Software for accounting practices: 7 tools worth testing

The accounting software market is worth almost $20 billion. It’s a truly massive industry because there are countless tools covering all aspects of the accounting business.

But which one is the best?

There is no single software for accounting practices that works best for all firms, but we can help you discover the right platform based on the needs of your company. In this post, we’ll discuss our favorite software solutions that focus on different aspects of accounting. 

1. QuickBooks Online: Best for practice management

• Pricing plans: Simple Start ($7/month), Essentials ($11), Plus ($15), Advanced ($27) 
• User reviews: 4.4 on Capterra, 4 on G2 

QuickBooks Online is packed with features that suit accounting practices of all sizes. It’s a truly comprehensive system that covers everything from expense tracking and bookkeeping, to client management and financial reporting. 

This software connects directly with clients’ bank accounts to automate transaction imports, categorize expenses, and simplify reconciliations. QuickBooks Online also provides pre-built reports for tracking income and expenses, but you can customize them for each client individually.

Its project tracking capabilities are particularly important because accountants can use QuickBooks Online to do the following:

• Create and manage client-specific projects
• Allocate time and resources
• Monitor profitability
• Track practice tasks

This feature is particularly useful for tracking billable hours on a client-by-client basis. In addition, QuickBooks Online includes built-in collaboration features to streamline communication through shared client accounts.

Want more options? Check out this post: Accounting practice management software to better manage your firm.

2. Content Snare: Best for client onboarding

• Pricing plans: Basic ($29/month), Plus ($59), Pro ($79), Custom ($179+)
• User reviews: 4.8 on Capterra, 4.8 on G2

Content Snare is one of the most popular client onboarding tools among accountants. Our platform keeps all comms and files in one place, so you can do your job instead of chasing clients for documents. 

Thanks to our software, top accounting firms reduce their email load by a whopping 50% and spend 71% less time gathering information. Many Content Snare features speed up onboarding, but it all begins with a library of editable online form templates: 

You can quickly adjust these templates to onboard new clients, or build a new request from scratch using a simple drag-and-drop builder. 

Want more options? Check out this post: 5 of the best client onboarding software for accountants.

Content Snare features more than 20 field types, with some of them being specifically designed to assist accountants in the data gathering process. For example, you can use the ID verification field to confirm your client’s identity and stay compliant with ATO rules.

3. TaxDome: Best for tax preparation

• Pricing plans: One plan only ($66 per month)
• User reviews: 4.7 on Capterra, 4.7 on G2

TaxDome is a popular practice management software, but its suite of tax-focused tools makes the real difference. 

TaxDome helps accounting firms handle client documents, communications, e-signatures, and task management. As such, this tool is ideal for accounting and tax professionals who need a more efficient approach to the busy season.

For example, TaxDome allows clients to upload sensitive tax documents directly into its secure portal to minimize the risk of email-related data breaches. It automatically organizes files into client-specific folders, while you also get the option of customized folder structuring. Clients can take many actions within the portal:

• View task lists
• Sign documents electronically
• Pay invoices
• Respond to inquiries

Most importantly, accountants can create templated workflows for common processes such as document collection or filing. Each task can be automated to trigger the next step, notifying team members or clients as needed. 

Want more options? Check out this post: Tax preparation tools for accountants to work smarter.

4. Mailchimp: Best for email campaigns and marketing

• Pricing plans: Custom price, but starting at $20/month
• User reviews: 4.5 on Capterra, 4.4 on G2

Accounting firms need marketing software to promote their services and connect with potential clients. This is where Mailchimp comes into play.

Initially known as a strictly email marketing tool, Mailchimp has expanded into an all-in-one marketing suite that can help your firm strengthen its online presence. This platform offers a simple email campaign builder for designing professional newsletters and seasonal updates with minimal effort. 

Apart from email marketing, Mailchimp features a broader suite of tools like social media and landing page builders. 

For instance, you can use it to create, manage, and schedule posts across multiple social networks. Mailchimp will also help you design standalone pages for special campaigns, such as new client onboarding or tax season reminders, complete with forms to capture potential leads.

Want more options? Check out this post: 5 tools to streamline accounting firm marketing efforts.

5. Ignition: Best for billing

• Pricing plans: Core ($99/month), Pro ($199/month), Pro+ ($399/month)
• User reviews: 4.7 on Capterra, 4.7 on G2

Ignition is a billing and client engagement platform that optimizes payment collection and contract management for accounting firms. It combines proposal generation, client onboarding, and automated billing to practically eliminate manual labor from your daily work.

Ignition’s billing automation is particularly valuable for firms that need a reliable and consistent approach to payment collection. Once a proposal is accepted, Ignition’s billing system kicks in automatically to set up recurring payments, based on the agreed terms. It can support various billing models:

• A fixed monthly retainer
• Hourly payments
• Per-project payments

Ignition’s invoicing features are closely tied to client engagement agreements, so accountants can set up invoices that match the scope of work specified in the contract. This helps maintain transparency with clients and reduces disputes over billable hours or project scope. 

Want more options? Check out this post: The best billing software for accountants: Our top 7 options.

6. Zapier: Best for process automation

• Pricing plans: Free (very limited), Professional ($19.99/month), Team ($69), Enterprise (custom)
• User reviews: 4.7 on Capterra, 4.5 on G2

Zapier is a frequently used automation platform that helps firms forget about repetitive tasks, and integrate various software applications, without any coding required. It connects over 6,000 apps, so you can quickly automate workflows across different systems.

The platform enables you to create Zaps — action triggers based on user-defined rules — and automate processes such as:

• Saving new client contact information from a form submission into a CRM

• Sending notifications in Slack whenever a new invoice is generated

• Delivering a welcome email with a checklist of required documents as soon as you land a new client

Such seamless connection between systems allows teams to speed up routine tasks and free up time for higher-level work. The best thing is that Zapier features intuitive performance analytics for tracking workflow effectiveness. 

For instance, accounting firms can monitor Zaps to see how many tasks have been automated, track any issues, and analyze time saved. This visibility is useful for identifying high-impact automations and fine-tuning workflows over time.

Want more options? Check out this post: Accounting automation software: Industry experts reveal their favorites.

7. Timely: Best for time tracking

• Pricing plans: Starter ($9/month), Premium ($16), Unlimited ($22), Enterprise (custom)
• User reviews: 4.7 on Capterra, 4.8 on G2

Timely is a smart time-tracking software designed to assist firms in managing their time without the burden of manual entry. Its automatic tracking and reporting helps you accurately capture billable hours, monitor project progress, and improve productivity across the team.

Timely offers project and client management capabilities, so you can easily allocate tracked hours to specific clients or projects. That way, you get a clear view of time spent across different engagements. It’s also possible to set project budgets and track progress in real time, so you’re more likely to stay within scope.

Another important detail is that Timely supports integrations with accounting and project management tools (QuickBooks, Asana, etc.). This integration capability reduces the need for duplicate entries and simplifies billing.

Want more options? Check out this post: Time tracking for accountants: Top 7 software solutions.

A single tool can make a big difference in your business

Choosing the right software for your accounting practice can make a world of difference, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think about what will best complement your existing toolkit, address your firm’s needs, and fill any gaps in your current process. 

In other words, focus on finding a tool that can simplify your daily routine. If you narrow down the options in this manner, it’ll be much easier to make the right call for your business.