I spoke to the VP in charge of payroll development and he is all about improving the functionality, so it will continue to improve. I just hate it when people let their wallet do their thinking for them and then blame the software because it 'doesn't do enough.' Work your way down through those root menus, however and you discover countless tools for tackling every aspect of your business.There are some features I would like to see 'sooner,' but they are on the roadmap for 'later.' People jump on Xero because of the price without having a Xero consultant evaluate their suitability for the application - that can create an expectation gap, and that inevitably leads to an unhappy customer. To the right of your screen are less prominent but just as useful features, including Help, plus search and notification buttons. These are found via a top menu that houses not only the Dashboard, but Business, Accounting and Contacts options too. The layout is, on the face of it, pretty simple with a user-experience that delivers quick and easy access to core features. Things start out at the Dashboard, which is just that the area that lets you move into the other sections of the site and from which you can manage the overall way it ticks. In that respect the built-in help will pay dividends as you use it to navigate any of the trickier aspects of the cloud-based layout. Even then you can tend to find yourself getting a little tied up in knots such is the powerful array of features on offer. Some parts of the experience require time and patience to master. At the same time, Xero has evolved into a pretty meaty package, and as a result has many different areas that you’ll need to acquaint yourself with. Xero has been nicely put together and if, for example, you choose to try out their demo site, which can be found once you’ve registered, there’s even help as you work. Xero delivers comprehensive details on every aspect of your business such as invoicing (Image credit: Xero) Ease of use

Xero accounting software review