Home›Accounting & Payroll
Accounting & Payroll

Best Accounting & Payroll
Software for Australian Venues 2026

STP Phase 2 compliance, BAS lodgement, super clearing and POS integration — Australian hospitality accounting is complex. Here's what actually works, at what price, for venues of different sizes.

5 platforms compared STP Phase 2 compliance verified POS integration checked Updated May 2026
Accounting platforms
The accounting stack every AU venue needs.

Australian hospitality accounting requires STP Phase 2 payroll reporting to the ATO, quarterly BAS lodgements, super guarantee clearing, and ideally live POS integration so your sales data flows automatically into your accounts. The good news: the two dominant platforms (Xero and MYOB) both handle this well in 2026.

🇦🇺
Australian requirement: Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 is now mandatory for all Australian employers. Your payroll software must report wages, tax and super to the ATO each pay cycle. All platforms listed here are STP Phase 2 compliant. If you are on an older version of MYOB or Xero that hasn't been updated, check your STP status in your ATO business portal.
🏆 Most popular AU hospitality choice
Xero
Cloud accounting · STP Phase 2 · Deep POS integrations · Strategic partner with Deputy & Tanda
9.0/10
★★★★★

Xero is the dominant cloud accounting platform for Australian hospitality and the one most commonly recommended by hospitality accountants. Its deep integration with Deputy (strategic partnership), Tanda, RosterElf and most major Australian POS systems makes it the natural hub for a connected hospitality tech stack. The Xero + Deputy + Lightspeed combination is the most common accounting setup among growing Australian restaurant groups.

Pricing
From $35/mo
STP Phase 2
✓ Compliant
BAS lodgement
✓ Direct to ATO
POS integration
✓ Most AU POS
Bank feeds
✓ All AU banks
Pros
Most integrations of any AU accounting platform — POS, rostering, payroll
Beloved by Australian accountants — easiest to get accountant support for
Live bank feeds from all major AU banks including Tyro
Strategic partnership with Deputy for seamless rostering-to-payroll
Clean mobile app for live P&L and cash flow from anywhere
Cons
Payroll module on lower plans has limitations — may need add-ons
Pricing has increased significantly in recent years
Not as feature-rich as MYOB for complex enterprise inventory
Get quote
MYOB
Australian-built · Stronger inventory · BAS-first design · Established market
8.2/10
★★★★

MYOB is the original Australian business software and remains the choice for venues that prefer an Australian-owned platform or need stronger inventory management features. The BAS lodgement workflow is considered more intuitive than Xero by many Australian accountants. MYOB's payroll handling is robust and the platform is well-suited to venues with more complex cost-of-goods tracking requirements.

Pricing
From $29/mo
STP Phase 2
✓ Compliant
BAS lodgement
✓ Strong
Built in
Australia
Get quote Compare Xero vs MYOB
KeyPay (now Employment Hero Payroll)
Payroll-specialist · AU award engine · Works alongside Xero or MYOB
8.5/10
★★★★½

KeyPay (now part of Employment Hero as their payroll engine) is a payroll-specialist platform used by thousands of Australian businesses specifically because of its award interpretation depth. It works alongside Xero or MYOB as the payroll layer rather than replacing them. For hospitality venues with complex multi-award environments (casual, part-time, full-time staff across multiple roles), KeyPay's compliance engine reduces payroll errors significantly.

Pricing
From $4/employee/mo
Award engine
★ Best in class
Works with
Xero, MYOB
STP
✓ Phase 2
Get quote
Comparison
Accounting platforms side by side
FeatureXeroMYOBKeyPayQuickBooks
Starting price$35/month$29/month$4/employee/mo$29/month
STP Phase 2✓✓✓✓
BAS lodgement✓ Direct✓ StrongVia accounting platform✓
AU award interpretationBasicBasic★ Best in classLimited
POS integrations✓ Most AU POS✓ GoodVia accounting platformLimited in AU
Rostering integration✓ Deputy, Tanda, RosterElf✓ Deputy, Tanda✓ Built-in rosteringLimited
Built in Australia✗ NZ-founded✓✓✗ USA
Questions
Accounting FAQs for Australian hospitality
Should Australian restaurants use Xero or MYOB?
+
For most Australian hospitality venues, Xero is the stronger choice in 2026 due to its integration depth with rostering tools (Deputy strategic partnership), POS systems (Lightspeed, Square, Impos) and the familiarity Australian hospitality accountants have with the platform. MYOB is a strong alternative for venues preferring an Australian-owned product or needing more sophisticated inventory management. Both handle STP Phase 2, BAS lodgement and super clearing equivalently.
What is STP Phase 2 and does my accounting software need it?
+
Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 is the ATO's mandatory digital payroll reporting system. All Australian employers must report wages, tax withheld and superannuation to the ATO each pay cycle through STP-compliant software. Phase 2 (expanded reporting) became mandatory for most employers from 2023. All major accounting platforms (Xero, MYOB, KeyPay, QuickBooks) are STP Phase 2 compliant. If you are processing payroll manually or using an old desktop system, you need to upgrade.
Does my POS system connect to Xero automatically?
+
Most major Australian POS systems have direct Xero integration. Lightspeed, Square, Impos, OrderMate and Foodhub all connect to Xero and can push daily sales summaries, GST breakdowns and payment type splits automatically. This eliminates manual data entry and makes BAS preparation significantly faster. Check your specific POS system's integration marketplace for the Xero connector — most are available at low or no cost.

Get your accounting stack sorted

Tell us what you're running now — we'll recommend the right setup and connect you to the right people.

Get recommendations