Link My Books alternative for UK eBay sole traders using Xero

Rule in

Use this page if the job you need is narrower than the software you are paying for

• You sell on eBay only and use eBay Managed Payments.
• You keep one GBP Xero organisation for one straightforward UK sole trader setup.
• You use non-VAT, cash-basis bookkeeping and care most about payout reviewability.
• You want the bookkeeping centred on payouts and reconciliation rather than broader scope.

Rule out

Do not use this page if you already know you need broader ecommerce accounting coverage

• You need VAT, accrual-led bookkeeping, inventory, stock, or cost-of-goods handling.
• You need multiple entities, non-GBP setups, unsupported accounting software, or other marketplaces.
• Your accountant or bookkeeper already depends on the broader current workflow.
• You are not specifically looking for a narrower UK eBay plus Xero workflow.

Stay where you are

When your current tool may still be the better fit

A stable Link My Books setup is worth preserving. If your current process already gives you the breadth, tax handling, or multi-channel model you need, there is no reason to create churn just because a narrower option exists.

• Stay put if your current workflow already covers the broader cases you need.
• Stay put if your accountant or bookkeeper already relies on that wider setup.
• If you need a broader shape, it is part of the fit rather than something to optimise away.

Switch case

When SalesToAccounts may be the better fit

• You want one marketplace, one ledger, and one narrow payout-bookkeeping flow.
• You want one public price instead of a broader tiered plan structure.
• You care more about payout traceability than about multi-channel breadth.
• You are comfortable with manual fit review before setup starts.

Service model

Why the service model is different

SalesToAccounts publishes £15 monthly and £150 annual for one narrow workflow. That is paired with optional founder-led help and hands-on first-payout review because the supported scope is intentionally narrow.

• One marketplace: eBay Managed Payments only.
• One live ledger today: Xero.
• One bookkeeping model: payout-level posting and reconciliation.
• One narrow public fit: UK, non-VAT, cash-basis, single-entity, GBP-only.
• The service model stays narrow as well: setup, mapping, first-payout review, and service issues.

Commercial shape

What you are not paying for with SalesToAccounts

• Pricing that expands with more sales channels and broader channel coverage.
• Broader VAT, multi-currency, analytics, or accountant-firm workflow scope.
• A multi-channel dashboard for stores that sit outside the published narrow fit.
• A general ecommerce bookkeeping platform for mixed operating models.

Support model

What support looks like

The support model is narrower than the product category around it. It is designed for one bookkeeping flow rather than every ecommerce accounting scenario.

• Optional founder-led help for in-scope accounts.
• Email replies are usually within 1 business day.
• A call path is available by email request when setup or support needs it.
• Confirmed service issues are reflected on the status page and in follow-up emails.

Boundaries

What that support does and does not cover

• It covers setup, mapping, first-payout review, and confirmed service issues.
• It helps decide whether email is enough or a requested call would be more practical.
• Support does not include tax advice, bookkeeping advice, custom mapping consultancy, or migration project work.

First payout help

What happens on the first payout

The first payout is where the service model becomes practical. The point is not to promise generic hand-holding. It is to make one real payout safe to review before you rely on scheduled posting.

• Mappings are checked before you rely on recurring runs.
• The payout ID and net amount are checked against eBay and the bank receipt.
• Sales, fees, refunds, and adjustments are checked for clarity and destination accounts.
• The journal is checked to make sure it balances before scheduled posting stays on.

Email or call?

When a call makes sense

Email is the default route and the fastest way to handle straightforward questions for this narrow workflow.

• Use email for fit questions, mapping questions, and normal follow-up.
• Use the call path by email request when a live walkthrough is the clearest way to unblock setup.
• Use the proof pages first so the call, if needed, stays grounded in a real payout example.
• The published reply expectation is usually within 1 business day.

Real proof

See the real payout walkthrough before you think about switching

The current proof asset is the real payout walkthrough. It shows the payout preview, the Xero journal, and the reconciliation path for one published example.

• See the real payout walkthrough for the worked payout example.
• See the reconciliation proof for the bank-match view.
• Read the broad eBay/Xero guide for the wider bookkeeping context.

Next step

Start with one real payout

Signup is self-serve via the app. Create an account, connect Xero and eBay, review one real payout, then enable scheduled posting.

1. Create an account in the app.
2. Connect Xero and eBay, and choose your account mappings.
3. Review one real payout before scheduled posting is turned on.
4. Enable scheduled posting once the first review looks right.

Useful next pages

Use these pages in a sensible order

• Read the switching overview for the broader route chooser.
• Use the accountant and bookkeeper page if someone else reviews the books.
• See pricing for the commercial picture.
• See the setup guide for the practical steps.

If the fit still looks right after proof and pricing, start with one real payout in the app.