Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/42507
AccountantsWorld — Website Relief BEST FIT Tax and accounting fi rms who want tight integration with the vendor's web-based product suite. STRENGTHS • Expanded and improved library of customizable templates provides unlimited combinations. • Users have direct access with tight integration to all AccountantsWorld cloud applications. • Syndicated news content, including stock and custom RSS feeds, and BEST FIT Build Your Firm intentionally focuses on the small firm as its primary customer. STRENGTHS • Over 95 modifiable templates available (customization services also off ered). • Variety of free add-ons such as fi le transfer, logo integration, credit card BEST FIT AFSB has a strong retention rate with tax and accounting fi rms looking to establish a professional web presence at a low cost. STRENGTHS • Unlimited site pages. • Integration with Google Analytics. • Unique domain names, up to 20 free email accounts, and monthly newslet er service included. BEST FIT Tax and accounting fi rms who want a truly customized website backed by a vendor who has heavily invested in updating its products over the past nine months. STRENGTHS • Not limited to template-based or out-of-the-box header, button, content fi eld designs and layouts. • Unlimited pages. • SEO optimized with embedded search engine submission system AW-supplied newslet ers are also available. • Search engine submissions and automatic stats are available, along with optional Google Analytics tracking and optional premium placement on the Accoun- tantsWorld "Find an Accountant" directory. • Tax organizer collects client data online, and can be uploaded directly into many tax soſt ware applications. • Appointment scheduler integrates with Practice Relief and includes an email reminder feature. • Client portals and online solutions can be added with the CyberCab- inet document management system and portal. POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • Social media integration is limited to Facebook widgets and Twit er but ons. • Additional charge for more than fi ve e-mail accounts. www.accountantsworld.com/wr SUMMARY & PRICING With its many user-rich features, Website Relief is a capable competitor to other website building providers. AccountantsWorld has a strong company history with the profession, and offers a simple yet powerful interface and good integration with other applications. Website Relief setup is free with an annual cost of $595 per year or $59 per month. A standard directory listing in the Accoun- tantsWorld Directory of Accounting Profes- sionals is included in the price. Users may also purchase the Gold Directory listing ($395) with enhanced top-of-page listing or opt for Premier Web Services, with site design and updating services off ered at $99 per hour. Read the full review of this product exclusively online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10357824 Build Your Firm — Website Development & Internet Marketing processing, e-commerce, spam fi l- tering, portals, etc.) • Provides statistics for site tracking; also integrates with Google Ana- lytics and other third parties, as well as social media integration. • Enhanced email newsletter mar- keting included. • Integrates with client-facing SaaS applications from many publishers. POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • Extra fee charged for more than 10 email accounts and for upgrades to storage space. • Does not off er blogging engine, but works with third-party blog pro- viders. SUMMARY & PRICING BYF is constantly adjusting its feature set, not only to keep up with the latest AFSB Accounting and Financial Site Builder • Client portals available for secure fi le transfer. • More than 50 fi nancial calculators. • Allows for events calendar and Google maps. • Credit card payment gateway available. • Template system using Cascading Style Sheets-technology, a bill- board homepage feature and the ability to use Flash technology. POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • Social media integration limited to social media but ons. SUMMARY & PRICING Moving ahead aſt er years of innovation and poised to add even more of the features today's fi rms want, AFSB is a solid off ering among website builders for tax and accounting professionals. Basic recurring cost averages $23.99 Emochila, Inc. — Websites for Accountants and statistics pages. • Unique customer-owned domain names. • Emochila manages and maintains all client sites, with unlimited website edits included. • Newslet ers service included. • System can sync an entire fi rm's email to Gmail. • Four free hours of CPE credits through CPElink.com. • Designers utilize new program- ming languages, including html5, css3 and jQuery. POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • Firms cannot directly manage their own websites, even for simple changes. • Websites include a "Powered by eMochila" logo and link at the bot om of each page. SUMMARY & PRICING Emochila's Websites for Accountants can truly look the way a fi rst-class designer would envision them … and function the way a technologist per month ($287.89 annual subscrip- tion). A 60-day free trial is available, and there are no contracts. A low-cost guarantee comes with all sites. Domain transfer is free. Search engine registra- tion is $30. If requested, AFSB will create a custom site design for $250. Read the full review of this product exclusively online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10358633 www.emochila.com would want. T e company's work over the last nine months to upgrade its design and functionality should have a big impact in the site building arena. T ere is no setup cost, and the basic recurring fee is $70 a month. Add-ons include individual, profes- sional graphic design for a fee ranging from $499 to $1,999. T e company notes that the most popular add-on is the $999 design package. Design add-ons include personalized logo, custom-built graphic design and animated design. http://websites.buildyourfi rm.com technologies, but to give its customers what they need. BYF may not be the most well-known among website builder providers, but they off er an impressive tool that can be custom- ized as needed. BYF off ers a 60-day, no-risk trial, and standard accounting sites have no setup fee. Custom niche sites have a setup fee of $1,000 to $2,000. Monthly charges are $69.99 for a starter site, and $83.33 for premier and niche sites. Read the full review of this product exclusively online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10352752 www.afsb.net Read the full review of this product exclusively online at www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/10358871 October 2011 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com 29