Why Your Accounting Firm Shouldn't Use Single Monitors

With a title this simple, you might be thinking, “Did this really need its own blog post?”

Honestly… not really. But it needs to be said.

Despite all the buzz around AI tools, client portals, and Microsoft 365 adoption, many accounting firms are still being quietly held back by one very basic issue: the single-monitor workstation.

In a profession where spreadsheets, tax software, PDFs, email, and browser tabs are all in constant rotation, forcing staff to work on a single screen is like asking them to do their job with one hand tied behind their back.

The Low-Hanging Fruit Everyone Misses

Vendors love to pitch the latest productivity tools—and to be fair, many of them are great. But before investing thousands into new platforms, let’s talk about one of the cheapest, fastest productivity wins available: giving every employee at least two monitors.

Studies consistently show that multi-monitor setups can increase productivity anywhere from 9% to over 40%, depending on the task. Microsoft researchers found productivity gains ranging from 9% to 50%, while Jon Peddie Research reported average gains of 42% when workers used multiple displays.

For accounting work specifically, Thomson Reuters has reported productivity increases of 30% or more for tax and accounting staff using multiple monitors.

Why It Matters Day to Day

Switching between windows may seem harmless, but it adds up fast. Constant alt-tabbing breaks focus, increases errors, and wastes time. With dual monitors, users can:
- View spreadsheets and source documents side by side
- Keep tax software open while referencing files or emails
- Reduce scrolling, clicking, and mental context switching

Adding a Second Monitor Is Shockingly Easy

In most cases, it takes less than five minutes:
1. Check the ports on the back of the computer (there’s almost always an extra HDMI or DisplayPort).
2. Plug in a monitor—or grab a $10 adapter if needed.
3. Open display settings and arrange the screens to match the desk.

(Or skip all of that and give us a call.)

“Yes, But My Employee Doesn’t Want One”

You might get pushback. People like what they’re used to—even if it’s inefficient.

Don’t give in.

The short-term discomfort is vastly outweighed by the long-term gains. Most users adapt within days, quickly realize they’d never go back, and start getting more done with less frustration.

At roughly $150 per monitor, it’s hard to imagine a better return on investment.

The Bottom Line

There’s simply no excuse for single-monitor setups in modern accounting firms. They slow users down dramatically—often by 30–40%—and quietly drain productivity every single day.

As I write this across three screens, I genuinely can’t imagine going back to the days of constant screen switching.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to rip the band-aid off. Audit your workstations. Make dual (or triple) monitors the standard.

Public service announcement complete. Thanks for reading.