How to Use FirmReady

Your complete visual guide — from adding a client to getting documents signed, tracking AML, MTD and statutory deadlines

🚀
Quick Start — Your First Client in 5 Minutes
Follow these steps in order the first time you use FirmReady
1. Add Client
Click "+ Add Client" button
✍️
2. Send Letter
Click "Send Link" to edit and send
3. Client Signs
Client clicks link, reads and signs
📧
4. PDF Emailed
Both parties get signed PDF instantly
🗄️
5. Archived
Stored in Archive tab forever
Before you start: Go to Settings (⚙) and upload your firm logo and confirm your address — it appears on every engagement letter your clients receive.
👤
Adding a New Client
Two ways to add clients — manually or via digital onboarding
1

Click "+ Add Client" in the dashboard

Top right of the screen. A form will appear.

Dashboard → top right button
2

Use Companies House lookup

Click the 🔍 search button next to "Company Name" to auto-fill the company details from the official Companies House register. Saves time and avoids errors.

Free — powered by Companies House API
3

Fill in client details

Name, email, company, entity type (Ltd, Sole Trader, Partnership etc.), and the services you are providing.

Name and email are required
4

Click "Add Client"

The client appears instantly in your dashboard with status Pending. They are now ready to receive their engagement letter.

Tip — Digital Onboarding: Instead of adding clients manually, send them a branded onboarding form. Click "📋 Send Onboarding Link" in the top nav, enter their name and email, and they fill in their own details. Their record is created automatically when they submit.
✍️
Sending an Engagement Letter
The letter is auto-generated. You review, edit if needed, then send with one click
🖱️
Click "Send Link"
Blue button on client row
📝
Review Letter
Edit text, set fee, set deadline
📨
Send
Client gets email with signing link
Client Signs
Draws or types signature on any device
📄
PDF to Both
Signed PDF emailed to you and client
1

Click "Send Link" on the client row

A pop-up appears with the auto-generated engagement letter. Review the text — it's already personalised with the client's name, company and services.

2

Edit the letter if needed

You can change any text in the letter. Set the fee (e.g. "£350 per annum + VAT") and the deadline for signing (48 hours is the default).

Changes are saved for this client
3

Click "Send Engagement Letter"

The client receives an email with a secure signing link. The link is unique to them — no login needed. Status changes to Sent.

4

Client signs — you both get the PDF

When the client signs (drawn or typed signature), both you and the client receive a signed PDF by email immediately. Status changes to Signed.

Overdue reminders: If a client hasn't signed by the deadline, they appear in the ⚠️ Overdue tab. Click 🔔 Remind to send a reminder — the tone escalates automatically (gentle → firm → urgent). Use "Remind All" to send reminders to all overdue clients at once.
Client Status Meanings
Pending — Added but no letter sent yet
Sent — Letter sent, waiting for signature
Overdue — Deadline has passed, not yet signed
Signed — Document signed, PDF archived
🛡️
AML — Anti-Money Laundering Records
Record your Customer Due Diligence checks per client
1

Click "AML" button on the client row

Or go to the AML Records tab and find the client. A form opens.

All Clients tab → AML button
2

Fill in the CDD record

Select the ID type (UK Passport, Driving Licence, etc.), enter the last 4 digits of the ID reference, the verification date, and the risk rating.

Never store full ID numbers
3

Set the risk rating

Choose Low (standard client), Medium (enhanced checks needed), or High (requires MLRO sign-off). Add notes for your records.

4

Save — status updates to Complete

AML status changes to Complete. The AML Records tab shows a full table of all your CDD records, exportable as CSV.

Important: FirmReady helps you record and store AML checks — but you remain legally responsible for the checks themselves. Always verify identity documents in person or via an approved digital ID service before recording them here.
📊
MTD — Making Tax Digital Tracker
Track every client's MTD for Income Tax status and set automated reminders
📅

Who is in scope — NOW

Self-employed or landlords with income over £50,000 from April 2026

📅

Who is in scope — 2027

Income over £30,000 from April 2027

📅

Who is in scope — 2028

Income over £20,000 from April 2028

1

Click the 📊 MTD button on the client row

Or go to the 📊 MTD Tracker tab. The MTD record form opens for that client.

2

Set the income threshold

Select whether the client is in scope Now / 2027 / 2028 / Not in scope. This determines the urgency shown in the tracker.

3

Set MTD status and software

Record their current status (Not Started / In Progress / Enrolled / Compliant / Exempt) and which accounting software they use (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, etc.).

4

Set reminder intervals

Tick which days before the next submission date to send automatic reminders. Reminders go to both the client and you. Options: 28, 14, 7, 3, 1 days, and on the day.

Requires cron job to be active
📅
Statutory Deadline Tracker
All key filing deadlines calculated automatically — Red, Amber, Green status
🔴

Red — Due within 30 days

Urgent — action required immediately

🟡

Amber — Due in 31–60 days

Coming up — plan ahead

🟢

Green — Due in 60+ days

Comfortable — no immediate action

1

Click 📅 on the client row to set their year end

Enter the company's year end date, VAT quarter end, and other dates. The system calculates all deadlines automatically.

2

View all deadlines in the 📅 Deadlines tab

See every deadline for every client in one table, sorted by urgency. CT600, CT Payment, Companies House, VAT (×4), Payroll RTI, and Self Assessment.

3

Mark deadlines as filed or paid

Click any deadline to mark it as Filed or Paid. It moves out of the active list so you can focus on what's still outstanding.

4

Red items need immediate attention

Any deadline in red is due within 30 days. Review these first thing every morning using the Deadlines tab.

Check deadlines tab daily
✉️
Correspondence — Professional Letters
16 ready-made templates for common accountant communications
📋

How to send a letter

Go to ✉ Correspondence in the nav → select client → choose template → edit if needed → Send

📬

Tracking opens

Letters show as "Sent" then update to "Read" when the client opens their email. Full audit trail.

📁

Archive

Every letter sent is stored in the correspondence archive. Search by client or date.

Available templates include: GDPR data subject requests · Companies House filing reminders · VAT registration letters · Payroll setup · MTD enrolment notices · Client welcome letters · Fee increase notices · and more.
🔒
GDPR Data Processing Agreement (DPA)
Required by UK GDPR Article 28 — auto-generated and sent for online acknowledgement
1

Click "DPA" button on the client row

Available in the All Clients tab. The system generates a complete UK GDPR Article 28 Data Processing Agreement personalised for that client.

2

Client receives and acknowledges online

The client gets an email with a link to read and acknowledge the DPA. Their acknowledgement is recorded with timestamp and IP address.

3

DPA status updates automatically

Once acknowledged, the client row shows DPA Signed. You now have a compliant record of data processing consent.

4

Send DPA to all new clients

Best practice: send the engagement letter and DPA together for every new client. It takes 30 seconds and protects your practice.

UK GDPR Article 28 requirement

🗂️
Dashboard Tabs — Quick Reference
What each tab shows and when to use it
TabWhat it showsWhen to use it
All ClientsEvery client with all action buttonsDaily use — your main working view
Awaiting SignatureClients who have been sent a letter but not yet signedMorning check — who still needs to sign?
⚠️ OverdueClients past their signing deadline (shown in red)Immediately — send reminders
SignedAll completed, signed clientsReference — confirm a client has signed
AML RecordsFull AML CDD table for all clientsMLRO review, regulatory audit
📊 MTD TrackerMTD status, threshold and dates for all clientsMonthly — who needs to enrol or submit?
📅 DeadlinesAll statutory deadlines RAG statusDaily — check Red items first
📁 ArchiveAll signed PDFs with download linksWhen a client asks for a copy of their signed letter
ButtonWhat it does
Send LinkOpens the engagement letter editor — edit, set fee, set deadline, then send to client
🔔 RemindSends an escalating reminder email to the client (tone gets firmer each time)
💬 WhatsAppOpens WhatsApp with a pre-written message and signing link (only shows if phone number is saved)
📝 NotesAdd internal notes about this client — not visible to the client. Yellow when notes exist.
AMLOpen the AML CDD record form for this client
DPAGenerate and send a GDPR Data Processing Agreement to this client
📊 MTDOpen the MTD tracker record for this client
📅 DeadlinesSet the client's year end and VAT dates — all deadlines auto-calculated
⬇ PDFDownload the signed PDF for this client (only appears after signing)
✕ DeletePermanently remove this client and all their records

⚙️
Settings — Firm Details & Branding
Go to ⚙ Settings in the top nav
🖼️

Upload Your Logo

Your logo appears on every engagement letter. PNG or JPG, max 500KB. Accepted formats: PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP.

🏢

Firm Details

Name, email, phone, address, website and ICO number. These appear on all letters and emails sent to clients.

🔑

Change Password

Enter a new password and save. Minimum 8 characters. Leave blank to keep your current password.

Important: Always fill in your ICO registration number in Settings. It must appear on all client-facing documents under UK data protection law.

📆
Recommended Daily Routine
5 minutes every morning keeps your practice compliant and nothing slips through
1

Check the ⚠️ Overdue tab

Anyone overdue? Click "Remind All" to send reminders to everyone at once.

2

Check the 📅 Deadlines tab

Look at all Red items (due within 30 days). Take action on anything urgent.

3

Process any new clients

Add new clients, send their engagement letter, and send their DPA.

4

Update AML for new clients

Record the CDD check as soon as you have verified their identity. Don't leave it more than a day.

💬
Need help?
Contact The Practice support team — we typically respond within a few hours
info@kafs-ltd.com