Xero, the global cloud-based accounting platform for small businesses, has become a driving force in Atlanta by connecting, supporting and enabling growth for the small business community. As part of its mission to empower small business success in the Atlanta region, Xero helps to connect small businesses and local accountants and bookkeepers, recognizing the importance of these connections for driving short-and long-term business and financial growth. As the business landscape in Atlanta continues to expand, Xero remains at the forefront of shaping the future of the small business ecosystem through its local efforts and community support.

Connecting Atlanta’s Small Business Community 

In Atlanta, Xero heavily focuses on investing in small businesses by providing introductions to and helping foster relationships with local accountants and bookkeepers. This synergy aims to provide the best of both worlds on either side of the partnership, creating an ecosystem where both sides work together and benefit from one another. Accountants and bookkeepers benefit from the business opportunities Xero presents through small business partnerships by helping generate revenue and new customers, and small businesses benefit from the expertise of these skilled local accountants. 

Although Xero’s user-friendly software allows small businesses to learn and grow without a need for external support, the collaboration with accountants and bookkeepers provides them with the expert resources to become even more successful and literate around the accounting side of their business operations. Ultimately, Xero’s goal is to create and help foster these synergies in order to draw the connection between business and financial comprehension and organizational success.

One successful example of Xero helping to connect the community was with one of its partners, Rex McInvale, a local accountant in the Atlanta region. Dating a few years back, Rex came to Xero looking to scale his practice and technology solutions. The team quickly onboarded Rex to the Xero platform, and a year later, this translated into Rex introducing Xero to one of his clients who was in an unfavorable financial position. Through this connection, Xero was able to help turn this client’s company around, by providing the financial solutions and expertise needed to help them revive their business.

Extending beyond traditional accounting services 

Xero’s commitment to the Atlanta small business community extends beyond its accounting services. The company regularly partakes and encourages accountants, bookkeepers and small businesses to participate in local events and initiatives, which helps to bolster a sense of community. Whether it’s through events organized by Atlanta Centure, the Small Business Association, the Small Business Expo or the Chamber of Commerce, Xero aims to foster a collaborative ecosystem where all parties benefit. Additionally, Xero frequently hosts lunch and learns and happy hours in local workspaces to provide additional educational support and networking opportunities for these communities.

Xero is also thoroughly involved with philanthropic initiatives in an effort to give back to the Atlanta region, such as its involvement with Welcoming Atlanta, a food bank helping underserved communities. As the Head of Partner at Xero, I recently spearheaded Xero's sponsorship of the Divine 9 Scholarship Gala, which was a banquet-style event that welcomed local partners in the community to raise awareness for a great cause. Xero’s hands-on approach underscores its dedication to uplifting the Atlanta community, in ways that extend beyond just accounting and business support.

Tailoring Solutions for Atlanta’s Unique Needs 

To meet the unique needs of the Atlanta small business community, many of which are minority-owned businesses, Xero is actively involved in providing financial and business literacy to small business owners to enable them to have the knowledge needed to grow and scale their businesses. Through partnerships with organizations such as the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Xero helps to create broader awareness around the importance of financial literacy and the power of accounting solutions.

As Atlanta’s small business community continues to grow and evolve, Xero’s presence both from a business and philanthropic perspective will be instrumental in shaping the future of the area’s small business landscape. By focusing on connecting the small business community with local accountants and bookkeepers and through evolving education around financial literacy, Xero is excited to help Atlanta’s small business community flourish.