When onboarding clients in COUNT through the Practice Manager, you can choose between two different account types depending on the level of service you provide.

These are:

• Client Portal
• Full Accounting Workspace

Each serves a distinct purpose and is designed to support different types of client relationships.

Client Portal

A Client Portal is a lightweight collaboration space designed for communication and task management between you and your clients.

What It Includes

• Task tracking and assignment
• Document sharing (uploading and receiving files)
• Client communication and conversations

What It Does Not Include

• General ledger
• Transaction management
• Invoicing, reconciliation, or financial reporting

When to Use a Client Portal

Client Portals are ideal when you don’t need to manage a client’s books directly in COUNT.

Common use cases:

• Clients who only engage you for tax filing or compliance work
• One-time or periodic engagements (e.g., annual filings)
• Clients who maintain their books on another platform but still need a structured way to collaborate
• Collecting documents and managing deadlines without full accounting access

In short, a Client Portal keeps communication and workflows organized without introducing unnecessary accounting complexity.

Full Accounting Workspace

A Full Accounting Workspace is a complete accounting environment where you can manage your client’s books end-to-end within COUNT.

What It Includes

• Everything in the Client Portal, plus:
• Full general ledger
• Transaction management and categorization
• Bank feeds and reconciliation
• Invoicing, bills, and financial reporting

When to Use a Full Accounting Workspace

This is the right choice when you are actively managing or overseeing a client’s finances.

Common use cases:

• Ongoing bookkeeping and accounting services
• Monthly or quarterly close processes
• Clients who want their financial operations fully managed in COUNT
• Firms aiming to standardize all clients on a single accounting system

A Full Accounting Workspace allows you to run the entire financial lifecycle for your client—from transactions to reports—within COUNT.

Choosing the Right Account Type

The choice depends on the level of service you provide:

• Use a Client Portal for collaboration-only relationships
• Use a Full Accounting Workspace when you need full control over the client’s books

You can think of it as a spectrum:

• Client Portal → Communication & coordination
• Full Workspace → Complete financial management

Selecting the right account type ensures your workflows stay efficient while giving clients exactly the level of access and functionality they need.

Updated on: 06/05/2026