MYOB vs Xero vs QuickBooks (2026): Best Accounting Software for Arborists

Short answer: Xero suits most arborists, MYOB suits businesses that want Australian phone support, unlimited payroll on one plan or a desktop option, and QuickBooks Online is a lower-cost choice for simple businesses. All three handle GST, BAS and Single Touch Payroll. Standard prices in November 2026 start at $37 a month for Xero, $35 for MYOB Business Lite and $35.99 for QuickBooks Online Simple Start.

Choosing the right accounting software can save your arborist business hours every week and thousands of dollars at tax time. In this MYOB vs Xero vs QuickBooks 2026 comparison, we break down which platform actually works best for Australian tree service businesses – including pricing, job costing, BAS features, and integrations.

We’ve set up accounting systems for hundreds of arborists across Australia. Here’s our honest comparison of the top three platforms.

Quick Recommendation

For most arborists: Xero is the best choice. It’s the most widely used platform in Australia, integrates with job management apps, and your accountant almost certainly knows it.

For US-connected businesses: QuickBooks may be better if you have US clients or suppliers.

For complex inventory: MYOB suits businesses tracking significant parts inventory.

Xero for Arborists

Price: $37 to $143+/month (Ignite to Ultimate, incl. GST)

Best for: Most arborist businesses, especially those using job management software

Pros

• Australian-designed with excellent ATO integration
• Single Touch Payroll (STP) built-in
• Integrates with ServiceM8, Tradify, and other job management apps
• Bank feeds from all major Australian banks
• Most accountants and bookkeepers use Xero
• Excellent mobile app for invoicing on-site

Cons

• Limited inventory tracking (need add-ons for complex stock)
• Job costing requires workarounds or third-party apps
• Can get expensive with multiple add-ons

Xero Setup for Arborists

Key configuration for tree service businesses:

• Chart of accounts: Set up income categories for tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, mulch sales
• Tracking categories: Use for job costing by project or crew
• Bank rules: Automate coding for fuel, equipment, and regular suppliers
• Invoice templates: Include ABN, payment terms, and service descriptions

QuickBooks for Arborists

Price: $35.99 to $138/month (Simple Start to Advanced; Self-Employed $24), discounted for new subscribers

Best for: Businesses with US connections or wanting lower entry price

Pros

• Similar entry price to Xero, with a cheaper Self-Employed plan
• Built-in project/job tracking
• Good mileage tracking for vehicles
• STP compliant for Australian payroll

Cons

• Fewer Australian accountants use it
• Less integration with Australian job management apps
• US-centric design can feel awkward for Australian GST
• Support primarily US-based

MYOB Review 2026: Is It Right for Your Arborist Business?

Price: $11 to $210/month  |  Best for: Businesses wanting Australian support, built-in payroll, or offline access

MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) is Australia’s longest-running accounting software, founded in 1991. While Xero has overtaken it in market share among small businesses, MYOB remains a strong contender — particularly for trades businesses that want local support and built-in payroll without third-party add-ons.

MYOB Pricing (November 2026)

MYOB's current plans for small businesses (standard monthly prices, incl. GST):

• MYOB Solo — $11/month. For sole traders with simple needs.
• MYOB Business Lite — $35/month. Invoicing, expenses, bank feeds, GST and BAS, and payroll for up to 2 employees.
• MYOB Business Pro — $70/month. Adds unlimited employees.
• MYOB AccountRight Plus — $165/month, and AccountRight Premier — $210/month. Desktop and cloud options for more complex businesses.

Payroll on Business Lite and Pro is charged at $5 per employee per month. MYOB often runs introductory discounts, so check their site before committing.

Pros

• Australian-made and supported. Phone support is based in Australia, and the software is built around ATO requirements from the ground up. STP Phase 2 compliance is built in.
• Strong payroll. MYOB’s payroll module handles award interpretation, leave management, and superannuation payments natively — no third-party add-on needed.
• Desktop option available. MYOB AccountRight can run offline, which suits operators in remote areas with patchy internet — useful for arborists working on rural properties.
• Established with accountants. Many Australian accountants and BAS agents still prefer MYOB, so your existing accountant may already support it.

Cons

• Higher cost at equivalent tiers. MYOB AccountRight Plus ($165/month) costs more than Xero Comprehensive ($107/month), though the plans are not like-for-like.
• Fewer third-party integrations. Xero's app marketplace is larger than MYOB's, and field service apps tend to support Xero first.
• Less modern interface. MYOB has improved significantly, but its cloud dashboard still feels less intuitive than Xero’s, and the mobile app is not as polished.
• Slower development cycle. New features tend to arrive later on MYOB compared to Xero, which ships updates more frequently.

For most arborist businesses, we still recommend Xero as the better overall option due to its deeper integration with field service and job management apps commonly used in tree care. However, MYOB is a perfectly capable platform — and if you are already on it, switching may not be worth the disruption. Book a free consultation and we can review your current setup.

MYOB vs Xero vs QuickBooks pricing (November 2026)

Standard monthly prices published by each provider in November 2026. All three regularly discount the first few months for new subscribers, so check the current offer before you sign up.

On price alone, MYOB vs Xero pricing is close at the entry level ($35 vs $37), and QuickBooks is similar. The gap opens with payroll: if you employ a crew, compare the plan that covers your headcount, not the cheapest plan.

Feature Comparison Table

MYOB vs QuickBooks: which is better for a trades business?

For most Australian trades businesses, MYOB is the better choice than QuickBooks: it was built for Australian tax and payroll, it has Australian phone support, and more Australian accountants and BAS agents work in it. QuickBooks Online is a reasonable lower-cost option for a sole trader or a small business with simple payroll, or one with US connections.

Xero vs MYOB for small business

Xero is the better fit for most small businesses that run a job management app and want their accountant and bookkeeper in the same system; its app marketplace is the largest of the three. MYOB compares well on payroll for larger crews (unlimited employees on Business Pro) and is the only one of the three with a desktop version for patchy internet. If you are already on MYOB and it works, switching rarely pays for the disruption.

Xero project management for arborists

Xero's own project tracking (Xero Projects) records time and costs against a job and is available on selected plans, but most tree services get better results from a job management app that syncs to Xero. ServiceM8, Tradify and similar apps handle quotes, scheduling, job photos and invoices on site, then push invoices and payments into Xero. Use Xero tracking categories for crew or job type so your profit and loss shows which work makes money. Our arborist job costing guide shows how to set this up.

BAS & GST Features Compared

For Australian arborists, BAS lodgement and GST reporting are non-negotiable. Here’s how each platform handles them in 2026:

Xero: BAS preparation is built into the dashboard. Xero auto-populates your Business Activity Statement using coded transactions, bank feeds, and payroll data. Your accountant or BAS agent can access it directly through the Xero tax portal. GST tracking is automatic once you set the correct tax codes on each account.

QuickBooks: BAS reports are available but require more manual review. GST tracking works well, though the US-designed interface can make Australian tax codes feel less intuitive. QuickBooks added improved STP Phase 2 compliance in late 2025, which carries into 2026.

MYOB: Strong BAS integration with the ATO. MYOB has the longest history with Australian tax compliance and handles complex GST scenarios (mixed supplies, input tax credits on capital equipment) particularly well. The 2026 version includes updated STP Phase 2 reporting.

Verdict: For straightforward quarterly BAS lodgement, Xero is the easiest. For complex GST scenarios involving equipment finance, hire purchase, and chattel mortgages, MYOB has a slight edge.

Setting Up Your Chart of Accounts

Whichever software you choose, proper setup starts with a chart of accounts that reflects how arborist businesses actually operate. Generic setups miss the nuances of tree care revenue and costs.

Income accounts should separate by service type: tree removal, pruning and trimming, stump grinding, emergency storm work, plant health care, and consulting. This reveals which services drive revenue and which need pricing adjustments.

Cost of goods sold accounts track direct job expenses: crew wages by job, equipment operation costs (fuel, maintenance, depreciation), disposal and dump fees, materials, subcontractor costs, and climbing gear consumables.

Overhead accounts capture support costs: office admin, vehicle registration and insurance, marketing, software subscriptions, safety training, and rent. The distinction between direct costs and overhead determines whether expenses reduce individual job margins or spread across all operations.

Implementation Roadmap

Transitioning from a generic setup to a properly configured system follows a structured process: discovery (review operations, crew structure, and existing transactions), chart of accounts design, job costing configuration, fixed asset register setup, field service software integration, team training, and monthly close procedures.

The investment in proper setup delivers returns immediately through accurate job costing that prevents underquoting, proper expense categorisation that simplifies BAS preparation, and management reporting that identifies operational improvements.

Essential Add-Ons for Arborists

Whichever platform you choose, consider these integrations:

• Job Management: ServiceM8, Tradify, Jobber – schedule jobs, create quotes, sync invoices
• Receipt Capture: Dext (Receipt Bank), Hubdoc – photograph receipts, auto-code expenses
• Time Tracking: Deputy, Tanda – track crew hours, sync to payroll
• Payment Processing: Stripe, Square – take card payments on-site

Our Recommendation

For 90% of arborist businesses, Xero + ServiceM8 + Dext is the winning combination:

• ServiceM8 handles quoting, scheduling, and job photos
• Invoices sync automatically to Xero
• Dext captures receipts and codes expenses
• Your bookkeeper reconciles in Xero
• BAS lodgement is straightforward

Cost: Xero Grow is $78 a month; ServiceM8 and Dext are billed separately on their own plans.

Need Help Setting Up?

At Arbour Advisory, we specialise in accounting systems for arborists. We can:

• Set up your accounting software with arborist-specific configurations
• Migrate from spreadsheets or another platform
• Train you and your team on best practices
• Provide ongoing outsourced bookkeeping and finance support

Book a free consultation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best accounting software for arborists in Australia?

For most arborists, Xero is the best choice. It is widely used by Australian accountants and bookkeepers, connects to job management apps like ServiceM8 and Tradify, and includes Single Touch Payroll. MYOB is a strong alternative if you want Australian phone support, payroll for a larger crew on one plan, or a desktop option.

How much does Xero cost compared to MYOB and QuickBooks?

Standard prices in November 2026: Xero $37 to $143+ a month (Ignite to Ultimate), MYOB Business $35 to $70 a month (AccountRight $165 to $210, Solo $11), and QuickBooks Online $35.99 to $138 a month (Self-Employed $24). All three discount the first months for new subscribers.

Is MYOB or QuickBooks better?

For most Australian trades businesses MYOB is better than QuickBooks: it has built-in Australian payroll, Australian support and more accountants who use it. QuickBooks Online suits sole traders and simple businesses looking for a low entry price.

How does MYOB compare to Xero for small business accounting?

Entry prices are similar ($35 for MYOB Business Lite, $37 for Xero Ignite). Xero has the larger app marketplace and suits businesses using job management apps; MYOB offers unlimited payroll on Business Pro and a desktop version.

Which accounting software has the best BAS and GST features?

For straightforward quarterly BAS lodgement, Xero is the easiest because it auto-populates your BAS from coded transactions and bank feeds. For complex GST involving equipment finance, hire purchase and chattel mortgages, MYOB has a slight edge.

What add-ons do arborists need with their accounting software?

Job management software (ServiceM8, Tradify or Jobber) for quoting and scheduling, receipt capture (Dext or Hubdoc), time tracking (Deputy or Tanda) for crew hours, and payment processing (Stripe or Square) for card payments on site.

Should I use Xero or MYOB for my tree care business?

Xero is the stronger choice for most tree care businesses because of its app marketplace and field-service integrations. If you are already on MYOB and it works, do not switch for the sake of switching.

Related Articles

• Arborist Tax Deductions Australia
• GST for Arborist Businesses
• Outsourced Finance Function Services
• Equipment Finance for Arborists