How Long Does It Take To Get Set Up with PracticeFlow?

Switching systems shouldn’t feel like starting from scratch.

If you’re exploring new practice management software, two questions usually come up…
– How long will it take to get started?
– How long will it take to learn?

For busy firms, that’s not a small concern. Whether you’re moving from another system or finally stepping away from spreadsheets, the last thing you want is weeks of disruption.

That’s why we designed PracticeFlow so that getting set up isn’t a project. It’s a process measured in hours. And because it’s fast to set up, it’s also quick to learn.

Why it’s quick to get started — and quick to learn

Quick to get started

• A clear step-by-step process
• All your clients can be imported in minutes from Companies House.
• Smart Tasks automatically generate the compliance work you need.

Low effort to learn

• The system is deliberately simple
• Designed from the ground up for accountants and bookkeepers.
• Feels intuitive because it mirrors the way you already think about deadlines and tasks.

Why speed matters

There are two main types of firms thinking about change:

• Spreadsheet users who are worried that moving to software will mean a steep learning curve.
• Firms that are already on another system who fear the cost and time of switching.

Both concerns come back to the same issue: if it takes weeks to implement, configure, and train, the risk feels too high.

A fast, clear onboarding process removes those barriers. It reassures you that moving onto a new system won’t mean weeks of disruption.

A lesson from Steve Jobs (allegedly)

There’s an old story about Steve Jobs being shown a new product. The developers proudly said it only took a day to learn. Jobs shook his head — he was too busy to spend a whole day figuring something out. A month later they came back, saying they’d cut it down to four hours. “Still too long,” he replied. Eventually they got it down to two hours, but Jobs’ point was clear: the best software shouldn’t really need training at all. Whether that story is true or not, it makes the point: good software shouldn’t need days of training.

From sign-up to dashboard in seven steps

Getting started looks like this:

1. Sign up — no credit card, no long forms.
2. Add users — roles and permissions built in.
3. Import clients — direct from Companies House.
4. Activate Smart Tasks — deadlines appear automatically.
5. Add your own tasks — one-off or recurring.
6. Customise views — choose what you want to see.
7. Check your dashboard — live deadlines from day one.

Simple, logical, familiar.

Spreadsheets vs software

If you’re still managing deadlines in Excel, here’s how the shift works:

• You already have your client list → import them directly into PracticeFlow.
• You already track deadlines → Smart Tasks will do it automatically.
• You already assign work → assign and reassign tasks in a click.

The logic is the same. The difference is everything is in one place, live, and always up to date. That’s why the learning curve is short.

Weeks vs hours

Bigger systems often mean:

• Paid implementation.
• Weeks of configuration.
• Training sessions before anyone can work.

With PracticeFlow, setup is measured in hours, not weeks.

Streamlined setup, not corner-cutting

Fast doesn’t mean flimsy. It means:

• Smart defaults so you’re never starting from scratch.
• Simple on/off controls for the services you need.
• Customisation you can add later if you want.

The real test

The best way to judge is to try it:

• Import a couple of clients, say one manually and one by company number from Companies House.
• Watch tasks and deadlines appear automatically.
• See a live dashboard within five minutes.

That’s all it takes.

Final thought

The time you spend setting up software is time you’re not serving clients. Any new practice management system should get you working on client tasks within hours not weeks and if it’s designed to be intuitive, there should be very little to learn.