Per-client document checklist
Each engagement gets a clear, visible checklist of what's needed — clients see what's still missing without asking.
Industry
Custom apps for accounting & bookkeeping firms.
We build custom client portals, document-collection apps, and internal dashboards for accounting and bookkeeping firms — designed to turn the tax-season email chaos into something structured.
Why this hurts
What we see across accounting & bookkeeping firms
Every engagement spawns dozens of emails about documents — requests, follow-ups, 'did you get this?', last-minute uploads. Documents arrive in five different places. Staff start the morning answering 'where's my return?' emails. The firm's actual tax software is often fine; the chaos is in everything around it.
Common workflows
The patterns we build for
Status that clients can see
'Awaiting documents', 'in progress', 'ready for review', 'filed' — visible to the client without an email.
Internal status board
Staff see every engagement's status across the firm. Partners spot at-risk filings two weeks out, not on the deadline.
Document upload & audit log
Clients upload through a secure portal with virus scanning. Every action is logged.
Reminders that don't get ignored
Automatic gentle nudges for missing documents, escalating as deadlines approach.
Generic tools
What firms in this space tend to outgrow
- Shared inboxes as the document-collection system
- Generic file-sharing tools with no per-engagement structure
- Big practice management platforms the firm only half-uses
- Spreadsheets tracking engagement status by hand
What we'd build
Project shapes we'd take on for accounting firms
- Per-client portal with engagement checklist and document upload
- Internal staff dashboard with firm-wide engagement status
- Automatic reminders for missing documents
- Integration with the firm's existing tax-prep or bookkeeping tools
- Year-end client onboarding workflow
Related case study
A real-shape project in this space
FAQ
Common questions from accounting firms
We use Karbon / TaxDome / Canopy. Why would we replace that?
Often you shouldn't, if it fits. But many small to mid-size firms find those platforms either too much or oddly missing the one workflow they actually need. A focused custom app can supplement or replace, depending on where the friction is.
Can we keep our existing tax software?
Yes. The portal handles documents, status, and client communication; the tax software stays where it is. The two integrate where it helps.
What about client data security?
Designed for it: secure upload, role-based access, audit logs, encrypted-at-rest data, and Canadian data residency where appropriate.
Working at a accounting firm with a workflow that doesn't fit your tools?
Tell us what's slowing you down. We'll give you a straight answer about whether a custom app makes sense, and roughly what it would take.