MFA sign-in for every user
A password plus a one-time code, so a stolen password can't open your clients' files.
The Problem
Your Inbox Is the Least Safe Folder You Own
It happens every season. An accounting client portal should replace attachments, but yours is missing or so awkward that clients skip it.
01 · Emailed K-1s
A client emails K-1s and a driver's license to your shared inbox.
Clients upload files to a portal on your own domain, not your inbox.
02 · Wrong recipient
Someone replies to the wrong client with last year's return attached.
Email alerts carry no attachments, so files stay inside the portal.
03 · Entity confusion
Your portal can't show one owner's entities under one login.
One login covers a household or company group, with access set per entity.
04 · Copies everywhere
Every forwarded attachment is a copy you can't delete.
Files stay encrypted in one place, with every view logged.
A business client emails three K-1s and a scanned driver's license to your shared inbox. A partner forwards it to a preparer, who saves the files to a desktop folder. In April, someone replies to the wrong client with last year's return attached. Your current portal can't show one owner's entities under one login, so clients stop using it. Every forwarded attachment is a copy you can't delete.
We start with an encrypted document exchange portal on your own domain, built around how your clients are structured. Each person signs in with multi-factor authentication and sees only their allowed entities. Files stay encrypted in storage, every view is logged, and email alerts carry no attachments. Clients get one place for requests, signatures, and invoices.
MFA on every login
Clients and staff confirm each sign-in with a second factor.
Access by entity
One login covers a household or company group, with each file limited to the right people.
A record of every view
Every login, view, and download is logged with a user and time.
Our Secure Portal Build Process
From Security Review to Client Rollout in Five Steps
You approve the security plan, screens, and a pilot with friendly clients before anyone else logs in. Each stage ends with something you can test.
We review how your documents, signatures, and invoices move today, plus your written security plan. You get a scope, a data flow diagram, the controls we'll build to, and a fixed price.
What's Included
What You Get With a Secure Client Portal for Accountants
The build covers sign-in, storage, requests, signatures, payments, and the logs your security plan needs, all on your own domain.
Compare Options
DeveloperLook vs Hosted Portals vs Encrypted Email
Hosted portals suit most small firms, and encrypted email works for occasional files. Custom earns its price when entities or integrations don't fit a template.
| Feature | DeveloperLookBest fit | Hosted portal | Encrypted email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | 4 to 16 weeks | A few days | Same day |
| Branding and domain | Your domain, your design | Logo, some domains | Sender name only |
| Multi-entity access | Built around your clients | Varies by product | One thread each |
| MFA and permissions | MFA and entity rules | MFA on most | Depends on inbox |
| Tool integrations | Your tools, by API | The vendor's list | Not available |
| Activity logging | Every view and download | Built into most | Sent mail only |
| Pricing model | From $1,350 plus hosting | Per-user fees | Lowest cost |
| Code ownership | Code and data yours | Vendor license | Copies in inboxes |
DeveloperLook
Hosted portal
- Time to start
- DeveloperLook: 4 to 16 weeksHosted portal: A few days
- Branding and domain
- DeveloperLook: Your domain, your designHosted portal: Logo, some domains
- Multi-entity access
- DeveloperLook: Built around your clientsHosted portal: Varies by product
- MFA and permissions
- DeveloperLook: MFA and entity rulesHosted portal: MFA on most
- Tool integrations
- DeveloperLook: Your tools, by APIHosted portal: The vendor's list
- Activity logging
- DeveloperLook: Every view and downloadHosted portal: Built into most
- Pricing model
- DeveloperLook: From $1,350 plus hostingHosted portal: Per-user fees
- Code ownership
- DeveloperLook: Code and data yoursHosted portal: Vendor license
Projects We've Built
Finance, Insurance, and Workforce Apps
Finance, insurance, and workforce apps we designed and built, with the secure logins, dashboards, and account screens a firm portal needs.
Login HR Staffing App Design & Development
- HR & Staffing
- Portal
- Dashboard
Dualcare Insurance App Design & Development
- Insurance
- Dashboard
- Mobile App
Moneywish Finance App Design & Development
- Finance
- Dashboard
- Mobile App
Envitis Investment Website Design & Development
- Finance
- Dashboard
- Website
What Our Clients Say
What Clients Say After Launch
Feedback from teams we have built secure web apps and portals for.
We had a pretty specific idea of what we wanted our website to become, but I wasn’t sure how easily we could explain all of it to a development team. There were quite a few moving parts, and we were working toward a deadline, so I expected a few things to get lost along the way. That never really happened. They understood what we were trying to achieve, kept us updated throughout the process, and got everything ready within the agreed timeline. The final site feels much easier to navigate, works beautifully on mobile, and is noticeably smoother for our customers. It was a huge relief seeing the original idea actually turn into the website we had in mind.
The mobile experience is probably my favourite part of the new site. We had spent a lot of time making sure the desktop version looked right, and the team kept pushing us to think about how everything would actually feel on a phone too. They were right. The navigation is clean, the interactions feel natural, and everything we’ve tested so far works exactly as it should. They also went through the links, forms, integrations, and other details more than once before launch, which I really appreciated. And even after going live, we could still reach out when something came up. The whole process felt friendly, organised, and surprisingly straightforward.
What I appreciate most is that the website is actually easy for us to manage now. We can update content ourselves instead of sending a developer a message every time we need to change something small. They also paid attention to the technical SEO side, which mattered to us because we didn’t want a new website to create problems for the traffic we already had. I’ve probably asked more questions than I should have since launch, but every question has been handled patiently and without any fuss. The team is easy to work with, they explain things clearly, and when we need something changed, they focus on getting it done rather than making the process complicated.
1,250+
Projects shipped
10+
Years of experience
Top 3%
Upwork Top Rated Plus
5 stars
Average review score
Want results like these?
Tell us what you are building. You get a reply within 24 hours on business days, then a written estimate.
Work Culture
Why Firms Trust Us With Client Data
We treat every tax file as someone's identity. These habits keep your portal secure after launch day, not only on it.
MFA on every account
We require multi-factor sign-in for clients and staff from the first login. A leaked password shouldn't be enough to open your client's return.
Encrypted in transit and storage
Files move over TLS and stay encrypted where they're stored. If a disk or backup goes missing, the files stay unreadable.
Every access leaves a record
We log each login, view, and download with a user and time. When a client asks who opened a file, you can answer.
Built for client adoption
We pilot the portal with friendly clients and fix what confuses them. A secure portal only helps if clients use it.
Retention you control
Files are deleted on the schedule your policy sets, in line with the FTC Safeguards Rule. Old returns don't pile up waiting to leak.
You own the code and data
Your firm owns the code, the cloud account, and every client file from the first commit. A new developer can take over without asking us for anything.
Overview
Who builds a secure accounting client portal for CPA firms?
DeveloperLook builds a custom accounting client portal for CPA and wealth firms that want tax files out of email. Each portal includes MFA logins, encrypted uploads, activity logs, and your own domain, with e-signatures and invoices on larger plans. Builds start at $1,350 and take 4 to 16 weeks, and you own the code.
DEVELOPERLOOK
Project facts · Secure Client Portal Development for CPAs & Firms
- Service
- Secure client portal development for CPAs & firms (MFA, encryption, logs)
- Typical timeline
- 4 to 16 weeks, by plan
- Platforms
- AWS, plus Karbon, QuickBooks Online, or Xero
- Built with
- Next.js, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Amazon S3, Auth0
- Experience
- 10+ years of development experience and 1,250+ shipped projects
- Post-launch support
- 30, 60, or 90 days, by plan
- Communication
- Calls in US, UK, and AU business hours
- Starting price
- From $1,350 USD, fixed scope after discovery
Reviewed 28 Sep 2026 by Saimul Islam
Good fit
Firms still emailing returns
You're still emailing returns. Clients forward PDFs from personal inboxes, and your security plan needs a safer channel.
CPA firms with a wealth arm
Your firm prepares taxes and manages investments, and clients want one login for returns and planning documents.
Firms with multi-entity clients
Your business owners run several companies and a trust, and want every entity's files under one login.
Firms outgrowing a portal subscription
Your current portal charges per user, can't match your brand, or won't connect to your tools.
IT providers serving accounting offices
Your managed IT firm supports several CPA offices and needs a developer to build a client portal for accounting firms.
Not a fit
TaxDome portal fits
Your firm runs TaxDome and its portal fits once branded. TaxDome Client Portal & Website Integration costs far less.
Retyping is the gap
Your real gap is retyping clients between tools. CPA Practice Management & Workflow Integration connects what you already use.
One preparer, few clients
You have one preparer and a few dozen clients. A portal subscription is cheaper and faster, and we'll say so.
Needed within two weeks
Your budget is under $1,350, or you need the portal live within two weeks. A hosted portal fits that better.
Not sure we're the right fit?
Book a free call or message us. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Pricing
Transparent Starting Prices for a CPA Client Portal
These are starting points in USD. Your final price depends on client entity structure, signing and payment needs, and integrations, and you get a fixed proposal after a free security review.
For firms that need tax files out of email, with a portal on their own domain.
$1,350one-time, USD
- Branded portal on your subdomain
- Client and staff sign-in with MFA
- Encrypted folders for each client
- Email alerts with no attachments
- Log of every view and download
- 30 days of post-launch support
Recommended
For firms that want requests, signatures, and invoices in the same place as files.
$3,900one-time, USD
- Everything in Secure File Portal
- Document request lists with reminders
- E-signatures for letters and forms
- Stripe invoices paid by card or ACH
- Staff roles and permissions by client
- 60 days of post-launch support
For CPA and wealth firms that need households, integrations, and adoption reporting.
$7,600one-time, USD
- Everything in Client Workspace Portal
- Household and multi-entity access
- Links to Karbon, QuickBooks Online, or Xero
- Staff sign-in with Microsoft 365
- Adoption report on logins and requests
- 90 days of post-launch support
For Agencies
White-Label Portal Development for Agencies and IT Providers
You own the client relationship. We supply the portal engineering for your accounting clients under your brand: secure sign-in, encrypted storage, activity logs, and the documentation their security plan needs.
How the partnership works
White label: your client only ever sees your brand
- Your client
- You, the agency
- DeveloperLook
Brief us
Share the firm's client structure, current portal, and security requirements.
- Client needs
- You share the details
- Details received
Receive a scope
You get a fixed quote, a data flow diagram, and one lead developer.
- Scope and plan
- Proposal to resell
- Your quoteYOUR LOGO
Launch under your brand
We build, pilot with friendly clients, and hand over the code under your brand.
- Done by our team
- Your brand on it
- Handed to your clientDone
Partner with DeveloperLookDelivered under your brand
Behind your brand
We join client calls only when you invite us.
Security documentation
Each portal ships with a runbook your client's IT provider can follow.
Senior developers only
Senior engineers write the access rules, storage setup, and integrations.
Room to grow
Take on portal projects without hiring a security-minded developer.
The Right Technology for Your Project
Technology Stack
We build on proven frameworks and managed cloud services that publish SOC 2 reports, and document how we use them.
Next.js
React
Node.js
PostgreSQL
- Auth0
- Amazon S3
Cloudflare- 1Password
- Karbon
QuickBooks Online
Xero- DocuSign
Stripe
AWS
Docker- Sentry
- Let's Encrypt
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, timing, email risk, compliance, custom domains, adoption, and ownership.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
Custom portal builds with us start at $1,350 for secure file exchange with MFA, encrypted folders, and activity logs on your domain. Request lists, e-signatures, and Stripe invoices start at $3,900. Household access, software links, and adoption reporting start at $7,600. Hosting is billed separately to your cloud account.
A secure file portal takes 4 to 6 weeks, and a portal with requests, e-signatures, and invoices takes 8 to 10. Integrated builds with households and software links take 12 to 16 weeks. The pilot adds about a week, so we time rollout before organizers go out.
Email leaves a copy of every attachment in both inboxes, and one mistyped address sends a return to a stranger. IRS Publication 4557 asks tax professionals to encrypt sensitive data and skip unprotected email. The FTC Safeguards Rule also requires telling the FTC within 30 days when unencrypted data on 500 or more people is acquired without authorization.
No IRS certification exists for portals, and SOC 2 is an audit of an organization's controls, not a product label. A portal needs what those rules check: multi-factor sign-in, encryption in transit and at rest, access by client, logs, and secure deletion. AWS, our usual host, shares its SOC 2 reports through AWS Artifact.
A custom portal puts all three on one client screen, tied to the same record. A request list shows what's missing, uploads land in the right entity's folder, and the letter and invoice sit beside them. Your staff see one status per client instead of checking three tools.
Yes, the portal runs on a subdomain such as portal.yourfirm.com, with your logo, colors, and email sender. We set the DNS records and TLS certificate, plus SPF, DKIM, and DMARC so portal emails come from your domain. Clients see your firm's name at every step.
A portal your clients use becomes the home of their tax and planning history, making your firm harder to leave. We can't promise a retention number, so we build for adoption: one household login and email reminders. Tax and planning files sit together, which client portal software for financial advisors may not offer.
Most small firms should start with a hosted portal, since it costs less and launches in days. Custom makes sense when clients have many entities, you run a wealth arm, or you need links your vendor lacks. If TaxDome already fits, our TaxDome setup service is cheaper.
The files don't live on the laptop, because they stay in encrypted cloud storage and each download is logged. Staff sign in with MFA, and an admin can end a lost device's sessions right away. We also set short session timeouts and can block downloads from sensitive folders.
Your firm owns the code, cloud account, domain, and every file from day one. Plans include 30, 60, or 90 days of support, then an optional care plan covers security updates. You also get a runbook your IT provider can follow for backups, access reviews, and incidents.
Saimul IslamFounder & CEO, DeveloperLookStill have questions?
Send a message or book a call with the team.
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