Build a better business with Xero

Presentation plan

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Table of ContentsPresentation.................................................................................................3Presentation Plan Coding Key........................................................................3Preparation Notes.........................................................................................4Presentation Plan..........................................................................................5

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PresentationBelow you will find the presentation plan we have created, which includes topics to discuss and a proposed script to follow. The presentation plan is designed to be customizable, so add any details that will help you, such as time markers, notes on examples and anecdotes you want to share, etc. We have created this Word document containing just the presentation plan to make customization easy.

If you present the entire plan it should run between thirty and forty-five minutes. If you add in information you will want to adjust the time you plan for your presentation accordingly.  

We recommend you practice your presentation a few times before you present. It will feel more natural the more you have done it, and you will find the places you want to customize before you present, instead of the middle of the presentation. You also want to prepare for how slide animations and transitions work. We recommend watching the Live Presentation Best Practices course on Xero U. The course can provide helpful hints for presenting and demos (and you earn 1 Xero Advisor Credit for taking it).

We have included a section of preparation checklists in the presentation plan for easy reference. Whether you print off the presentation plan, or use the digital version, you can make sure you are prepared the day of the presentation with just the one document. We have also included a key to help you navigate the instructions of the presentation plan.

Presentation Plan Coding KeyBold typeface will indicate suggested scripts. Italics indicate a note to the presenter on places to customize the presentation by inserting a personal story.

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Preparation NotesTwo weeks prior:Preparation

Practice giving the presentation multiple timeso Note places you want to customizeo Make notes on time so you can adjust if needed

Practice demo o Choose the features you want to demo based on your audienceo Practice showing the functionality without going into how to set upo If showing online invoicing, be prepared to show an online invoice

This may mean setting up a fake email account so you don’t accidentally show any sensitive information from your practice email

o Keep the demo to 20 minutes or less if possible Record yourself presenting and watch it back

o Note your time, transitions, and how you demo

Day of, one hour prior:On-site preparation

Perform sound check (headset or mic, if using) Perform video check (projector or screen) Open presenter slide deck Close all other windows Ensure your screen is maximized Hide any toolbars (start bars, bookmark bar, application bars/docks) Turn off or mute any notifications, such as instant messaging, email, etc

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Presentation Plan

Slide 1

Customize this slide with your info. Add a photo if you have one! Leave it up on the screen as people come in and get settled.

Welcome from the presenter – Thank you for coming.

Slide 2

How many of you enjoy the accounting part of owning a business? *wait for hands to be raised* You didn’t go into business because you wanted to do the accounting for a business.  If you had, you’d be up here instead of me.  You went into business because you enjoy what you do.  And I know that it can be really hard to stay on top of your financial status when you have a million other things to do.  Maybe you don’t hate it as much as the guy quoted on the slide, but even if you do, there’s help. Presenter to share their own experience with customers who feel the same way.

Slide 3

Presenter introduces themselves and speaks a little bit about their practice. Presenter may want to mention how long they have been in the field and why.

I’m here today to tell you about a tool that I believe will help you save time and energy, while knowing more about what’s going on with the finances of your business.  I’m talking about Xero.

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Slide 4

Let me tell you a little about Xero. You may not have heard of them, but they’re not a new company.  Xero was founded in 2006 and they have over a million users worldwide.  The founders of Xero believed that businesses do better when they have access to up-to-date information about their finances, and the software that existed in 2006 wasn’t offering that.  So, Xero was born.  Their founders wanted to rewire the global small business economy, enabling it to thrive through beautiful software, advice and connections. And that’s what they still strive to do today.

Xero was built in the cloud and for the cloud.  This offers you the freedom and benefits that come with working in the cloud.

Slide 5

What are the benefits of working in the cloud?  Let’s start with the ability to access Xero any time, from any device. What that means is you can access your data whenever and wherever you want. You don’t have to be at a certain computer or connected to a certain server to see your financial information.  You can log in from a computer, a tablet, or your phone, and there’s even a mobile app that lets you do things like create invoices and upload files on the go.  And, because Xero updates in real time, you always have the most current information about things like cashflow, customers, and tasks. Also, because Xero runs in the cloud, there’s never any need to install software or updates; you always have the latest version, automatically. They even make sure your information is backed up regularly and stored safely and securely.

Slide 6

Speaking of keeping things secure, Xero has bank level security for all your information.  They use multiple firewalls, regular third-party audits and inspections, and offer two step authentication to make sure that your data stays safe.

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Slide 7

Another thing that makes Xero stand out is its design. Xero was designed to be useful to business owners not familiar with accounting.  It uses plain English, not accounting jargon.  The words “debit” and “credit” very rarely show up in Xero.  You’ll always know what it’s telling you, and that will let you not only make better decisions, but also ask better questions about your finances.  And it was designed to be easy to use. For example, the dashboard you see here is the first thing you see when you log in. It puts important information within reach.  No more digging through the program to find out what’s happening with cash flow.  

Slide 8

Cash is the lifeblood of every business.  Over 5000 banks and financial institutions have a bank feed integration with Xero.  You can connect your bank accounts, credit cards, and even PayPal to feed data directly into Xero.   

Slide 9

Once the feed is connected, it will update daily, so you’ll always be operating on the most current information.  All the data is right there in Xero automatically - on the dashboard so you’ll see it as soon as you log in.

Slide 10

Slide animation of a transaction being matched in the mobile app will begin when the slide comes up.

I know that reconciling a bank account isn’t most people’s idea of a good time.  But, in Xero, reconciliation is super easy, and can be done daily while the details are fresh - no more waiting until the end of the month.  You can even do reconciliation on the mobile app. If you’ve got a few minutes, maybe standing in line at the grocery store or during a break in your kid’s soccer practice, you can leverage that time to reconcile some of the transactions that have come in that day.

Slide 11

Another way Xero is designed to work for small businesses is through their focus on collaboration.  Because you and I can see the same information at the same time, we can solve problems more quickly and easily.  

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Slide 12

And, you can ask me questions without ever leaving Xero.

Slide 13

Xero wasn’t just designed for collaboration amongst people, though.  Collaboration with apps, through their extensive App Marketplace and open API, creates new opportunities for how to handle daily tasks.  Each business has unique needs, and those needs change as the business grows.  The App Marketplace allows you to customize your Xero experience to fit your business.

Slide 14

Xero flips the script on how accounting is done.  It used to be a business owner had to get transaction documents from their banks, suppliers, and customers, someone would have to enter those documents into a desktop software, and then someone would have to reconcile those transactions and create reports.  

Slide 15

Now, information from banks, customers, and suppliers feeds into Xero, reducing manual data entry, which reduces errors and redundancies.  The advisor/accountant always has access, and can then produce financial reports, and offer the best advice based on the most current information.  

Slide 16

Now, let’s take a look in Xero and see how it can work for you.

Demo highlights of Xero that best fit your audience. We recommend focusing on things like the dashboard, invoicing, bank reconciliation, and file management, but choose the features that fit your audience best. Keep this demo short – you don’t have to explain how everything works, just show them that it does. See the

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preparation notes for more info on demo.

Slide 17

We’ll have time for questions in just a moment, but I want to let you know about some of Xero’s other resources first.

Slide 18

Like I mentioned earlier, you can contact me directly through Xero.  And, because I’m comfortable using Xero, I can help you with any issues you might have.

Slide 19

But I’m not your only resource. Xero has free, 2/47 support. You can contact them any time, with any questions.

Slide 20

They also have training available via video on their website. You can learn how to use Xero on Xero U, or watch case studies of how other people use Xero on Xero TV.

Slide 21

And I know everyone wants to know how much it costs, so let’s talk about that right now.  Xero has different plans for different needs.  We can discuss which of these plans would work best for your business to make sure you have all the features and functionality you need.

Let’s take a little time for questions.  If we don’t get to everyone right now, I’ll be around after the presentation and I’ll answer them.

Allow a few minutes for questions.

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Slide 22

Slide 23

So where do we go from here?  If you’re interested, let’s talk about Xero.  As I said, I’ll be around after the presentation, and we can set up a time to get together to look at Xero one-on-one.  You can also call or email me later if you’d like.  Xero does have some courses out on Xero U that might help you make up your mind about them.  Why Xero, Getting Started with Xero, and Accounting 101 are all courses I’d recommend you check out.  And, you can check out their help guide by going to help.xero.com.

Slide 24

Thank you all so much for coming out today.  I hope I’ve given you some good information, and that we’ll be talking more about Xero soon!

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