Best practice management software for small accounting firms
For a small Australian accounting firm, the best practice management software replaces several subscriptions with one: CRM, client onboarding, tasks and workflows, e-signatures, client files, shared email and ATO client communication, priced per user so a small team pays only for its seats. Portal 360 is built for exactly that: Starter is A$29 per user per month with a 7-day free trial, and it connects to Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks.
What to look for, and how Portal 360 measures up
Use these criteria with any vendor. Each shows what Portal 360 provides so you can compare like for like.
One platform, not five subscriptions
Small firms feel every extra tool as cost and admin: a CRM, a task app, an e-signature plan, a file-sharing service and an email tool add up.
Portal 360: Portal 360 includes the CRM, tasks and workflows, e-signatures, File Centre, shared inbox and ATO client communication in one per-user plan.
Per-user pricing that scales down
A three-person firm should not pay for a ten-seat licence.
Portal 360: Portal 360 is priced per user per month: Starter A$29, Professional A$49 and Advanced A$99, each with a 7-day free trial.
Accounting software connections
Client and invoice data should not be re-keyed between your ledger and your practice tool.
Portal 360: Xero is on every plan; QuickBooks and MYOB are included from Starter; XPM sync is an add-on at A$99 per account per month.
ATO letters handled without extra tools
ATO mail is a daily time sink for small firms without admin staff.
Portal 360: ATO client communication pulls letters into client files overnight by ABN, alerts the team and forwards them to clients with your cover letter.
Signatures and approvals on the client file
Engagement letters and sign-offs should not need another login.
Portal 360: Send PDFs for e-signature with templates, reminders and an audit trail, and run internal and client approvals from task statuses.
Australian hosting and security
Client tax data should stay onshore with proper controls.
Portal 360: Data is hosted in Australian Microsoft Azure data centres, with ISO 27001 certified controls, encryption and role-based access.
Fast to set up
Small firms cannot spend months implementing software.
Portal 360: Start a trial in minutes, import clients and tasks from CSV, or use the migration program (A$2,999 per practice, excluding GST) and have the team do the transfer and set-up.
Portal 360 is a good fit if
- Firms of one to about twenty people that want everything in one place
- Practices replacing a CRM, task app and e-signature tool
- Teams that use Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks
- Firms that want Australian-hosted data
It may be less suited if
- Firms that need direct ATO lodgement from the platform (it is on the ATO roadmap, but not available yet)
- Practices that need a built-in ledger: Portal 360 works alongside your accounting software rather than replacing it
Features that matter for small accounting firms
Common questions
How much does practice management software cost for a small accounting firm?
Portal 360 starts at A$29 per user per month on Starter, with Professional at A$49 and Advanced at A$99. A small team pays only for its seats, and every paid plan has a 7-day free trial.
Can a small firm replace its CRM and e-signature tool with Portal 360?
Yes. Portal 360 includes a CRM with client onboarding and e-signatures with templates, reminders and an audit trail, so a separate CRM and e-signature subscription is no longer needed.
How long does it take a small firm to get started?
You can start a free trial in minutes. You can import clients and tasks from CSV, or use the migration program, where the Portal 360 team transfers your data and sets up the whole product for A$2,999 per practice (excluding GST).
Last updated 18 October 2026. Prices in Australian dollars, excluding GST.
Try it with your own clients
7-day free trial on Starter, Professional and Advanced. Or talk to an Australian specialist.