Best Cloud Accounting Blogs of 2016
I read a lot of accounting blogs. It's a great way to stay current on the latest trends in the industry. It's also how I find and curate content for my industry newsletter, Cloud Accounting Weekly.
For a niche like cloud accounting, there sure is a lot of content out there on the interwebs!
But not all of that content is useful to accountants and bookkeepers. There are plenty of software developers and accounting firms trying to score SEO points by publishing lots of low-quality posts (even though that doesn't work anymore, according to the experts).
To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, I’ve put together a list of my go-to sites for accounting technology news and advice. Here (in alphabetical order) is a list of 12 of the best cloud accounting blogs that I’ve come across in my time as a bookkeeper and technology consultant.
Accountex Report
Formerly the Sleeter Report, the Accountex Report provides comprehensive and leading coverage of accounting technology solutions for small business, including QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and many more.
In addition, Accountex authors are leading the way in defining the future of the profession as it adapts to technology changes. For example, check out “The Importance of Redefining Bookkeeper,” by Ingrid Edstrom.
Accounting Tomorrow
Accounting Tomorrow is Accounting Today’s section dedicated to the future of the accounting profession.
Here’s one of their most popular recent posts: "6 Ways to Attract and Retain Millennial CPAs."
Digital First
Started by Sholto Macpherson in 2011, Digital First is a vendor independent accounting technology blog, tracking the rise of online accounting software companies in Australia and globally.
For a sample of the excellent cloud accounting industry coverage on Digital First, check out "Five Critical Mistakes in Cloud Accounting Today." There's a link in there to a free 17-page report with even more info on that very relevant topic.
Sholto has also been tracking the battle between MYOB and Xero in Australia for years. For the most recent entry in that series (with nearly 600 shares on social media), read “MYOB’s Tech Abundance Signals A Comeback.”
Hubdoc Blog
Hubdoc is an app that automatically retrieves your (and your clients’) financial documents (such as bills, statements, and check images) and then extracts key data automatically so you can export them as transactions into your accounting software.
The Hubdoc app is on the cutting edge of bookkeeping technology, and that’s reflected in the blog.
Subscribe so you don’t miss stories of interest to cloud accountants such as “5 Trends that Will Change Accounting Forever” and “Why Mobile Accounting is the Future.”
Going Concern
This is not your father’s accounting news publication.
Founded in 2009 by its editor, Caleb Newquist, Going Concern covers the worlds of accounting and business finance, with a slightly more irreverent take.
One of the most popular opinion pieces so far in 2016 is Chris Hooper’s “I Am a Millennial Accountant, and I Hate Accounting.”
Also getting a lot of shares is Caleb Newquist’s interview with Facebook Controller Matt Banks.
My post (warning: shameless self-promotion), “Here’s Why There Won’t Be an Uber of Accounting,” also did pretty well.
Intuit's Firm of the Future
A roundup of accounting technology blogs wouldn’t be complete without listing Intuit’s blog for accountants and bookkeepers.
Featuring expert advice and next steps for today’s accountants.
Journal of Accountancy
Published continuously since 1905, the Journal of Accountancy is the flagship publication of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
The Journal has dedicated technology and practice management sections.
One of the most popular stories of 2015 was “Millennial women: How to woo a new generation of employees.”
SethDavid.com
Seth David made a name for himself in the small business accounting industry with his plethora of YouTube videos covering just about every accounting and productivity app imaginable.
He’s active daily on his private Facebook group for accountants and bookkeepers, and also posts at least weekly on his website.
One of Seth’s more popular posts this year is “The #1 Reason Why You’re Getting Your Service Business Pricing Wrong.”
TaxJar Blog
TaxJar is an app that integrates with top ecommerce platforms to automate sales tax reports for simplified filing in all 50 states.
The blog is notable for making complicated sales tax issues easy to understand for both bookkeepers and small business owners.
For a sample, read “Breaking News: Fulfillment Centers Don’t Create Sales Tax Nexus in Virginia.”
Thriveal Blog
Jason Blumer began blogging at Thriveal.com in 2007. Originally intended as a way to inspire his customers, the Thriveal Blog eventually morphed into an online community of CPAs around the country.
One of my favorite articles is Greg Kyte’s post, “Professional Bedside Manner: Is Yours Better Than My Tattoo Artist’s?” Tell me if that headline doesn’t get you to click.
A new feature on the blog is Thriveal Tech Reviews, in which the authors review and score an accounting product. Check out Ian Crook’s review of Sageworks’ ProfitCents.
TSheets Blog
Founder Matt Rissell’s enthusiasm for just about everything permeates the culture at TSheets, and you can see it in the blog, too.
The TSheets motto is “We ♥️ Employees.” It’s also fair to say that they heart accountants and bookkeepers, too. They’ve dedicated a section of the blog to accounting professionals.
One popular article is Seth David’s post “How QuickBooks ProAdvisors Can Increase Revenue in Their Own Firms.”
And don’t miss out on “Robots Are Taking Over Your Job — And You Should Let Them.”
Xero Blog
Last alphabetically, but certainly not least, the Xero blog is a great read (even if you’re a QB diehard).
The Xero marketing team is crushing it with excellent content for accountants and bookkeepers, who Xero sees as its key ally in winning over users.
Make sure to read Amy Vetter’s popular article, “10 ways to go ‘beyond accounting’ in 2016,” as well as Chris Ridd’s post, “The age of the highly automated accounting firm.”
Did I miss a site that you think should be on this list? I'm always looking for more excellent accounting technology resources. Please let me know below in the comments.