Xero at the core, connected to payments, expenses, forecasting and payroll. How to build a finance system that automates the boring stuff and gives you real-time visibility.
Your finance stack is the set of connected software tools that handle your accounting, payments, expenses, invoicing, payroll, reporting and forecasting. A well-built stack automates repetitive work, eliminates manual data entry, and gives you real-time financial visibility — without hiring a finance team.
For UK startups, the stack centres on Xero as the cloud accounting platform, connected to specialist tools for payments, receipt capture, cash flow and payroll. The right combination depends on your business model, transaction volume and growth stage.
AccTek configures and manages the full finance stack for every startup client — so your tools work together from day one.
The foundation of everything. Automated bank feeds, invoicing, MTD-compliant VAT returns, real-time P&L and balance sheet, multi-currency (Premium), and 1,000+ integrations. Why Xero beats FreeAgent and QuickBooks.
The default for SaaS, ecommerce and online businesses. Handles card payments, subscription billing, invoicing and payouts. Excellent Xero integration via Amaka or native app.
Direct Debit collection for recurring invoices, retainers and subscription payments. Lower fees than card payments. Native Xero integration — payments match automatically.
Hold and send money in 40+ currencies at real exchange rates. Essential for startups with international customers or suppliers. Connects to Xero as a bank feed.
Modern digital business bank accounts with instant Xero bank feed connection, real-time notifications and fast setup. Tide offers built-in invoicing. Starling offers interest on balances.
Photograph receipts, forward email invoices — Dext extracts the data and publishes to Xero with correct categorisation. Eliminates paper receipts entirely. HMRC-compliant records.
Xero’s built-in receipt and document capture tool. Snap photos, email documents, or connect to suppliers for automatic bill fetching. Good for basic needs. Dext is more powerful for higher volumes.
Visual cash flow forecasting that syncs with Xero in real time. Scenario planning, runway calculations and budget tracking. Essential for startups managing burn rate or preparing for fundraising.
Advanced reporting dashboards, 3-way forecasting (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and KPI tracking beyond what Xero offers natively. Useful for board packs and investor reporting.
Automated, personalised payment reminders sent on your behalf. Escalation sequences, payment portals and debtor tracking. Reduces average payment time by 16+ days.
Branded invoices, online payment links (Stripe/GoCardless), automatic reminders and recurring invoice schedules. Sufficient for most startups until volume demands more.
Built into Xero. Handles PAYE, RTI submissions to HMRC, pension auto-enrolment, payslips and director salary payments. Simplest option for small teams.
For growing teams that need employee self-service, leave management, onboarding workflows and more advanced payroll features beyond Xero Payroll. Integrates with Xero.
Multi-step approval workflows for bills and purchase orders. Delegation rules, spending limits and audit trails. Essential once you have multiple people authorising spend.
Virtual and physical company cards with spending limits, real-time tracking and automatic Xero categorisation. Replaces expense claims and personal card reimbursements.
| Business Type | Core Stack | Key Additions | ~Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo founder / pre-revenue | Xero Starter + Hubdoc | Tide/Starling | ~£15 |
| Early-revenue startup | Xero Standard + Dext | Stripe + Xero Payroll | ~£55 |
| SaaS company | Xero Premium + Dext + Stripe | GoCardless + Float + Wise | ~£120 |
| Agency / consultancy | Xero Standard + Dext + Chaser | Float + Xero Payroll | ~£105 |
| Scaling team (10+ people) | Xero Standard + Dext + PayFit | ApprovalMax + Pleo + Float | ~£250+ |
We assess your business model, transaction patterns and growth plans, then configure the optimal combination. Stack setup is included in every startup package — no separate consulting fee.
The power of a finance stack isn’t in the individual tools — it’s in how they connect. When properly configured, data flows automatically between systems with minimal manual intervention.
The result: real-time financial visibility with almost zero manual data entry. Your bookkeeping stays current automatically, and your accountant spends time on strategy rather than chasing receipts.
The combination of software tools that handle your accounting, payments, expenses, invoicing, payroll, forecasting and reporting. For UK startups, the core is Xero connected to payment processors, receipt capture tools, cash flow apps and payroll systems.
Xero. It offers automated bank feeds, MTD-compliant VAT returns, 1,000+ integrations, multi-currency support, real-time dashboards and the largest UK accountant partner network.
1,000+ apps including Stripe, GoCardless, Dext, Float, Chaser, ApprovalMax, Wise Business, Xero Payroll, PayFit, Shopify, WooCommerce, Pleo and Soldo.
Typically £50–£150/month: Xero Standard (£30), Dext (£15–£25), optionally Float (£29) or Chaser (from £25). Payment processors charge per transaction. Your accountant may include some tools in their package.
Yes. HMRC requires receipts for 6 years. Dext or Hubdoc (free with Xero) lets you photograph receipts on your phone and auto-match to transactions — eliminating paper records.
Stripe for SaaS and online businesses. GoCardless for Direct Debit recurring payments. Both integrate natively with Xero.
If cash flow matters (and it should), yes. Float syncs with Xero for real-time forecasting, scenario planning and runway calculations. Particularly valuable when managing burn rate or preparing for fundraising.
Xero Payroll (£5/month for 5 employees) is simplest. PayFit or Staffology offer more features for larger teams. AccTek manages payroll through Xero for all clients.
Via Stripe’s native Xero app or through Amaka. The integration imports transactions, fees and payouts automatically for reconciliation. AccTek configures this during Xero setup.
Yes. AccTek configures the full stack — Xero, bank feeds, receipt capture, payment processor integration, payroll, forecasting tools. Configuration is included in fixed-fee startup packages.
AccTek configures Xero and every connected tool — so your finance system works from day one.
Pricing and features accurate as of mid-2026 and subject to change. All prices exclude VAT unless stated. This page is for general information only — contact AccTek for personalised advice. Content by Godwin Pinto, ACA (ICAEW).
