January 2012

800-739-9998 www.cchgroup.com/portal   2012 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit Firms wanting secure client file sharing functions with integration into other CCH programs, along with file versioning and automated retention and expiration capabilities.   Strengths Can be used on all major browsers and platforms Strong security customization File versioning for online edits to shared documents Customizable […]

866-674-6785 www.SmartVault.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.75   Best Fit Professional firms and also businesses wanting a web-based document management system that includes client portals and integrations with common small business applications. Strengths Integrated Toolbar for QuickBooks Customizable firm and client-side branding Familiar expandable folder structure User-by-user access right customization Automated synching to desktop or […]

800-968-8900 www.cs.thomson.com   2012 Overall Rating 5 Best Fit Firms using other programs in the Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite, particularly those using the document management and tax programs. Strengths Customizable firm branding and integration of login on firm website Two-way firm/client sharing and collaboration Broad integration with programs in CS Professional Suite Ability to […]

781-356-5152 www.XCMsolutions.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.25 Best Fit Firms using or considering the broader XCM Workflow Management system to provide structured digital management of their engagements, including the ability to securely share files with clients. Strengths Simple client interface No storage or bandwidth/transfer limits Customizable firm branding Two-way firm/client sharing and collaboration Dependable hosting, […]

888-667-8440 www.OfficeToolsPro.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Fit Firms using or considering the Office Tools Professional Practice Management 2011 system, who want to provide user-friendly portals to clients. Strengths Tight integration with Practice Management 2011 system Project management and file sharing Built-in client communication tools Customizable firm branding Good integration with outside programs Potential […]

800-441-3453 www.ShareFileCPA.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Fit Accounting practices wanting a simple, yet secure method of sharing files with clients and allowing them to upload files to the firm. Strengths Firm branding and the ability to place a login field on firm website Sharing of files two ways between client and firm Multiple […]

The Possibilities of Portals

800-716-2558 ext. 100 www.cPaperless.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.25 Best Fit Professional firms seeking a stand-alone system that will make it easy for their clients to send files to them, as well as securely share returns and other documents with their clients. Strengths Simple for clients and firms to use Strong security customization options Customizable […]

Column: My Perspective

Your business web presence speaks volumes about your capabilities and focus. Your purpose and abilities should be clear on the public side of your website. And once a client logs into your site, the additional features of the private side should impress even more.

888-455-0183; www.atxinc.com 888-455-0182; www.taxwise.com   2012 Overall Rating 3.75 Best Firm Fit Firms using TaxWise or ATX that are looking for both a document management and automated tax document tool. It’s a good fit for high-volume retail firms that need a solution housed entirely on premises, especially those that will use the integrated electronic signature […]

800-200-7599 http://lacerte.intuit.com/products/tax-import http://proseries.intuit.com/products/tax-import   2012 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Firm Fit Firms using the Lacerte and ProSeries tax programs seeking to reduce the time spent on organizing source documents and data entry. Strengths The new Pre-Import Review feature provides a side-by-side view of electronic values and images from source documents. Direct download provides an easy […]

800-805-8582 www.sureprep.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Firm Fit Firms where more than one person is involved in the tax return preparation process with multiple levels of sign-off. It’s also a good fit for firms using the supported tax software who are willing to use SurePrep’s proprietary data-entry and SPbinder tools. Strengths SPbinder has […]

800-291-2136 www.copanion.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.5 Best Firm Fit Firms that want a user-friendly solution for receiving an organized and bookmarked PDF of source documents, regardless of the firm’s tax and document management software. Firms using the supported tax software will benefit from the Populate product. Firms using the Drake professional tax software should […]

800-968-8900 CS.ThomsonReuters.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.25 Best Firm Fit Firms using other applications of the CS Professional Suite. Specifically, a FileCabinet CS license is required for the labeling and organizing function. An UltraTax CS license is required for the data extraction and import into the tax software. Strengths Integration throughout the CS Professional Suite. […]

6 Effective Tools for Tax Document Automation

800-739-9998 CCHGroup.com   2012 Overall Rating 4.75 Best Firm Fit Firms using other ProSystem fx applications to prepare individual income tax returns, as well as firms that want the OCR and organizing processes to run on premise with a fast turnaround time. Strengths With the right hardware and recommended scanning procedures, the OCR processing should […]

A little pre-tax season planning and preparation can go a long way.

Tax and accounting professionals who start their own firms from scratch face benefits and significant challenges. On the pro side, they have the opportunity to build the firm as they wish, from internal practices to staffing and management styles. Of course, there can be significant startup costs, and the firm starts with a client roster of zero, presenting the very pressing hurdle of income generation.

While we all cherish the most trusted advisor status that accountants have earned, this status must be continually re-earned with clients. Ask yourself whether your clients want you to serve them or lead them to better success. I believe your clients desperately want you to lead them — and if you don’t, they may turn […]