Xero for Startups
Cloud accounting for small businesses with 80% off your plan for the first 3 months on the US startup page, so bookkeeping is handled from incorporation.
Xero for Startups offers up to 80% off for 3 months (US) to bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed startups, no VC referral required. Review takes 1–3 business days.
At a glance
About
Xero is cloud accounting built for small businesses and their accountants: bank reconciliation, invoicing, bills, payroll integrations, and a large app marketplace. The US startup page shows 80% off your plan for your first 3 months. A deeper offer of about 90% off for 6 months appears only through partner channels such as Ramp and Startup Grind.
For a founder, getting accounting right from day one avoids an expensive cleanup later. Xero is a leading choice outside the US and a credible QuickBooks alternative inside it, especially if your accountant already works in it. Confirm the current promotion for your country, since Xero pricing and offers are regional.
Tiers
- New Xero customer
- Access through a partner such as Ramp or Startup Grind
Eligibility
- New Xero customer
- Small business or startup
- Existing Xero subscriber
How to apply
- 1Check the regional offerConfirm the current promotion for your country.www.xero.com/us/small-businesses/startup ↗
- 2Sign up or use your accountantStart directly, or let your accountant onboard you for partner pricing.
- 3Connect your bankSet up feeds and reconciliation from the first month.
What else you get
- Bank reconciliation
- App marketplace
- Accountant collaboration
What credits cover (and don't)
- Xero accounting subscription (discounted)
- Add-on payroll in some regions
Tactical tips
- Tip 1.Set up accounting at incorporation, retroactive cleanup costs far more than the subscription ever will.
- Tip 2.Pick Xero if your accountant works in it, that collaboration is worth more than any single feature.
- Tip 3.Offers are regional, so confirm the exact promotion for your country before signing up.
Common rejection reasons
- Already a Xero customer
- Offer differs by region
Frequently asked about Xero for Startups
Is Xero for Startups free to apply?
Yes. Applying to Xero for Startups does not cost anything and does not require giving up equity. Some programs require a payment method on file that activates only after credits are consumed or expire, check the program detail page for specifics.
How long does Xero for Startups take to review applications?
Processing times are shown on the program detail page. Most programs reply within 1–3 weeks. Self-serve tiers (like AWS Activate Founders) can approve in 2–7 days; partner-referred tiers (like AWS Activate Portfolio) usually take 5–10 days.
Can I combine Xero for Startups with other startup programs?
Most programs stack. The "Stacks well with" section on each detail page lists commonly combined programs. A few important exceptions: if you already claimed AWS credits via Brex or Mercury, your direct AWS Activate amount may be reduced.
What is the most common reason applications to Xero get rejected?
The top rejection reasons are (1) using a personal Gmail/Outlook address instead of a company domain, (2) having a thin or placeholder website, and (3) mismatched information between the application and Crunchbase/Pitchbook. The tips section on the program page details program-specific factors.