Home / 2023 / October

A Simple Accounting Client Onboarding Checklist (Free Template)

By jetpack workflow | Updated on Mar 15, 2024 | 7 minutes
new accounting client checklist

You did it. Your marketing effort and fabulous sales pitch landed you a brand-new client. And you might think this is the most significant moment in the client relationship. However, it’s the onboarding phase that determines the difference between long-term success and an increased client churn rate.

The onboarding stage is vital for retaining new clients. That’s when they get to see you “walk the walk” from your initial sales pitch.

Onboarding is also when the client gets connected with your team, so it’s essential that everyone within your firm makes a good first impression as well.

You could use manual bookkeeping systems or sophisticated accounting software to set up your client’s accounts more swiftly. Either way, just like bookkeeping, your onboarding method determines whether it’s a tedious, manual process or an efficient, streamlined practice.

When you’re ready to onboard new clients, ensuring they get a proper checklist of the documents you need from them is critical. 

This preparedness demonstrates your professionalism and assures the client that one of the most essential functions of their business is being handled properly by your firm.

As you welcome a new client and conduct the onboarding process, you might find different documentation requirements for each client type. This article offers a thorough onboarding checklist to keep you ahead of the game and get you everything you need to begin working with your client.

10 Things to Include on Your New Accounting Client Onboarding Checklist

1. Signed Contract

A signed contract is the first document required for your working relationship to begin. The contract should include details on the scope of your arrangement, and a complete, signed copy should live in your client file, ready to reference if needed.

2. Welcome Email

After the initial kickoff meeting with your new client, send a welcome email. Be sure it clearly outlines the next steps, your expectations of them, and a timeline for the initial scope of the project.

3. Basic Information and Documentation

It’s time to start the information-gathering process. At the early stages of your engagement, it’s the client’s responsibility to ensure you have the documentation you need to be as effective as possible.

Simplify this process by giving them a foundation to stay organized through the information-sharing stage. You can include a questionnaire in your welcome email, providing them with a checklist. 

4. Access to Previous Accounting Systems

Whether your client has accounting software, like QuickBooks or Xero, or a manual accounting system, you need access to these programs. You and your employees want to accurately gauge the current condition of the accounting records, even though you may already have a sense of the situation through your previous discussions with the client.

5. Access to Accounts

Next on your client checklist is gaining access to your client’s accounts, including credit cards, loan accounts, and banking accounts. You may also want the client to include information about how they use these accounts. 

For example, the client’s firm might use a credit card account for supplier transactions and a banking account for receivables.

This step also includes accessing the most recent account reconciliations to get a better overview of the financial health of the company.

6. Access to Inventory Records

Handling inventory accounts is a complex process that includes supplier payments, wastage, handling expenses, accrued revenues, and order fulfillment ledgers.

You need to ask your client to allow you access to the firm’s inventory records. 

This way, you can get a better picture of how previous accounting systems handled inventory and how your accounting firm should now go about it. 

7. Previous Invoices

The company’s payment and receivable process should have invoice proof. You need to gather all this documentation to verify the payment of previous invoices and identify any invoices that need to be cleared in the next accounting cycle.

8. Taxation

Information and documentation on prior year tax returns are another essential checklist item. You need to understand the overall accounting health of the company.

9. Gathering Financial Statements

Whether it’s a small business or a scaled one, financial reports on your client’s operations are also crucial documents for your accounting firm. 

These reports include balance sheets, financial reporting at a portfolio level, income statements, and cash flow statements.

10. Schedule Meetings

Once you have all the items on the checklist that your firm needs to begin work, schedule regular status updates. Communicate these checkpoints to the client so they know what to expect.

You could also schedule meetings with your client to provide reports on the accounting process. These meetings can be monthly, bimonthly, or weekly, depending on the capacity of your bookkeeping firm and your client’s expectations.All these checklist elements for onboarding new clients may seem overwhelming. However, once your employees get the hang of the onboarding process, it’s just a matter of time before you begin attracting more clients because of your professional approach.

Tip: Better manage client work, collaborate with your staff, and never miss customer deadlines. It’s time to start your 14-day free trial of Jetpack’s accounting and workflow software.

 

Free Accounting Client Onboarding Checklist

If you’re looking for simple, customizable checklists for onboarding new clients, check out our 32 free workflow templates. They can help you stay atop your customer accounting and onboarding processes and highlight your professionalism.

Best Places to Keep Your New Client Onboarding Checklist

Now that you have the list of documents and other requirements needed for client onboarding, let’s look at ways to manage this checklist effectively as your firm grows and consistently welcomes new clients.


Write It Down

The simplest way to maintain your checklist is to write it down. You can keep separate files for each client, which can help when cross-checking the documents you receive with the ones you don’t have yet.

However, if your employees juggle multiple clients, your lists can get mixed up. Another drawback of this method of maintaining your checklist is that you cannot insert hyperlinks or connect them to other documents.

As a result, you may miss having received essential documents and ask your client for them again. That could reflect poorly on your company’s performance.

Pros:

  • Simple method
  • Separate physical files for each client, which are safe from cyberattacks

Cons:

  • Possibility of human error when handling multiple clients
  • Increased probability of missing out on documents, reflecting poorly on your firm’s performance

Google Docs or Spreadsheet

Another way to keep a live documentation record and update your checklist is with platforms like Dropbox, which allows you to share files easily.

You can also maintain your records on cloud-based spreadsheets and documents, which other employees can easily access.

However, none of these methods would alert you to overdue tasks. Assigning work to other employees would require collaboration over email, which might get overlooked and cause delays. 

As a result, your accounting firm might miss deadlines, which isn’t a good performance indicator.

Pros:

  • Live document
  • Accessible and shareable by your whole team

Cons:

  • No deadline indication feature
  • Assigning work to other employees requires collaborating by email 

Jetpack Workflow

Easy-to-use accounting software like Jetpack Workflow can significantly simplify your accounting firm’s operations. 

 

Gathering information, assigning work to other employees and departments, and keeping track of deadlines through this software is a breeze.

Here are just some of the benefits your accounting firm gains using Jetpack Workflow for efficient client onboarding as well as subsequent account management tasks:

  • Easily import client information via a CSV file.
  • Add projects, set up a custom recurrence, and duplicate it across all clients. 
  • Efficiently search for projects, tasks, or clients within seconds.
  • See what your staff is working on and view what is overdue, due today, and due this week.
  • Effortlessly reassign work to another team member.
  • Stay on task with the help of automated summary emails.

32 Free Workflow Templates

Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

Looking for more? Here are some
related articles you may like.

See Jetpack Worflow In Action

Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial

How to Systemize Your Firm to Take Maternity Leave w/Melissa L. Miranda, CPA

By jetpack workflow | Updated on Dec 28, 2023 | 3 minutes

Podcast

Summary

In this episode, host David Cristello interviews Melissa Miranda, a certified public accountant and owner of Step-by-Step Accounting. They discuss the importance of preparing for maternity leave as a business owner and how to structure your team and workflow. 

Whether it’s maternity leave or any other extended absence, Melissa shares valuable insights on setting up processes that can be applied across the board. Tune in to learn how to effectively manage time away from your business.

What you’ll learn

In this episode, you will learn about Melissa Miranda’s experience preparing for maternity leave as a business owner, including the challenges and strategies involved. You will also learn about the structure and services offered by Melissa’s accounting firm, Step-by-Step Accounting. 

Additionally, the episode discusses the use of a recruiter to fill a senior role, the organizational structure and change management strategies of Step-by-Step Accounting, the speaker’s pricing strategy, and recommended books for business owners.

Guest Bio

Melissa is a certified public accountant and owner of Step-by-Step Accounting. She has achieved recognition as a top 50 accounting practice. Melissa’s credentials include being a certified public accountant. Her ethos/philosophy is teaching-oriented accounting and advisory.

Get everything you need to manage projects and meet deadlines.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, and get 32 free accounting workflow templates today!​​ sign me up!

Detailed Synopsis

During the episode, the firm mentioned follows several books as guides for their processes and structure. One of these books is “Traction,” which is part of the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) series. It provides a framework for businesses to achieve their vision and gain traction in their operations.

Another book mentioned is “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People,” a popular self-help book that offers guidance on personal and professional effectiveness.

The third book mentioned is “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber, which explores common myths and misconceptions about starting and running a small business, providing insights on building a successful and scalable business. 

These books serve as references for the firm’s processes and structure, showcasing their commitment to continuous improvement and learning from established business principles.

During the conversation, Melissa also emphasizes the significance of connecting with the firm’s purpose and demonstrating passion during the interview process. 

She explains that when hiring for a junior accountant position, they seek candidates who can connect with the firm’s mission, understand why it is important, and envision their role within it.

According to Melissa candidates who grasp and connect with the firm’s purpose are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work.

During the interview, Melissa also shares her own personal connection to the firm’s purpose and how meaningful it is for them to work with business owners and nonprofits. This suggests that they believe showcasing passion and a personal connection to the work can help candidates recognize the value of joining the firm. 

By highlighting their own enthusiasm and dedication, Melissa aims to attract candidates who share similar values and are motivated to contribute to the firm’s mission.

Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of connecting with the firm’s purpose and demonstrating passion during the interview process. It suggests that these factors play a crucial role in hiring and attracting candidates who align with the firm’s values and are motivated to contribute to its success.

Timestamps

[00:01:14] Preparing for maternity leave.

[00:03:39] Balancing work and parenthood.

[00:08:06] Taking clients during pregnancy.

[00:11:11] Working with recruiters.

[00:15:21] Director of Operations role.

[00:18:19] Business owners going into maternity

32 Free Workflow Templates

Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

Looking for more? Here are some
related articles you may like.

See Jetpack Worflow In Action

Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial

A 10-Step Checklist for Starting a Bookkeeping Business

By jetpack workflow | Updated on Dec 21, 2023 | 9 minutes
checklist for starting a bookkeeping business

You’re an expert bookkeeper ready, willing, and able to help other businesses keep their accounts in balance. 

However, before you begin tracking client transactions, you need to build the foundation of your own bookkeeping business. That requires several steps, including filing the proper permits, calculating your rates, and attracting your first clients.

After interviewing dozens of successful bookkeepers and firm owners on our podcast, Growing Your Firm, we know what it takes to launch a new bookkeeping business. Drawing from their practical tips and suggestions, we created this helpful step-by-step checklist to get your bookkeeping venture up and running. 

Step 1: Choose Your Target Market

First, narrow down your target market and the types of clients you plan to serve. Doing so helps guide the rest of the setup process and how you plan to operate your business. It informs which bookkeeping services you offer and how to market yourself. 

Here are a few things to consider when selecting your target market: 

  • What’s your area(s) of expertise?
  • What are your existing skills?
  • What are the demographics of your local market?
  • What are the growth prospects of your desired market?
  • What types of clients do you enjoy working with?  

Limiting who you work with by niching down may sound counterintuitive when launching your business. However, it allows you to hone your skills in your area of expertise and focus your attention on the clients you’d like to serve. 

Over time, you also build credibility with that specific type of client and distinguish your bookkeeping business from others in your area. 

Step 2: Form an LLC

Make your bookkeeping business official by forming a limited liability company (LLC). Other legal business structures you can use include a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation, but an LLC is typically one of the most common for bookkeepers. 

Among the many benefits of forming an LLC is that it establishes your business as a separate legal entity and offers liability protection for your personal assets. 

As a result, if your business makes an error for a bookkeeping client or is found liable for some wrongdoing, creditors can only target your business assets. 

Plus, the LLC membership and management structure is flexible, so it’s easy to scale and add employees or new members as your business grows. Operating as an LLC may give your business more credibility with prospective clients than a sole proprietorship or partnership. 

To make your bookkeeping business an LLC, these are the essential steps to complete: 

  • Choose the state where you’ll form your LLC, which doesn’t necessarily need to be the state where you do business
  • Select a name and registered agent for your LLC
  • Create an LLC operating agreement
  • File LLC formation documents with the proper Secretary of State’s office

Step 3: Get Applicable Business Licenses, Permits, and Banking

On top of forming your LLC, there’s some additional administrative paperwork to handle before opening your doors. This step can be tedious, but ensuring you’re operating as a legitimate business is vital. 

Check with local and state guidelines to see whether you must file for a business license. This requirement can vary depending on your location. 

You technically don’t need specific credentials or a certain level of education when offering bookkeeping services. 

However, if you have a professional certification or license (e.g., certified public bookkeeper), make this known to potential clients to demonstrate your skills and expertise. 

You should also set up a business bank account to separate your personal and business finances. The bank you use for your personal accounts may offer business banking services. 

You can also shop around to see which bank offers better options to support your operations, like business credit cards or small business loans. 

Step 4: Decide Where You’ll Set Up Shop

Where will you run your day-to-day operations? 

A home office could keep start-up costs low. When you need to meet with clients, you can choose a setting you both prefer, such as a virtual meeting or at their place of business. 

If you’d prefer not to work from home, consider sharing an office with other professional service providers or coworking spaces. 

As you expand and add more employees, you could hire remote workers or find a workplace with room to accommodate your growing team. 

Initially, where you decide to run your business will likely depend on the startup costs you’re willing to invest. If you’re bootstrapping operations and want to invest more in your client acquisition and software programs, maybe a home office is the safest bet.

Once you begin onboarding clients and generating cash flow, you can reassess your working situation to determine whether renting another type of office is affordable. 

Step 5: Get Bookkeeping and Business Software

Before you start on client work, be sure you have the proper bookkeeping and business software to help you manage your client-facing and back-office tasks effectively. 

First, your business needs bookkeeping software like QuickBooks Online or Xero to manage clients’ books. Both are popular options for small and large businesses, though plenty of alternatives are available. 

A bookkeeping workflow and project management tool like Jetpack Workflow can help standardize client work and automate critical deadlines. 

When overseeing a team, this can be especially beneficial since it gives you visibility over what each team member is working on and what still needs to be done before a deadline arrives. 

jetpack workflow alternatives

Consider other software options like an invoicing app to make client billing easier or a file-sharing app to collect and manage client documents and e-signatures. 

As your client roster grows, a dedicated customer relationship management (CRM) tool could help you manage client relationships and nurture prospects to keep your pipeline full. 

Step 6: Standardize Your Workflow Processes 

Client bookkeeping typically requires completing recurring workflows and tasks. Standardizing these processes with custom templates can help you be more efficient. 

It lets you spend less time on tedious and repetitive administrative tasks and focus your energy on billable client work. 

Building your own custom workflows and process templates is very time-consuming. 

Instead, check out our 32 free pre-made accounting workflow templates for standard bookkeeping projects and tasks to keep you organized and on track. 

Step 7: Work Out Your Pricing Model

It can feel intimidating to set the initial prices for your bookkeeping services. 

You want them to be high enough to cover your overhead expenses and earn a profit and reasonable enough for potential clients to start working with you. 

In our guide on how to price bookkeeping services, we looked at how you could price your services to maximize revenue. 

You can choose from a few pricing models for your services: hourly, a per-project rate, or tiered service packages. 

Whichever pricing model you choose, consider these points as you set your exact rates: 

  • What are your overhead costs?
  • How big are your clients’ businesses?
  • What types of services and value do you offer? 
  • How much time does it take to complete client work?
  • What’s your experience level and expertise?
  • What’s the average market rate your competitors or other contractors charge for similar services? 

We spoke about bookkeeping pricing with Meryl Johnston, a chartered accountant and founder of the bookkeeping business Bean Ninjas, on our Growing Your Firm podcast. 

She shares how a recurring revenue approach can be a great model for earning predictable monthly revenue and keeping work levels consistent throughout the year. 

Step 8: Build Your MVP Marketing Funnel 

Just because you’re open for business doesn’t mean clients immediately come knocking at your door. 

You need a strategy for attracting potential clients in your target market and effectively demonstrating the value you offer them through your services. 

Building a solid marketing funnel helps generate interest in your business and grow your client roster. That means identifying your value proposition or minimum viable product (MVP). 

Essentially, your MVP is what you can promise your clients if they work with you. It drives the rest of your marketing efforts and helps you connect with your target market. 

You should have a professional-looking website that interested small business owners can visit to learn more about you and your services. 

Your site can highlight your expertise and offer free value with bookkeeping tips. You can also nurture prospective clients through an email list where you send relevant content to your contacts throughout the year.

Be sure your mission and value proposition are clear in your messaging and marketing materials. Always include a call to action (CTA) or a simple way for interested leads to contact you for further information. 

For more guidance on expertly advertising your services, check out our in-depth guide on effective strategies for marketing a bookkeeping business. 

Step 9: Mine Your Network for the First 10 Clients 

Often, the first clients for a new business come from within your network. 

That’s because you’ve likely already built some level of trust with one another, so you don’t have to spend as much time and resources converting them into a client.

Josh Bauerle, founder of CPA on Fire, offers evergreen insights on his Growing Your Firm podcast episode on getting the initial clients for your new business. He attracted his earliest clients by tapping into his network of other business owners. 

When taking this approach, you don’t want to be too pushy and damage the professional relationships you’ve built. 

However, you can still assess who in your network falls in your target market and inform them about your new business and services. 

Based on their current needs, they can decide whether they’re interested. If they don’t need your services, they may know of someone else who does and refer them to you. 

Once you’ve onboarded your initial clients, we have an in-depth guide with helpful tips on getting more clients for your business. 

Step 10: Build a Presence in Online Communities

Building an online presence offers several benefits as your bookkeeping business grows. It lets you showcase your expertise and can be a great source of client acquisition. 

This step ties into your overall marketing strategy. 

You can use your presence in online communities or social media to generate interest in your firm and connect with potential leads in your target market.  

Meryl Johnston drove this point home during her interview on our podcast. She explains how being part of several paid communities and Facebook groups helped her expand her network and grow her client base significantly. 

Try joining groups within your target market and with other business owners in your field. 

Actively participate in these communities; interact with and educate others to build genuine relationships.

Instead of immediately offering your services, focus on relationship-building because that’s how you convert contacts into clients over time. 

32 Free Workflow Templates

Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

Looking for more? Here are some
related articles you may like.

See Jetpack Worflow In Action

Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial

7 Common Characteristics of a Modern Accounting Firm

By jetpack workflow | Updated on Feb 22, 2024 | 7 minutes
modern accounting firm

Based on the headlines, recruiting challenges, rapid tech advancement, and the failure to meet clients’ evolving expectations are consistent problems for some accounting firms. 

What about those rapidly growing firms with modern processes, great cultures, and happy clients who happily send them referrals? What’s their secret?   

We work with thousands of accounting professionals every day. So, we compiled the top 7 characteristics we see successful, modern accounting firms all share.

1. They Build a Brand

Modern accounting firms understand the value of building a distinct brand. 

There’s no need to overthink this aspect of your business development. However, you should have the basics. 

Those include a modern website, a consistent color scheme across all assets, and a forward-thinking mindset and brand voice that clients can recognize in your content marketing. 

In the past, many accounting firms focused solely on client outcomes. The branding of their firm was an afterthought. 

Today, with competition rising across the accounting field, having a distinct brand identity helps you stand out among your peers and build recognition with potential new clients. 

From prospect to service fulfillment, your branding can extend much further than the design of your marketing materials. 

It can become a key part of your firm’s values and mission, revealing itself in positive and consistent client experiences that bring rave reviews and more referrals that grow your firm. 

To zero in on your brand, consider who your target market is and why your services matter to them. Think of how you want clients to perceive your firm and how you can reflect this in your website, online presence, and client interactions. 

Our beginner’s guide on building a brand provides further details and insights into this process. 

2. They Have Service Subscriptions

Many firms are future-proofing their business operations by creating subscription-based plans. They package their offerings into different tiers of service at value-based pricing structures. 

Clients appreciate the upfront pricing and can choose their level of involvement based on their budget and the unique and recurring needs of their own businesses. 

Offering plans with subscription-based pricing gives you a more predictable revenue pattern and stable cash flows throughout the year. 

You can ditch time tracking and billable hour quotas and dig deeper into client relationship management. Your employees can enjoy steadier workflows with less seasonality than traditional accounting services. 

To gain more insight on implementing this fixed-fee model into your firm, check out our Growing Your Firm podcast with Louie Vazquez III, CEO and founder of Vazquez and Associates. 

He used subscriptions to significantly scale his firm and shares his real-world experience on how this model spurred his recent growth. 

 

 

3. They Don’t Care about the “150-Hour Rule”

In the United States, prospective CPAs must complete 150 credit hours of education to become licensed, in addition to other requirements. 

For many who aspire to join the accounting profession, the rigorous educational requirements and cost of spending 5 years in college can deter potential CPA candidates. 

Given the ongoing talent shortages in the industry, several successful modern accounting firms are willing to overlook CPA qualifications in potential hires. 

However, this doesn’t mean they hire just anyone. These firms focus on applicants’ skills, are happy to train the right candidates, and offer opportunities for staff development. 

Placing less emphasis on the 150-hour rule can expand the talent pool, helping you find good employees for your firm. You can even consider candidates with more practical experience working at a CPA firm, even if they don’t have the official CPA title.   

To take this approach at your firm, consider establishing your own criteria for assessing candidates’ skills and experience. This way, you end up with quality talent on your team. 

4. They Are Technology Movers

Progressive accounting firms increasingly adopt software solutions to help drive operational efficiency. 

That doesn’t mean you should chase every new technological development, like artificial intelligence or cloud computing. 

However, leveraging the right technology and tools can help your employees regain valuable time and devote more energy to client work instead of tedious tasks.

For instance, you can integrate an accounting workflow management software like Jetpack Workflow into your firm. Then, your staff can spend less effort poring over clunky spreadsheets and more time on the client work that drives value. 

Adopting a helpful tool like Jetpack Workflow, built for accountants like you, can organize and standardize your client work so you can more easily scale your firm. 

Thousands of modern accounting firms already utilize Jetpack Workflow; learn more about how it works here. 

5. They Do Sweat the Small Stuff

Committing fully to delivering outstanding results for niche clients is an increasingly common characteristic in modern accounting firms. 

Successful firms focus on the clients they love serving, ensuring their services and customer experience go above and beyond to spur future growth. 

The value of this tactic is that it can help you drive client retention and build your referral business. If you have clients in a niche space, they likely require industry-specific services that are hard to find. 

Take the time to excel at these critical niche-specific tasks and position yourself as a leader in the field, earning more referrals from existing clients. 

You can make your firm the go-to advisor for clients within a specific industry. If you deliver exceptional service in your day-to-day operations, your current clients are more likely to recommend your services to other small business owners in their field. 

6. They Stay Humble

Successful firm owners in the modern marketplace stay humble and embrace a mindset of continual improvement. 

They join membership groups, attend in-person gatherings, listen to podcasts, and are active in accounting communities to sharpen their skills and learn from industry experts. 

Proactive firm owners know they can’t rely on last year’s progress. To continue providing client satisfaction and remain relevant in a fast-paced market, stay open to new ideas and take a serious look at opportunities to improve your services. 

To adopt this mindset, consider listening to podcasts like Growing Your Firm or joining communities offered by Future Firm Inc. or Jason Staats, CPA. You can get real-world insights and tips from leading industry professionals and keep yourself from growing stagnant. 

7. They Go Virtual

One way modern CPA firms tackle the challenges of accounting talent acquisition is by offering virtual or hybrid positions. With 9 out of 10 accounting firms struggling to fill vacant positions, the traditional approach of maintaining an entirely in-house staff may not be feasible. 

However, you don’t have to become a fully virtual organization to attract the right talent. Offering some kind of flexible work schedule can open your firm up to more diversity and a nationwide talent pool, not just people in your local area. 

Going virtual can also benefit your firm culture and existing staff, not just future employees. 

According to a recent survey conducted by KPMG, the key driver in 73% of firms offering remote work following the pandemic was requests from current employees. 

Allowing some flexibility is an excellent incentive and could go a long way toward employee retention. 

Consider which roles in your firm could be done remotely, even part-time. Poll your existing employees and gauge their interest. You could modernize your firm by offering remote work at least part of the week for the positions that make sense. 

32 Free Workflow Templates

Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

Looking for more? Here are some
related articles you may like.

See Jetpack Worflow In Action

Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial

Navigating the Talent Crisis in Firms and the Impact of TurboTax Live

By jetpack workflow | Updated on Dec 28, 2023 | 4 minutes

Podcast

Summary

In this episode of “Growing Your Firm,” host David Cristello interviews David Leary, partner at Earmark Media and co-host of The Accounting Podcast. They discuss David Leary’s experience of being fired as a client from an accounting firm and how it led him to become a business owner and customer of accounting firms. 

They also touch on the talent shortage in the industry and the quality of TurboTax Live. Tune in to learn more about David’s journey and Earmark Media’s role in the accounting space.

     

    What You’ll Learn

    In this episode, the listener will learn about the guest’s experience of being fired from an accounting firm as a client and the current talent shortage and crisis in the industry. 

    You’ll also hear more about David Leary’s app called Earmark that allows accountants to earn CPE credits by listening to podcasts. The podcast covers various accounting topics, including technology, AI, remote work, the 150-hour rule, politics, IRS, and Congress. 

    There is also a discussion about David’s experience using TurboTax Live for their tax return and discuss the importance of pricing in the accounting industry. 

    The episode highlights Intuit’s entry into the accounting business and the challenges and issues facing the industry, including the talent shortage and burnout rate. Plus the potential impact of AI in solving some of these challenges is also discussed. 

    Additionally, the episode explores the potential of AI technology in personal productivity and writing tasks too. The challenges of using AI in advertising and the need for human oversight are also mentioned. 

    P.S. Want to learn more about David Leary’s review of TurboTax Live and check out the video? Watch his Review of TurboTax LIVE Full Service

    Get everything you need to manage projects and meet deadlines.

    Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, and get 32 free accounting workflow templates today!​​

    sign me up!

    About David Leary

    David Leary is a partner at Earmark Media and co-runs The Accounting Podcast. 

    With over 22 years of QuickBooks experience, David has provided many small businesses, accountants, and developers with tools, strategy, and solutions to better than work and lives. 

    Some noticeable highlights: 

       

        • Named Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today in 2019, 2020

        • Named by Accounting Today as a “One to Watch” in their Top 100 Most Influential People 2015 issue

        • Former Director of Accounting & Bookkeeping Evangelism at Melio

        • Former Principal Technology Evangelist at AutoEntry

      Does TurboTax Live Hurt Firms, Talent Shortage, AI, and Much More

      David Cristello fondly recalls seeing David years ago wearing a bright green blazer and highlights the excitement of witnessing his journey since then. 

      Despite the numerous conversations they have had, the host is thrilled to have David Leary back on the show, and at the end of the episode, they extend their gratitude for his participation, considering it a real treat.

      The podcast primarily focuses on helping accounting firms and CPAs maximize their returns. In the introduction, the host, David Cristello, emphasizes this goal, stating that the podcast aims to unlock the secrets that will enable firms to achieve their objectives more efficiently. 

      Furthermore, towards the end of the episode, the host mentions Jetpack Workflow, a resource dedicated to maximizing returns for accounting firms and CPAs. 

      Timestamps

      [00:02:52] Earmark app for CPE credit.

      [00:05:40] Content firehose.

      [00:09:10] Talent shortage in accounting.

      [00:13:30] Price and client experience.

      [00:16:01] Mass produced accounting services.

      [00:19:00] Intuit’s pricing strategy.

      [00:23:28] Talent shortage impacting industries.

      [00:25:38] Horrible first experience with accounting.

      [00:29:01] AI in onboarding process.

      [00:34:26] Boosting productivity with rough drafts.

      [00:35:16] AI-generated advertisements’ limitations.

      [00:38:45] Maximizing returns for accounting firms.

      32 Free Workflow Templates

      Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

      Looking for more? Here are some
      related articles you may like.

      See Jetpack Worflow In Action

      Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
      Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial

      12 Jetpack Workflow Alternatives (Features & Pricing)

      By jetpack workflow | Updated on Feb 05, 2024 | 18 minutes
      jetpack workflow alternatives

      At Jetpack Workflow, we know accounting firms want to focus on growing their practice. We work hard to provide a solution that helps them standardize their work and automate workflows. We continually release updates to make our platform even more beneficial. 

      However, we realize we’re not always the right fit for every firm. For example, some firms seek out Jetpack Workflow alternatives because they want practice management software to help them run their entire business. 

      If you need accounting workflow software to standardize, automate, and track client work – then start your free 14-day free trial of Jetpack Workflow. 

      Though we’re not the all-in-one practice management platform some firms may need, our mission is STILL to help our customers deliver their best work. So, we wanted to share a few of the Jetpack Workflow options available before making your final decision. 

      This guide lists 12 top alternatives to consider for your firm. You can see how their features stack up against Jetpack Workflow to find the right platform for your needs. 

      Practice Management Alternatives

      1. Karbon

      Karbon is a collaborative practice management platform for accounting firms. It lets in-office and remote teams communicate and share workflows.

      Karbon’s Key Features

      1. Template Creation Tool

      Karbon allows users to create custom reusable templates for recurring workflows.

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow has a template creation feature for all your accounting workflows. We also make your templates easy to find so you can quickly get to work.

      2. Job Tracking

      Karbon offers users visibility into which tasks are being worked on, by whom, and when each is due. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow makes tracking your team’s progress and planning upcoming projects easy, so nothing falls through the cracks. 

      Karbon’s Drawbacks

      1. Dashboard Not User-Friendly

      Some users find the Karbon dashboard isn’t very user-friendly. They wish it had more color and was visually appealing.

      At Jetpack Workflow, we designed our dashboard and related tabs so users can quickly find and review their workflows and tasks, like in this example:

      2. Overwhelming Amount of Features

      Users sometimes share that the large number of Karbon’s available features means they’re paying for many capabilities they don’t need. 

      The primary goal at Jetpack Workflow is to help you solve workflow and project management challenges, not bog you down with unnecessary features. 

      Karbon’s Pricing

      Karbon has three plans available. The Team plan is $59/user per month, and the Business plan is $79/user per month, both billed annually. The Enterprise plan has custom pricing for larger teams.

      2. Canopy 

      Canopy is cloud-based accounting practice management software for accounting firms. The platform helps firms manage their practice’s front and back ends. 

      Canopy’s Key Features

      1. Recurring Task Automation

      Canopy users can set up automation rules for recurring client tasks at set intervals. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. In Jetpack Workflow, you can schedule jobs to repeat automatically using our custom scheduling functions. This tool helps you hit important client deadlines with confidence. 

      2. Capacity Planning

      Canopy has a capacity planning report so users can observe where they deploy resources and assess the workload of each team member. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Our Scale plan has a capacity planning feature for assessing your team’s bandwidth so you can handle changes in demand.

      Canopy’s Drawbacks

      1. Complex Pricing Structure

      Some Canopy users say they have trouble understanding the various pricing plans available and the features included in each. 

      Jetpack Workflow has two distinct plan options with clear pricing details, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

      2. Glitchy QuickBooks Online Integration

      Numerous users report the integration between QuickBooks Online and Canopy can be glitchy and lead to duplicate entries and other inaccuracies. 

      Jetpack Workflow seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online for reliable access to all your accounts. 

      Canopy’s Pricing

      All Canopy plans come with the free Client Management platform that supports up to 500 clients. Additional features are available and paid for separately, such as document management for $40/user per month, workflow management for $35/user per month, and time and billing for $25/user per month. 

      3. TaxDome

      TaxDome is practice management software with client-facing and back-end tools for accounting, bookkeeping, and tax firms. 

      TaxDome’s Key Features

      1. Email Sync

      TaxDome allows users to sync their email history and activity. The platform organizes emails by client account rather than grouping them in one combined inbox. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      You can automatically create tasks by forwarding an email from your inbox to Jetpack Workflow. Countless other email integrations are possible with Outlook and Gmail inboxes using Zapier. 

      2. Invoicing and Payments

      TaxDome users can accept credit card and ACH payments from clients directly through the platform. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      While Jetpack Workflow users can’t accept client payments directly on the platform, setting up billing through our integration with QuickBooks Online is easy.

      TaxDome’s Drawbacks

      1. Steep Learning Curve

      Because it’s an all-in-one platform, some TaxDome users report a steep learning curve to get started and trained on the vast number of features. 

      Jetpack Workflow is a dedicated tool for workflow and project management. We try to avoid adding extra features that aren’t practical. 

      2. Slow Customer Service Response

      Some TaxDome users find contacting a customer service representative hard and get directed to the FAQ page first. 

      Jetpack Workflow has several options for contacting our customer support team, including by phone, email, and chat. We’re proud of our quick response times. 

      TaxDome’s Pricing

      TaxDome’s Lite plan is $33/month, and their Pro plan is $50/user per month. The Lite plan only supports one user, so choose Pro if you have more users and need access to more advanced features. 

      Legacy Workflow Alternatives 

      1. Thomson Reuters Practice CS

      Practice CS is a practice management tool for accounting firms to manage the administrative side of their business. 

      Thomson Reuters Practice CS’s Key Features

      1. Firm Dashboard

      Practice CS users can view work in process (WIP), staff availability, and other real-time reports from their firm dashboard. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. In Jetpack Workflow, you can quickly monitor team progress and upcoming work through the “My Work” tab. See what this looks like below:

      2. Time Tracking

      Employees can track their billable hours from within the Practice CS platform, setting specific tags for individual clients and activities for invoicing purposes. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Jetpack Workflow doesn’t currently have a time-tracking feature built into the platform. However, you can easily integrate it into external time-tracking applications like Clockify with Zapier. 

      Thomson Reuters Practice CS’s Drawbacks

      1. Best with Other CS Programs

      Some Practice CS users say you can get better functionality from the platform when you use other Thomson Reuters CS programs. 

      Jetpack Workflow is a robust project and workflow management tool on its own. We can integrate with thousands of other applications like Zapier, which enhances our platform’s capabilities.

      2. Clunky and Outdated Design

      Users sometimes find the Practice CS user interface to be rather clunky and outdated. 

      Jetpack Workflow has a sleek and modern design built for forward-thinking accountants and bookkeepers. 

      Thomson Reuters Practice CS’s Pricing

      Contact Thomson Reuters for pricing information on the Practice CS platform. 

      2. OfficeToolsPro

      OfficeToolsPro is accounting practice management software for managing employees, client work, and administrative tasks. 

      OfficeToolsPro’s Key Features

      1. Workflow Automation

      OfficeToolsPro allows users to automate repetitive tasks, helping their team members save time on manual activities. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. One of Jetpack Workflow’s main features is automating workflows so you can standardize client work and spend more time on billable tasks. 

      2. Client Portal

      The built-in client portals allow clients to upload documents, receive invoices, and make payments through OfficeToolsPro. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Our platform is built specifically for project and workflow management, so it doesn’t include a client-facing portal for document uploading or invoicing.

      OfficeToolsPro’s Drawbacks

      1. Many Unused Features

      Users say that while they pay for the many features available on OfficeToolsPro, most go unused. 

      Jetpack Workflow is a platform dedicated to workflow and project management, with only the essential tools necessary to manage client work and nothing that would make the platform clunky. 

      2. Lack of Online Tutorials and Training

      Some OfficeToolsPro users wish for more online tutorials and training to help them get up to speed on the platform’s many features. 

      Jetpack Workflow offers lots of available tutorials, videos, and guides on our website, helping you learn how to use the platform. 

      OfficeToolsPro’s Pricing

      Contact OfficeTools directly for pricing details. 

      3. CCH Axcess Workflow (formerly XCMworkflow)

      CCH Axcess Workflow by Wolters Kluwer is a web-based workflow management solution for accounting and tax firms. 

      CCH Axcess Workflow’s Key Features

      1. Professional Tax Software

      Users can complete client work on tax returns and related matters through integration with the CCH Axcess Tax tool. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Jetpack Workflow does not have native tax software, but you can integrate with various platforms via Zapier. 

      2. Project Tracking

      CCH Axcess users gain visibility over current tasks, including information like the due date and the employee responsible for completing it. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow is known for its powerful yet simple-to-use project tracking features. You can keep tabs on what tasks are in progress and who is working on them while monitoring all approaching deadlines.

      CCH Axcess Workflow’s Drawbacks

      1. Other Tools Required for Full Functionality

      Some users report that you can only access the platform’s full functionality by paying for other Axcess tools like Axcess Tax or Axcess Practice. 

      With Jetpack Workflow, you can integrate with thousands of other applications through Zapier automation. However, our platform is also powerful as a standalone tool that isn’t dependent on other software applications to access our core features.

      2. No Free Trial

      CCH Axcess Workflow offers no free trial to test the platform’s features and capabilities. 

      Jetpack Workflow has a 14-day free trial for both of our plans, so you can try them before committing. 

      CCH Axcess Workflow’s Pricing

      Contact CCH Axcess for pricing details. 

      Traditional Project Management Alternatives 

      1. monday.com 

      monday.com is a project management and CRM tool that helps with team collaboration and sales pipeline management. 

      monday.com’s Key Features

      1. Task Management

      Users can schedule tasks, assign them to responsible parties, set deadlines, and monitor their progress to completion. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Using Jetpack Workflow, it’s easy to track what each team member is working on and get notified when there’s an approaching deadline. 

      2. Resource Management

      Users can plan and allocate their resources across different projects or tasks. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow includes a capacity management feature in our Scale plan.

      monday.com’s Drawbacks

      1. Difficult to Customize

      Many monday.com users report they don’t like the dashboard’s configuration or appearance. They’d prefer more options to customize it. 

      Jetpack Workflow’s user-friendly dashboard is colorful and appealing, with helpful tabs that make it easy to navigate.

      2. Limited Automation and Integrations

      Automation and integration features are only available in monday.com’s higher-tier plans, which may not be an option for some users. 

      At Jetpack Workflow, standard workflow management tools are available with both of our plans. 

      monday.com Pricing

      Monday.com has five plans: a free Individual plan, a Basic plan for $8/seat per month, a Standard plan for $10/seat per month, and a Pro plan for $19/seat per month. An Enterprise plan with custom pricing is available for larger organizations. 

      2. Asana

      Asana is a project management tool popular with companies of all sizes and across various industries. 

      Asana’s Key Features

      1. App Integrations

      Asana integrates with over 300 applications, giving users centralized access to all the necessary tools. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Through Zapier automation, Jetpack Workflow can integrate with thousands of applications, so you have everything you need right in one location. 

      2. Workflow Templates

      Asana users can standardize their team’s workflows using pre-made templates or create their own templates for recurring workflows. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. You can access Jetpack Workflow’s library of over 70 pre-made templates and create custom workflows in just a few clicks.

      Asana’s Drawbacks

      1. Lengthy Set-Up Time

      Users who want to fully customize Asana may spend a great deal of time during the set-up phase to tailor it to their needs. 

      Jetpack Workflow’s onboarding phase is much faster because we developed it specifically for CPAs, tax professionals, and bookkeepers. We even offer one-on-one onboarding support if requested.

      2. Limited Personalized Customer Support

      Users of Asana’s free Basic plan (and some users of the paid Premium plan) can only access community support through their online forums and guides, not a customer support agent. 

      Jetpack Workflow offers a variety of ways to get in touch with our customer support via email, phone, or live chat at any plan level. 

      Asana’s Pricing

      Asana has a free Basic plan that supports up to 15 team members and standard features. The Premium plan is $10.99/user per month for more customization and advanced features. Lastly, the Business plan is $24.99/user per month for more advanced integrations, workload planning, and more.

      3. ClickUp

      ClickUp is a general project management tool used by businesses across different industries. 

      ClickUp’s Key Features

      1. Recurring Tasks

      Users can set up recurring task reminders in ClickUp for repetitive client work. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow has a similar feature to help standardize and automate repetitive tasks. 

      2. Task Templates 

      ClickUp lets users save frequently used workflows as templates for future use to minimize manual administrative work. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow lets you either customize your own templates or access the 70+ pre-made accounting templates from our library.

      ClickUp’s Drawbacks

      1. Lagging Issues

      ClickUp users often report lag and slow loading times for the program. 

      Jetpack Worfklow’s streamlined platform means you can expect fast loading times and less lag during use.

      2. Not User-Friendly

      Many ClickUp users say the vast number of features on the platform can make it a bit clunky and harder to navigate. 

      Jetpack Workflow’s tidy and intuitive design makes it easy to use. 

      ClickUp’s Pricing

      For business use, ClickUp offers an Unlimited plan at $7/user per month and a Business plan for $12/user per month, both billed annually. Monthly rates are also available. An Enterprise plan with custom pricing is an option for larger teams. 

      Direct Competitors to Jetpack Workflow

      1. Financial Cents

      Financial Cents is accounting practice management software that tracks client work and manages client profiles. 

      Financial Cents’ Key Features

      1. Capacity Management

      The capacity management feature gives users an overview of their team’s capacity for planning purposes. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow’s Scale plan includes a capacity management tool to help you assess your available resources and identify potential bottlenecks before they occur. 

      2. Workflow Management

      This Financial Cents feature lets users see who is working on each task and monitor upcoming deadlines for work still needing completion. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. With Jetpack Workflow, you can easily filter, sort, and search through all client projects to assess what each team member is working on and ensure you meet all critical client deadlines.

      Financial Cents’ Drawbacks

      1. Limited Customer Support

      Some Financial Cents users report having their customer service requests funneled to an AI-powered chatbot rather than receiving personalized support from an agent. 

      Jetpack Workflow offers several ways to contact our support team, which includes phone, email, and chat.

      2. Limited Integration

      Some users note Financial Cents can only integrate with QuickBooks Online, not other accounting software like Xero. 

      Through our custom Zapier integration, Jetpack Workflow users can seamlessly integrate with other accounting software, including Xero and QuickBooks Online. 

      Financial Cents’ Pricing

      Financial Cents offers two plans. When billed annually, the Team plan costs $39/user per month, and the Scale plan costs $59/user per month. 

      2. Aero Workflow

      Aero Workflow is basic accounting workflow management software with features to help firms manage their client work. 

      Aero Workflow’s Key Features

      1. Task Status Tracking

      Aero Workflow users get an overview of the current status of all in-progress work. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. This core feature is one that Jetpack Workflow users love. You can review your team’s current and upcoming work with the “My Work” tab. 

      2. Template Library

      Aero Workflow gives users access to their template library of pre-built checklists and workflow procedures. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow has an expansive library of over 70 pre-made templates that you can access. You can also create your own custom templates for recurring tasks.

      Aero Workflow’s Drawbacks

      1. Poor Customer Service

      Aero Workflow users report poor customer service experiences when trying to get support. 

      Jetpack Workflow takes pride in the comprehensive support we offer users. Our quick response times average less than 30 minutes.

      2. Dated Interface

      Some users find Aero Workflow’s outdated and clunky interface difficult to navigate.  

      We built Jetpack Workflow to be an intuitive platform that’s simple to navigate, with a sleek, modern feel that forward-thinking firms often seek. 

      Aero Workflow’s Pricing

      Aero Workflow has three paid plans. When paid annually, the Sole Proprietor plan is $39/month, the Small Firm plan is $79/month, and the Large Firm plan is $149/month. 

      3. Keeper

      Keeper is practice management software for bookkeepers and accountants with tools for client, team, and workflow management. 

      Keeper’s Key Features

      1. Team Collaboration

      Users can manage all client work within Keeper, allowing teams to collaborate on current tasks and track their progress. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Yes. Jetpack Workflow allows your team to collaborate and send messages from right inside the platform. 

      2. Client Portal

      Keeper has a native client portal to answer client questions and request client information. 

      Does Jetpack Workflow have this feature?

      Jetpack Workflow doesn’t have a client portal feature, but there are countless ways to integrate your CRM into our platform using Zapier.

      Keeper’s Drawbacks

      1. Needs Better Email Integration

      Some users share that they wish Keeper had better email integrations because the in-app messaging does not fully replace the need for sending emails. 

      In Jetpack Workflow, you can forward emails and set up new tasks directly from your inbox. Further email integrations are possible using Zapier.

      2. Clunky File Storage

      Users say they would prefer more intuitive client file storage within the Keeper platform. 

      In Jetpack Workflow, you can add unlimited client documents and content to the platform. Our setup makes it easy to find files whenever you need them. 

      Keeper’s Pricing

      Keeper’s Standard plan is $8/client per month, and their Premium plan is $10/client per month. There is also a flexible Enterprise package for larger firms. 

      Why Jetpack Is Still The Best Accounting Workflow Software

      While typical alternatives to Jetpack Workflow also have great features, it might not best fit your current workflow and automation needs. 

      Here’s some Jetpack Workflow features that make it easy to get your client work done on time, every time. 

      Create workflow templates in seconds.

      Organize and standardize your checklists using our template builder or use any of the 70 free templates in our library. Apply any template to a client with one click.

      Automate your critical deadlines.

      Set jobs to repeat automatically using a variety of our custom scheduling functions. You can work with confidence, knowing you’ve hit all of your important deadlines.

      View all of your client work in one place.

      Easily filter, sort, and search through your jobs so you can always find what you’re looking for and get the work done.

      See what’s coming down the pipe and stay on track.

      Always know what’s up next for you and for your staff. Use your “My Work” page to find out what tasks are up next for you, or to see what your team has on their plates.

      Increase efficiency and monitor firm progress.

      Get a measure of how much work has been completed and what’s ahead so you can identify any needs early and make a plan for what you need to do next.

      But there’s even more:

      • Integrate with over 2k apps 
      • Billing sync with QBO
      • Create jobs from your email
      • Unlimited clients & docs
      • New tracking reports
      • Team collaboration
      • Calendar view

      Schedule your demo or you can start your 14-day free trial.

      32 Free Workflow Templates

      Subscribe to the Growing Your Firm weekly newsletter, and get the best accounting workflow templates today!

      Looking for more? Here are some
      related articles you may like.

      See Jetpack Worflow In Action

      Get under the hood of Jetpack Workflow’s accounting workflow and project management platform. See some of the top features and how it helps your firm standardize, automate, and track client work more efficiently.
      Watch Product Tour Start Your Free Trial