CRM for accountants and bookkeepers

Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a technology designed to assist your company’s interactions with current and future customers—this includes everything related to bookkeeping and accounting. Accountant CRM features typically include billing and invoice management integrations, financial reporting, and overall data organization.

If you’re looking for extra support for your tax professional needs, explore the 10 CRM solutions for accounting and bookkeeping below, their benefits, and how to choose the best fit for you.

When looking at CRM software for accountants, it's essential to know your needs and the features that will complement them. But there are numerous accounting CRM software solutions on the market with different capabilities and pricing, so picking one out of the many options may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, a lot of vendors allow you to participate in a free CRM trial or demo before committing.

To help you choose the best fit for your business, explore the top 10 CRMs for accounting and bookkeeping below.

1. Zendesk

Zendesk Sell is a powerful, integrated sales CRM that enables you to take control of your sales pipeline and performance. Sell offers a free trial version of its cloud-based sales CRM.

Sell features integrations through the Zendesk Marketplace for businesses looking to track accounting and bookkeeping in their CRM. Integrations like QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Recurly, and more allow you to create, send, and track invoices in one central place.

With easy customization options, extensible third-party integrations, and a free resource library, Zendesk Sell is a great tool for any tax professional to simplify their billing process.

Features

• Sales pipeline management
• Integrated communication channels
• Recurring revenue
• Extensible, open APIs
• Third-party integrations
• Advanced sales reports and analytics
• Accurate sales forecasting
• Task management
• Lead scoring
• Email and calendar integrations
• Sales engagement tools
• Performance metrics
• Workflow automation
• Mobile access app available
• Integration with Zendesk Support and Suite

Pricing

• Team: $19 per user/month
• Growth: $49 per user/month
• Professional: $99 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

2. Accelo

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Accelo is a cloud-based CRM platform designed to help accounting firms manage relationships with their clients from prospect to payment. Accountants can use simple billing, project management, time tracking, and customizable client projects to help boost productivity.

With Accelo, you can also track and share emails automatically, and set up automated notifications to remind you of deadlines. This software provides the most up-to-date financial performance and business data, too. Be sure to download the mobile app version to help you manage your business from anywhere.

Features

• Custom tasks and checklists
• Task, email, and calendar sync
• Customizable client database
• Contact management

Pricing

• Plus: $24 per user/month
• Premium: $39 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

3. Method CRM

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With Method CRM, bookkeepers and accountants can take advantage of built-in lead management, invoice creation, and customizable workflows. It also syncs with platforms like Gmail, Mailchimp, and Outlook, so you can spend less time entering data.

Additionally, Method CRM features automatic lead capture, deal status tracking, and the ability to record all interactions with clients. The software also lets you add an account and registration section where customers can complete their orders. A robust contact list within Method helps keep track of prospects that you still need to reach out to.

Features

• Lead management
• Invoicing
• Time tracking
• Work order management and scheduling

Pricing

• Contact Management: $25 per user/month
• CRM Pro: $44 per user/month
• CRM Enterprise: $74 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

4. Liscio

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Liscio is a CRM for accountants that provides easy and secure file sharing, a collaborative dashboard, and streamlined communication between clients and customers. Liscio allows you to easily track each task and gives you the ability to set alerts and reminders for overdue action. It's also available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android.

Other features include unlimited file storage and sharing, e-signature capabilities, and mobile notifications. Liscio also ensures end-to-end encryption so that all shared data stays secure. Messaging within Liscio is also secure, as it is set up with an invite-only client experience.

Features

• Secure messaging
• Dashboard views
• Tasks with automated reminders
• Unlimited file sharing

Pricing

• $50 per user/month

Free trial: No free trial available

5. QuickBooks Online

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QuickBooks Online is a CRM that simplifies the billing process for accountants and bookkeepers. This software provides flexible billing options for clients and the ability to track projects across multiple clients.

QuickBooks Online also integrates with Zendesk. With the QuickBooks App for Zendesk Sell, teams can create, manage, and track all invoices in one place using customer data stored in Zendesk Sell. They can also view spending, document details, and payment history information.

Features

• Bill management
• Project cost reports
• Expense tracking
• Invoice creation

Pricing

• Simple Start: $30 per user/month
• Essentials: $55 per user/month
• Plus: $85 per user/month
• Advanced: $200 per user/month

Free trial: 30 days

6. TaxDome

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TaxDome is a CRM software that integrates applications, allowing for streamlined client interactions and workload management. Accountants can benefit from TaxDome's bulk email-sending capabilities to reach a large pool of clients simultaneously.

TaxDome features unlimited contacts, custom data fields, and a centralized hub to ensure every engagement is in a single location. It allows you to send push notifications to your clients so they know when their invoices are ready to be paid. Additionally, TaxDome supports six different languages, making it easier to share information and dashboards with non-English speaking clients.

Features

• Secure client portal for accountants
• Secure payments
• Unlimited e-signatures
• Contract capabilities

Pricing

• TaxDome Lite: $25 per user/month
• TaxDome Pro: $50 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

7. Nimble

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Nimble is a great CRM software if you use Google Workspace and/or Office 365 for your accounting and bookkeeping needs. With Nimble, you can automatically sync all your contact information into a single dashboard, track your team's activities, manage to-do's, and send templated emails to clients.

Nimble also facilitates integration with social networks to streamline client communication and relationships. In addition, contact information is easily located within the platform. Teams can also update deal statuses and add notes to records.

Features

• Timesheet automation
• Invoice automation
• Financial and staffing reports
• Profitability and forecast

Pricing

• $25 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

8. Thryv

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Thryv is a CRM software that helps you manage your business, including your bookkeeping and accounting needs. Thryv can process payments, manage appointment booking, and access analytics in one centralized dashboard.

This software is also fully customizable. Users can easily communicate with clients and get paid with simple invoicing. Thryv covers review and rating evaluation, online listings, social media relevance, customer sentiment analysis, and more.

Features

• Integrates with third-party apps
• Mobile app option for iOS and Android
• Personalized onboarding
• 24/7 support

Pricing

• Contact the team for pricing

Free trial: 14 days

9. Zoho Books

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Zoho Books is an accounting CRM that helps you manage finances, collaborate across departments, and automate workflows. With Zoho Books, tax professionals can leverage integrations with other apps like Zendesk. The Zoho Books app for Zendesk allows your customer support executive to access customer details in an instant.

Zoho Books features end-to-end accounting and simple invoice creation, and it aims to ensure you're tax compliant before you begin filing at tax time. Users can also customize purchase and sales templates to reflect the business' branding or use the pre-loaded templates provided. This software also lets you upload documents (such as receipts) and add them to transaction records.

Features

• Secure online payments
• Bill generation
• Inventory management
• Bank monitoring

Pricing

• Free: One user only
• Standard: $15 per user/month
• Professional: $40 per user/month
• Premium: $60 per user/month
• Elite: $120 per user/month
• Ultimate: $240 per user/month

Free trial: 14 days

10. Netsuite

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Netsuite is a bookkeeping CRM that not only streamlines tax management but also helps you transform your digital ledger and gain access to accurate financial reports. Netsuite makes it simpler and more efficient to manage payables and receivables, collect taxes, and close the books, giving you better control of financial assets.

This CRM also features many integration options and is compatible with Zendesk - Zendesk for NetSuite pairs your customer service data with your sales and financial system of record, allowing you to gain access to data in real time.

Features

• General ledger
• Cash management
• Accounts payable and receivable
• Payment management

Pricing

• Contact the team for pricing

Free trial: 14 days

There are many benefits that bookkeepers and accountants can reap from CRM software. The right solution can help them:

• Leverage data to better understand clients: CRM software provides a centralized hub that stores client data so you can translate client information into intelligent business insights. This allows teams to personalize customer interactions and better target prospects.
• Boost customer retention: A CRM tool can help you create and foster long-term relationships with clients, as you'll be able to manage meetings, optimize invoices, and schedule follow-up task reminders and emails more efficiently. This level of communication and attentiveness gives your clients peace of mind that you are taking care of their issues.
• Improve communication between internal and external teams: CRMs typically operate on a centralized hub or dashboard, so teams across an organization can access information in a centralized place - enabling all parties to communicate more effectively.
• Automate workflows: Workflow automation can scale productivity without adding headcount and free-up advisors on routine tasks.
• Foster conversational experiences: A CRM can also help you engage with prospects and customers across multiple channels and create better visibility across your team.

There’s a lot to consider when picking the CRM software that best suits your accounting and bookkeeping needs. Here are some questions to ask when choosing the best CRM software as a tax professional.