Content Snare: A smarter data collection process for accounting firms

Many firms start using Content Snare with one or two processes in mind. As they get more familiar, they discover lots of other ways it can help streamline their operations and enhance client interactions. To save you the trial and error, below you’ll find some powerful ways accounting firms are using Content Snare.

Note: You may also want to watch Jason Staat’s Content Snare demo. If you’re not familiar with Jason, he has a unique ability to make accounting technology entertaining. His demo of Content Snare will make you laugh and show you how it helps accountants and bookkeepers.

Typical use cases among accountants

Content Snare has so many valuable use cases (as you’ll see in a minute), but first we’ll focus on five common ways accounting professionals are using it every day to save time and reduce client friction.

1. Client onboarding done right

Bringing on a new client shouldn’t feel like chasing paperwork. With Content Snare, you can quickly collect engagement letters, IDs, financial documentation, and business details in a single request:

You can add custom instructions to each question/field and clarify exactly which files you need without back-and-forth emails or misunderstandings. The result? Clients know exactly what to send, and you can focus on getting them set up quickly and confidently.

This is how Day One Advisory’s Matt Byrne describes it: 

“One of the main benefits we get from Content Snare is that we get the right information back from our clients. If we need a document, the only thing they can do is attach a file. This significantly limits the back-and-forth we have to do and saves us a huge amount of time.”

2. Automatic reminders so you don’t have to chase anyone

One of the most time-consuming parts of client communication is simply reminding them to send what you need. Content Snare takes that off your plate with automatic reminders:

You can use the default reminder schedule or customize your own — adjusting the frequency and tone to suit each request or client. Once a request is sent, the system keeps following up until it's complete. That means fewer awkward nudges from your side, and fewer delays overall.

3. Using pre-built templates to work faster

No need to build your process from scratch. Content Snare comes with a large and growing library of accounting and bookkeeping templates — including client onboarding forms, tax preparation checklists, Xero payroll setup questionnaires, and more:

Each template is fully customizable, so you can adjust wording, instructions, or required documents to match your firm’s style and client base. It’s a great way to save time and maintain consistency across the entire team.

In the words of O’Connells OBM’s Adam Dierselhuis:

Seeing the templates that were already on the system and seeing that we were able to customize those very easily created a great user experience for us. This translated to an even better user experience for clients.

4. Sending custom queries without the inbox clutter

When you need answers or explanations — like verifying an expense, clarifying a transaction, or checking document discrepancies — it’s tempting to just send an email. 

But tracking those responses quickly gets messy. 

With Content Snare, you can paste your questions into the Smart Request Creator, and it’ll instantly turn them into a clean form your client can respond to:

Each answer stays connected to the original query, so there’s no confusion and nothing gets lost. It’s as easy to use as email, but incomparably more organized.

5. Clarifying issues with in-form conversations

You probably know how this goes — even with the clearest instructions, some clients will still have questions. Instead of sending emails back and forth, Content Snare lets clients comment directly next to the field they’re confused about: 

You’ll get a notification and can reply right there — keeping the conversation in context and easy to follow. This small feature makes a big difference. It reduces misunderstandings, improves turnaround time, and helps you refine your instructions for next time.

According to Northwest Accountancy’s Jodi Porteous:

I love the fact that clients can ask questions straight within Content Snare. So our accountants get a complete, finished set of information with all questions answered before it comes to them to do the tax return. That’s a big one for us.

Industry-specific processes you can use Content Snare for

While those are some of the most common workflows, firms are finding all kinds of creative ways to use Content Snare across their practice. Here are just a few additional examples:

• Client-to-agent linking: Many Australian accountants include our client-agent linking template in their client onboarding questionnaire.

• End-of-year tax preparation: Whether it’s for an individual or a corporation, the end-of-year rush demands a plethora of documents. Content Snare helps you organize and retrieve all necessary information to efficiently process tax returns.

• BAS reporting and checklists: For regular quarterly needs like BAS, gathering documents such as bank statements becomes hassle-free.

• SMSF administration: Content Snare also helps firms manage self-managed super fund (SMSF) administration and auditing with ease, collecting all necessary documents annually.

• Payroll onboarding: Simplify the collection of data required for setting up new employees onto payroll on behalf of your clients.

• Employee onboarding and training: Not limited to external clients, use Content Snare for internal operations such as onboarding new employees. In addition to collecting what you need from employees, you can embed training and videos directly in Content Snare.

• Setting up new companies or trusts: Gather all relevant details needed to establish new companies or trusts on behalf of your clients, making sure nothing is missed.

• Financial and estate planning: It’s also possible to extend Content Snare’s functionalities to more specialized areas like financial planning and estate planning.

• Advisory and tax planning: When you need reports or answers to questions prior to advisory meetings, request them with Content Snare.

In a nutshell, anytime you need information from clients, Content Snare will help you bypass the back-and-forth to free up your time to work on more important things.

Built to reduce busywork — and boost productivity

At the end of the day, accountants want to spend less time chasing clients and more time delivering value. That’s exactly what Content Snare helps with, as you get a repeatable, trackable, and secure way to collect the info you need — without overwhelming your inbox or your clients.
Try Content Snare for free and see how much smoother your day can run.