A bookkeeper needs to do a lot more than just manage finances and keep records. They need to follow up with clients, keep customers informed at every stage, and ensure compliance with local regulations.
Customer relationship management (CRM) for bookkeepers streamlines all these tasks with tools specifically designed for bookkeeping businesses. Now, as there are so many options available in the market, choosing one can become confusing.
In this guide, we’ll go over some of the best CRM for bookkeepers and help you choose the right one for your business.
Software | Pricing | Unique Features | Rating |
Zoho CRM | 5 plans, starting at $20/user/mon, Free plan (3 users) + Free trial available |
| 4.7 |
ClickUp | 4 plans, starting at $10/user/mo. Free plan + Free trial available |
| - |
Go HighLevel | 3 plans, starting at $97/mo. Free trial available, no free plan |
| - |
HubSpot CRM | Free plan. Access to advanced CMR with the purchase of other premium products |
| 4.6 |
Pipedrive CRM | 4 plans, starting at $19/user/mo. Free trial available, no free plan |
| 4.5 |
Salesforce | 5 plans, starting at $25/user/mo. Free trial available, no free plan |
| - |
TaxDome | 3 plans, starting at $800/year. No free plan, Free trial available |
| - |
Zoho CRM software is a comprehensive solution for bookkeepers. What makes it unique is its emphasis on simplifying the process of payments and other financial transactions. Businesses can enable bulk payments, saving users from manually processing every payment individually.
Organizations can allow customer to access their account details, such as total due and credit. Moreover, customers can print and download transactions, avoiding repeated support interactions.
Key Features
- Project timesheet approval
- Customer ratings and reviews
- Quote approval
- Negotiation via comments
- Self-service portal
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Users find it easy to manage customer follow-ups and leads
- Helpful integrations with tools like Jira and Outlook
- The platform is highly customizable and can be tailored to specific business needs
Cons
- The process of importing reports can be improved
- Requires extensive preparation and planning to implement and use the software properly
Pricing
The vendor offers four paid pricing tiers and a free plan for up to 3 users. Users can also get a 15-day free trial. Here are the plan details:
- Standard - $20/user/month
- Professional - $35/user/month
- Enterprise - $50/user/month
- Ultimate - $65/user/month
Businesses can also choose to add additional team users at $11/user/month.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity and project management platform that also offers strong CRM capabilities. Its ‘tasks’ feature helps bookkeepers create recurring tasks, like monthly reconciliation and reporting.
The software also offers features like scheduled reminders and a Kanban view to help ensure bookkeepers don’t miss deadlines and can visualize their pipelines.
Key Features
- Sprint reports
- Global time tracking
- Special requests
- Board views
- Payment reminders
Pros And Cons
Pros
- It provides a single platform for everything, from task management to chat
- Offers multiple view options, including lists, Gantt charts, and boards
- Let users access a wide range of calendars and timelines
Cons
- The sheer number of features can sometimes be overwhelming
- The built-in time tracker may not fully satisfy all use cases.
Pricing
The vendor offers three paid and one free plan. Users can also get a free trial. Here are the plan details:
- Unlimited - $10/user/month
- Business - $19/user/month
- Enterprise - Custom pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Go HighLevel lets organizations streamline their client communication and retention. It enables businesses to create customizable follow-up campaigns on multiple channels. This may help accounting firms engage with their clients, capture responses, and address any concerns.
The platform also offers two-way communication capabilities, allowing both users and customers to conveniently collaborate on any device. In addition to that, users get access to a number of tools, including customized messages and automatically nurtured conversations supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Key Feature
- Built-in pipeline management
- Stripe integration
- Analytics and reports
- Website builder
- Surveys and forms
- Booking and appointments
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Helps organizations nurture communities with automations
- Combines CRM with a business’s email marketing, funnels, and tools
- Customization capabilities allow users to build sophisticated campaigns
Cons
- Some of its features need better documentation and tutorials
- It takes time to set up advanced automations
Pricing
The vendor offers three pricing plans, and customers can get a 14-day free trial. Here are the plan details:
- Starter - $97/month
- Unlimited - $297/month
- Pro - $497/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
HubSpot CRM software is one of the most popular CRMs in the market, and for the right reasons. The platform offers a wide range of features and tools, making it an ideal choice for any business and industry, including bookkeeping.
The software offers sales-focused automation, such as letting clients book meetings, sending reminders to clients and team members, and filling in the contact information of clients. This automation saves a lot of time that bookkeepers can invest in tackling difficult client questions.
Key Features
- Automated ticketing
- Inbound marketing tools
- 24/7 customer support
- Database for client interactions
- Contact management
- Reporting dashboards
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Users with limited technical knowledge can operate it easily
- Let's businesses launch customized campaigns
- Enables users to combine sales and marketing efforts, leading to better results
Cons
- Doesn’t offer much design flexibility in emails
- Some reports require manual customization, which is time-consuming
Pricing
Users can access HubSpot’s free CRM tools without any cost. If they think they need advanced capabilities, they can try ‘HubSpot Smart CRM’, which comes with every premium HubSpot product. Businesses can also purchase additional seats if they want to have more of their team members use the platform.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pipedrive CRM stands out from the rest of the options as it enables bookkeepers to create pipelines for each of their clients and projects. This helps them keep track of the progress on each account and manage tasks like tax preparation and payroll.
Businesses can also connect Pipedrive directly to email providers like Gmail and Outlook, allowing organizations to link relevant interactions and deals with the right contact.
Key Features
- Guided onboarding
- Customizable web forms
- Performance tracker
- AI-generated reports
- Automated follow-ups
- Invoice reminders
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Provides filtered views to the sales team to improve lead nurturing
- Reporting features make it easy to supervise sales teams
- Enables users to link an email to it and have the system track most communications
Cons
- Integration capabilities are limited
- Offers limited options to customize how pipelines are structured and viewed
Pricing
The vendor offers four pricing plans, along with a 14-day free trial. Here are the details of the plans:
- Lite - $19/seat/month
- Growth - $34/seat/month
- Premium - $64/seat/month
- Ultimate - $89/seat/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Salesforce relies heavily on automation to streamline and enhance customer interactions. Bookkeepers can automate personalization, get AI-powered insights, and offer clients self-service portals.
Moreover, businesses can create unified client portals and power their decision-making with insightful reporting.
Key Features
- File and field encryption
- Priority interactions
- Revenue Insights
- Direct messages
- Forecasting
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Makes it easier to manage the entire sales cycle
- It lets users view transaction history, track customer cases, and make updates
- Automation features streamline tasks and help save time
Cons
- Training is needed to effectively use its reporting feature
- Businesses need an expert implementation partner to set it up properly
Pricing
The vendor offers five pricing plans, along with a 30-day free trial. Here are the plans:
- Starter Suite - $25/user/month
- Pro Suite - $100/user/month
- Enterprise - $175/user/month
- Unlimited - $350/user/month
- Agentforce 1 Sales - $550/user/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
TaxDome is specifically designed to streamline client relationship management and is ideal for accounting firms. It takes an omnichannel approach by enabling communication on multiple channels, including email, chats, and SMS.
Additionally, bookkeepers can offer a personalized experience to their clients, helping them strengthen their market presence.
Key Features
- Branded URLs
- E-signature
- Integrated Wiki pages
- Customize Notifications
- Communication history
- Calendar
Pros And Cons
Pros
- It’s easy to onboard clients and set up their profiles
- Helps streamline client documentation, communication, and task tracking
- The platforms can be customized to align with specific business goals
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a shared inbox email
- Users require careful attention to ensure that emails and attachments are not mistakenly saved on the wrong account
Pricing
The vendor offers the following three pricing plans:
- Essentials - $800/year
- Pro - $1000/year/seat
- Business - $1200/year/seat
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Here are some reasons why bookkeepers need a CRM:
For Centralizing And Segmenting Client Data
Bookkeeping is a challenging task that involves handling multiple clients at once. Bookkeepers require software to centralize all information, as well as segment client data separately.
For Automating Repetitive Tasks
Similar to all other professions, bookkeepers also have tons of tasks that could be automated. They need specialized tools with which they can automate tasks such as sending reminders, entering client data, and outreach.
For Enhancing Client Communication And Experience
They need to build better, stronger relationships with their existing and future clients. This is the only way they can have recurring customers that will ultimately bring success to their business in the long term.
Keep in mind these three factors when selecting a CRM for bookkeeping:
Integration With Accounting Software
As someone running a bookkeeping business or providing bookkeeping services, you’ll definitely need to integrate your CRM with some sort of accounting software. So, make sure the CRM you are selecting can integrate with popular solutions in the market.
Scalability And Customization
As your business grows, you’ll need more advanced features that can handle a larger number of clients than when you started. Make sure the software you are considering offers premium plans that come with such capabilities.
Security And Compliance
Make sure the software adheres to all the local financial regulations. As a starting point, you should look for solutions that are GDPR compliant and have certifications like SOC 2.
Conclusion
Above, we have discussed the seven most popular bookkeeping CRMs in detail and explained what makes each of them unique. These solutions can help you automate repetitive tasks and give you more time to focus on client work. However, it’s only possible if you select one properly.
That’s why we highly recommend you read more resources to understand better how each of these solutions can solve your business problems.