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Keep the books in Xero. Run the work in Locbase.

Xero is accounting software for self-employed people, small and medium-sized businesses and their accountants. Its website describes it as HMRC-recognised and compliant with Making Tax Digital. Locbase does a different job: it keeps each session, its invoice, the payment and your paperwork in one place on your phone, ready to hand over at the end of the year.

Using the two side by side

1. Log the session. Add it to Locbase with the place, the hours and your rate. It takes about thirty seconds, or add a whole week in one go.
2. Send the invoice. If you invoice the workplace yourself, Locbase turns the session, or a run of them, into a PDF with your details on it and emails it.
3. See it paid. Mark the session paid when the money lands. Anything overdue is flagged, with a reminder ready to send.
4. Keep the rest in order. Add mileage and expenses to the session, and keep registration, DBS, indemnity and right to work in one checklist for the next time you are asked.
5. Hand over the year. At the end of the tax year, Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses in one file, for your accountant or to work from in Xero.

Locbase and Xero are separate products from separate companies. They are not linked or partnered, and nothing passes between them automatically.

One record, from the session to the tax year

Many locums will want both. Locbase is where the working week is recorded and invoiced. At the end of the tax year, Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses in one file for your accountant or your accounting software.

Example: One session, start to finish

• Friday: You work a session and log it in Locbase on the way home.
• Friday evening: The invoice goes to the workplace from Locbase, as a PDF.
• Two weeks later: The money arrives and you mark it paid.
• End of the tax year: Your sessions, income and expenses leave Locbase in one file, for your accountant or for Xero.

A made-up session to show which tool does which part.

What Xero is for

• Xero is full accounting software and is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital.
• If you run a limited company or are VAT registered, you will need accounting software or an accountant as well.

Questions

Does Locbase replace Xero?

No. Locbase does the day to day admin of locum work: logging sessions, invoicing and tracking payment. Accounts and tax returns stay with Xero or your accountant.

Does Locbase connect to Xero?

No. The two are separate products from separate companies and are not linked. Locbase exports your sessions, income and expenses for the tax year in one file, for you or your accountant to work from.

Do I need accounting software as a locum?

It depends on how you work. If you run a limited company, are VAT registered or come under Making Tax Digital, you will need software that can file with HMRC, or an accountant who uses it. Locbase keeps the day to day record that either one works from.

What does Locbase cost?

£14.99 a month or £119 a year, after a 1 month free trial. There is one plan and it has every feature in it.

Read next

• Making Tax Digital for locums
• Self Assessment for locums
• Sole trader or limited company
• Locbase alongside FreeAgent
• Locbase alongside QuickBooks
• Locbase alongside Sage
• Locbase alongside Coconut

Try Locbase free for 1 month. Then £14.99 a month or £119 a year.

Details about Xero were taken from xero.com/uk on 13 October 2026 and may have changed since. Locbase is an independent product: it has no partnership or arrangement with Xero and is not endorsed by it.