Migration Guide
How to Switch from Xero to Prosper
A step-by-step guide to migrating your books from Xero to Prosper using a clean cut-off approach.
Migration overview
Prosper uses a clean cut-off migration approach. You export your historical transactions from Xero up to a chosen date, import them into Prosper, and lock the opening balance. This creates a trusted ledger boundary.
Historical data stays in Xero for reference. New activity flows through Prosper. This approach reduces the risk of import drift and keeps month-end close predictable.
Step 1
Choose a cut-off date
Pick a clean cut-off date (e.g., January 1 or the start of a new quarter). This becomes the boundary between your historical Xero data and your new Prosper ledger.
Step 2
Export CSV from Xero
Export your transactions from Xero up to the cut-off date. Exact menus vary, but you generally want a CSV that includes date, description, amount, and account/category fields.
Step 3
Upload and confirm schema
Upload the CSV in Prosper. If prompted, confirm the schema (which columns represent date, description, amount, and account).
Step 4
Map accounts
Map each Xero account label to your Prosper chart of accounts. Prosper will suggest mappings based on account names, but you can override and create new accounts as needed.
Step 5
Reconcile and lock opening balance
Verify the opening balance report matches your Xero closing balances as of the cut-off date. Once confirmed, lock the opening balance to protect the ledger boundary.
Step 6
Verify calm status
Prosper is fail-closed. If anything affects correctness, it surfaces in your exceptions inbox. Otherwise, calm status confirms your books are clean and ready.
Prepare your export
Your export should include (at minimum): transaction date, description, amount, and an account/category field. If your CSV has separate debit/credit columns or multiple currencies, you may need to normalize the format before upload.
If you want a template workflow, follow our CSV import guide.
Account mapping tips
During mapping, Prosper will suggest matches based on account names. Common mappings include:
- Revenue/Sales accounts → Income
- Expense accounts → Expense categories
- Bank accounts → Bank accounts
- Credit cards → Credit card accounts
If Prosper doesn't recognize an account, you can create a new account during mapping.
Lock opening balance
After importing transactions, Prosper will show an opening balance report. Verify that each account's opening balance matches your Xero closing balance as of the cut-off date.
Once verified, lock the opening balance. This action:
- Creates a trusted ledger boundary
- Prevents changes to historical imported data
- Disables undo after locking (to protect integrity)
Important: Review the opening balance carefully before locking. After locking, historical data cannot be modified in Prosper (though you can still reference Xero).
Verify
After locking the opening balance, check Prosper's calm status. If anything affects correctness, it will surface in your exceptions inbox. Common items to verify:
- All accounts have correct opening balances
- No duplicate transactions
- Transactions are properly categorized
- Reconciliation status matches your statements
If something looks wrong, you can undo the migration within 48 hours (before locking). After locking, keep Xero available for reference until you're confident in the migration.
Safety net
Undo is disabled once the opening balance is locked to protect the ledger integrity. Keep Xero active for reference until you're confident in the migration and you've exported what you need.
Ready to migrate?
Start your migration in Prosper and follow these steps.
Need help? Check out our comparison guide or FAQ.