance, and audit trail
Granular role-based permissions and built-in audit trails make it easier to stay compliant and ready for review. Every change you make is logged, and approval workflows can be configured to match your policies.
Xero vs Sage Intacct at a Glance
We know that choosing the right system isn’t always as straightforward as you’d like it to be. To help make the decision clearer, here’s a side-by-side view of how Xero and Sage Intacct compare in the areas that matter most to mid-sized finance teams.
Feature | Xero | Sage Intacct |
|---|
Multi-entity & consolidation | Relies on spreadsheets and manual eliminations | Built-in multi-entity, multi-currency, and intercompany workflows |
|---|
Reporting | Basic reports with limited drill-downs | Dimensional reporting and flexible dashboards |
|---|
Revenue recognition | Managed manually outside the system | Automated compliance with ASC 606/IFRS 15 |
|---|
Approvals & audit trail | Light controls, limited logs | Configurable approvals with full audit trail |
|---|
Integrations | Dependent on add-ons and third-party apps | Open APIs and certified integrations with CRM, HR, and industry tools |
|---|
Close speed | Manual effort slows the process as you grow | Automation and AI speed up close cycles |
|---|
Scalability | Best for small business needs | Built for mid-sized and multi-entity organisations |
|---|
Once you’ve seen the differences laid out, the next question is usually how to make the move without disrupting your finance team.
Read our full Xero vs Sage Intacct comparison guide here
How to Migrate from Xero with Minimal Risk
Switching finance systems is a big step, and it’s natural to feel cautious about what the process might involve. You’ve already got a team carrying a heavy workload, and the last thing you want is disruption. The good news is that with the right approach — and the right partner — migration doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be structured, manageable, and ultimately empowering for your finance team.
Here's how:
Start by mapping your entities, reporting requirements, and approval workflows. A clear design ensures the system is configured to reflect how your business actually operates.
Decide early whether to migrate balances only or detailed transactions, and build in data cleansing rules. Running parallel reports during testing gives confidence that everything ties up.
Most projects follow a phased approach: configure, migrate, validate, train, and go-live. Breaking it down into steps with clear checkpoints keeps momentum and reduces risk.
Training doesn’t end at go-live. Ongoing, role-based support helps your team feel confident using the system day-to-day and ensures adoption sticks.
Why Accord is the right implementation partner for you
Choosing new software is only half of the decision. Implementation, adoption, and day to day confidence are what make it work. The partner you pick should lower risk, keep momentum, and help your team feel supported.
For over 20 years, Accord has been helping finance teams worldwide move from outdated systems to modern, scalable platforms. Our consultants combine deep technical knowledge with hands-on finance experience, so you always work with people who understand both the software and the realities of running a finance team.
Here’s what you can expect when working with us:
A clear plan with milestones, owners, and weekly checkpoints to keep progress on track
Configuration tailored to your entities, dimensions, and controls so the system mirrors how you operate – not the other way around
Integration specialists who can connect Sage Intacct with your existing CRM, HR, and other tools so data stays consistent
Training and ongoing clinics after go-live so your team stays confident and supported
Conclusion
Xero often feels like the right choice at the beginning, but mid-sized organisations soon find that it creates more challenges than it solves. Reporting takes longer, consolidations drag out, integrations demand extra attention, and compliance feels heavier with every close. We’ve seen it time and time again.
Sage Intacct is built to take those pressures away. It handles multi-entity consolidation with ease, gives you dimensional reporting without workarounds, automates the jobs that eat up your team’s time, and puts stronger financial controls in place. Most importantly, it scales with you so finance can support growth rather than slow it down.
But the best way to see if it fits is to start with a short discovery call with us. In just 30 minutes, you’ll get a clear sense of whether it matches your priorities and what your path to migration could look like. It’s a simple first step that could make a real difference for your finance team.
Book your free Discovery Call here
FAQs
- What makes a strong Xero alternative for a mid-sized company?
You’ll want a system that can handle multi-entity consolidation, provide flexible reporting, automate manual tasks, and connect seamlessly with your other business tools. Scalability and stronger financial controls are key.
- Does Sage Intacct handle multi-entity consolidations and eliminations natively?
Yes. Sage Intacct includes multi-entity and multi-currency consolidation as standard, so roll-ups, intercompany, and currency conversions don’t rely on spreadsheets.
- How long does a typical migration take?
It depends on the size and complexity of your setup, but most mid-sized projects follow a phased plan of configuration, migration, validation, training, and go-live in as little as 8 weeks. A call with us can give you a clearer idea of timeline.
- Can you keep historical Xero data for reporting?
Yes. You can bring balances across, or if needed, detailed transactions. Many teams choose to migrate key data into Sage Intacct and keep an archive of older records for reference.
- What changes for audit and controls after migrating from Xero?
You gain tighter control and clearer evidence. Role-based access, configurable approvals, and complete audit trails make activity easy to trace, while document attachments and period locks help you prepare faster and answer auditor queries with confidence.
- How does integration with our CRM/HR/ops stack work with Sage Intacct?
Sage Intacct has an open API and certified connectors that link with CRM, HR, inventory, and industry-specific tools. This ensures that your data flows reliably without manual