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Freshbooks SCIM guide

Native SCIM

How to automate Freshbooks user provisioning, and what it actually costs

Native SCIM requires Enterprise plan

Summary and recommendation

FreshBooks does not offer native SCIM provisioning on any plan. The only automated user management option is through Okta's Secure Web Authentication (SWA) integration, which creates a hard dependency on Okta Enterprise licensing and uses password synchronization rather than modern federated identity standards. This Okta-only approach leaves IT teams using Entra ID, Google Workspace, or OneLogin without any provisioning automation for their accounting platform.

The gap becomes particularly problematic for accounting firms and finance teams managing sensitive financial data across multiple team members and client portals. Without proper SCIM automation, IT admins must manually create and deactivate user accounts for bookkeepers, accountants, and external collaborators. Given that FreshBooks handles invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting, delayed deprovisioning creates compliance risks that SSO alone cannot address. The Okta SWA workaround also introduces complexity through password vaulting, making it less reliable than true SCIM protocol integration.

The strategic alternative

Stitchflow provides SCIM-level provisioning through resilient browser automation for FreshBooks without requiring Okta Enterprise licensing. Works with any FreshBooks plan and any IdP—Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace, or OneLogin. Flat pricing under $5K/year, regardless of team size.

Quick SCIM facts

SCIM available?Yes
SCIM tier requiredEnterprise
SSO required first?Yes
SSO available?Yes
SSO protocolSAML 2.0 via Okta
DocumentationOfficial docs

Supported identity providers

IdPSSOSCIMNotes
OktaOIN app with full provisioning
Microsoft Entra IDSSO only
Google WorkspaceJIT onlySAML SSO with just-in-time provisioning
OneLoginSupported

The cost of not automating

Without SCIM (or an alternative like Stitchflow), your IT team manages Freshbooks accounts manually. Here's what that costs:

Source: Stitchflow aggregate data across apps with 2+ instances, normalized to 500 employees
Orphaned accounts (ex-employees with access)7
Unused licenses12
IT hours spent on manual management/year101 hours
Unused license cost/year$3,925
IT labor cost/year$6,088
Cost of compliance misses/year$1,741
Total annual financial impact$11,754

The Freshbooks pricing problem

Freshbooks gates SCIM provisioning behind premium plans, forcing significant cost increases for basic user management.

Tier comparison

PlanPriceSSOSCIM
Lite$19/month
Plus$33/month
Premium$60/month
SelectCustom pricing
Via Okta SWA only

Pricing structure

PlanPriceSSOSCIM
Lite$19/month
Plus$33/month
Premium$60/month
SelectCustom pricing
Via Okta SWA only

Additional costs

Team member add-ons
$11/user/month beyond base plan limits
Okta licensing required for any automated provisioning

What this means in practice

Without native SCIM, you're locked into Okta's ecosystem for any automation. Other IdPs like Entra ID, Google Workspace, or OneLogin have no documented provisioning path for FreshBooks.

For a 25-user accounting team

Base FreshBooks cost
~$60/month (Premium) + $264/month (24 additional users) = $324/month
Okta licensing required
~$2/user/month minimum = $50/month additional
Total monthly cost
$374 just to get basic user provisioning

Additional constraints

Okta dependency
No provisioning automation without Okta licensing
SWA limitations
Secure Web Authentication is less reliable than native SCIM
Password complexity
SWA requires password synchronization, creating security considerations
Limited IdP choice
Entra ID, Google Workspace, and OneLogin users have no automated options
Reactivation complexity
While supported, deactivated user reactivation requires manual coordination

Summary of challenges

  • Freshbooks supports SCIM but only at Enterprise tier (custom pricing)
  • Google Workspace users get JIT provisioning only, not full SCIM
  • Our research shows teams manually provisioning this app spend significant hidden costs annually

What Freshbooks actually offers for identity

FreshBooks doesn't sell native SCIM at all. The only automated provisioning option is through Okta's Secure Web Authentication (SWA) integration, which creates an Okta dependency:

Via Okta SWA integration:

User creation and deactivation
Password synchronization to FreshBooks
User reactivation support
Basic attribute mapping

What's missing:

Native SCIM 2.0 protocol support
Direct integration with Microsoft Entra ID
Direct integration with Google Workspace
Real-time webhook notifications
Standard SCIM attribute mapping
Federation without password sync

The Okta SWA approach works but has inherent limitations. You're not getting true federated identity—instead, Okta is essentially automating password management and form submissions to FreshBooks. This creates a single point of failure and locks you into Okta's ecosystem for any provisioning automation.

For teams using other identity providers or wanting standards-based SCIM, FreshBooks offers no path forward. You're managing users manually or accepting the constraints of password-based provisioning through Okta.

What IT admins are saying

FreshBooks's reliance on Okta-only provisioning creates headaches for multi-IdP environments:

  • Okta dependency: SCIM only works through Okta's SWA integration, leaving Entra ID and Google Workspace users without automated provisioning
  • No native SCIM: Unlike modern SaaS apps, FreshBooks requires going through a third-party integration for any automation
  • Enterprise pricing gate: Even basic user provisioning requires jumping to custom Enterprise pricing
  • Accounting app complexity: IT teams struggle with provisioning financial software that requires careful permission management

SAML/SWA SSO integration. Password sync available. User reactivation supported. No native SCIM - provisioning via Okta SWA.

Okta Integration Network documentation

The recurring theme

FreshBooks treats user provisioning as an afterthought, forcing IT teams into Okta-only workflows or manual account management for critical financial systems.

The decision

Your SituationRecommendation
Small accounting firm (<10 users)Manual management is acceptable
Using Okta Enterprise alreadyUse native SWA integration: you have the prerequisite
Using Entra ID, Google Workspace, or OneLoginUse Stitchflow: no automated options otherwise
Growing firm with frequent team changesUse Stitchflow: manual user management creates compliance gaps
Multi-client accounting practiceUse Stitchflow: automated deprovisioning essential for client data security

The bottom line

FreshBooks offers no native SCIM and only basic provisioning through Okta's SWA integration, leaving most identity providers without automated options. For accounting teams managing sensitive financial data across multiple clients and team members, Stitchflow provides the automated user lifecycle management that manual processes and password-sync workarounds can't deliver reliably.

Automate Freshbooks without the tier upgrade

Stitchflow delivers SCIM-level provisioning through resilient browser automation, backed by 24/7 human in the loop for Freshbooks at <$5K/year, flat, regardless of team size.

Works alongside or instead of native SCIM
Syncs with your existing IdP (Okta, Entra ID, Google Workspace)
Automates onboarding and offboarding
SOC 2 Type II certified
24/7 human-in-the-loop monitoring
Book a Demo

Technical specifications

SCIM Version

2.0

Supported Operations

Create, Update, Deactivate, Groups

Supported Attributes

Not specified

Plan requirement

Enterprise

Prerequisites

SSO must be configured first

Key limitations

  • SCIM via Okta integration
  • Password push available
  • User reactivation supported

Configuration for Okta

Integration type

Okta Integration Network (OIN) app with SCIM provisioning

Prerequisite

SSO must be configured before enabling SCIM.

Where to enable

Okta Admin Console → Applications → Freshbooks → Provisioning

Required credentials

SCIM endpoint URL and bearer token (generated in app admin console).

Configuration steps

Enable Create Users, Update User Attributes, and Deactivate Users.

Provisioning trigger

Okta provisions based on app assignments (users or groups).

SAML/SWA SSO integration. Password sync available. User reactivation supported. No native SCIM - provisioning via Okta SWA.

Native SCIM is available on Enterprise. Use Stitchflow if you need provisioning without the tier upgrade.

Unlock SCIM for
Freshbooks

Freshbooks gates automation behind Enterprise plan. Stitchflow delivers the same SCIM outcomes for a flat fee.

See how it works
Admin Console
Directory
Applications
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Freshbooks
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Last updated: 2026-01-11

* Pricing and features sourced from public documentation.

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