Clio pricing: what a law firm really pays once trust accounting and bookkeeping are included
Clio pricing is a per-user software cost, and a law firm's real monthly cost also includes payment processing, add-ons, and the bookkeeping that reconciles the trust account. Numetix handles the reconciliation side with expert review. Check Clio's own pricing page for current plans, then add the costs below before you compare.
QUICK ANSWER: WHAT DOES CLIO REALLY COST A LAW FIRM?
Clio prices plans per user per month, and tiers and prices differ by country and by source, so confirm the current figure on Clio's own page for your country.
Total cost adds payment processing, add-on products, setup time, and monthly bookkeeping to reconcile the trust account.
Software tracks client funds, but a lawyer still answers for the account, so budget for a reviewed monthly three-way reconciliation each month.
Numetix is the expert-led, AI-powered, human-in-the-loop bookkeeping layer for law firms, so trust and operating accounts are reconciled by software and reviewed by a named person. This guide shows how Clio pricing is structured, what else belongs in the budget, and when practice software alone is enough.
How is Clio priced?
Clio's pricing page lists plans priced per user per month, offers optional add-ons, and points firms to its sales team for custom pricing (Clio pricing page). Plan names, tiers, and prices differ by country and appear differently across third-party review sites, so treat Clio's current page for your country as the only source for a quote. This guide does not repeat a price list that may already be out of date.
What you pay for | How it is charged | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
Plan seats | Per user per month | Which features each plan includes, such as billing, documents, and reports |
Billing period | Monthly or annual billing, if offered | Whether annual billing lowers the price and what commitment it requires |
Payment processing | A fee on each payment, if you take payments through the platform | Whether you use its payments product, the rate, and who bears it |
Add-on products | Separate fees, quoted through sales | Which add-ons you need and what they cost |
Setup and migration | May include one-time fees | What moving existing matters and balances costs |
What does a law firm pay in total?
Software seats are only one line. This is an illustrative budget, not a Clio price: assume a plan at $100 per user per month. Six users cost 6 times $100, or $600 a month, which is $7,200 a year, before payment fees, add-ons, and the cost of keeping the trust account reconciled.
Budget line | How to estimate it |
|---|---|
Software seats | Users times the plan price times 12 months |
Payment processing | Expected card and bank volume times the fee rate |
Add-ons | Each product you plan to use, priced separately |
Bookkeeping and trust reconciliation | A reviewed monthly service, or the wages and supervision of an employee |
Staff time | Hours spent on data entry, corrections, and month-end |
Does Clio replace a bookkeeper?
Practice software tracks matters, time, billing, and client funds held in the trust account. It does not decide who prepares the monthly three-way reconciliation or who reviews it. ABA Model Rule 1.15 requires lawyers to keep client property separate and to preserve complete records (Model Rule 1.15), so a lawyer still answers for the account whichever tool is used. State rules govern each lawyer, and many are modeled on the ABA Model Rules, so check your state bar's trust account rules. Our guides to what an IOLTA account is and how often to reconcile an IOLTA account cover the cadence, and the three-way trust reconciliation glossary entry defines the check.
Task | Practice software | Bookkeeper with review |
|---|---|---|
Matters, time, and invoices | Core job | Uses the output |
Client trust balances | Tracks balances by client | Reconciles them to the bank and ledgers |
Three-way reconciliation | May provide reports | Prepares it and a lawyer signs off |
Operating books and payroll | Often kept in separate accounting software | Core job |
Financial statements | Outside the tool | Prepared and reviewed monthly |
What does the bookkeeping layer cost?
Numetix publishes three monthly tiers, shown below, with no hourly billing. Tax return preparation is quoted separately and is not included in any tier. For an in-house benchmark, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median pay of $50,670 a year for bookkeeping clerks, which is $4,222.50 a month in wages before payroll costs, software, and supervision (BLS bookkeeping clerks).
Numetix tier | What it covers |
|---|---|
Essentials ($499 a month) | Daily bookkeeping, monthly close, standard reporting, payroll, compliance basics, and same-day visibility |
Growth ($999 a month) | Everything in Essentials plus cash flow forecasting, AP and AR oversight, department and project reporting, monthly financial reviews, and industry expert insights |
Enterprise ($2,499 a month) | Everything in Growth plus multi-entity consolidation, audit-ready controls, CFO-level guidance, industry-specific compliance, and a dedicated lead industry expert |
Our comparison of in-house and outsourced bookkeeping for law firms explains the trade-off in more depth.
When is practice software alone enough?
A solo lawyer with few trust deposits and a disciplined monthly reconciliation can often manage with the software and a part-time reviewer.
A firm with several lawyers, frequent settlements, or more than one trust account usually needs a named person to reconcile and a lawyer to review.
A firm that also needs payroll, operating books, and monthly statements needs accounting support beyond the software.
Whatever the size, the monthly reconciliation should be written down, reviewed, and signed, and your state bar's rules set how often it must happen.
What should you ask before you buy?
Ask this | A good answer | A red flag |
|---|---|---|
Which trust reports are in my plan? | A named list tied to the plan | Vague references to trust features |
Who prepares the reconciliation? | A named person with a monthly deadline | The software does it automatically |
What are the payment fees? | A written rate and who pays it | Fees discovered after launch |
Can I export my data? | Yes, in a standard format | Data locked to the platform |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Clio cost per month?
Clio prices plans per user per month, with custom pricing available through its sales team. What you see depends on your country, and third-party sites list other figures, so check Clio's own pricing page, then add payment processing, add-ons, and the bookkeeping that keeps the trust account reconciled.
Does Clio do trust accounting?
Practice management software can track client trust balances, and Clio publishes a feature comparison by plan, so check which trust reports your plan includes. Ask who prepares the monthly reconciliation too, because a lawyer still reviews and answers for the account under the professional conduct rules.
Do I still need a bookkeeper if I use Clio?
Usually yes, for the monthly reconciliation, operating books, payroll, and financial statements that practice software does not replace. A bookkeeper who knows trust accounting prepares the work, and a lawyer reviews it. The software and the bookkeeper cover different jobs, so budget for both.
Numetix is the expert-led, AI-powered, human-in-the-loop bookkeeping layer that reconciles operating and trust accounts with a named reviewer. See our bookkeeping services built for law firms.
Clio is a trademark of its owner. Numetix is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Clio. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your state bar's rules and a qualified attorney about your trust account obligations.
Numetix is an AI-first accounting firm. AI runs the bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and reporting workflow. Industry experts handle the judgment, month-end close, review, and advisory. We serve founder-led service firms across law, consulting, IT, healthcare, creative, and nonprofit. Headquartered in California, serving clients nationwide.
Suggested Readings
Switching legal practice software: a trust accounting migration checklist
Recording LawPay deposits in QuickBooks: fees, trust and operating
Bookkeeping for firms on LEAP, Filevine, Rocket Matter and Tabs3
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