Make Running Your Dog Daycare Easier with Xero Integration

jessgenera
6 days ago
3 min read

Running a dog daycare or walking business is hard work. Between keeping every dog happy and managing the day-to-day jobs, there’s not much time left for paperwork. If you’re still doing invoices by hand, chasing payments, or trying to make sense of endless spreadsheets, there’s an easier way.

Xero can help you keep your finances in order without the stress. It links up with the tools you already use, sorts out your bookkeeping automatically, and gives you a clear picture of where your business stands — all in one place.

Why It Makes a Difference

Most small dog daycares and walkers don’t start their business because they love numbers. You do it because you love dogs. But staying on top of the money side is what keeps things running smoothly.

Using Xero with a few simple integrations can:

Save hours every week that you’d usually spend on admin
Stop errors from happening with automatic updates
Show you exactly how your business is doing in real time
Help you plan ahead with proper financial insight

Once you’ve got things automated, you can spend less time in front of a screen and more time out with the dogs.

Simple Ways to Get Started

💳 Easy Payments with Stripe or Square

Taking payments should be quick and simple. By linking Xero with Stripe or Square, you can take payments online or in person and have everything recorded automatically.

No more chasing invoices or typing things in twice. Every payment goes straight into your accounts, ready to be reconciled.

You’ll get:

Real-time tracking of what’s been paid and what hasn’t
Automatic receipts and records
Fewer admin mistakes

If you sell extras like treats, accessories, or training sessions, it’ll handle those too.

🛒 Keeping Track of Stock and Supplies

If you sell dog food, treats, or gear, you can use Xero with Shopify or similar systems to track stock and sales automatically.

You’ll always know what’s in stock, what’s running low, and what’s selling well — without manually counting or checking every day.

It also helps with ordering supplies, so you don’t waste money buying too much or risk running out of essentials.

📊 Simple Invoicing and Reports

Invoices are one of the biggest time-wasters for small businesses. With Xero, you can set them up once and let the system handle the rest.

You can:

Set up repeat invoices for regular clients
Send automatic reminders for late payments
Keep everything professional and consistent

You’ll also get reports that actually make sense — things like which services earn you the most, when your busiest months are, and how your cash flow looks.

It’s an easy way to see what’s working and what might need a tweak.

Common Hiccups (and How to Avoid Them)

Setting things up might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to go slowly and make sure each part works before adding the next.

A few tips:

Start with one integration first — usually payments or invoicing
Double-check your data before syncing
Keep your client names and services consistent
If you get stuck, ask someone who’s worked with Xero before

Once it’s all connected, it’ll run quietly in the background, saving you hours each week.

Why It’s Worth Doing

Xero isn’t just about fancy accounting. It’s about giving you back your time.

When things are automated, you get:

Fewer evenings spent doing admin
A clearer view of what you’re earning
More time with the dogs
Less stress about money and paperwork

If you’re running a small team or juggling walks, daycare, and customers, that’s a big win.

How to Start

Look at what takes you the most time — invoicing, payments, or tracking costs.
Pick one area to automate first.
Set up Xero (or ask for help if needed).
Try it for a few weeks and see the difference.

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Even small changes can save hours each week.

Your business runs best when you can focus on the dogs, not the admin.Start small, get organised, and let the tech do the boring bits for you.