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An accounting CRM is software that helps accountants and bookkeepers organize financial data. The top CRMs for accountants use automation to reduce paperwork and minimize human error while also offering real-time revenue reports, billing and invoicing modules, and security features to protect clients’ sensitive financial data. To help you find the best accounting CRM for your needs, we've compiled six programs that we recommend based on our independent review.
Here are the six best CRMs for accountants:
Salesforce emerged victorious in advanced features and customization, while Method:CRM scored highest for key accounting CRM features. Our overall winner, Freshsales, won the cost category and ranked second in ease of use. No matter what you’re looking for, we trust any of our top six CRMs for accountants will have what you need. Here’s a breakdown of how each entry scored in key features, price, and usability — you can also jump down to see the evaluation criteria and process.
Note: All per-user prices are with a one-year commitment unless noted.
Freshsales offers a balance of essential and advanced features at an affordable cost.
Price Range: Free to $69 per user, per month (21-day free trial)
Freshsales is the best CRM for accountants (and a top-rated CRM overall) for its affordable cost, ease of use, and well-rounded suite of standard and advanced features. It offers task automation, document management, and AI-driven insights to help bookkeepers organize and streamline their financial data. A Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) add-on is available for $19 per month and adds esignatures, a document builder, and automatically-calculated quotes.
Freshsales’ free plan is available for up to three users. If you want a no-cost CRM that’ll scale with your business, HubSpot’s free CRM hosts unlimited seats.
Zoho CRM is a versatile platform that supports multitudinous currencies and languages.
Price Range: Free to $52 per user, per month (15- to 30-day trial)
Zoho CRM is a highly-customizable software option that can be tailored for an array of industries, including accounting. Notably, ideal for multinational companies wanting to streamline global operations. With support for up to 50 currencies, businesses can generate reports and revenue forecasts in both local and foreign currencies. Zoho CRM can also be translated into nearly 30 languages to better accommodate branches and clients worldwide.
Zoho CRM is a marketing CRM flush with tools for email and social media campaigns — all helpful if you’re trying to grow your accounting business. But if you simply want a way to manage expenses and organize client data, consider Method:CRM.
HubSpot’s free CRM can be enhanced with over 1,000 app integrations and paid upgrades.
Price Range: Free to $1,200 per month (Sales Hub)
HubSpot is a free CRM with a wealth of sales and marketing tools. It also includes free custom invoice and quote generators plus access to its HubSpot App Marketplace, which boasts over 1,000 integrations so you can build an accounting stack with programs like QuickBooks, Xero, and Chargebee. With unlimited seats, HubSpot CRM is great for firms wanting free software that’ll scale with them. (Paid upgrades add Stripe payments and quote-based workflows.)
Though it has an extensive selection of integrations, HubSpot CRM itself is not all that flexible. Zoho CRM is a low-cost alternative with myriad customization options. (It also has a free tier, but it’s limited to three seats.)
EngageBay CRM offers a user-friendly experience for accountants who are new to CRMs.
Price Range: Free to $73.59 per user, per month
EngageBay CRM is a user-friendly sales and marketing CRM with an easy-to-learn interface plus excellent 24/7 support. Thus, it’s useful for accountants transitioning from spreadsheets to CRM software. Key features include email tracking, appointment scheduling widgets, and task management tools to ensure every payment and expense is accounted for. Meanwhile, native Xero integration adds invoicing, payment tracking, and access to clients’ payment history.
EngageBay CRM will suffice for first-time CRM users who can get by with the basics. However, for an accessible CRM with a broader range of features and integrations at a comparable cost, check out Freshsales.
Method:CRM offers tight QuickBooks integration along with native financial management tools.
Price Range: $25 to $74 per user, per month (14-day free trial)
Method:CRM is a sales platform with a wealth of native financial management tools for creating and tracking estimates, sales orders, bills, and receipts. It’s great for companies seeking a QuickBooks CRM; it tightly integrates with the popular accounting software and features two-way sync with QuickBooks Desktop and Online. This combination allows users to generate and send invoices, and build self-service portals with up-to-date payment information.
Method:CRM is the top pick on our list for core CRM accounting features, but it’s not as transparent as Salesforce when it comes to data security protocols and compliance standards.
Salesforce is rich in advanced features and compliant with major data protection standards.
Price Range: $25 to $330 per user, per month (30-day trial)
Salesforce is an analytical CRM known for its powerful reporting capabilities, accurate revenue forecasting, and extensive task automation. It also adheres to a wide range of domestic and international data standards including PCI DSS, SOC II, APEC, and GDPR. Together, this makes Salesforce the best choice for large firms requiring advanced features to streamline complex tasks plus stringent data compliance for both local and international standards.
Salesforce's high costs may make it cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses. Zoho CRM is a more affordable option that features AI-powered tools plus a customizable platform that can be tailored for international business dealings.
Below are the top tools the best CRM for accountants should have:
Generate and send invoices using CRM data, then automatically update client profiles with current payment status.
Create and share visual reports featuring real-time analysis of a company’s financial health.
Securely store digital tax documents, contracts, and invoices for easy retrieval so they can be emailed or printed at a later date.
Automate data entry and other repetitive tasks to reduce paperwork and the likelihood for human error.
Financial data is extremely sensitive — make sure it’s encrypted and adherent to security standards wherever you do business.
To find the best CRM software for accountants, we created a rubric with six weighted categories plus multiple subcriteria. We sought out software with a balanced combination of essential CRM features, accounting-specific tools, and robust data security. After scoring 10 options, we shortlisted the top six with a rating of 3.9 or higher. In addition to an overall winner, we assigned five runners-up and distinguished them based on how they scored in specific categories.
The top accounting CRMs streamline accounting tasks, monitor revenue and expenses, and ensure compliance with tax codes. Our list features general software rather than industry-specific CRMs — every entry here can aid accountants in multiple aspects of their business. However, if you’re a certified financial planner, you’ll need additional features like householding and milestone tracking, so check out the best CRMs for financial advisors.
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