CPA Practice Advisor - 11

CRM SYSTEMS: REVIEW
Accelo CRM

www.accelo.com

Accelo offers a variety of applications designed for
numerous niche markets including accounting firms.
Completely online, Accelo allows
STRENGTHS:
* Good fit for accounting firms accounting firms to easily manage
* Dedicated implementation
all of their business operations
manager assigned to new
using a single, unified platform.
customers
Not just a CRM, Accelo
* Can purchase only the
modules desired
includes complete database manPOTENTIAL LIMITATIONS:
agement as well as email tracking,
* Time consuming setup
invoicing and payments, retainers,
* Support plans must be
and sales options. In addition to
purchased separately
managing firm clients, Accelo

Insightly CRM

www.insightly.com

Insightly CRM from Insightly offers complete CRM
capability designed for both product sales as well as
service businesses.
STRENGTHS:
Insightly CRM is an online
* Three plans offered
* Free trial available
application that offers easy
* Good integration options
navigation. A mobile app is also
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS:
available for both iOS and Android
* Complex onboarding
devices, offering features such as
* Support plans have to be
purchased separately
the ability to create, edit, and view
* Not really suitable for
any record in the application. The
smaller firms
mobile app also offers an easily

ResultsCRM

allows users to track leads, vendors, and collaborators
and partners.
Accelo offers a mobile app for both iOS and
Android devices, allowing users to easily add a new
contact wherever they are. An Activity Stream is also
available that allows users to scan any project or client for current activity. The mobile app also includes
timers that can be used to record activity against a
project or client, with full synching capability with
the web application.
Accelo is a good fit for accounting firms of any size
that wish to automate and manage their client activity

navigated home page, along with the ability to add
or edit notes, send assignment notifications, access
an event calendar, and view and send emails.
Insightly navigation is intuitive, including a CRM
dashboard that allows user to view various graphs
and charts related to their activity. The main dashboard also includes a navigation bar that offers quick
access to Insightly features such as Tasks, Contacts,
Organizations, Leads, and Opportunities.
Though not specifically designed for accounting
firms, Insightly does offer excellent CRM capability

www.abacusnext.com/software/CRM/results

Designed for small businesses and accounting firms
that use QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online
applications, ResultsCRM offers
STRENGTHS:
* Great for QuickBooks users complete bi-directional CRM capa* Offers both on-premise and
bility between the application and
cloud deployment
QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks
* Good reporting options
Desktop, and Microsoft Outlook,
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS:
* Only suitable for QuickBooks eliminating the need to enter data
users
twice.
* Not suitable for larger
ResultsCRM is an on-premise
businesses
application that includes a mobile

Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a solid online CRM application well
designed for businesses of all kinds, including
accounting firms, although it is
STRENGTHS:
better suited for businesses that
* Four plans available
* Excellent help resources
sell products. Zoho CRM offers
available for new users
four plan levels, with a basic plan
* Customizable
available at no cost.
POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS:
In addition to easy online
* User portal only available in
most expensive plan
access, Zoho CRM offers a mobile
* Performs better if used with app for iOS and Android devices,
other Zoho applications

app. Firms can also choose to have the application
hosted in the cloud. The ResultsCRM system also
offers a mobile app that can be used with iOS and
Android devices for easy access to data at any time.
ResultsCRM is designed to be an all-in-one solution for small businesses offering a variety of features
such as project and workflow management, billing
management, service scheduling, sales management,
and complete contact management. With its Microsoft
Outlook integration, ResultsCRM users are able to add
contacts, activities, and email conversations using the

www.zoho.com
with the mobile app offering features such as customer email management, inventory management,
a phone log, voice notes, and the ability to attach
documents to a file.
Users can easily customize Zoho CRM to reflect
the needs of their business, including the ability to add
custom modules, buttons, and fields, with customization capability varying based on the plan purchased.
Along with the Free plan, Zoho offers a Standard
plan which currently runs $12 per user, per month,

2020 OVERALL RATING
Read the full review for
this product online at:

www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/
21123911

from a single platform. All new users are assigned
a dedicated implementation manager. Each module
(Sales, Projects, Retainers, and Service) is available
for $39 per user, per month. For those looking for a
complete system, the ServOps system is available for
$79 per user, per month. All modules require a minimum of three users, with no additional fees assessed.

2020 OVERALL RATING

4.75

Read the full review for
this product online at:

www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/
21123916

suitable for businesses or professional firms selling
products or services. Insightly's Plus plan is $29 per
user, per month, the Professional plan is $49 per user,
per month, and the Enterprise plan is $99 per user,
per month. Both the Plus and Professional plans also
offer a free 14-day trial.

2020 OVERALL RATING

4.5

Read the full review for
this product online at:

www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/
21123918

ResultsCRM QuickAdd button housed in Outlook.
Well suited for small to mid-sized businesses and
accounting firms that use QuickBooks applications,
ResultsCRM easily combines multiple features into a
single database. A subscription to ResultsCRM starts
at $25 monthly.

2020 OVERALL RATING

4.75

Read the full review for
this product online at:

www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/
21123919

a Professional plan, which is $20 per user, per month,
and the Enterprise plan, which is $35 per user, per
month and contains an amazingly diverse set of
features. Those interested can visit Zoho's website to
sign up for a free trial of any of the plans.

FEBRUARY 2020 ■

www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com

http://www.accelo.com http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/21123911 http://www.insightly.com http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/21123916 http://www.abacusnext.com/software/CRM/results http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/21123918 http://www.zoho.com http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/21123919 http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com

CPA Practice Advisor

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CPA Practice Advisor