Practice management software is any software that takes care of the “back office” of a business. For accountants, this can include managing client data and communications, storing archived work and documents, task management, reporting and more.

While there’s no objective “best” accounting practice management solution, there will be software that is better suited to your specific business needs than others. For example, if you use lots of different apps in your practice, you’ll want to choose software that can integrate with those apps and save you switching between programs all the time.

Find the right practice management software for your accounting practice

When choosing your practice management software, it’s worth starting off by evaluating how your practice works, where improvements could be made and what you really need from your software. Involve your team in a discussion and ask yourself:

• Which processes would benefit from being automated?
• Are files stored in an organised, secure way?
• Where are the bottlenecks?
• Which tasks take the longest?

Identifying these key features you need from your software, as well as some nice-to-haves, will help you pick out software that’s a good fit.

Eyes on the price

Practice management software varies widely in price and a higher cost doesn’t necessarily mean more functionality – or even better software. Some vendors offer the flexibility of monthly or yearly payments, while others offer discounts depending on, for example, the amount of users.

Always shop around and compare to get the best deal, and keep an eye out for hidden costs. You want to be confident when you buy that you’re getting exactly what you want and be charged extra at a later date for features you’ve come to rely on.

A word to the wise – comparison sites are great for getting an idea of what’s available out there, however bear in mind that providers pay to be listed on those sites so it isn’t necessarily an independent view.

The right support

As well as the software itself, assess the vendor’s customer service and support. For some software, you can be up and running in the same day; others can require a little more training, but it might be worth it.

If you need help on-boarding or prefer to have expert support that’s just an email away, make sure your vendor offers a thorough implementation process or even a dedicated account manager.

Flexibility and scalability

No one knows what the future holds, but choosing your software based on your future plans will prevent you being limited but your software further down the road. Look for software that suits your needs now, but is also flexible and scalable to keep up with your business growth.

Remembering why you’re implementing practice management software for your accountancy practice and asking staff for their input can help here; that way, everyone’s goals are aligned and requirements are met will ensure your new software works for everyone.

Do your homework

The more you know, the better your final decision will be so it’s worth gathering as much information as you can about the various practice management systems accountants use.
Ask around, read comparison guides and try free demos to get a feel for the different types of software, interfaces and functionality.

If software offers you the option to try before you buy, or a free trial, make sure you take it! It’s an easy (and free!) way to see if the software and the vendor are a good fit for your business

Supporting accounting practice managers

Senta helps accountants power up their practice with software, so we know how difficult finding the right practice management solution can be.

If you’re looking to find out more about choosing the right software for your accountancy practice, or see if Senta’s software is a good fit for your practice, our Sentanauts are always happy to help.

Get in touch today and see how Senta could help you power up your practice.