NorthLuma blog · 2026-05-17 · 7-minute read · Industry: Accounting
Best CPA website & client portal software for accountants + bookkeepers 2026.
Accountant websites have the same shape as dental: the public marketing site and the regulated client-document portal are two separate decisions. CPA Site Solutions + Build Your Firm bundle them; lean stacks separate them. We tested seven options in May 2026.
TLDR
- · CPA Site Solutions $49/mo — bundled site + portal + tax organizer + monthly content. Easy single-vendor.
- · NorthLuma + SmartVault — $49 once + $20/mo = $1,249 over 5 years vs CPA Site Solutions $2,940. Same posture, $1,700 saved.
- · Build Your Firm $109/mo — premium content network. Worth it if SEO content is your primary growth lever.
The 7-tool comparison
| Tool | $/mo | Native portal? | Owns code? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPA Site Solutions | $49 | ✓ | ✗ |
| Build Your Firm | $109 | ✓ | ✗ |
| AccountingWEB Sites | $79 | ✓ | ✗ |
| Wix Accounting template | $22 | ✗ embed | ✗ |
| Squarespace | $23 | ✗ embed | ✗ |
| WordPress + accountant theme | $60 | ✗ embed | ✓ |
| NorthLuma + SmartVault | $20 | ✗ embed | ✓ |
Per-tool verdict
CPA Site Solutions
Accounting-industry default. Bundled site + client portal + tax organizer + monthly newsletter content. The Mindbody-of-CPA-websites.
Build Your Firm
Higher-priced CPA-specific platform. Stronger SEO content network than CPA Site Solutions. Includes client emails + marketing automation.
AccountingWEB Sites
AccountingWEB-affiliated. Mid-priced. Decent content templates; smaller customer base than CPA Site Solutions or Build Your Firm.
Wix Accounting template
Generic Wix dressed up. Client portal requires Wix Members ($25/mo extra) or separate tool. Tax organizer is DIY.
Squarespace
Cleaner design than Wix. Same DIY pattern for client portal + tax organizer (pair with SmartVault $20/mo or your firm-management software's built-in).
WordPress + accountant theme
Hosting + premium accountant theme + portal plugin = $80-120/mo all-in. Most flexible; most assembly.
NorthLuma + SmartVault
$49 once + SmartVault $20/mo for the HIPAA/IRS-compliant client portal. Cheapest credible CPA combo. Tax organizer = link to your firm-management software (Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome — all ship native organizers). You own the public-site code.
Frequently asked
Which is best for a solo CPA in 2026?
CPA Site Solutions $49/mo if you want everything bundled (site + portal + tax organizer + monthly newsletter content). NorthLuma + SmartVault + TaxDome / Karbon ($49 once + $20/mo SmartVault + your existing firm-management) for the lean stack. Bundled is easier; lean is cheaper and you own the public-site code. For a solo doing 50-150 returns/year, either works; lean saves $300-500/year long-term.
Can NorthLuma host my client portal with tax documents?
No — we don't handle client-confidential document storage. That's a separate IRS-Pub-4557-aware tool (SmartVault, Liscio, ShareFile, your firm-management software's built-in portal). NorthLuma ships the public marketing site with a 'client portal' button that opens your existing portal. The tax documents never touch our infrastructure; the legal compliance posture lives entirely in the portal vendor's BAA / SOC 2.
What about IRS Publication 4557 compliance?
Pub 4557 (safeguarding taxpayer data) covers PII handling, encryption, access controls — all of which apply to your firm-management + portal tools, not to your public marketing website. NorthLuma sites don't collect SSNs / bank info / tax documents; that flow lives in SmartVault / Liscio. Same compliance posture as ProSites/PBHS for dentists: the website is the brochure, the BAA-covered tool handles the regulated data.
What about CPE / continuing education content on the site?
Most CPA Site Solutions / Build Your Firm bundles include monthly tax-update content templated for your firm to publish. NorthLuma doesn't ship monthly content updates; you'd either write your own or paste in CPA Journal / Journal of Accountancy snippets with attribution. For a solo CPA, writing 1 substantive post/quarter is enough to keep the site looking maintained; bundled monthly content is convenience not necessity.
5-year cost?
CPA Site Solutions: $2,940. Build Your Firm: $6,540. AccountingWEB Sites: $4,740. Wix Accounting: $1,320 + portal subscription. NorthLuma + SmartVault: $1,249 ($49 once + $20/mo × 60). Cheapest legitimate CPA setup is NorthLuma + SmartVault saving $1,700-5,300 over the bundled tools.
Bias note: NorthLuma is in the table. Pricing verified May 2026. IRS Pub 4557 references are general guidance — consult your firm-management software vendor + your malpractice insurer for specific compliance. Email [email protected] for corrections.