CPA Practice Advisor

JUL 2016

Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.

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WEBSITE BUILDERS Reviews 11 BEST FIT Accounting and Financial Site Builder (AFSB) from Tenenz is a good fit for small to mid-sized accounting firms that want an easy- to-use product that also offers good customization capability at an easily affordable price. PRODUCT STRENGTHS • User-friendly product offers a variety of user tools for quick website customization • Over 50 templates are available for users to choose from • Product conta ins over 20 0 professional images, or users can upload and use custom images • Free newslet ter ser v ice is included for up to 250 clients POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS • Blog capability not included in the product. But if you have a blog tool you like, it can easily be plugged into the A FSB open platform. SUMMARY & PRICING AFSB from Tenenz offers small to mid-sized firms the luxury of a custom website without the cost. e product offers excellent cus- tomization capability, and over 50 website templates to choose from, and users can add personalized touches such as logos and other firm branding materials. Subscriptions start at $25.99 per month when paid annually, or users can choose to pay month-to-month, with subscription pricing running $32.99 per month. ere are no setup fees, and new users also receive an initial 60-day free trial, with no credit card needed. AFSB also offers other services, available at an additional cost, including website customization, search engine optimization, and newsleer distribution for more than 250 clients. www.afsb.net Tenenz Accounting and Financial Site Builder AFSB Read the full review and see expanded ratings for this product online at: www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com/12225656 4.5 2016 OVERALL RATING Easy-to-Build Website Keeps Tax Pro And Her Clients Connected Kathy Benjamin has been a bookkeeper for sev- era l years, working in-house in a variety of roles for small and mid-sized businesses in central Texas. A bout five years ago, she decided it was time to bout five years ago, she decided it was time to start her own practice, KBen Services. The firm, start her own practice, KBen Services. The firm, which offers tax compliance, payroll, bookkeep- ing, financials and notary services, is located in ing, financials and notary services, is located in Gatesville, Texas, on the northern side of the Fort Hood Army base. The firm serves mostly smaller businesses, in- The firm serves mostly smaller businesses, in- cluding Sch. Cs, partnerships and S-Corps, along with a sizable client base of individual tax returns, ma ny from the a ctive a nd retired military commu- nity in the area. To meet the needs of her clients, she often travels to their locations, she says, and this keeps her really busy during busy season. But a s a sole pra ctitioner, even the non-tax focused times of yea r ca n have her running a round so much that she only makes it into her actual office much that she only makes it into her actual office a couple days a week. While Kathy expects to hire an office manager While Kathy expects to hire an office manager later this year, she has come to rely on technologies to help her keep up with client needs and provide service, even while she's on the road. When she first started her practice, she tried a traditional first started her practice, she tried a traditional do-it-yourself website service, but says that build- ing websites is not why she got into bookkeeping. Then she found the A ccounting and Financial Site Builder (AFSB) system from Tenenz. "I'm not a programmer or a website designer," she said. "But AFSB makes it easy to lay things out a nd a dd information, and helps me have a completely professional website without having to know a ll the website. If you can use Word, you can use their website editor. Plus it provides tools for me and my clients, and even allows clients to securely send me files." The built-in PayPal inte- securely send me files." The built-in PayPal inte- gration also lets her firm accept online payments gration also lets her firm accept online payments from clients. The AFSB system (www.afsb.net) is designed specifica specifica lly for accounting and tax professionals, with ea sy-to-use templates that help these pros design a client-friendly website that includes more than 50 financial calculators, personalized website than 50 financial calculators, personalized website a ddress and email addresses, and client portals. The porta ls let clients securely share sensitive tax and fina fina ncial files with their accountant, and can also ncial files with their accountant, and can also be used by the professional to send things, such a s finalized tax returns and financials, to clients. s finalized tax returns and financials, to clients. s finalized tax returns and financials, to clients. A ccounting pros who use the AFSB website system a lso get a 15 percent discount on other products a nd services from Tenenz, such as brochures, checks, envelopes, marketing materials, organizers, tax folders and forms. Websites built with AFSB also include a client tax organizer, an interactive map and contact form for gathering information. Support staff are on hand to help setup and maintain websites. Firms ca n get a 60-day free trial of AFSB, after which the system costs as little as $25.99 per month. Kathy says these features have been extremely useful, especially when she's away from the of- fice. AFSB also includes a monthly, ready-to-send fice. AFSB also includes a monthly, ready-to-send client newsletter that includes fina client newsletter that includes fina ncial news, tips and business guidance, all written by profes- siona ls, and that can be shared using the built-in email marketing system or on social media. The newsletter is a utomatica lly updated to the firm's lly updated to the firm's website. A dditiona l firm ma l firm ma rketing tools are also built in, including "AFSB has everything a tax preparer needs, including the client portal, calculators, and the monthly newsletter, which I send out to clients a nd have on my website." Learn more at www.afsb.net. READ THE 2016 REVIEW OF READ THE 2016 REVIEW OF AFSB Website System for Accountants

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