The short answer
- Most ServiceM8 + Xero businesses
- Use ServiceM8's built-in Xero add-on. It is listed on all plans and covers clients, items, invoices and payments.
- You report by job type, team or division in Xero
- Add ServiceM8's Xero Tracking Categories add-on, and expect category changes to take up to 24 hours to appear.
- You want something the built-in sync doesn't do (for example jobs from Xero quotes)
- Zapier has ready-made ServiceM8 + Xero templates; Make has a ServiceM8 app. Both need setting up and maintaining.
The problem this solves
You run jobs in ServiceM8 and your books in Xero, and you want invoices and payments to flow between them without typing everything twice. ServiceM8 has a built-in Xero connection, but it works in a particular way, and knowing the gaps first saves cleaning up invoices in Xero later.
Who this Buy Brief is for
- ServiceM8 users who keep their books in Xero
- Businesses about to start ServiceM8 that already have customers and items in Xero
Who it isn't for
- Tradify or Fergus users (both list their own Xero sync; see the ServiceM8 vs Tradify vs Fergus Buy Brief)
- Businesses on MYOB or QuickBooks Online (ServiceM8 supports them, but this Buy Brief covers Xero only)
Quick comparison
Prices are shown exactly as the vendor publishes them. We never convert currencies. Where a vendor shows an ex-GST AUD price, we also show the incl. GST figure and mark it as calculated.
| Option | Price | GST | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceM8 built-in Xero add-on | Not checked UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | Vendor documentation verified |
| ServiceM8 Xero Tracking Categories add-on | Not checked UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | Vendor documentation verified |
| Zapier | US$19.99/mo Professional USD, no AUD price published UNVERIFIED Billed yearly; Premium apps such as Xero need a paid plan [8] checked 26 Oct 2026 | GST basis not stated (UNVERIFIED) | Vendor documentation verified |
| Make | $9/mo Core Currency not stated UNVERIFIED Billed annually, 10,000 credits/mo; currency not named by Make; Pro $16, Teams $29 [12] checked 26 Oct 2026 | GST basis not stated (UNVERIFIED) | Vendor documentation verified |
Option by option
ServiceM8 built-in Xero add-on
Vendor documentation verifiedSuits: Almost every ServiceM8 business that uses Xero.
Integrations
- Xero connects from Settings > ServiceM8 Add-ons > Xero Integration. After you authorise your Xero organisation, existing Xero customers and inventory items are imported. [1]
- Invoices go to Xero when you approve them on the Invoicing page. Invoices created in Xero are not sent to ServiceM8, and zero-value invoices are not sent to Xero. [2]
- Payments recorded in ServiceM8 after approval go to Xero immediately. Payments recorded in Xero against a ServiceM8 invoice sync back within 30 minutes. [3]
Relevant AI features
No AI features documented in the sources we checked for this Buy Brief. UNVERIFIED
Strengths
When ServiceM8 built-in Xero add-on is NOT a good fit
- Your bookkeeper raises invoices directly in Xero and expects them to show in ServiceM8. [2]
Still unverified
- Whether the Xero add-on itself has any separate charge (ServiceM8 lists accounting sync on all plans; no separate price found). UNVERIFIED
ServiceM8 built-in Xero add-on not syncing to Xero? Checks and fixes from the vendor's own help pages
Visit ServiceM8 No affiliate linkServiceM8 Xero Tracking Categories add-on
Vendor documentation verifiedSuits: Businesses that split revenue in Xero by job type, location or team.
Integrations
- A separate Xero Tracking Categories add-on sends tracking category values with each invoice. Tracking categories sync once a day, so changes in Xero can take up to 24 hours to appear. [6]
Relevant AI features
No AI features documented in the sources we checked for this Buy Brief. UNVERIFIED
Strengths
- Sends tracking category values with each invoice, so Xero reports split correctly. [6]
Limitations
- Tracking categories sync once a day; new categories can take up to 24 hours to appear in ServiceM8. [6]
When ServiceM8 Xero Tracking Categories add-on is NOT a good fit
- You don't use Xero tracking categories today. [6]
Still unverified
- Price and plan availability of the Xero Tracking Categories add-on. UNVERIFIED
Suits: Businesses with one or two specific extra workflows, set up by someone comfortable with automation tools.
Integrations
- Zapier lists ServiceM8 + Xero templates, including creating ServiceM8 jobs from new Xero quotes, generating Xero sales invoices when ServiceM8 jobs are completed, and syncing clients and contacts both ways. Xero is marked as a Premium app. [7]
Relevant AI features
No AI features documented in the sources we checked for this Buy Brief. UNVERIFIED
Strengths
- Ready-made templates such as creating ServiceM8 jobs from new Xero quotes. [7]
When Zapier is NOT a good fit
Still unverified
- Whether GST is added to Zapier subscriptions for Australian customers (Zapier says its prices exclude all taxes, levies and duties). UNVERIFIED
Suits: Businesses with an automation-savvy person (or a partner) who want custom multi-step workflows.
Integrations
- Make's ServiceM8 app has modules to create, get, list, update and delete jobs and clients, create job contacts and make custom API calls. Make notes its ServiceM8 documentation is limited. [10]
Relevant AI features
No AI features documented in the sources we checked for this Buy Brief. UNVERIFIED
Strengths
Limitations
- Make itself says its ServiceM8 documentation is limited. [10]
When Make is NOT a good fit
- Nobody in the business will look after the automation when something changes. Our judgement
Still unverified
- The currency of Make's paid plan prices (the page shows '$' only) and whether GST or other tax is added for Australian customers. UNVERIFIED
- Make's Xero app modules (not checked for this brief). UNVERIFIED
Recommendation by business type
Pick
Most ServiceM8 + Xero businesses
ServiceM8. The built-in add-on covers clients, items, invoices and payments on every plan, straight from ServiceM8's settings. [1] ,[2] ,[3] ,[5]
Pick
Reporting by job type, team or location in Xero
ServiceM8. Add the Xero Tracking Categories add-on on top of the built-in sync, and allow up to 24 hours for category changes. [6]
When this is NOT a good fit
- Your Xero file is messy (duplicate contacts, old items). Clean it up before connecting, because Xero customers and items are imported into ServiceM8. [1] , [4]
- You have several Xero organisations and aren't sure which one should receive ServiceM8 invoices. Decide that before you authorise the connection. Our judgement
The steps, in order (from ServiceM8’s help centre)
- In ServiceM8 online, go to Settings > ServiceM8 Add-ons and click Connect on Xero Integration.
- Work through the setup wizard, including the tax setting (ask your registered BAS or tax agent which tax settings to use; we don’t advise on them), then sign in to Xero and authorise the right organisation.
- Wait a few minutes while your Xero customers and items import into ServiceM8.
- Complete a test job, then approve it on the Invoicing > Awaiting Approval page and check it arrives in Xero.
- Set which Xero account receives ServiceM8 payments in Settings > Preferences > Invoicing.
Sources for these steps: How do I connect ServiceM8 to Xero, Sending your first job to Xero and How the sync with Xero works, checked 18–20 Oct 2026.
If the test invoice from step 4 doesn’t show up in Xero, these are the documented reasons, from the ServiceM8 help pages above (re-checked 20 Oct 2026):
- It hasn’t been approved. Invoices go to Xero only when you approve them on the Invoicing page, after the job is marked Completed.
- It’s worth $0. Zero-value invoices are not sent to Xero.
- It was created in Xero. Invoices created in Xero are not sent to ServiceM8.
- Tax was changed in ServiceM8. Tax settings sync from Xero to ServiceM8 only; tax changes made in ServiceM8 don’t reach Xero.
- A payment is still on its way. Payments recorded in Xero against a ServiceM8 invoice sync back within 30 minutes.
For error messages, expired Xero connections, invoice number clashes, account codes and Xero’s Ignite invoice limit, see our ServiceM8 and Tradify Xero sync troubleshooting guide.
How we checked this
- Every step and limit here is from ServiceM8's own help centre and pricing page, read 18–20 Oct 2026.
- Zapier and Make details are from their own integration and pricing pages, checked 20 Oct 2026. Make doesn't name the currency of its prices.
- We have not connected a ServiceM8 account to Xero ourselves for this Buy Brief.
Evidence levels used in this Buy Brief:
- Vendor documentation verified: Claims verified against current first-party vendor documentation.
Disclosure
Affiliate links
- ServiceM8: No affiliate link. A referral program exists, but Kit Sorted has not joined it.
- Zapier: No affiliate link. We haven't joined any affiliate or partner programme for this vendor.
- Make: No affiliate link. A referral program exists, but Kit Sorted has not joined it.
Sponsorship
Nothing in this Buy Brief is sponsored. Sponsor policy
Common ownership
Kit Sorted is owned by AI Architecture Lab Pty Ltd, which also provides software setup services to businesses. Full disclosure
Sources
- Xero connects from Settings > ServiceM8 Add-ons > Xero Integration. After you authorise your Xero organisation, existing Xero customers and inventory items are imported. support.servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Invoices go to Xero when you approve them on the Invoicing page. Invoices created in Xero are not sent to ServiceM8, and zero-value invoices are not sent to Xero. support.servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Payments recorded in ServiceM8 after approval go to Xero immediately. Payments recorded in Xero against a ServiceM8 invoice sync back within 30 minutes. support.servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Supplier-only contacts in Xero are not imported. Tax settings sync from Xero to ServiceM8, but tax changes made in ServiceM8 do not sync back. A ServiceM8 client not yet synced can be overwritten if the same client is entered manually in Xero. support.servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Syncs clients, items, invoices and payments with Xero, QuickBooks Online and MYOB (Xero and QuickBooks Online listed for all plans). servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- A separate Xero Tracking Categories add-on sends tracking category values with each invoice. Tracking categories sync once a day, so changes in Xero can take up to 24 hours to appear. support.servicem8.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Zapier lists ServiceM8 + Xero templates, including creating ServiceM8 jobs from new Xero quotes, generating Xero sales invoices when ServiceM8 jobs are completed, and syncing clients and contacts both ways. Xero is marked as a Premium app. zapier.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Xero is a Premium app on Zapier, and Zapier says Premium apps are only available on a paid plan or during the free trial. The cheapest paid plan, Professional, starts from US$19.99 a month billed yearly (checked 26 Oct 2026). Zapier can show prices in Australian dollars, but the AUD amount varies with the exchange rate at the time of payment. Zapier says its prices exclude all taxes, levies and duties. zapier.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Zapier says a free tier is available, but it can't use Premium apps such as Xero. help.zapier.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Make's ServiceM8 app has modules to create, get, list, update and delete jobs and clients, create job contacts and make custom API calls. Make notes its ServiceM8 documentation is limited. apps.make.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Make's Free plan includes 1,000 credits a month; most actions use 1 credit. make.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
- Make's paid plans start at 10,000 credits a month: Core $9, Pro $16 and Teams $29 a month when billed annually (checked 26 Oct 2026). Make's pricing page shows "$" without naming the currency, so don't assume these are Australian dollars. Prices rise with the credit volume you choose. Enterprise is custom-priced. make.com , checked 26 Oct 2026. Vendor documentation verified
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