Cloud accounting software company Xero has launched Xero Touch, a mobile application that allows small businesses to manage their figures on phones and tablets. 

The app is available on the Apple App Store, with an Android version coming soon, says the company. The app is free but requires a subscription to Xeros services, which start at $12 per month (£7.36).

Xero Touch allows users to take photos of and upload expenses, issue invoices, and check incoming payments. 

The ability to take pictures of receipts allows users to log expense claims on the go, says the company, without having to collect and decipher paper receipts that have been stuffed into a wallet. 

“With the worlds best online accounting platform were now changing the accounting category, breaking accounting out of the back office with employees being able to do their expense claims on the fly and invoice on the road, ” says Xero MD Gary Turner.

“We believe the rich feature set that Xero Touch offers will make a big difference to small business owners who can run their business on the move and avoid late nights doing the accounts.”