Comparison, 2026
Cash-recovery tools accountants and bookkeepers can recommend
For a practice, the safest tool to put in front of a client is one that is read-only on their accounts and approval-first, so it can show what the client is owed and draft a chase, but cannot send anything to their customers without the client approving it. By that test Kelo fits owner-led clients who chase their own invoices; Chaser suits firms running outsourced credit control; Satago adds credit-risk data; and every client should switch on Xero or QuickBooks reminders first. Here is who each one is for.
| Tool | From | Fit for a practice |
|---|---|---|
| Kelo | Free to see, £99/mo (Freelancer Pro £9/mo) | A safe tool to put in front of clients who chase their own invoices |
| Chaser | From £199/mo | Firms that run credit control as a service for clients |
| Satago | From £45/mo | When credit-risk advice is part of the service |
| Xero / QuickBooks reminders | Included | The free baseline every client should switch on |
| A debt-collection agency | Fee or % of recovered | The last resort for a broken-down debt |
Entry prices checked August 2026; confirm on each tool’s own site.
Kelo
Read-only on the client’s Xero or QuickBooks and approval-first: nothing is sent to their customers without the client approving it, from their own inbox. That control is what makes it safe for a practice to recommend. Simple enough for a non-finance owner, and there is a partner referral for firms that introduce clients. Best when the client does the chasing with your oversight, not when you run outsourced credit control for them.
Chaser
Mature accounts-receivable automation built for finance teams, with escalating sequences, a route into debt collection, and multi-entity receivables. If your practice offers outsourced credit control, Chaser has the scale and history for it. Heavier and pricier than a single owner-led client needs.
Satago
Combines reminders with credit-risk scoring and finance options. Genuinely useful if you advise clients on which customers to extend terms to. More than most owner-led clients need just to get paid.
Xero / QuickBooks reminders
Scheduled reminders that recover the client who simply forgot, at no extra cost. The first thing to turn on for any client. They do not rank what to chase first or send from the client’s own voice, which is where a dedicated tool earns its place.
A debt-collection agency
Not software, and not cash recovery. For the rare invoice that has gone bad and the relationship with it. Everything above is about getting paid on normal terms before it reaches this stage.
New to the term? See what cash recovery is, the broader best invoice chasing software round-up, and the page built for practices, Kelo for bookkeepers.
Questions practices ask
What is the best cash-recovery tool for accountants and bookkeepers to recommend?
It depends on who does the chasing. If the client chases their own invoices, Kelo is built to be safe to recommend: read-only on their Xero or QuickBooks and approval-first, so nothing reaches their customers without them. If your practice runs credit control as a service, Chaser has the scale. For credit-risk advice, Satago. Every client should turn on Xero or QuickBooks reminders first, as they are free.
Is it safe for an accountant to recommend an invoice-chasing tool to a client?
It is when the tool is read-only on the ledger and approval-first, meaning it can read invoices but cannot edit or send anything, and no message reaches the client’s customers without the client approving it. That keeps the client in control of their own relationships and keeps your recommendation low-risk. Avoid tools that auto-send on the client’s behalf by default.
Do bookkeepers get anything for referring clients?
Kelo runs a partner referral for accountants and bookkeepers who introduce clients, plus white-glove onboarding for your book. The commercials are confirmed per partner. The aim is a safe, useful tool for your clients, not another thing for you to administer.
How is this different from debt collection?
Cash recovery is chasing your own overdue invoices promptly and professionally to get paid on normal terms, in house. Debt collection is handing a bad debt to a third-party agency once the relationship has broken down. A tool like Kelo lives in the first category; see the guide on what cash recovery is for the full distinction.
A tool your clients run, that you stay comfortable with.
Read-only, approval-first, your client keeps control of every message. See how it looks for a practice, or get in touch about the partner referral.
Kelo for accountants and bookkeepersKelo is operated by a sole trader registered in England.
Business address available on request. [email protected], replies within one working day.