9 Best CRMs for Accountants & Bookkeepers

• You need free accounting integrations: If you have a small accounting firm or an independently practicing CPA, you’ll benefit from its free third-party CRM integrations, such as Xero and QuickBooks, for managing account receivables and payments.
  Overall, HubSpot CRM has a great free plan that includes two users and robust tools like mass email and quote generation, making it one of the best CRM for small businesses.
• You want to leverage content marketing to educate and attract more clients: Accountants use content, such as blog articles or videos, to explain complex bookkeeping and tax preparation topics. This CRM system includes a marketing platform and content management system (CMS). If you’re looking to host a blog or manage an on-demand video library for lead generation, this CRM is a great choice.

• You want a more scalable option: While it offers a great free-forever plan with robust tools, HubSpot CRM gets progressively more expensive compared with other providers. This applies when you want to upgrade from the Starter ($15 per user monthly) to the Professional plan ($90 per user monthly) for more advanced features like calling, live chat engagement, and contact scoring.
  • Alternative: Zoho CRM is a general-use CRM with free and cost-friendly, scalable paid plans. This provider offers four paid plans: Standard ($14), Professional ($23), Enterprise ($40), and Ultimate ($52) billed on a per-user monthly breakdown (billed annually). Advanced features workflow automation for prompt client response start in the most basic plan.
• You need more robust e-signature capabilities: Because of the vast compliance requirements involved in accounting and tax preparation services, accountants often need several signatures to get legal permission to provide a service or approve a filing. HubSpot CRM only provides 10 signatures per account monthly in its basic plan at $15 per user monthly (with an option to buy more in higher plans).
  • Alternatives: Pipedrive’s Smart Docs for signature requests is an add-on starting at $32.50 per company monthly. Users have unlimited access to this feature (reasonable use policy applies) starting with the Professional plan ($49 per user monthly). On the other hand, monday CRM allows integrations with PandaDoc and DocuSign for only $14 per user monthly.

• You want a highly customizable CRM and accounting system: Zoho is one of the top customizable CRM systems. Accounting teams can alter their data fields, navigation tabs, workflow automations, and modules to support tasks like finding deductions or classifying expenses and write-offs, managing client groups, complying with tax rules and deadlines, and financial reporting.

Additionally, integrations enable accounting professionals to customize their CRMs by adding more functionalities. Accountants can greatly benefit from the best Xero integrations and other accounting-related integrations with native options like the Zoho Finance Suite.

• You need a scalable CRM solution: Another great attribute of Zoho is its affordability. There is a free plan available for three users, and each of the paid plans is cost-friendly. The highest tier (Ultimate Plan), for instance, costs $52 per user monthly, which is relatively inexpensive compared with other products on this list.

• You want a system that’s much easier to operate: Zoho CRM is known for its robust features, which can be overwhelming for first-time users. Its interface can have clunky buttons and menus. This makes it fairly difficult to navigate the system and get comfortable with the contact management tools.
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM is the best traditional CRM for product ease of use. Pipedrive and monday CRM are also excellent alternatives because of their intuitive features and easy-to-navigate user interface.
• You need free accounting integrations: Zoho CRM has thousands of integration options available. However, the CRM provider does not allow users to begin connecting with third-party tools, such as QuickBooks and Xero, until they purchase a paid plan. The Zoho Financial Suite integration for invoice management requires the Professional plan ($23 per user monthly).
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM allows accounting integrations on its free plan. Accountants and bookkeepers using Xero and QuickBooks can integrate these systems with HubSpot to update financial statements and manage invoices. Bitrix24 offers a free plan for unlimited users and enables you to import data like tax information via CSV files.

• You want to manage clients and deliverables: Bitrix24 has built-in project management tools to oversee deliverables and long-term service projects. If you are looking for a CRM to track activities, like tax filings and audits, and keep all relevant records, Bitrix24 is an excellent choice.

You can participate in and manage tasks and schedule Zoom calls with clients without leaving the CRM, saving you time and effort.

• You need free accounting firm CRM software: Bitrix24 is one of the better free CRM systems on this list that allows unlimited user access. On the free plan are notable capabilities like video conferencing, unlimited contacts and deals, project management, and a service catalog.

Teams can also message clients through Facebook, store client profiles, plan activities, and collaborate with clients from the system.

• You need a simpler accounting CRM: Bitrix24 has many capabilities that make the interface tough to set up and navigate. Both sides of the workspace have several menu icons that can be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users. The tools are also relatively difficult to operate, especially if you’re a bookkeeper new to the CRM world.
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM and monday CRM have user-friendly interfaces and intuitive features. Pipedrive is equipped with easy sales automation tools, such as Sales Assistant and Smart Contact Data. These capabilities save you time and effort in client management.
• You want a free solution to store client documents: One key issue for Bitrix24, particularly for accountants who need to organize files for a paper trail, is that the free plan does not let you store client documents within contact records. This feature requires the Basic plan ($49 for five users) and above.
  • Alternative: HubSpot CRM is a comparable option equipped with document management capabilities on its free-forever plan. Build a library of documents you can easily share with prospective accounting clients. Obtain insights into when and where your prospects are most engaged.

• You need to track your accounting firm’s profitability: If you are managing multiple clients, you can rely on its ability to compare tracked hours and billed amounts to clients. This helps you quickly analyze profitability in terms of services and client engagements.With its capacity management feature, you can set a number of hours for each employee to help you monitor their workload and adjust task allocation.
• You need a low-cost industry-specific accounting software: Financial Cents offers a low-cost paid plan for only $9 per user monthly. If you are a solo practitioner who needs an affordable but robust accounting firm CRM solution, Financial Cents is a great choice. While other providers offer free plans, they often lack specialized functions like those available in Financial Cents.

• You need robust customization features for your accounting CRM: Financial Cents lets you customize the task view in a board or list format to easily manage your accounting tasks.With customizable user permissions, you can manage what your employees can see and do. However, this accounting CRM does not provide extensive customization options for pipelines and web forms like other providers listed on this list.
  • Alternatives: Pipedrive offers customizable sales pipelines and web forms (like lead capture forms) and integrates with website builders (like GreatPages) to personalize your accounting firm’s website.monday CRM’s custom dashboards instantly report on team performance, deal progress, and sales figures. Edit deal stages, add or delete columns, and manage several pipelines at once.
• You need built-in invoicing features in a CRM software: Financial Cents requires a QuickBooks integration to send invoices. This integration automatically pushes all the time tracked in Financial Cents to QuickBooks for invoice and payroll management. However, this integration also means an added charge starting at $49 per month.
  • Alternative: HubSpot CRM’s invoices feature is already built in the platform. If you only need invoicing capabilities, you don’t have to manage complex integrations to send invoices to your clients.You can invoice directly from HubSpot CRM. And if you’re a solo practicing accountant, you can reduce late payments with its overdue invoice tracking and management features.

• You need a highly-intuitive CRM system: monday CRM is known for its product simplicity. Creating boards is simple, and the CRM data entry process uses a spreadsheet format where users can edit records and then view their data on various board views. Set up workflow automatons through no-code functionality where you simply select items, triggers, and actions.
• You want built-in account and client management tools: monday CRM is equipped with post-sales management tools to assist clients after the deal is closed. It includes an account management module for tracking client activity, supporting onboarding tasks, and managing renewals and client project management to oversee and collaborate on deliverables.

• You need a CRM that integrates directly with Xero or QuickBooks: monday CRM requires an app connector, like Zapier, to integrate with Xero or QuickBooks. This means an extra charge for the plug-in or third-party app connector. If you use Xero or QuickBooks for bookkeeping functions, such as invoicing and payroll, you might want to choose a provider that offers free or direct integration.
  • Alternative: Insightly CRM is a great alternative to monday CRM when it comes to integrating CRM with popular accounting systems like Xero and QuickBooks. It is one of the top CRMs that integrate with Xero for simple accounting tasks, allowing you to access Xero records, copy and link system data, and generate invoices.
• You need free lead scoring to identify high-value clients for your firm: While monday CRM offers lead scoring to help you qualify leads and prioritize opportunities to earn new clients, you need the Enterprise plan, which requires a custom quote. But this feature is available at a lower price from other providers.
  • Alternative: Zoho CRM is a great option that offers affordable lead scoring. It is available on its Standard plan for only $14 per user, monthly.

• You want to streamline your proposal process for opportunity management: Pipedrive is a sales CRM with solid lead management features. As part of that arsenal, it has excellent proposal tools useful for accountants who send service contracts constantly to new and current clientele.
  These tools autocreate business proposals, track whether they’ve been opened, and obtain digital signatures―all in one system.
• You provide multiple account services: Accountants often deliver various solutions, including bookkeeping, personal and business tax preparation, payroll, auditing, and fractional chief financial officer (CFO) services.
  As each of those will require its own unique sales process, it’s nice to have a CRM like Pipedrive that can customize deal stages and support multiple pipelines. For instance, you can create stages for qualification, fact-finding, quoting (where you and the client agree on service fees), and closing (where the client signs the engagement letter).

• You want low-cost project management tools: Project management tools let bookkeepers, auditors, and tax preparers track progress on client services from the same system they’re storing their account information. These features are not available until you are subscribed to a higher tier (starting at $64 per user for the Power plan) or buy the Projects add-on for $6.70 per user monthly.
  • Alternatives: Insightly CRM and Bitrix24 are the best CRMs for tax preparers and accountants that want built-in project management. Bitrix24 offers a project and task management module in its free plan. And Insightly CRM provides project management tools starting with its most basic plan (Plus plan at $29 per user monthly).
• You need a free accounting CRM: Arguably, the biggest downside of Pipedrive is that it lacks a freemium plan, which is particularly convenient for new accounting firms or teams that want to try the CRM at zero risk before upgrading.
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM is our favorite free product for marketing capabilities. Bitrix24 is another good option if you need free client management tools, such as scheduling Zoom calls with clients.

• You are focused on preparing taxes for your clients: TaxDome is an intuitive cloud-based solution for tax practice management. If your accounting firm works with many clients in various niches or sectors, you can benefit from TaxDome’s unlimited number of clients, accounts, storage space, and electronic signature usage.
  Plus, import documents from popular tax software like TaxAct and Drake directly into TaxDome. You can print and save documents from Drake to TaxDome workspace using TaxDome’s Windows application.
• You prefer a simple CRM plan: TaxDome offers one plan. Solopreneurs and freelance accountants can benefit from this provider because you only pay on a per-user basis. The plan already includes all features like client management and time tracking without complicated tiers, fees, and modules. You can choose from one-, two-, or three-year subscriptions with discounts included.

• You need more robust marketing features: TaxDome has limited marketing capabilities. While the provider offers custom website and branding tools, this CRM for accountants does not have social media, content marketing, and other digital marketing features.
  • Alternatives: General-use CRMs like HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM, and monday CRM offer marketing tools. These include content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, and other online marketing tools.
• You prefer a more affordable CRM for accountants: TaxDome’s price is relatively higher than other providers on this list. The cost starts at $700 per user yearly or $58 per user monthly with a three-year contract. TaxDome does not offer a free plan or free trial. This is a drawback for freelance accountants and new accounting firms wanting to test the tool first before committing, especially for this multiyear subscription service.
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM provides low-cost, scalable plans starting at $15 per user monthly and freemium tools for two users. The same is true for Zoho CRM with free tools for three users.

• You want to securely manage vendor invoices for your clients: When you connect Xero to Capsule CRM, the system will ask how you would like to manage vendor data.
  If you have multiple offices and your accounting firm is subscribed to a plan with access control features, you can select a default team to which all your Xero contacts will be added. This ensures only authorized employees can access sensitive vendor data.
• You need an easy-to-use CRM for accountants: Capsule CRM is a highly intuitive CRM system with a user-friendly interface. Accountants and bookkeepers can easily integrate this platform with Xero and quickly create a link to open a Xero contact’s corresponding contact in the Capsule CRM.

• You need a CRM for certified public accountant (CPA) firms that can do more than record and sync invoices: Capsule CRM gives you instant access to payment due dates and payments and enables you to add clients directly to Xero.
  If you need advanced capabilities such as progressive billing and multistep workflows for automated accounting, it’s best to find an alternative.
  • Alternative: Pipedrive uses progressive billing features to let you automate invoice creation, payment confirmations, and real-time sales transaction notifications.
• You need more robust free-forever tools: While Capsule CRM has a free-forever plan, its features are limited to contact and deal management. Users are capped at only 250 stored contacts and can only manage tasks and emails.
  • Alternative: HubSpot CRM’s free plan offers more advanced features. This plan provides 1 million contact records, campaign management, deal tracking, and email features, suitable for new CPA firms.

• You are a project-based accounting freelancer: Project management and communication tools streamline client communication. Insightly CRM provides built-in project management to oversee deliverables after a closed deal. Accounting teams can monitor and manage projects in the workflow dashboard.
  Insightly CRM is one of the top QuickBooks CRMs that takes care of the technical side so you can focus more on your clients and projects. You can create projects from emails using templates, which saves time delegating tasks to your staff.
• You want to link client relationships in your CRM: One of the most useful features of Insightly CRM is the record-linking capabilities. CPA firms usually have client groups or one client with different entities billed separately. This CRM can help you track related entities or show various relationships, like client partnerships.

• You want a simpler CRM system for accountants: Insightly CRM has many features and configurations. Hence, first-time CRM users may find this CRM tough to navigate.
  • Alternatives: HubSpot CRM and Pipedrive are the best options if you’re looking for the best CRM for bookkeepers that prioritizes ease of use. Both accounting firm CRM systems have a simple layout and intuitive features for a great user experience.
• You need a CRM bookkeeping software with a free plan: Insightly CRM does not offer a free plan. However, it provides a free trial for 14 days. If you are a bookkeeper or accountant wanting to start with a free CRM, other providers on this list offer free-forever plans.
  • Alternative: Bitrix24 offers a free plan for unlimited users with video conferencing, project management, and unlimited contacts and deals. HubSpot CRM offers free personal contact management tools, mass emailing, third-party integrations, and appointment scheduling.