10.0
Editor’s Rating:
Best Overall
BigTime: Resource Allocation
BigTime
  • Multiple pausable time trackers
  • User-friendly interface
  • Integration tools for time management, accounting, reporting, and project billables
9.0
Editor’s Rating:
Also Great
Canopy: Productivity
Canopy
  • Tax resolution assistance
  • Continuing updates and improvements
  • Intuitive interface
8.8
Editor’s Rating:
Best for Small and Midsize Companies
Xero Practice Manager: Dashboard
Xero Practice Manager
  • Integration with Xero accounting
  • Highly configurable
  • Custom reports

Accounting practice management software should have features for client and project management, time tracking, billing and invoicing, workflow automation, document management, reporting, and integration with other relevant software applications, while also providing a user-friendly interface and secure, reliable access.

To help you find the best accounting practice management solution, we’ve conducted research on a wide range of products to put together a collection of our best Accounting Practice Management software.

1 BigTime - Best Overall

BigTime is a cloud-based practice management software designed for professional service firms. It offers features such as time and expense tracking, project management, resource management, budgeting and forecasting, billing and invoicing, reporting and analytics, and integrations with accounting systems.

Mobile access allows users to track time, manage expenses, and access project information on the go. Overall, BigTime streamlines operations, improves project efficiency, and enables accurate billing and financial management for professional service firms.

Best Overall:
BigTime

BigTime: Resource Allocation
BigTime: Timesheet
BigTime: Report Center
BigTime: Invoicing
BigTime: Expenses
BigTime: Dashboard
BigTime: DCAA
What We Like
Multiple pausable time trackers
User-friendly interface
Integration tools for time management, accounting, reporting, and project billables
What We Don’t Like
More complex accounting features require higher priced plans
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $20/user/month
Client OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

2 Canopy - Also Great

Canopy is a cloud-based practice management and tax resolution software designed for accounting firms and tax professionals. Canopy boasts a wide range of features starting with client management, document management, workflow, time and billing, payments, and insights. It also includes document review, payment processing, transcript retrieval, tax resolution assistance, and notice management. The practice management module enables automated client onboarding, facilitates secure file exchange, and effectively tracks client communications.

With Canopy’s iOS and Android mobile app, clients can process payments, view invoices, securely share files, and electronically sign documents. This software seamlessly integrates with other programs like QuickBooks Online.

Also Great:
Canopy

Canopy: Productivity
Canopy: Files
Canopy: CRM
Canopy: Communication
What We Like
Tax resolution assistance
Continuing updates and improvements
Intuitive interface
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $89/month
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

3 Xero Practice Manager - Best for Small and Midsize Companies

Xero Practice Manager is a cloud-based practice management software designed for accounting and bookkeeping firms. It offers features such as client management, time and task tracking, job and project management, document management, billing and invoicing, reporting and analytics, and seamless integration with Xero Accounting.

Small and midsize companies benefit from streamlined workflows, improved collaboration, accurate time tracking and billing, better project management, and access to actionable insights for informed decision-making. It helps optimize resource allocation, reduce administrative burden, and increase productivity and profitability for accounting and bookkeeping firms.

Best for Small and Midsize Companies:
Xero Practice Manager

Xero Practice Manager: Dashboard
Xero Practice Manager: Jobs
Xero Practice Manager: Time Sheets
What We Like
Integration with Xero accounting
Highly configurable
Custom reports
What We Don’t Like
Limitations of quotes and invoices sent through the Early plan
Additional features are locked ebhind higher priced plans
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $149/month
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

What is Accounting Practice Management Software?

Accounting practice management software helps accounting professionals, CPAs, and bookkeepers with task and project management, workflow automation, and collaboration with their team and clients. This is accomplished through real-time employee time-tracking, task management, work-in-progress billing, CRM features, and more. In short, the software records, translates, and interprets data into actionable steps–telling you who has done what work, when, and how often, as well as what deadlines have been met and what tasks are overdue.

Accounting practice management software automates repetitive tasks for both sole accountants and large firms, enhancing client experiences and reducing time spent on data entry.

Traditional time and billing software, a mainstay in professional services like accounting, is now part of accounting practice management, offering more tools for workflow management, client communication, and financial service delivery.

Practice Ignition Client Payments Accounting Practice Management Software
Manage client payments in Practice Ignition.

Features of Accounting Practice Management Software

  • Proposals: Draft proposals that include your service offerings and pricing. Include proposal options to allow clients to select their preferred pricing options. Generate contracts and engagement letters to accompany proposals. Allow clients to enter payment details and digitally sign contracts completely online.
  • Payments: Manage the billing process between you and your clients. Create flexible billing payment terms as laid out in your contracts. Allow payments via multiple channels such as debit, ACH, and credit cards. Integrate with your accounting software to reconcile your books.
  • Recurring Billing: Manage automated payments in real-time for goods and services your business provides. Adjust recurring billing days to ensure constant cash flow.
  • Client Management: Store details of your client relationships, such as contact info, communications, contracts, proposals sent, invoices sent, payments received, outstanding payments, and more.
  • Engagement Letters: Create written agreements that describe the business relationship between the client and the company, including the scope of the agreement, the terms, and the associated costs. Set expectations on both sides of the agreement.
  • Reports and Dashboards: Create dashboards or visual representations of key performance indicators (KPIs) from multiple data sources to help forecast your revenue. Help monitor current operations (business performance), provide tactical ways to achieve business goals, and analyze situations, employees, departments, and more, to determine how to better the health of your organization.
Jetpack Workflow Manage Jobs Accounting Practice Management Software
Manage projects and jobs within Jetpack Workflow.

Benefits of Accounting Practice Management Software

Some of the top benefits provided by accounting practice management systems include:

Eliminate Manual Processes and Enhance Your Efficiency

59% of a financial department’s resources are spent on managing transaction-intensive processes. And 95% of that effort is spent on transactions that already match, instead of problem entries. In short, manual processes are bogging down your financial department.

Implementing automation into your accounting practice management will eliminate repetitive tasks such as manual billing and manual reconciliation. This increased efficiency through workflow management will also eliminate the need for paperwork–turning your office into a digital space that can freely send documents back and forth without the need to wait on paper copies.

Efficiency is also enhanced when the accounting practice management system is streamlining 3 key areas:

  1. Highlighting upcoming work, such as client tasks, deadlines, and overall workloads
  2. Service overviews that show what needs to be done for each client
  3. Job tasks for clients are divided into manageable portions for staff, enabling task distribution among team members…

Every minute your staff can save through automation offered by accounting practice management solutions is crucial, as it means your staff has more time to focus on working on, rather than in, your business. Even if the time savings are minuscule (such as saving time writing an email, following up with a phone call, or having to create a gameplan around a minor issue), accounting practice management software will help make your business more efficient.

Thomson Reuters Practice CS Manage Staff Accounting Practice Management Software
Manage the efficiency of your staff with Practice CS from Thomson Reuters.

Improve Client Services and Improve Your Team

Effective management of your accounting practice results in improved services, such as meeting deadlines and better client communication, fostering repeat business and steady cash flow.

Accounting practice management software enhances team efficiency, resulting in higher service quality. The time saved through automation allows accountants to offer higher-value services like forecasting, advisory services, and budget assistance.

A healthier business leads to satisfied clients, a better-performing team, and thus an increase in revenue. How is this possible? Clients may be more likely to refer leads to you, or your business may be able to spend more time marketing their services–hopefully both!

Canopy Accounting Practice Management Software Files
Upload files relevant to your client’s caseload in Canopy.

Provide Scalability To Your Firm

As businesses aim to grow, they naturally start small and gradually acquire more clients. This expansion often necessitates hiring more employees or finding larger workspaces to handle increased workloads.

The right software maximizes business potential without extra hiring, by redirecting staff from administrative tasks and data entry to client-centric work. This improves efficiency and can help attract larger, more profitable clients, thus increasing profit.

How does an accounting practice management software accomplish this? The first step is by identifying the mistakes your business makes. Accounting practice management software identifies business inefficiencies, spotlighting wasteful time use across departments or employees. It aids improvement by providing key performance indicators through reporting tools, offering actionable insights on profitability, revenue cycles, costs, and productivity.

TPS Software Time Entries Accounting Practice Management Systems
Manage time entries in TPS Software.

Integrate With Your Accounting Software

  • Practice management software for your accounting firm is intended to manage the day-to-day operations of your practice–managing both your employees and the work being done for clients. The work being performed for clients is financial services–usually provided through your firm’s accounting software. Examples of some of the most used accounting software by accountants include Xero, QuickBooks Online, and NetSuite.

The right accounting practice management software will be able to integrate with your accounting software for a variety of reasons. For example, tasks completed for a client in your accounting software can automatically be marked as done in the practice management tool.

This means your staff can quickly proceed to the next task without using a separate program to mark tasks as completed. This demonstrates how accounting practice management software can reduce manual data entry and accelerate account reconciliation through automatic sync and data integration.

The right software will also be able to import and export files to keep all of your data up to date (such as bills, invoices, and payments).

Star Practice Management Sale Pipeline Accounting Practice Management Solutions
Manage your sales pipeline and send financial information back to your accounting software with Star Practice Management.

Target Market of Accounting Practice Management Software

  • Bookkeepers: Whether working individually or as part of an organization, bookkeepers handle ledger accounts, record transactions, and maintain up-to-date accounts. Given their varied daily tasks, they would greatly benefit from the task management features of accounting practice management software to ensure all duties are covered.
  • Accountants/CPAs: Accountants and CPAs maintain and interpret financial records for both individual clients and larger businesses.These professionals would benefit from the reporting features of accounting practice management software, which ensure the accuracy and legal compliance of financial documents.
Intuit Practice Management for Accountants Capacity View
The capacity view in Intuit Practice Management.

What Type Of Buyer Are You?

The type of accounting practice management software you choose may depend on your business size, as options are often marketed based on the typical size of the firms they support.

Small Accounting Firm

Typically, a small firm seeking a practice management tool has outgrown the use of time slips and spreadsheets. Even though they might still use time slips and spreadsheets, these firms may seek the organization that accounting practice management software can provide.

Small accounting practices may not require the complexity of enterprise-level software or bear the same costs. They should focus on core needs like time and billing, project and task management, or software usability. Sometimes, user-friendly software with an intuitive client portal is enough to meet client needs.

QuickStart Dashboard Accounting Practice Management Software
The dashboard of QuickStart–easy to use for small accounting firms.

Mid-Sized Accounting Firm

Mid-sized accounting firms may want an enterprise-class tool offering power and flexibility without a hefty price tag. They might prefer online, subscription-based software to minimize upfront costs and allow for easy adjustments, scaling up or down as their needs evolve.

Examples of tools desired by these mid-sized companies include billing and tasking, workflow management, and easy time tracking in online timesheets–whether through desktop or mobile devices.

Karbon Task Automation Accounting Practice Management Software
Automate tasks in Karbon and assign them to specific employees.

Large Accounting Practice

Larger accounting firms may need software with user access and permissions control to manage information accessibility based on staff roles. For instance, while a bookkeeper may not require access to employee productivity reports, such details could be reserved for upper management.

Team members may benefit from collaboration tools that centralize all client and team communication. Checkpoints can be implemented in the communication chain to review content before it’s sent to clients, preventing the spread of misinformation.

A larger accounting practice might prefer locally hosted software to keep data in-house, possibly due to client stipulations regarding financial data management. These on-premises solutions typically require an outright purchase with a larger upfront cost.

OfficeTools Company Overview CPA Software
A solution such as OfficeTools can be used by large CPA firms.

All Products

No products found
BigTime Screenshot

BigTime

★★★★★
★★★★★
(6)
BigTime software is a comprehensive Professional Services Automation (PSA) tool designed for project management, time and expense tracking, invoicing, and resource allocation. This tool includes customizable workflows, detailed reporting, and DCAA compliance features, which are particularly beneficial for firms working on government contracts. This is all backed by reporting and analytics functionality that takes the guesswork out of utilization, capacity planning, and project profitability.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$20/user/month
Client OS
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Canopy Screenshot

Canopy

Canopy is a practice management software for accounting firms. The solution helps your team stay organized through productivity tools, workflow, document management, CRM, and communication tracking. This includes task-based time tracking, productivity dashboards, and in-app timers. Client portals help you stay in sync with your clients by allowing you to share invoices, requests, files, payments, and electronic signatures. The software also helps automate recurring payments and save client
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$89/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Xero Practice Manager Screenshot
Xero Practice Manager helps streamline the management of client jobs, practice workflows, timesheets, and invoicing. The software lets users assign work to staff, track and invoice time, and create customized reports. The Xero Practice Manager mobile app allows this functionality on-the-go. Practice Manager is also part of the Xero Partner Program, so it integrates with other Xero products for additional invoicing and payment functionality. And it is highly configurable to meet the exact workflow needs of a business.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$149/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
TPS Cloud Axis Screenshot

TPS Cloud Axis

★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)
TPS Cloud Axis test offers a full suite of practice management functions from time and billing, through WIP and AR as well as complete workflow and employee scheduling.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$10/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Practice Ignition Screenshot

Practice Ignition

Practice Ignition is a tool that helps accounting practices onboard clients and get paid faster. Used by CPA firms, accountants, and bookkeepers, Practice Ignition helps create a seamless workflow for clients via smart proposals that clients can read, sign, and pay in one place. Practice Ignition lets you create a proposal in 5 minutes and use that proposal as a sales tool. You’ll be able to pull in services and pricing from your library and handle built-in payment processing. This also provides
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$75/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Jetpack Workflow Screenshot

Jetpack Workflow

★★★★★
★★★★★
(1)
Jetpack helps firms become more productive and profitable by providing a transparent, 360 view of everything that is going on in the firm. Jetpack Workflow is a recurring client and team management application. You can automate all recurring work, create templates for repetitive processes, track your team and what they’re working on, and never let client work fall through the cracks. A simple interface also means that your team can get up and running in no time! Also included: Document upload,
Starting Price
$25/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Practice CS Screenshot

Practice CS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Practice CS, developed by Thomson Reuters, is a comprehensive practice management software designed to optimize operations for accounting firms of all sizes. The customizable staff, client, and firm dashboards offer real-time access to critical information and facilitate efficient navigation. The staff dashboard allows members to enter time information, schedule tasks, and set reminders, with integration to Microsoft Outlook for seamless activity syncing. Practice CS is part of the Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite and integrates well with other applications in this suite, offering enhanced productivity. Key features include a robust time and billing component, along with firm, employee, and client management capabilities. The software also supports a variety of deployment options including SaaS, Virtual Office CS, and an On-Premise edition, catering to different business needs.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$2,050 (perpetual license)
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Star Practice Management Screenshot
IRIS Star Practice Management is a fully customizable, all-in-one accounting practice management software designed to meet the needs of large and growing CPA firms. It features integration with third-party tools, efficient billing and payment systems, comprehensive workflow management, and a CRM for optimizing marketing efforts. Its capability to provide in-depth, tailored reports further enhances its value for large-scale accounting practices​​​​​​​​.
Client OS
iOS, Android, Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Intuit Practice Management Screenshot
Intuit Practice Management is a cloud-based solution that automates accounting, tax planning, and bookkeeping tasks. It offers comprehensive financial management, catering to accountants, CPAs, and tax professionals. It balances efficiency with increased productivity, handling everything from individual to complex business tax returns. Additional features include document management, client communication, project management, and workflow automation.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$60/user/month
Client OS
iOS, Android, Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
QuickStart Admin Screenshot

QuickStart Admin

QuickStart Admin is a practice management solution that helps manage employee tasks, expenses, clients, projects, bills, and schedules. The cloud-based solution is based used by CPAs to help stay competitive in the digital age. The user-friendly solution lets you remotely access all of the features from no mattter where you are. Tracking time and expenses will help cut down on needless expenses and provide improved transparency in your business—helping you strengthen compliance and
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Karbon Screenshot

Karbon

Karbon is a collaborative platform for accounting firms to manage workflows, communicate with teams, and deliver client work from wherever they may be From scoping work, collecting data automatically, scaling client onboarding, anticipating bottlenecks, and automating recurring work, Karbon gives the visibility you need to deliver exceptional client work. @wistia Workflow Management; Communication; Team Collaboration; Client Collaboration; Task Management; Contact Management; Automation;
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$49/month
Client OS
iOS, Android, Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
OfficeTools Screenshot

OfficeTools

OfficeTools provides an easy-to-use, comprehensive practice management package for accounting, CPA, Legal and Tax professionals, including contact management, time and billing, scheduling, due date reporting, project tracking and document management. OfficeTools helps consolidate databases, tracks all necessary data, and streamlines workflows. This helps put an end to redundant data entry from separate programs, gives you a clear view of your firm, and helps complete tasks and track projects
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$49/user/month
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
PracticePro 365 Screenshot

PracticePro 365

PracticePro 365 is an all-in-one practice management software that utilizes the cloud and 8 core features to run your firm—complete with real-time visual dashboards. The solution helps improve productivity by keeping you updated on daily projects, human resources, customers, and operations of the company. The software will also help grow revenue by tracking and budgeting expenses, payroll, and more. PracticePro 365 is used by accounting practices, business and management consulting businesses,
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Clarity Practice Management Screenshot

Clarity Practice Management

Clarity Practice Management is a client-centric practice management based entirely in the cloud. The solution can be used by CPAs, accountants, tax preparers, and their firms, for practices of all sizes. The system helps incorporate clients into your workflow, reduce phone calls and meetings, minimize project turnaround time, standardize your workflows, automate client reminders, grow staff competence, and improve cash flow. @youtube Company Dashboard; Staff Dashboards; Staff alerts; Deadline
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Financial Cents Screenshot

Financial Cents

Financial Cents is an easy to use accounting practice management solution that helps accountants, bookkeepers, and CPA’s scale their firm. Collaborate with your staff, track the status client work, store all your client information in one place, and hit your accounting deadlines. @wistia Task management; Workflow automation; Time tracking; Invoicing; Email integration; Automated client requests; Client management; Document management; Capacity management; and Reporting. Dependencies:
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$23/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted

We searched and searched, but we couldn’t find any products in our database that match your criteria. Perhaps our team of software experts can help? They’d be happy to provide a list of free recommendations that meet your exact requirements.

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