When you’re an accountant working with sole traders and small business clients, your software stack needs to do one thing above all else: make life easier.
That’s exactly what Kristy Wilson from In The Picture, one of Australia’s leading accounting firms for the entertainment industry, was looking for. With a diverse client base that spans from actors and musicians to teachers and tradies, Kristy’s goal was to simplify compliance without compromising on quality.
And when she discovered the Easy Business App, it ticked all the right boxes.
Like many firms, In The Picture works with Xero for a wide range of clients. But for micro-businesses or sole traders with simple needs, Xero often introduces more complexity than necessary, and a higher price point too.
“If it’s a small, manageable client, I encourage them to use Easy Business App,” Kristy says. “It’s affordable, easy for clients to use, and saves us time.”
But getting there wasn’t always straightforward. The team often had to:
From day one, Kristy noticed just how much time Easy Business App could save, especially with data import and setup.
Here’s what made the biggest impact:
“I used to spend ages converting CSVs for Xero. With Easy Business, I can upload pretty much anything. If it’s a format the system doesn’t recognise, they fix it within days.”
“Setting up STP in other platforms means talking to the ATO and dealing with software IDs. With Easy Business, it just works, no SSID needed. That’s huge for us.”
“I’ve done 500 at a time and it works in about 10 seconds.”
With built-in search and bulk selection tools, Kristy’s team can fly through coding during BAS prep or year-end reviews.
When clients outgrow Easy Business or still need to lodge tax via Xero Tax, the team can export general ledger or trial balance reports in a format ready to upload.
“Even for transaction-level data, we can get everything into Xero using a manual journal through the conversion toolbox. It’s flexible.”
“We want software that helps us train clients, not frustrate them.”
Kristy often helps clients get up and running through live Zoom sessions, sharing screens and walking them through invoicing, payroll, and BAS.
What makes that easier?
“Our clients get real value out of the features, especially bank rules and bulk uploads. And if something’s not working, I can actually speak to someone about it.”
Kristy’s team often moves clients across at year-end. Her ideal setup?
“If I’m migrating someone, I’d like to bring in a year of transaction history and balances before that. That’s enough for year-end and keeps the ongoing workflow clean.”
And while the Easy Business team offers manual upload tools, they’re also working on automated migration features, including chart of accounts mapping and customer list imports.
“If you built that migration workflow for us, or even just did it for us, that would make it a no-brainer.”
Another win for Kristy’s team? They can choose whether the client or firm manages the Easy Business subscription. That makes it easier to roll out the tool in bulk, and hand over payment control later.
“You can set it up under your firm’s email, and then transfer ownership if needed. That’s a really nice flexibility you don’t always get.”
Easy Business App gives In The Picture a way to offer small business clients:
“For sole traders and small businesses, it just works. It saves us time, reduces manual work, and makes life easier for our clients. What more can you ask?”