eBay to Xero – how to send orders

And so the end arrives in our “Selling on eBay” blog series. We’ve seen everything, from the best eBay listing tool and running an eBay advertising campaign to eBay SEO tools and eBay order management software. But, don’t worry, we’re not heading off until we’ve looked at finishing the whole process by sending orders from eBay to Xero. Let’s take a look.

 

 

Sending orders from eBay to Xero

By now, eBay orders should be flowing into your business and out of your warehouse door, which means one main thing: money.

If you’re using Xero to assist with your eBay finances, good job. It’s a great piece of kit that makes accounting simple, straight-forward and, dare we say it, enjoyable. But, first, you need to get orders into Xero. How?

There are three ways to do this:

1. Manual entry

Manual entry is the go-to option for many eBay sellers looking to get orders into Xero. Why? Because it’s cost-free. But, as of 01 April 2019, it’s also against UK tax regulations.

Further reading: MTD for eCommerce. 

2. CSV

The next go-to option is using a CSV download from eBay to upload invoice information to Xero. Why? Again, it’s cost-free. But, it can also be a little time-consuming and error-prone. 

If you’re using the CSV-route ensure that you:

? Format the CSV in-line with Xero’s requirements (without altering the data or copying and pasting – that’s also against UK tax regulations);

? Check the uploaded information to ensure that it is 100% correct and accurate;

? Perform the process regularly to not fall behind or duplicate information; and

? Log into Xero to mark orders as approved or paid, add tracking detail information and assign to the right accounts. 

3. Apps

Overcoming the problems with manual entry and CSVs are specifically designed integrations and apps. And, lucky for you, there is a bright selection out there to choose from, and the next section is on making that choice. 

eBay to Xero apps – how to make the choice

See, we told you. When looking for an integration, it’s important to scout out the following:

eBay to Xero integration

A Xero eBay app is only as good as its integration with Xero. You’re looking for software that digitally links Xero and eBay – not a CSV. 

Automatic sync

While manually clicking a “sync” button is no biggie, it can fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Automatical sync allows you to schedule the push of sales orders into Xero on set dates and times. 

eBay to Xero batching

Xero has a soft transaction limit. If you’re likely to exceed this, the ability to group orders into one invoice is crucial. 

Tailoring

Sending all of your eBay orders into Xero automatically is great. But, what’s even better, is software that tailors your orders before they get there. We mean:

? Sending invoices to different bank and sales accounts depending on the channel and payment method;

? Auto-marking invoices as approved or paid;

? Applying the correct tax codes and charges; and

? Applying the right tracking category. 

Sales channel integrations

If you have any plans to start multi-channel selling (which you should), you want software that links Xero with other sales channel(s) too. Amazon, Etsy, Wish and Shopify are all great additions. 

Key takeaway

And the key takeaway is: sending eBay orders to Xero is simple so quit making it hard for yourself. 

And that’s all in our “Selling on eBay blog series”. If you’ve enjoyed the show, let us know on Twitter or Facebook.