How to Add a Supplier in Xero

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to create and save a new supplier contact in Xero.

Quick summary

Adding a supplier in Xero takes just a few clicks through the Contacts menu, where you can enter contact details, addresses, and purchase defaults before saving the record. This guide walks you through each step of the New Contact form so your supplier list stays accurate and up to date.

Steps

On Xero's main dashboard, go to the top menu bar and click Contacts.
Choose Suppliers from the dropdown list of options.
Click New Contact in the top-right corner of the Suppliers page.
Fill in all necessary supplier details, including contact information, addresses, financial details, and configure Sales Default and Purchase Defaults settings.
Review your input and click Save & Close to save the supplier record.
The new supplier will now appear in your Xero contact list.

📌 Why this matters

Keeping an accurate supplier list in Xero is essential for streamlined accounts payable, purchase order management, and financial reporting. By adding suppliers as contacts in Xero, businesses can link bills, track spending by vendor, and apply consistent purchase defaults across transactions. This reduces manual data entry, minimises errors on invoices and purchase orders, and gives finance teams a single source of truth for all supplier relationships. Properly configured supplier records also speed up bank reconciliation and ensure compliance with payment terms.

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