Add Contacts in Xero

Contacts in Xero represent the customers and suppliers you do business with. Setting them up properly means faster invoicing, accurate reporting, and smoother payments.

1. Open Contacts

From the dashboard, click Contacts and select All contacts.

2. Create a New Contact

Click Add a contact and start filling in the details:

• Contact name — can be a business name or an individual's name.
• Account number — if you use client codes, click Add account number.
• Primary person — the main contact and their email address.
• Additional people — click the link to add more individuals associated with this contact.
• Phone and website details.
• Postal address — click the link if the street address is the same.

3. Configure Financial Details

These settings apply as defaults to the majority of this contact's invoices or bills:

• Sales and purchase settings — default accounts, tax rates, and currency.
• Tax information — contact-specific tax settings if they differ from your defaults.
• Business registration number — enter if applicable.
• Discount — set a default sales discount percentage if one applies.
• Currency — change if this contact transacts in a foreign currency (requires Xero's Premium plan).

4. Set Up Batch Payment Details

If you pay this supplier using batch payments (bundling multiple bills into one payment run), enter their bank account details here.

5. Customise Invoice Settings for This Contact

• Override default invoice headings.
• Assign a specific branding theme.
• Change default due dates for this contact only.

6. Connect via Xero Network

If this contact also uses Xero, ask them for their Xero network key and enter it here. This allows you to send invoices directly between Xero organisations.

7. Save and Classify

Click Save. Xero automatically classifies a contact as a customer, supplier, or both once you've raised an invoice or bill against them.

For large contact lists, use the import function to load contacts in bulk rather than entering them one by one.