Coupler.io Blog

Xero Reports – Native and Custom Templates Explained In One Article

The system of Xero reporting is vast and covers 50+ versatile reports available to you with a few clicks. You can apply different formats, change data range, select compare periods and even create reusable custom report layouts. Read this tutorial to discover the reporting capabilities in Xero and beyond this tool.

Xero reports explained

Reports in Xero are the templates of aggregated data. You don’t have to create reports in Xero because they are already available for you. To find them, go to the Accounting menu and select Reports.

You will see a number of Xero report templates grouped by the following categories:

Can you create custom Xero reports?

Yes and no. There is no option to create a custom report from scratch. However, Xero allows you to change the layout of existing report templates, namely: 

The reports you’ve edited and saved will be available in the Custom tab of the Reports menu.

Common formats for Xero reports

Xero offers a range of common preset formats for some types of reports. For instance, there are three common formats of the Balance Sheet:

You can find the common formats if you click the three-dot menu next to the Xero report name.

Country-specific reports and categories in Xero

Due to the difference in accounting standards, tax requirements, and business regulations, Xero provides country-specific reports and categories. For instance, reports for Australian businesses included GST reports that are not relevant for US businesses, and UK businesses have VAT-specific reports. 

Here are some examples of country-specific reports in Xero:

As of my last update, Xero did indeed have different reporting categories based on the country/region, primarily because

Performance issues – Why Xero reports not working 

The most common Xero users’ requests regarding the Xero reports failure are “reports not showing,” “reports not loading,” “reports function not working,” and so on. Clearing the cache is considered the most popular solution to fix this. But it does not help every time. Here are the key issues you may face with using report templates in Xero

Slow loading time: Reports can experience slow loading times particularly when dealing with large volumes of data or complex calculations. This often happens with reports covering extended time periods or businesses with high transaction volumes. The system may take longer to process and display detailed financial statements or Xero reports with multiple calculation layers.

Data processing limitations: When generating reports with extensive data sets, users might encounter processing limits. For example, the Income Statement (Profit and Loss) spanning several years or a detailed Account Transaction report with thousands of entries may hit system thresholds. To avoid this, you’ll need to split data into smaller time periods or filter more specifically.

Browser-related issues: The performance of Xero reports can be affected by browser limitations. Users might experience slower response times when multiple reports are open in different tabs, or when the browser’s cache is full. 

Concurrent user access: The performance of Xero reports loading can be affected when multiple users simultaneously access them. This may happen during peak business periods like month-end or tax season, in particular. As a result, users can experience slower response times or temporary access issues.

There are certain best practices or solutions to handle these issues. The most obvious ones are to break down large reports into smaller date ranges, use filters to limit data scope when possible or run resource-intensive reports during off-peak hours. 

However, you can also opt for creating reports outside of Xero using Coupler.io. It’s a platform for Xero automation in reporting, allowing you to export data from the system and build custom reports in spreadsheets and BI tools.

How to create custom reports for Xero with Coupler.io

The idea of this approach is to export data from Xero, transform it into a report, and load it to a spreadsheet or BI tool. This way you will always have access to your Xero data and can share your custom reports with stakeholders easily. The method works well for reporting and Xero backup. Here is what it looks like.

Step 1: Export Xero data or reports

Choose the preferred destination from the dropdown list in the form below and click Proceed. For instance, you can export Xero data to Excel or connect Xero to Google Sheets

Note: Coupler.io also allows you to export specific Xero reports. For this, change the source app from Xero to Xero Reports. Learn more about exporting reports from Xero to Google Sheets.

Now, create a Coupler.io account for free (no credit card required). After that, connect your Xero account and configure the source settings:

Optionally, you can specify advanced settings such as statuses, split by parameters, and more. Then proceed to the next step.

Coupler.io also allows you to connect multiple sources to include in your report. You can blend data from multiple Xero data entities and even other finance and business apps. Read our guide on the automation of financial reporting for a more details and free templates.

Step 2: Organize and transform data

Coupler.io will load your Xero data for preview, so you can transform it into a report. For this, it allows you to:

Step 3: Load report and schedule data refresh

Once the report is ready, follow in-app instructions to load it to the chosen destination. For instance, you can integrate Xero in Google BigQuery

It also makes sense to set up a schedule to automate data refresh. Schedule reports to run every day, every hour, or at another custom frequency. 

With these three simple steps, you can either export Xero data and reports or create custom reports and store them outside of Xero. This will enable access to your accounting data regardless of any performance issues on Xero’s side.  

Ready-to-use Xero dashboard templates 

Coupler.io allows you to not only export data and build reports from scratch. It provides ready-to-use Xero dashboards for instant analysis of your accounting data. These dashboards usually accumulate a few Xero reports in one place, which makes it easy for entrepreneurs and financial experts to derive insights into their data. 

Xero financial dashboard template

This dashboard delivers a consolidated view of the company’s financial health. With its help, business owners and financial managers can monitor key financial metrics without diving into detailed reports.

The dashboard combines essential Xero reports, including Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement into a single interface.

The dashboard allows you to:

You can use the dashboard in Coupler.io, which offers the AI insights feature designed to help you quickly make sense of your data.

Or as a template in Looker Studio and Google Sheets. In this case, you don’t have AI insights, but templates are equipped with a built-in connector by Coupler.io. Follow the instructions on the Readme tab to connect your Xero account and load data to the dashboard. 

Xero revenue dashboard template 

This dashboard serves as a comprehensive revenue monitoring tool that consolidates income and expense tracking into a single view. It enables businesses to make data-driven decisions about their revenue streams and customer relationships.

The dashboard effectively combines the income statement with the invoice data from Xero into a unified interface. So you no longer need to switch between multiple reports on different tabs of your browser.

This profitability dashboard allows you to:

The dashboard is available in Coupler.io and as a Looker Studio and Google Sheets template with a built-in Xero connector. Follow the instructions on the Readme tab to connect your Xero account and load data to the dashboard. 

Accounts receivable dashboard for Xero

This dashboard provides clear visibility into customer debts and payment patterns so that you can prevent cash flow gaps.

The dashboard consolidates Xero reports, such as Aged Receivables, Customer Payment History, and Invoice Reports into one comprehensive view.

The accounts receivable dashboard allows you to:

The dashboard is available as a template in Looker Studio and Google Sheets with a built-in connector by Coupler.io. Follow the instructions on the Readme tab to connect your Xero account and load data to the dashboard. 

Accounts payable dashboard for Xero

This dashboard optimizes payables management by providing clear visibility into vendor obligations and payment priorities.

The dashboard combines Aged Payables, Vendor Payment History, and Bills Reports into a single interface.

The accounts payable dashboard allows you to:

The dashboard is available as a Looker Studio and Google Sheets template with a built-in connector by Coupler.io. Follow the instructions on the Readme tab to connect your Xero account and load data to the dashboard. 

Overview of the native Xero report templates

Now let’s go through the main groups of reports in Xero so you know what options you have for Xero reporting out of the box.

Xero financial performance reports

The following reports are meant to help you understand your organization’s financial position and examine performance:

Report NameDescription
Analytics – Business SnapshotThis dashboard provides a high-level overview of key financial metrics and trends, offering insights into business health at a glance.
Analytics – Short-term Cash FlowA clear projection of future cash flow, showing expected incoming and outgoing funds to support better financial planning.
Budget ManagerA budgeting tool that allows businesses to create and monitor financial plans, ensuring alignment with long-term goals.
Budget SummaryAn overview of all budgets created in Budget Manager, offering a quick reference to planned and actual financial performance.
Budget VarianceA comparison of actual financial figures against budgeted amounts, highlighting discrepancies that may require action.
Business Cash Flow SummaryA detailed breakdown of cash movements over a specified period, providing insights into liquidity and spending patterns.
Business PerformanceA collection of financial ratios and graphical reports that help assess operational efficiency and overall business success.
Cash SummaryA report that tracks how cash is received and spent, making it easier to understand the financial position of the business.
Executive SummaryA consolidated view of key financial indicators, including cash flow, profitability, and balance sheet performance.
Owner’s Equity SummaryA summary of changes in net worth over time, showing how earnings, investments, and withdrawals impact business equity.
Tracking SummaryA structured report that categorizes business activities using tracking options, helping to analyze financial performance by segment.

Xero financial statements 

The sales reports are meant to provide an overview of your business’s financial position covering costs, liabilities, revenue, assets, and equity. Here is what Xero offers for this:

Report NameDescription
Balance SheetA detailed view of your organization’s financial position, outlining assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. Check out what a balance sheet reporting dashboard looks like and what values it provides.
Blank ReportA customizable template that allows you to create a report tailored to specific business needs.
Depreciation ScheduleA comprehensive list of fixed assets, including additions, disposals, and accumulated depreciation over time.
Disposal ScheduleA report detailing fixed assets that have been sold or written off, helping track asset lifecycle and financial impact.
Fixed Asset ReconciliationA reconciliation report comparing fixed asset balances between the Balance Sheet and the Fixed Assets register to identify discrepancies.
Income Statement (Profit and Loss)A financial report summarizing revenue, expenses, and profit for a given period, with options to adjust expense categorization.
Management ReportA structured reporting package that includes six management-style reports, offering deeper insights into financial performance.

Xero payables and receivables reports

These reports are meant to see the transactions you’ve had between your suppliers and your customers. 

Report NameDescription
Accounts Payable Aging DetailA detailed breakdown of outstanding bills, credit notes, and overpayments categorized by how long they have been due.
Accounts Payable Aging SummaryA high-level summary showing the total amount owed to each vendor, organized by the age of the transactions.
Accounts Receivable Aging DetailA line-by-line report of unpaid invoices, credit notes, and overpayments from customers, categorized by aging periods.
Accounts Receivable Aging SummaryA consolidated view of outstanding amounts owed to you by each customer, grouped by how long the balances have been overdue.
Billable Expenses – OutstandingA list of billable expenses that have not yet been assigned to customers, helping track unbilled costs.
Contact Transactions – SummaryA report summarizing all payables, receivables, and cash transactions associated with a specific contact.
Expense Claim DetailA breakdown of outstanding employee expense claims, categorized by transaction age to track pending reimbursements.
Income and Expenses by ContactA summarized view of financial transactions per contact, showing both revenue and expenses to assess customer and vendor activity.
Payable Invoice DetailA line-by-line report of supplier bills, credit notes, and overpayments, with an option to include prepayments.
Payable Invoice SummaryA summarized list of bills, credit notes, and overpayments from suppliers, with the ability to factor in prepayments.
Receivable Invoice DetailA report detailing individual sales invoices, credit notes, and overpayments for customers, with an option to include prepayments.
Receivable Invoice SummaryA summary of outstanding customer invoices, credit notes, and overpayments, with an option to track prepayments.

Xero reconciliation reports 

Reports to ensure your accounting records match your bank statements and identify any discrepancies. 

Report NameDescription
Account SummaryA monthly breakdown of transactions for a specific account, providing an overview of its financial activity.
Bank ReconciliationA comparison of your recorded bank balance in Xero with your actual bank balance to identify missing, deleted, or duplicate transactions.
Bank Reconciliation DetailA detailed report that compares transactions in Xero with those on your bank statement, helping to detect discrepancies.
Bank SummaryA financial summary showing the opening and closing bank balances along with all transactions during a selected period.
Cash Validation Customer ReportA report that cross-checks accounting records with linked bank statement lines to validate cash flow accuracy.
Inventory Item ListA complete list of tracked and untracked inventory items, including item details for better inventory management.
Reconciliation ReportsA package of multiple reconciliation reports designed to help ensure account balances are accurate at the end of a financial period.

Xero tax and balance reports

Xero offers a sales tax report and other reports related to the general ledger. 

Report NameDescription
1099 ReportA report that helps prepare NEC and MISC forms by applying predefined rules, ensuring 1099 filings meet IRS requirements.
Custom Sales Tax ReportA tailored report providing a detailed breakdown of sales tax transactions for review and compliance purposes.
General Ledger DetailA comprehensive view of all account activity, showing individual transactions and balances for accurate financial tracking.
General Ledger ExceptionsA report highlighting transactions that stand out as irregular compared to typical activity in the same account.
General Ledger SummaryA high-level overview of account balances and financial movements, summarizing the general ledger’s key data.
Journal ReportA chronological record of all journal entries made in the general ledger, providing transparency into financial adjustments.
Sales Tax ReportA standard report that outlines sales tax details, helping businesses track tax obligations and payments.
Tax ReconciliationA reconciliation tool that ensures recorded tax amounts align with the amounts reported and filed with tax authorities.
Trial BalanceA snapshot of all account balances on a year-to-date basis, helping verify that total debits and credits are in balance.

Xero transaction reports

These reports allow you to view transaction details and search for duplicate statement lines.

Report NameDescription
Account TransactionsA detailed report listing all transactions within selected accounts, helping track financial activity and account movements.
Duplicate Statement LinesA tool for identifying duplicate bank statement lines in Xero, ensuring accuracy in bank reconciliations.
Inventory Item DetailsA line-by-line breakdown of sales and purchase transactions for individual inventory items, providing a clear transaction history.
Inventory Item SummaryA high-level overview of total purchases and sales for each inventory item, helping assess stock movement and profitability.
Sales By ItemA summary report showing sales transactions related to untracked inventory items, offering insights into product performance.

How to create Xero reports with a custom layout

The reports you’ve edited and saved will be available in the Custom tab of the Reports menu. Let’s check it out in practice in the example of a Xero Profit and Loss report.

Open the P&L report, find the Edit layout button in the bottom left corner, and click on it.

Now you can start editing your layout.

For this example, we made a few changes to the layout:

When you’re done making changes, click Done.

But that’s not all. Now you need to save your layout as custom. For this, click Save as and select Custom.

Name your custom report, and you can optionally make it the default. From now on, it’s available in the Custom tab. In the meantime, you can also use a free P&L dashboard by Coupler.io.

Advanced reports with Xero

In the Accounting menu, you can see the Advanced tab.

It does not in any way relate to advanced reporting, and the reports you can see there are the same as in the Report tab. However, if you are interested in advanced reporting tools, you can check out Xero App Store. Here you will find a bunch of apps to satisfy your reporting needs and purposes.

Xero reports grouped by your requests

Above we introduced the categories of reports according to Xero. Xero users, however, may have their own vision or way of grouping reports. For example, you may want a separate category for Project reports. Let’s fix this and cover some of the most in-demand requests.

Budget reports in Xero

You have three Xero budget reports: Budget Manager, Budget Summary, and Budget Variance.

Budget Manager

You can only have one overall budget per organization. With the Budget Manager report, you can set up additional budgets in Xero. For this, you need to go to the Select Budget drop-down and click Add new budget.

Then you need to enter a name for your budget and select the region. Click Save.

Now you can fill out the budgeted amounts in your new budget. Alternatively, you can import a budget as a CSV, Excel, or ODS file by clicking on the Import button and following the instructions. 

Budget Summary

The Budget Summary report allows you to see a summarised view of any of your budgets. You can select:

Click Update to enable your configuration.

Note: You can automate the export of the Budget Summary report to Google Sheets, Excel, or BigQuery using Coupler.io with a few clicks. We explained this in the Xero reports export and backup section.

Budget Variance

The Budget Variance report allows you to see the comparison between the actual figures against budgeted amounts for the current month and year to date (YTD). The variances are shown as values and percentages.

You can configure the report as follows:

Xero project reports

Xero offers two reports to get and insights into the time spent on projects and a summary of the project financials:

To access each of these reports, you’ll need to go to the Projects menu. 

Project Detailed Time

To open a Project Detailed Time report, click Staff time overview and then Go to report.

Here is your Detailed Time report:

Project Summary 

To open a Project Summary report, click All projects and then Project Summary Report.

Here is what it looks like:

Xero income statement report

The income statement report in Xero is represented by the Profit and Loss report (new and old versions). It allows you to see income, expenses, and profit for a reporting period of your organization.

Explore free income statement dashboard templates.

Here is a view of the older P&L version, which you can export with Coupler.io:

This is the Profit and Loss report with a new design:

Whichever version you work with, you can use the following settings for your P&L report:

Xero tracking reports

Xero offers a Tracking Summary report that generates a list of your tracking options. Each of the options displays activity in a particular group of accounts for a specific time period.

To launch a Tracking Summary report, you must select an account group. These are the account types from your chart of accounts, for example, Expenses. You can also configure the date range and choose a tracking category. Click Update and voila.

The report will display the transactions assigned to the selected account group. The transactions assigned to the selected account group that were not tracked are displayed as Unassigned.

For each category option, you’ll see the opening and closing balances according to the specified date range. The net activity displays the outcome of all approved transactions except for purchase orders and quotes.

Xero user activity reports

If you need to see history notes or a user activity log, you need the History and Notes report. It displays information about all changes made to your transactions and which user made them. 

Go to Accounting => Advanced and find History and notes.

Yeah, it’s that simple.

Xero income reports

Some time ago, Xero offered two separate reports: Income by Contact and Expenses by Contact. Now, you have one report that consolidates both of these – Income and Expenses by Contact. It displays incurred expenses and received income by a particular contact.

Xero management reports

Xero does not provide any dedicated management reports, but the following ones are usually considered the management report pack:

All of these, except for the Cash Summary report, you can automatically export from Xero to Excel, Google Sheets, or BigQuery on a custom schedule with Coupler.io.

Graph reports in Xero

Many Xero users thought that it would be great to have graphs in their reports. Xero listened to this request and released two real-time dashboards: Business Snapshot and Short Term Cash Flow. You will find both features in the Business menu:

Business Snapshot – a dashboard with valuable information about your organization’s financial health, such as profitability, income and expenses. 

Short Term Cash Flow – a cash flow dashboard showing a projection of the amount of cash in the next periods. 

The advanced versions of both dashboards are available in Xero Analytics Plus:

Business SnapshotShort Term Cash Flow
– Custom date ranges
– Option to choose accounts to include
– Option to choose expenses to track
– Option to drill down into a metric on the dashboard to see the underlying transactions
– Projection periods for the next 7, 30, 60, or 90 days
– Predicted recurring cash transactions
– Option to manually add one-off amounts to the dashboard to see the impact on cash flow

Quarterly reports Xero

All new reports in Xero allow you to apply a quarterly-based date range:

 For example, here is how it looks in the Duplicate Statement Lines report.

Check out the Xero new reports section to learn the list of new reports.

Consolidated Xero reports

Xero does not provide consolidated statements natively, so you’ll need to opt for a third-party solution. In the Xero App Store, there are many tools for making consolidated reports including Fathom, joiin, Spotlight Reporting, etc.

Choose the best one for your needs.

Xero reporting – summary

It seems that Xero, with its abundance of reporting options, can satisfy the needs of all users. However, the lack of consolidation and customization features often causes users to opt for third-party solutions to power up their reporting. If you feel the same and want to go beyond the Xero reporting capabilities, check out Coupler.io or another tool that meets your needs. Good luck with your data!

Exit mobile version