NerdNumbers
Guide

All-in-One vs Best-of-Breed

Should your accounting firm use a single platform that does everything, or build a stack of specialist tools? Here's how to decide.

What Do We Mean?

All-in-one means a single platform handling practice management, CRM, client portal, billing, document management, and more. Example: TaxDome.

Best-of-breed means choosing the best tool for each job and connecting them with integrations. Example: Xero + Karbon + Dext + Ignition + Zapier.

Neither approach is universally better. It depends on your firm size, budget, tech confidence, and growth plans.

All-in-One: Pros

  • Single login and unified interface for your entire team
  • Lower total cost (one subscription vs five or six)
  • No integration headaches or data sync issues
  • Simpler onboarding for new staff
  • Single vendor relationship and support contact
  • Client portal, billing, CRM included out of the box

All-in-One: Cons

  • Jack of all trades, master of none: individual features may lag behind specialists
  • Vendor lock-in: harder to switch if the platform doesn’t evolve
  • Less flexibility to swap out one underperforming component
  • May lack deep integrations with niche tools you already use
  • Feature gaps may require workarounds

Best-of-Breed: Pros

  • Best possible tool for each job (e.g. Karbon for workflows, Dext for receipt capture)
  • Flexibility to swap individual tools as better options emerge
  • Deep specialist features that all-in-one platforms can’t match
  • Wider integration ecosystem
  • Each tool focused on doing one thing exceptionally well

Best-of-Breed: Cons

  • Higher total cost (multiple subscriptions add up)
  • Integration complexity: things can break when tools update
  • More logins and interfaces for your team to learn
  • Data may live in multiple places
  • Requires more technical confidence to set up and maintain

Automation tools like Zapier or Make may be needed as glue. See our Zapier vs Make comparison.

Decision Framework by Firm Size

Solo / 1–3 staff

All-in-one

Simplicity matters most. You don’t have time to manage integrations. TaxDome or a similar platform gives you everything in one place.

Key tools: TaxDome, FreeAgent

Small firm / 4–10 staff

Either (depends on tech confidence)

You have enough complexity to benefit from specialist tools, but not so much that integration overhead is trivial. Consider starting with all-in-one and graduating to best-of-breed as you grow.

Key tools: Senta (all-in-one leaning), Karbon + Dext (best-of-breed)

Medium firm / 10+ staff

Best-of-breed

You need deep workflow automation, advanced reporting, and specialist tools that all-in-one platforms can’t match. The integration overhead is justified by the power and flexibility.

Key tools: Karbon + Dext + Ignition + Spotlight Reporting

For a full breakdown of recommended tools by category, see our accounting tech stack guide.

Real-World Example Stacks

All-in-One Stack (TaxDome)

Practice managementTaxDome
CRMTaxDome
Client portalTaxDome
Billing & proposalsTaxDome
Document managementTaxDome
Estimated monthly cost£30–50/user

Best-of-Breed Stack

AccountingXero (£15–47/month)
Practice managementKarbon ($59/user/month)
Document captureDext (from £24/month)
Proposals & billingIgnition (from $99/month)
AutomationZapier (from $29/month)
Estimated monthly cost£150–300+ for a small team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start with all-in-one and switch later?

Yes. Many firms start with an all-in-one like TaxDome and graduate to best-of-breed as they grow. The key is choosing tools with good data export options.

What if I’m happy with most of my stack but one tool is weak?

That’s the best-of-breed advantage. Swap the weak link without disrupting everything else. This is harder with all-in-one.

How do I handle integrations between tools?

Most modern accounting tools have native integrations. For gaps, use Zapier or Make to connect them. See our comparison.

Is TaxDome really all-in-one?

TaxDome covers practice management, CRM, client portal, billing, and document management. You’ll still need separate accounting software (Xero/QBO) and potentially separate payroll and tax tools.

Not sure which approach is right for your firm?

Take our Tech Health Check for a quick assessment, or book a discovery call for personalised advice on your ideal tech stack.

Book a Free Call →
All-in-One vs Best-of-Breed Accounting Tech | NerdNumbers | NerdNumbers