As the owner of a modern tax, accounting, or financial firm, you may have already embraced the ability to conduct business in the digital age. It’s rare to find financial firms that operate solely on paper or by using manual processes anymore. Software solutions and digital tools help firms grow from basic startups to advanced operations.

When you hear the phrase "accounting software" you might think about the backend financial and accounting tools that make client work more manageable. But for the sake of this post, we’ll be referring to other kinds of software. 

Instead of business accounting software, in this context, we’re talking about the front-of-house solutions you need to grow your business from a digital marketing perspective.

Keep reading to learn why online accounting software could be your best kept secret for attracting new clients, maintaining operations, and expanding your services.

What Professional Accounting Software Should You Have for Your Firm? 

Tax and accounting firms might have multiple platforms or programs to run different aspects of the business. This “tech stack” or collection of software tools might include accounting software options such as:

• Backend accounting or bookkeeping software (solutions designed to perform actual accounting procedures automatically)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools
• Administrative programs
• Invoicing software and financial reporting capabilities
• Cloud-based file sharing and data storage
• Marketing tools and analytics solutions (for measuring results) 

Small businesses need a combination of tools to satisfy all the needs of their business model. For instance, you probably need a system or platform for processing your clients’ tax returns. At the same time, you want digital processes in place to continually attract new tax clients for the future.

Why Do Small Business Owners Need Reliable Software?  

As your firm scales, it might be nearly impossible to manage each set of business processes manually. If you were to conduct business entirely on paper (or by hand), you’d need significant time and resources to make these tasks happen continuously. 

Firms that want to stay ahead of the competition may also find it increasingly difficult to carry out normal business tasks without the help of software solutions. As a modern financial firm, you need reliable software to:

• Keep transparent records of your own business earnings or revenue
• Manage multiple client cases at one time
• Maintain inventory management practices
• Keep protected information secure and safe, particularly in online applications
• Manage “front end” processes that deal with client acquisition or relations
• Run and maintain effective marketing processes for continuous growth 

Having these pieces running in tandem truly is your best kept secret for longevity. But selecting the right software applications requires a willingness to invest time, money, and resources into optimizing these tools in order to reap the maximum benefit.

Top Qualities to Look for in Your Software Investment 

When it comes to choosing the “best kept secret” of your growing tax or accounting firm, you should know what you’re getting for your investment. At CountingWorks, we believe in selecting software that meets or exceeds industry standards, while providing you with the solutions you need to some of your major pain points.

Here are some of the top characteristics to look for when choosing a new platform for your tax or accounting firm.

Flexible, Customizable Accounting Software

While you may not have the time or skills needed to build your own solution from the ground up, the right software should come with ample customization to make your life easier. What features can you turn on or off based on the needs of your firm? Can you update different features within the software so that they reflect your firm’s branding?

Automation Features

One of the primary goals of a new software solution should be to save you time. In the case of tax and accounting software, this means having automated features that eliminate manual, tedious work. 

With a solution like CountingWorks PRO, automations include the emails, texts, and invoicing that you send to your clients. The right platform should be able to remove the cumbersome steps that free up your time to focus on the bigger picture tasks and projects. 

Conversion Optimization 

When you turn to a tax and accounting software solution for client conversion, you need to ensure that the tool is capable of optimizing the many moving pieces along the customer journey. This includes important aspects like your website, client landing pages, and targeted communications (through email or social media).

Are these aspects of your business optimized in such a way that they convert new clients on autopilot? Do you have access to prebuilt templates or features that remove the stress associated with manual conversion? Don’t be afraid to dig into the results and reviews to see how your chosen software performs in real-world scenarios.

Making a Software Investment Count for Your Accounting Business

When you land on the right software solution, you’ll need to have a strategic implementation plan in place before you’re able to find success. This process should involve:

• Working alongside a customer support team member to get started
• Providing adequate onboarding and training to staff members
• Setting up approved templates or pre-built features to run automatically
• Continually reviewing and analyzing performance and metrics

At CountingWorks, we believe in the power of reducing your list of separate applications and providing one cohesive platform where you can take care of your most essential tasks. At the end of the day, the choice to do so reduces manual lift and saves your tax or accounting firm both time and money.

Making your investment count means that you’ll be able to attract, convert, and retain multiple clients over many years. You’ll also be able to automate and streamline both your front and back office processes in order to work even faster.

Real Examples of Success—What the Right Accounting Software Can Do for You

A solution like CountingWorks is designed to provide practical success to independent CPA firms, tax advisors, and bookkeeping practices. We know that the market is continually evolving and crowded. Your success depends on factors like revolving client pipelines, competitive fees and services, and high-performing organic search results.

CountingWorks maintains an impressive roster of tax and accounting specialists who benefit from powerful administrative software. Our list of case studies includes stories of growth, automation success, and client retention. In a tumultuous market, or in an uncertain economic scenario, these results make all the difference. 

Terry O’Neill is a Virginia-based small business owner who offers individual, business, and non-profit tax preparation with personalization and tax planning solutions. When he found success with CountingWorks, Terri said, “I would still be floundering if not for CountingWorks PRO. It's very difficult for a small business that specializes in taxes to stay busy year-round. That has now been achieved.”

Give your firm a chance to grow—in its busy season and beyond. Choose a tax and accounting software today that makes it easier to deliver exceptional services to clients, without having to worry about administrative issues under the surface.

Improve Your Firm’s Processes this Year

Don’t go another year feeling overwhelmed by the software choices that are out there for your tax or accounting firm. Although there are many tools and platforms available, it’s important to select the right fit based on your firm’s stage of growth and your most pressing issues.

Let CountingWorks automate and optimize your tax or accounting firm’s digital processes so that you can focus on the task of growing your business. With a “best kept secret” under your belt, you’ll be growing and serving new clients in no time at all. Contact us if you have any additional questions or if you would like to speak with an expert.

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