This is part of our Getting Started with Xero series (Chapter 1 of the Xero tutorial hub):

• Lesson 1: Choosing the Right Xero Plan for Your Central Coast Business
• Lesson 2: Setting Up Your Xero Organisation: A Step by Step Guide
• Lesson 3: Building a Chart of Accounts for Your Trade or Service Business in Xero
• Lesson 4: Entering Opening Balances When You Switch to Xero
• Lesson 5: Getting to Know Your Xero Dashboard
• Lesson 6: Using the Xero Accounting App On the Job Site

Your Xero dashboard is the first thing you see when you log in, and it is worth setting up properly so it actually shows you what matters.

1. What is on the dashboard by default

Out of the box, the dashboard usually shows your bank account balances, money owed to you, bills you owe, and a simple cash summary.

2. Customising which widgets you see

You can add, remove and reorder the panels on your dashboard so the things you check most, like your bank balance or overdue invoices, sit at the top.

3. Reading it the right way

The dashboard gives you a snapshot, not the full picture. It is a good habit to check it regularly, but your actual reports (profit and loss, aged receivables) are where the real detail lives.

4. Make checking it a weekly habit

A quick look each week, rather than only at BAS time, makes it much easier to catch an unpaid invoice or an unexpected bill before it becomes a bigger problem.

Curious what a well set up dashboard looks like in practice? Xero’s official YouTube channel has walkthroughs: watch the official Xero tutorial. And if your reports never quite line up with what you expect, our remote bookkeeping team can take a look.