How small firms are making big-firm tech moves

The pace of new technology hitting the market is relentless—and for many accounting firms, especially smaller ones without dedicated IT teams, it can feel downright overwhelming. With innovation moving at lightning speed, it’s no wonder some firms are choosing to sit back and wait for the dust to settle before making their moves.

While that approach is understandable, it’s also a missed opportunity. The frenzy isn’t going to subside anytime soon, and there are already plenty of proven, reliable and mature advances that smaller firms could be investing in today to become much more effective and efficient. Just as important, these are the types of tools for CPAs that don’t require deep IT expertise or dedicated resources for implementation and ongoing management. In fact, they’re designed to be lightweight, easy to use, and non-technical.

Generative AI is helping firms do more with less.

AI and automation, especially generative AI, are two of the most talked-about technologies in the profession today. These tools are helping firms streamline workflows, automate routine tasks and boost productivity in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago.

Now is the time to do your due diligence—evaluate new tools and explore AI features already built into the software you use every day. Once you’re confident in their safety and reliability, start experimenting to see what’s possible and how you could apply it more broadly across your firm.

In fact, many solutions you’ve used for years are regularly updated with new AI capabilities. Meanwhile, dedicated AI and automation tools for CPAs continue to hit the market. For example, Blue J is transforming tax research, while automation tools like Power Automate and Zapier are helping firms reduce repetitive tasks and improve connectivity across teams and clients. Firms that embrace these tools today are positioning themselves for future success.

(For a more detailed look at these technologies and more, check out our on-demand webinar, 2025-Ready: The Future for Accounting Technology.)

...But there are plenty of other CPA tools that smaller firms should be harnessing, too.

There are also more traditional tools for CPAs that your firm shouldn’t overlook. For example, there has been a growing shift toward using new “top-level domains” like .cpa to improve branding, differentiate from a wide range of competitors, and signal that the firm is progressive, forward-looking and adaptable.

Only authorized CPA firms have access to .cpa addresses, making it easier for firms to secure their choice of address—a critical boost for the firm’s branding efforts. Firm domains such as OneStop.cpa, WomenOwned.cpa, and DarkHorse.cpa are easier for clients to remember and often less expensive than buying the equivalent .com version from cyber-squatters.

Just as important, the .cpa domain can boost your web security, which is becoming even more important as accounting firms increasingly use their websites to deliver services and interact with clients. Other industries are already making similar moves, using new top-level domains such as .law and .co.

This is exactly the type of smart, practical CPA tool that smaller accounting firms should be looking to take advantage of as an investment in their future.

Now is the time to overcome innovation hesitation— and it’s easier than you think.

Making the leap to new or different technologies can be scary. But these CPA tools don’t require much of a leap. They can be implemented with minimal technical resources, which means that even the smallest accounting firms can take advantage of the same advances that large firms with deep resources are pursuing.

It helps to have a designated point person responsible for researching and implementing the technologies that will deliver the greatest impact for your firm. Look for tools that have additional value built in—for example, the .cpa domain comes with a number of features that can be easily implemented without a steep learning curve. On AI and automation, start by identifying which solutions your firm is already using and that offer these capabilities. You might be surprised at how much is already available to you.

If you need some extra inspiration to take the next step, start by learning how CPA Brian Davis used the .cpa domain and AI to strengthen his firm’s branding and build an efficient tech stack.

Finally, make sure to keep up with the latest technological advances by taking advantage of insights and guidance that come from industry leaders and research reports. Since you’re reading this, you’re already off to a good start! Dig deeper by visiting CPA.com’s AI and automation resources, as well as our .cpa resources.

About the author
Chris Cromer is a tech expert focused on the support and operation of CPA.com’s products and services and leads product management of the .cpa top-level domain. He has a broad range of knowledge in all IT disciplines and leads projects related to internet security, dev/ops, cloud infrastructure, and IT audit and compliance.