Questions about the software small accounting firms run on
Short answers that each stand alone, with a source for every product fact. Checked on 10 Nov 2026.
What software does a small accounting firm need?
Most small firms need a ledger workspace for client books, tax preparation software and practice management software to run the work. Documents, proposals, payments and e-signing often come inside the practice tool: TaxDome, for example, includes proposals, invoicing and KBA e-signatures in its one plan.1–3 Buy separate tools only for jobs left over.
What is happening to QuickBooks Online Accountant?
Does Xero have practice management for US accounting firms?
Yes. Xero said in July 2026 that Xero Partner Hub is live for all US partners, and its Practice Management tools cover jobs, time and billing.7,8 Practice Management is free for Silver, Gold and Platinum partners; new and Bronze practices get a 14-day trial, then pay US$149 a month for up to 10 users.9
Which tax software publishes its prices?
Which practice management software integrates with tax software?
It depends on your tax program. TaxDome reads prior-year returns from Drake, Lacerte, UltraTax, CCH Axcess and others.15 Canopy saves files from UltraTax, Drake, Lacerte and ProSeries.16 Karbon lists ProConnect only.17 Financial Cents reaches tax files through Google Drive on Scale.18 Firmary doesn’t integrate with tax software.19
How much does a full software stack cost a small accounting firm?
Can one tool run an entire accounting firm?
None of the practice tools here prepares returns or keeps client books, so a firm still needs tax and ledger software. Firmary, for example, replaces separate tools for client requests, intake forms, task lists, proposals, e-signing and invoicing, while the general ledger and tax software stay where they are.21 Canopy and TaxDome cover a similar span and add tax-software links.15,16
Which accounting firm software lets staff use Claude or ChatGPT with firm data?
Financial Cents has an MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini on its Scale plan.22 Firmary staff can connect Claude as a custom connector, and Firmary’s ChatGPT support is in testing.23,24 Karbon announced an MCP server in June 2026 without stating when it would be available.25 TaxDome’s firm MCP server needs its $200-a-month AI add-on.26
Does Firmary work with QuickBooks, Xero or tax software?
No. Firmary doesn’t integrate with accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero, or with tax software.19 It covers the client work around them, including requests, documents, proposals, e-signing and invoices, and your ledger and tax software stay where they are.21 Firmary is pre-launch, with a waitlist and unpublished pricing.27,28
Where do e-signature costs show up in an accounting firm’s stack?
In several places at once. ProConnect and Lacerte include Intuit Sign with KBA at no extra fee.29,30 TaxDome includes unlimited e-signatures and KBA.3 Drake charges per signing event, from $2.50 down to $1.75 for KBA.31 Karbon sells credit bundles, with each KBA using two credits.32 Pay for KBA in one tool.
What’s the cheapest way to set up software for a new accounting firm?
Does an accounting firm need a separate CRM?
Join the Firmary waitlist
Firms join the Firmary waitlist and are emailed when they can join.
Sources
Each product fact on this page links to a numbered source. Quotes are copied as the page’s text reads on the date shown, spacing included.
- 1
TaxDome
Proposals and engagement letters ... Up to 3 tiers for clients to pick from.
- 2
TaxDome
Automatic invoices for ongoing engagements. ... Reduce A/R with a paywall until paid.
- 3
TaxDome
Unlimited e-signatures ... IRS-compliant signature requests with KBA.
- 4
QuickBooks Online Accountant
QuickBooks Online Accountant is going away December 31, 2026. Get ahead and transition to Intuit Accountant Suite—no data migration, no switching costs, no starting over.
- 5
QuickBooks Online Accountant
Core Centralized firm operations, workflows, and service delivery. $0/mo
- 6
QuickBooks Online Accountant
*$149/mo starting on January 20, 2027. Remains free for ProPartner Accountants at the Premier tier and above.
- 7
Xero
Following rollout in the UK earlier in the year, Xero Partner Hub is now live for all partners in the US, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa and Canada ... if you use Xero Practice Management tools, then Jobs, Time and Billing are there too.
- 8
Xero
Practice Management includes job tracking, task assignment, staff scheduling, time entry and invoicing, work in progress reporting, and customizable job templates and workflows.
- 9
Xero
It’s included free for practices at Silver, Gold or Platinum level. If you’re new to Xero or at Bronze level, you can try it free for 14 days, then subscribe for USD $149 per month for up to 10 users.
- 10
Drake Tax
Additional returns can be purchased individually: $49.99 per individual return and $74.99 per business return.
- 11
ProConnect Tax
ProConnect Plus For growing firms managing individual and business returns that need more capacity and alignment. starting at $8,802 $5,868per year+ applicable taxes 2 users 200 individual returns, all states included
- 12
Lacerte
Pay-per-return pricing: An annual license fee (Fast Path) is required to purchase returns on a per-return basis. If purchasing a bundle, this fee is included.
- 13
UltraTax CS
Custom pricing for UltraTax CS is available based on the number of users, tax returns, and states and jurisdictions of operations.
- 14
CCH Axcess Tax
Please note: CCH Axcess™Tax packages available on the eStore are intended for new customers only. These packages are not eligible for purchase by existing CCH Axcess or ProSystem fx® Tax customers.
- 15
TaxDome
Works with Drake, ProSeries, UltraTax, ATX, CCH Axcess, and Lacerte.
- 16
Canopy
CCH Axcess (Coming Soon) ... Intuit Proconnect (Coming Soon) ... Save files from Drake Tax to Canopy.
- 17
Karbon
tax returns in ProConnect become repeating work items in Karbon, and tax return statuses become filterable work statuses
- 18
Financial Cents
Tax Integrations: Drake, UltraTax, ProConnect, ProSeries, CCH Axcess
- 19
Firmary Ours
Firmary doesn’t integrate with accounting software (such as QuickBooks or Xero) or tax software.
- 20
TaxDome
Clients beyond 150 are priced in volume bands, from $15 each on their own down to $5 each in the largest band. ... 400 active clients: $4,125 per year ($0.86 per client a month)
- 21
Firmary Ours
Firmary replaces the separate tools around client work (portal logins, emailed document requests, intake forms, task lists, message threads, proposals, e-signing and invoicing); the general ledger and tax software stay where they are.
- 22
Financial Cents
Available on the Financial Cents Scale plan.
- 23
Firmary Ours
Staff can connect Claude to Firmary today as a custom connector. It acts as the staff member, within their permissions and the firm’s AI rules; Claude asks before running a change unless the staff member has set that tool to always allow, and every change made through Claude is recorded in the firm’s audit log.
- 24
Firmary Ours
ChatGPT support is in testing (not live).
- 25
Karbon (press)
Public MCP server: Connects Karbon to external AI tools via an open standard
- 26
TaxDome
Yes, with the TaxDome AI add-on. The open Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector lets your AI tool read and act on TaxDome data directly.
- 27
Firmary Ours
Firmary is pre-launch: firms join a waitlist and are emailed when they can join. There is no self-serve sign-up.
- 28
Firmary Ours
Firmary’s pricing isn’t published.
- 29
ProConnect Tax
Unlimited digital signatures and authentication included, no additional purchase.
- 30
Lacerte
Digital signatures and KBAs for all tax clients
- 31
Drake Tax
KBA E-Signatures Identity-verified signing Events Cost Per Event 0-99 $2.50 100-499 $2.25 SAVE 10% 500+ $1.75 SAVE 30% Minimum purchase: 5 E-Sign events
- 32
Karbon
Each eSignature request with knowledge-based authentication uses two credits.
- 33
Xero
All new partners can use Xero and Xero Partner Hub for free, with more products added at higher status levels.
- 34
Financial Cents
Solo ($19/mo annual) – Best for single-user firms. Team ($49/mo annual, $69/mo monthly) ... Scale ($69/mo annual, $89/mo monthly)
- 35
Canopy
A centralized system to manage all your client relationships, cases, and records in one place.
- 36
TaxDome
One secure, organized CRM for client records.
- 37
Karbon
Shared contact profiles, activity timelines, and automated client requests.
- 38
Ignition
Create and track leads, send proposals, and close deals - all in one place.
- 39
HubSpot
Free for up to 2 users. No credit card required.