Managing Multi-Entity Inventory and Accounting for a Leisurewear Brand Using Cin7 and Xero

Our business operates in the leisurewear space, with an online store and multiple retail outlets. Currently, we use Cin7 for inventory management and Xero for accounting, and this works well for our single-entity setup.

We track:

• Business Units (Online, Retail)
• Store Locations (Cape Town, Durban, etc.)
  using Xero tracking categories for reporting.

The Challenge:

We’re expanding to three separate legal entities, all selling similar products.

• Some inventory will be purchased specifically for one entity.
• Other stock will be purchased in bulk under the original entity and then allocated to the other two entities.

Our goals:

• Maintain operational simplicity (ideally one Cin7 system for ordering and inventory control).
• Ensure accurate financial reporting for each entity in Xero.
• Keep the process scalable and compliant.

Options We’re Considering:

1. One Xero organization with tracking categories:
   • Tracking Category 1 = Entity (Entity 1, 2 and 3).
   • Tracking Category 2 = Business Unit (Online, Retail).
   • Cin7 would manage inventory by locations and sublocations for operational visibility.
   • Concern: Xero only supports two tracking categories, so store-level detail remains in Cin7.
2. Three separate Xero organizations:
   • Each entity has its own Xero org for statutory compliance.
   • Consolidation done via Spotlight Reporting, Fathom, or Joiin.
   • Concern: Higher cost and complexity, especially for intercompany allocations.

Questions:

• Has anyone solved this challenge with Cin7 and Xero?
• Are there better alternatives (middleware, advanced integrations, or ERP solutions)?
• Any best practices or pitfalls we should be aware of?