Case Study: Small Business Accounting achieves accelerated growth and global expansion with Xero

How cloud conversion helped a national franchise accelerate growth

Small Business Accounting (SBA) is a New Zealand franchised accounting network that ran more than 50 locally managed offices on legacy desktop systems (MYOB/Banklink/Reckon APS). That setup left franchisees bogged down in compliance work, created inefficiencies and high overheads, made remote working impractical, and limited SBA’s ability to offer proactive advisory services or attract new clients.

In 2015 SBA centrally transitioned the network to Xero, using shared training, tech and Xero partner support to onboard practices (about 90% converted). The move cut desktop licensing and office costs, enabled remote and shared resourcing, delivered real‑time client insights and higher-value advisory, and helped SBA grow to ~60 branches and expand into the USA and Papua New Guinea — earning industry recognition and happier staff and clients.

Small Business Accounting

Craig Gardiner

General Manager