12 Best Software for Consulting Firms in 2025: What’s Actually Worth Using?
We can say that consulting and agile are practically synonyms. After all, all consultants are always working on multiple tasks at the same time. While some projects are ending, others are just starting, and you still have to answer some clients’ questions. With all these on your hands and mind, it’s difficult to keep up. This is why all consultants need a business consultant app to help them with their million tasks.
With the right IT consulting software on your side, your productivity will improve, workflows will be streamlined, and you’ll be more efficient overall. So, it’s time to pick the best tool for you. Keep reading to find out what it is.
What is Consulting Management Software?
Simply put, this is a tool that helps consultants in many ways. It helps consultants manage tasks, productivity, resources, and clients, all from just one place. With all these features, you can rest assured that it will be easier to keep everyone on the same page, besides streamlining workflows and processes.
But consulting business management software can deliver even more. You may expect to find features such as profit tracking, data management, task management, invoicing, communication with clients, and more.
10 Features a Consulting Practice Management Software Needs to Include
The truth is that there are consultancy tools of every type. So, depending on what you need, the consultancy software should:
#1: Be Scalable
Your main goal as a consultant is to grow your business. So, you want to ensure that the management software you pick is one that grows with your business.
#2: Be Flexible
Especially if you’re just starting your consulting business, you may want to look for management software that allows you to add and remove tools and features when you want. However, this may be a bit hard to find, and you may need to pay a higher fee for this level of customization and flexibility.
#3: Have Analytics
As with any other business, it’s important that you get insights into your data. Management software helps you understand how your business is performing, and analytics is key.
#4: Have Real-Time Collaboration
One of the best things about using business consulting software tools is that they help team members collaborate with each other. This is always helpful, but it’s even more important if some team members work remotely.
#5: Allow Time Tracking
As a consultant, you know that managing your time well is a huge step toward ensuring that you can comply with all your obligations. So, it’s important that the business advisory software you pick allows you to keep track of time.
#6: Have Automation
There’s no question that automation can save you a lot of time. Management software not only speeds up tasks but also reduces the risk of errors caused by manual, repetitive work. Plus, you can use that time for more important tasks.
#7: Be Customizable
Customization is key. After all, no two teams or projects are exactly the same. With management software, you can ensure that projects are tailored to your needs.
#8: Have Usability
No matter what operating system you’re using or whether you prefer to work on a PC, smartphone, or tablet, you want to make sure that the software you choose works across all platforms.
#9: Have Integrations
Look for a consultancy tool that includes integrations with other software you already use. While you may add integrations later, it’s better if the software you choose comes with key integrations built-in.
#10: Provide Good Customer Support
A good business consulting software app shouldn’t be difficult to set up or use. However, you may run into issues along the way. That’s why it’s important to have reliable customer support when you need it. Also, check the different ways you can contact them—some management software offer chat or phone support, while others may only provide email assistance.
12 Best Consulting Software Tools
#1: Flowlu: All-in-One Consulting Software
When you’re looking for the best software for a consulting business, you want to make sure that you check out Flowlu. Flowlu is an online all-in-one software that is extremely powerful yet easy to use. With this tool, it will be easy to run your entire business and ensure that you dedicate most of your time to the most important tasks.
Project & Task Management
With Flowlu, you can manage your projects seamlessly and you can use all its features, including project expenses, documents, reports, dashboards, milestones, proposals, invoices, and notes. In what concerns tasks, you may use a simple to-do list, but you also have the option to use Gantt charts or Kanban boards if you prefer.
One of the things we really like about Flowlu is the time-tracking feature. You can simply enter time manually or you may prefer to adjust the time spent on tasks. But the most important part is that you can pause the countdown whenever you want or need.
Simplified Administrative Work
Since we’re talking about time, you want to ensure that you dedicate most of your time to the most important tasks and avoid all that administrative work. However, it still needs to be done, and you can count on Flowlu to help you out. After all, you can send your invoices, proposals, and contracts by email, but you can customize all these documents with your own brand. Besides, you may receive payments directly inside Flowlu’s platform.
Client & CRM Management
If you’re juggling multiple clients, keeping track of conversations and follow-ups can be a hassle. Flowlu’s built-in CRM helps you store client details, track communication, and set reminders so nothing falls through the cracks.
Automations & Workflows
Some tasks don’t need to be done manually every time. With Flowlu, you can automate things like follow-up emails, invoice reminders, and task assignments, so you can focus on actual consulting work instead of handling the same admin tasks over and over.
Expense Tracking & Budgeting
Consultants often work on multiple projects at once, and keeping an eye on budgets is just as important as tracking billable hours. Flowlu business management software helps you log expenses and track budgets so you know where your money is going.
Client Portal
If you work with clients regularly, Flowlu provides a client portal where they can check invoices, project updates, and shared files without needing to email back and forth. With an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, you won’t have any problems using this consultancy software. But if you do, you can expect friendly online support and a comprehensive knowledge base with video tutorials. In terms of pricing, you can try out Flowlu for free without even adding your credit card. You may then choose between four different paid plans according to the number of users you want.
#2: Accelo:
When you’re looking for apps for consultants, you may want to take a closer look at Accelo. After all, this consulting software is an all-in-one tool that can help you with project planning, monitoring, and sales. Besides, you can also customize this tool as you please.
One of the things we really like about Accelo is that it’s fairly easy to use automation for many tasks that take up your time. You may, for example, use automation to improve team coordination by sending notifications. It can highlight closed deals and even identify missed sales opportunities that would otherwise go unnoticed. You’ll also appreciate that this online software offers built-in reporting.
As we mentioned above, time tracking is a feature that you should look for in a consultancy tool, and you can certainly find it here. Even though we like this software, we believe it could have better export and search functions, and the interface could be more intuitive and user-friendly.
As for pricing, it starts at $30 per user/month and goes up to $99 per user/month.
#3: Avaza:
Avaza is another great management software solution when you’re looking for the best tools for consultants. With this software, you can not only manage projects efficiently but also track expenses, handle invoices, and collaborate on tasks.
One of the things we like about Avaza is that you can streamline workflows, communicate with both your team and clients, and schedule resources with ease. And if you’re a report fan, you’ll be happy to know that this software includes more than 50 visual reports, ensuring that you stay on top of everything without wasting time.
It’s important to note that, even though we like Avaza, it does have some limitations. For example, you may need some support to navigate the interface since it’s not very intuitive. More than this, you may want to consider other solutions if you typically work on long-term or complex projects.
You can use Avaza for free or choose one of their paid plans, which start at $11.95 per month and go up to $47.95 per month.
#4: Calendly:
Up until now, we have shown you complete tools for consultants and consulting firms. However, Calendly is different since it’s all about scheduling.
One of the best things about Calendly is that it allows plenty of integrations, including Google, Microsoft, HubSpot, and Salesforce, among many others. Besides, you can easily get in touch with your clients via email, and you can also use Calendly to send follow-ups and meeting reminders. These integrations help prevent double booking.
Even though Calendly is not an all-in-one solution like other tools on this list, it still helps improve team collaboration through different communication methods like video calls, messaging, and comments. You can also use this tool to manage invoicing with automatic payments if you integrate it with PayPal or Stripe.
In case you’re wondering about the price, Calendly offers a basic plan that is always free. You can then choose between three paid plans, with the most expensive one costing $20 per seat/month.
#5: ClickUp:
Just like most of the options we’ve mentioned, ClickUp is also an all-in-one management software solution for consultants and consulting firms.
With ClickUp, you get hundreds of integrations and many different features to help you manage projects smoothly. This tool is also great for improving team collaboration, as it lets you centralize all information and data in one place.
One of the things we like most about ClickUp is ClickUp AI, its built-in AI assistant. You can use it to generate tasks, summaries, updates, sales pitches, and custom emails. It also offers templates for reports, project plans, and agreements, making it easier to stay organized.
It’s important to note that, while ClickUp has a mobile app, not all views are available yet, so it’s still somewhat limited.
As for pricing, you can use ClickUp for free forever, but the free plan may not be enough for your small consulting business. If you need more features, you can choose from three paid plans.
#6: PandaDoc:
If you send a lot of proposals, contracts, or agreements, PandaDoc helps you create, send, and track them without the hassle.
One thing that stands out is the ready-to-use templates and electronic signatures, so you don’t have to format everything from scratch. It also lets you see when a client opens your document, which can be useful for knowing when to follow up.
While PandaDoc is great for handling paperwork, it’s not a full management software solution since it doesn’t cover invoicing or project management. So, you might still need another tool for that. There’s a free trial, and the paid plans start at $19 per user/month.
#7: HubSpot CRM:
If you need a simple way to keep track of clients and follow-ups, HubSpot CRM is a solid choice.
You can store client details, schedule follow-ups, and track emails in one place, so you’re not digging through old messages. It also integrates with Gmail, Outlook, and LinkedIn, making communication easier.
There’s a free plan with basic features, but if you need more automation, the paid plans start at $18 per month.
#8: Toggl Track:
For consultants who bill by the hour, Toggl Track makes time tracking simple.
You can start a timer with one click, log time manually, or track time by project and client. This software also generates clear reports, so you can see how much time you’re actually spending on different tasks.
Toggl Track is great for tracking time, but it doesn’t handle invoicing. There’s a free plan, and paid plans start at $9 per user/month.
#9: QuickBooks:
If you need full accounting and tax tracking, QuickBooks is a great choice.
With QuickBooks, you can track income and expenses, send invoices, and manage taxes all in one place. One of the things we like about this software is that it automatically categorizes transactions if you connect it to your bank account, so you don’t have to track everything manually.
QuickBooks is a strong tool for financial management, but it can feel overwhelming at first if you’re not used to accounting software. Pricing starts at $30 per month.
#10: Notion:
If you prefer organizing things your own way, Notion gives you a flexible space to keep track of projects, clients, and notes.
You can create task lists, project timelines, and client databases in one place. It’s also handy for building templates for reports, meeting notes, or anything else you need to keep organized.
Notion takes some setup, and it’s not as structured as other project management tools. The free plan covers the basics, and the paid plans start at $8 per user/month.
#11: Mailchimp:
If you want to keep clients engaged with newsletters or email marketing, Mailchimp is an easy way to do it.
You can send emails, automate follow-ups, and create simple landing pages for lead generation. It also has built-in analytics, so you can see who’s opening and clicking on your emails.
Mailchimp is a great software for staying in touch with clients, but the free plan has some limits. Paid plans start at $13 per month.
By the way, Flowlu integrates seamlessly with Mailchimp, making it a breeze to sync contacts and automate client communications.
#12: Miro:
For consultants who run brainstorming sessions or workshops, Miro is a handy online whiteboard.
It lets you sketch out ideas, create flowcharts, and collaborate in real time, whether you’re working with a team or clients. There are also pre-made templates for things like strategy planning and project roadmaps.
Miro is useful for visual collaboration, but it’s not a full project management tool. There’s a free plan, and the paid plans start at $10 per user/month.
That said, Flowlu also includes built-in mind maps, so if you don’t need the full features of dedicated mind-mapping software, you might not need to purchase Miro if you already have a Flowlu account.
Bottom Line
If you’re a business consultant or have a consulting business or firm, you want to make sure that you’re on top of your business all the time. And to ensure this happens, you should use a CRM like the ones we mentioned above. If you’re looking for the best consulting software, you should definitely go with Flowlu. You can optimize each process, create a professional proposal for clients, and offer many different services for various businesses.
There’s no question that you’ll be better served with a CRM software like Flowlu. It’s important to notice that a CRM tool will help you manage your entire business.
From integrations to time tracking, not to mention the communication and collaboration between team members and with a client, are key. But there are other features that should be considered as well.
Yes, many tools include built-in proposal and contract management features. For example, Flowlu allows you to create and customize proposals, while tools like PandaDoc offer templates and electronic signatures to speed up the process.
