Best 7 Internal Support Bots for Accounting Firms

Intercom is a versatile customer messaging platform that has expanded into the realm of internal support bots. Its conversational AI, built on machine learning and natural language understanding, allows accounting firms to automate responses to common queries such as tax filing deadlines, payroll schedules, and document submission requests. Intercom’s bot can be configured to handle basic questions, route complex issues to human agents, and even schedule follow‑up tasks, providing a fluid experience for both staff and clients. The platform’s strength lies in its robust integration ecosystem. Intercom can connect with leading accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage, enabling the bot to pull real‑time data such as invoice status or bank reconciliation details. This data‑driven approach ensures that answers are not only accurate but also timely. Intercom offers a visual builder for creating automated flows, but unlike AgentiveAIQ, it requires some technical setup to deploy custom integrations. The bot’s knowledge base is primarily document‑driven, relying on a knowledge hub that can be populated with FAQs, policy documents, and procedural guides. Pricing for Intercom starts at $39/month for the Basic plan, which includes automated messaging, but the full range of AI features—such as the bot’s advanced routing and integrations—are part of the higher tiers, starting at $99/month. For firms that need advanced automation and integration, the Growth and Enterprise plans can reach up to $499/month.

Zendesk Chat—now part of the Zendesk Suite—offers a powerful chatbot solution that can be embedded into intranet portals or client-facing websites. Accounting firms benefit from its ability to handle routine inquiries about tax forms, filing dates, and account balances, freeing up staff to focus on complex client needs. The platform’s bot is built on the Zendesk AI engine, which uses natural language processing to interpret user intent. It can be programmed to answer FAQs, provide step‑by‑step instructions for common tasks, and even trigger ticket creation for issues that require human attention. Zendesk Chat’s knowledge base is tightly integrated with the Zendesk Support knowledge hub, allowing the bot to pull answers from a curated set of articles. One of the key advantages of Zendesk Chat is its seamless integration with the broader Zendesk ecosystem, including ticketing, CRM, and reporting tools. Firms that already use Zendesk for customer support can extend the same workflow to internal queries, creating a unified experience. Pricing for Zendesk Chat begins at $19/month for the Free tier, which includes basic chat functionality. The Chat Plus plan costs $39/month and adds AI features, while the Chat Enterprise plan starts at $79/month and includes advanced analytics and priority support.

Freshchat is a modern messaging platform from Freshworks that offers AI‑powered chatbots capable of handling routine accounting questions. It is designed to provide instant support for topics such as payroll dates, tax filing requirements, and account reconciliation queries. The bot uses a rule‑based system supplemented by machine learning to interpret user queries. Freshchat’s knowledge base is built on the Freshdesk Knowledge Base, enabling the bot to surface relevant articles, guides, and procedural documents. The platform also includes a visual conversation builder, allowing firms to create automated flows without coding. Integration with Freshsales and Freshservice provides a single source of truth for customer data, ticketing, and asset management, which can be valuable for accounting firms that manage multiple client accounts. Freshchat offers three pricing tiers: Free (limited features), Pro at $15/month per user, and Enterprise at $35/month per user, with optional add‑ons for AI and advanced analytics.

Drift positions itself as a conversational marketing platform that has evolved to include robust chatbot functionality. For accounting firms, Drift can be employed to automate responses to common inquiries such as service pricing, onboarding steps, or tax deadline reminders. The bot is powered by Drift’s AI engine, which can interpret intent and provide scripted or dynamic responses. Drift’s integration capabilities extend to Salesforce, HubSpot, and other CRM platforms, allowing the bot to pull client data and personalize interactions. Additionally, Drift offers a visual builder for designing conversation flows, which can be useful for setting up lead qualification processes. Pricing for Drift starts at $50/month for the Starter plan, which includes basic chatbot functionality. The Growth plan is $150/month and adds advanced analytics and integration options, while the Enterprise tier is customized.

Microsoft Power Virtual Agents (PVA) offers a no-code chatbot builder that can be integrated into Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or websites. Accounting firms that rely on the Microsoft ecosystem can leverage PVA to create bots that answer internal policy questions, compliance queries, and routine operational inquiries. PVA uses natural language processing to understand user intent and can be connected to Power Automate workflows. This allows the bot to trigger actions such as creating a new client record, updating a tax filing status, or sending reminders. The knowledge base is typically built from structured data sources like SharePoint lists or Excel files, giving the bot access to up‑to‑date internal documentation. Pricing begins with a free tier that includes basic bot creation and a limited number of chat sessions. The paid plans start at $10 per user per month, with the Pro plan adding more sessions and advanced analytics.

Chatbot.com is a low‑code chatbot platform that offers a visual builder and a range of pre‑built templates. Accounting firms can deploy chatbots on their intranet or client portals to answer questions about tax deadlines, payroll processing, and policy compliance. The platform provides a knowledge base feature, allowing firms to upload FAQs, policy documents, and procedural guides. Chatbot.com also supports integration with popular services like Zapier, allowing the bot to trigger external actions such as creating a new task in Asana or sending an email via Gmail. Pricing starts at $30/month for the Basic plan, which includes up to 1,000 chat sessions per month. The Premium plan at $79/month adds unlimited sessions, advanced analytics, and the ability to create custom chatbot flows.