14 Best Software for Accounting and CPA Firms (2024 Edition)

If you want a more modern and productive accounting firm, there are certain categories of software that you should consider implementing into your workflows.

We’ve spoken with thousands of accounting firms over the years, and these are the type of tools we see most of them integrate into their operations: 

• Accounting software
• Payroll software
• Document management software
• Project/Workflow management software
• Practice management software
• CRM software
• Client collaboration software

In this guide, we’ll review our top two software recommendations for each category. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of these options, who they’re best for, and pricing details to help you upgrade your tech stack and improve your organization, productivity, and profitability.

Accounting

This first one should come as no surprise. These applications support services like tax preparation and financial reporting, giving you a centralized location to manage clients’ financial transactions and their general ledger. 

Our favorite accounting software options integrate seamlessly with client bank accounts and other business applications to simplify financial data sharing for better accuracy and efficiency. 
 

QuickBooks 

 
Intuit’s QuickBooks Online is a leading cloud-based accounting software where users can record financial transactions, pay bills, send invoices, and track expenses. 

The software offers an exclusive platform for accounting firms called QuickBooks Online Accountant. Here, you can manage the books for multiple clients and access other perks like advisory training, automatic month-end reviews, and being listed on QuickBooks’ “Find-a-ProAdvisor” directory. 

QuickBooks Online includes essential software for managing your clients’ finances and provides tools to help you grow your practice. 

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Includes practice management tools in QuickBooks Online Accountant 

Cons:

• May not have the scalability for larger firms with enterprise clients
• More expensive than competitors

Best for: Small and medium-sized accounting firms serving small businesses and startups that are looking for a solution to deliver basic bookkeeping and tax preparation services. 

Pricing

It’s free for accountants to sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and receive tools and resources. Exclusive pricing for firms that pay for client licenses starts at $21/month/client. 
 

Xero

 
Xero is an accounting software provider firms can use to manage client work. It has tools for automatic bank reconciliations, budgeting, fixed asset management, bill pay, and financial statement preparation. 

Xero also has a partner program for accounting firms and bookkeepers, which offers free access to Xero and exclusive license pricing for clients. 

That also supplies accountants with access to Xero HQ, where you can collect and manage client information and documents, get listed in the advisor directory, and more. 

Pros:

• Partner program for accountants includes free Xero subscription
• Affordable Ledger and Cashbook plans for clients with fewer transactions

Cons:

• Requires applying for the Xero partner program

Best for: Small and medium-sized accounting firms that want comprehensive and cost-effective accounting software.  

Pricing

Free subscription for Xero partners, subject to application. Exclusive pricing for firms paying for client licenses starts at $3/month/client. 

Payroll

Just like the businesses they serve, accounting firms need specific software solutions to ensure timely and accurate payments to their staff. 

If your firm offers payroll services to your clients, you can also benefit from adopting this software. It helps reduce the hands-on work required so you can deliver this service more efficiently. 
 

Gusto

 
Gusto is a payroll software solution that helps accounting firms run payroll for their own employees or on behalf of clients. 

This easy-to-use, straightforward platform automates payroll runs and compliance tasks, such as payroll tax filing and year-end W-2 and 1099 preparation. 

Online self-service provides employees lifetime access to their pay stubs, eliminating the need for your firm to prepare and send out paper copies each payroll run. 

Gusto’s automated service can take a lot of tedious, time-consuming work off your plate. However, you’ll need to purchase an add-on if you or your clients need to pay contractors. 

Pros:

• Includes phone support with all plans
• Self-onboarding for new employees
• Unlimited payroll runs in all plans

Cons:

• Only payroll and tax filing for a single state included in base plan

Best for: Firms that want to automate payroll and tax filings for their own employees or offer payroll processing services for clients find Gusto ideally suited to their needs. 

Pricing

Plans start at $40/month + $6/person/month for internal use. Exclusive discounts are available for client accounts as a Gusto partner. 
 

QuickBooks Payroll

 
Another Intuit product, QuickBooks Payroll, is a solution firms can use to run their internal payroll. Or, you can access a client’s QuickBooks Payroll software to manage it for their employees. 

Like Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll offers automatic payroll runs and tax filing. Notably, it also has tax penalty protection, covering up to $25,000 if you receive a penalty for any reason. 

Firms can further facilitate payroll runs by using QuickBooks’ time tracking software to sync timesheet data for hourly employees, though that’s a separate app and costs extra.

Pros: 

• Affordable plans
• 30-day free trial
• Tax penalty protection

Cons: 

• Time tracking app billed separately
• No 24/7 support in the base plan

Best for: Firms looking to handle in-house payroll runs or client payroll with the added security of the tax penalty guarantee find QuickBooks Payroll a great solution. 

Pricing

Plans start at $13.50/month + $6/employee/month for internal use. Exclusive pricing for firms that pay client licenses starts at $31.50/month + $5.10/employee/month.  

Document Management

Accountants must collect, store, and manage a range of client documents and paperwork, including proposals, engagement letters, and financial records. 

As a result, your firm needs a reliable and secure document management solution that makes it easy to share, send, and organize files and search for documents, which can boost your productivity. 
 

Google Drive

 
Google Drive is a commonly used cloud-based storage and file-sharing solution. Accounting firms can use it to manage internal documents and organize and share client files. 

And Google Drive seamlessly integrates with other Google applications like Sheets, Docs, and Slides, so it’s easy to share, receive, and collaborate on these files with just a few clicks. 

Since Google Drive is one of the leading document management solutions for both personal and business use, most clients and employees experience little to no learning curve when adopting it. 

Pros: 

• Easy to use
• Affordable pricing
• Integrated plan with other Google applications

Cons: 

• No standard support options for lower-tier plans

Best for: Accounting firms already using Google Workspace to collaborate with clients and team members on documents, slideshows, and spreadsheets. 

Pricing

Plans start at $6/user/month when billed annually. 
 

Box

 
Box is another viable document management solution. This cloud-based file-sharing and document-storage application includes unlimited storage and e-signatures in all plans, which not all document management solutions offer. 

Accounting firms may be drawn to the advanced security features of Box, which help protect the sensitive client information they collect and store. That includes SOC compliance for all users, with more advanced security mechanisms included in higher-tier plans. 

Pros:

• Robust security measures
• Unlimited storage in all plans
• Standard support for all users

Cons:

• Minimum of three users for all plans
• No support for free external collaborators in base plan

Best for: Growing firms focused on safeguarding client data security and have large storage needs. 

Pricing

Plans start at $15/user/month when billed annually. 
 

Project/Workflow Management

As firms scale and expand their client base, orchestrating client work and consistently hitting deadlines can become more challenging without the proper tools. 

Early on in your business, you might be able to track these client assignments and due dates in your head. However, that can quickly grow complex as you gain more clients, and a project or workflow management solution can be a much better way to keep all your client work organized.  
 

Jetpack Workflow

 
Jetpack Workflow is a dedicated accounting workflow management solution that helps firms standardize repetitive work, automate recurring deadlines, and track progress on client work. Thousands of firms rely on Jetpack Workflow to track client assignments while spending less time on administrative, non-billable tasks. 

This platform is the only workflow management software designed specifically for bookkeeping and accounting professionals, with pre-built workflow templates and checklists to help teams organize and manage common client tasks. Users can also create their own blueprint with an easy-to-use template builder. 

One of the key advantages of a solution like Jetpack Workflow is how easy it is to monitor approaching deadlines and see which team members are working on what tasks, ensuring all client work gets completed on time. Jetpack Workflow helps prevent critical items from falling through the cracks, so you always know what’s next and can plan accordingly.  

In addition to workflow management, Jetpack Workflow offers capacity planning and we are continuing to build extensive features to improve how firms view and plan for future work.

You see every task assigned to your team, budgeted time for each, as well as what’s left to do. Then, drill down to see why particular tasks aren’t completed yet (e.g. waiting on client). All in a punched-up design refresh.
 

 
Pros: 

• Workflow management solution built specifically for accountants
• Designed to manage tasks for CAS, tax prep, payroll, and other services
• Easy integration with other platforms through Zapier
• Expert support and training available for all users
• Pre-built templates and checklists for tracking client work

Cons: 

• No free version, but includes a 14-day free trial

Best for: Accounting and bookkeeping practices at any stage of growth find Jetpack Workflow a reliable solution for saving time on tedious administrative tasks and consistently hitting deadlines. 

Pricing

Plans start at $30/user/month with annual billing. 

Go here to learn more about Jetpack Workflow and start a free 14-day trial.
 

Asana

 
Asana is a project management solution for companies across all industries. While not exclusively created for accounting firms, Asana users can create custom boards with different views and fields to tailor the platform to their specific workflows. 

The platform is easy to use and highly adjustable. However, you might need to get a little creative to configure the layout as you’d like since there aren’t any finance or accounting-specific templates available. 

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• Free plan for small teams

Cons:

• Not set up specifically for accounting firms
• Upfront time investment to customize the layout 

Best for: Firms just starting out who want the most cost-effective project management solution for basic task tracking may find Asana a great fit. 

Pricing

There’s a free plan for solo operators and small teams. Paid plans start at $10.99/user/month with annual billing. 

Practice Management

Just as growing firms need a dedicated workflow management solution to better track client work, they may also require a practice management solution. That can help them manage communications and invoicing, enhancing the overall client experience. 
 

Karbon

 
Karbon is a practice management solution for accounting firms. The platform includes wide-ranging features and capabilities to help firms track work progress, manage client information and interactions, monitor firm performance, store documents, and collaborate with team members. 

Karbon is particularly beneficial for managing client-facing operations. It has a client portal where you can share updates and collect information and offers an automated billing process. 

Pros:

• Built-in AI and GPT capabilities 
• 24/7 support for all users

Cons:

• May be too robust for firms
• More expensive than competitors

Best for: Growing or mid-sized firms that want and can afford an all-in-one solution for managing front and back-end operations. 

Pricing

Plans start at $59/user/month with annual billing. 
 

Canopy

Canopy is a comprehensive practice management solution for accounting firms. The platform offers features to help firms manage front-end operations, like client communications and engagement letters, and back-end support with time tracking and invoicing tools. Overall, Canopy helps firms deliver a top-tier client experience.  

All plans include the core Client Engagement suite for free for 250 clients, with a branded client portal, email management, and client contact list, among other features. 

Prices increase depending on how many clients you need Canopy to support. Features like document management, workflow management, tax resolution, collection cases, and time and billing are available a la carte. 

Pros: 

• Free Client Engagement module for up to 250 clients
• Customizable client portal in all plans

Cons: 

• Implementation fee
• Potentially confusing pricing structure

Best for: Small and medium-sized firms that want to improve their client experience with the option to add features to manage their back-end, like project management, time tracking, and billing. 

Pricing

The Client Engagement module for up to 250 clients is free, with paid plans starting at $14/month when paid annually. 

CRM

Growing accounting firms need a centralized location to keep track of clients and leads, manage the sales pipeline, and nurture contacts. Customer relationship management (CRM) solutions offer the essential tools firms need to keep client and prospect details organized, enhancing their sales and marketing efforts. 
 

HubSpot

 
HubSpot is a leading CRM solution with a robust free plan that supports unlimited users and never expires. Accounting firms can use HubSpot to store and manage contacts, track client interactions, capture leads, and automate marketing campaigns. 

The free plan includes an extensive feature list that can typically accommodate the needs of most accounting firms. However, if you want access to more advanced capabilities, like any automation or e-signatures, you need to price up to the Starter plan. 

Pros:

• Free forever plan supports unlimited users
• Intuitive interface
• Affordable paid plans 

Cons:

• Limited support options for free plan users
• Phone support only for the highest-tier plan

Best for: Small to medium-sized firms that use Hubspot are looking for a CRM that can track contact details and interactions with leads and clients, schedule meetings, and streamline new client onboarding.  

Pricing

HubSpot offers a free forever plan, and paid plans start at $15/user/month when paid annually. 
 

Pipedrive

 
Pipedrive is a great CRM for accounting firms wanting to visualize their sales pipeline and track deals with prospective clients. The platform is primarily known for its easy-to-use drag-and-drop pipeline editor, which is highly customizable and easy to set up. 

Higher-tier plans include features like contract and proposal management and meeting scheduling, which could help firms as they onboard new clients. 

Pros:

• Minimal learning curve
• Affordable pricing

Cons:

• Phone support only in highest-tier plans
• Must price up to access full email sync and tracking capabilities

Best for: Growing accounting firms that want an easy-to-use CRM often choose Pipedrive to monitor deal flow and track sales performance. 

Pricing

Plans start at $14/user/month when billed annually. 

Client Collaboration

Making requests and communicating with clients via email is a necessity, and firms may benefit from a dedicated client collaboration tool. These platforms offer a central location to streamline client-facing tasks, including onboarding, sending messages, requesting files, and providing progress updates. 
 

Clinked

 
Clinked offers white-label client portals you can customize with your accounting firm branding. You can use the portal to request files, send notifications, message clients, and set up onboarding tasks for new accounts.  

Clinked has two different options for using the platform. You can customize the portal yourself or select the bespoke option to receive a custom portal built according to your specifications. 

Pros:

• Mobile-friendly client portal
• Unlimited clients in all plans
• Easy portal customization

Cons:

• Potentially restrictive pricing for smaller firms

Best for: Growing accounting firms that want a quick way to make a custom client portal for managing client-facing workflows. 

Pricing

Plans start at $95/month with annual billing. 
 

CCH Axcess 

CCH Axcess is a tax and accounting software from industry giant Wolters Kluwer. This all-in-one platform includes a variety of applications for tax, audit, and firm management and its Client Collaboration tool. 

On this secure platform, firms can communicate with clients, send engagement letters, set tasks and reminders, and make requests to support an efficient tax workflow.

Pros: 

• Pre-built with templates and request workflows for tax services
• Secure document storage

Cons: 

• Pricing not transparent
• Mostly designed for tax services

Best for: Growing and mid-sized firms that primarily deliver tax preparation services find CCH Axcess a great fit. 

Pricing

Contact the company for a quote.