Small Business CPA Selection

Finding the right small business CPA isn’t easy. And in this economy, even getting return email can be difficult. The industry is currently experiencing a shortage. Those graduating from college are drawn to larger firms. While experienced accountants are least likely to break out on their own, accountants who do venture out on their own often find it difficult to scale up. Training a new staff accountant takes time, often years. All these things create an atmosphere where accountants do not have enough time to take on new business clients. We are here to help you with your small business accounting, and small business bookkeeping. We are a small business CPA firm, but we are also a tax accounting firm with multiple tax accountants on staff. Our Firm is also a member of the AICPA.

Call or Email

Feel free to call. Yes, it is likely that the accountant you wish to speak to will not be available. Leave a short message. Besides the usual voice message information, it is good to provide the industry and to let us know if it is an existing business or a startup. If you do not hear back within 48 hours, then move on. They will be slow to respond to any time you make an inquiry. Emails should be the same as telephones. The reply should request to arrange a 15- to 20-minute phone conversation. if you are in need of a small business CPA or a tax accountant, call or email us today.

What questions to ask the accountant

While it may seem nice to have use a business accountant who specializes in your industry, it shouldn’t be a deal breaker. If the accountant is knowledgeable, and the two of you connect, then the relationship has the potential for success. While there are specialists for real estate, construction, dentists and a few others, a good accountant can most likely handle your accounting and tax needs.

Ask the accountant if they are licensed and if they maintain any memberships to any professional associations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or State Society. Be sure to ask how many years they have been in the profession. 

Be sure to ask them about response time. If you decide to work with a multi-staff business accounting firm, then you should be assured that you will be assigned two points of contact and that phone calls and emails should be returned within one business day. While there is no such thing as an accounting emergency, it’s still nice to feel important. Because your business is important.

What questions to expect from the accountant 

When you speak with an accountant, be sure that the accountant asks about you and your business. While business accounting can be accomplished without much discussion, proper tax planning requires an understanding of the clients.

Be prepared for an accountant to ask your age, marital status, age of any children, retirement saving goals, and years until retirement. These questions would be the bare minimum. If the business accountant is not asking these questions, then a tax strategy cannot be customized to fit your goals. The goal is to tax plan in a way that does not interfere with your financial goals. 

After the phone meeting 

Certainly, a follow-up phone call can be made. However, once you find an accountant who fits you, additional interviews are not likely to change the outcome. Once you find that accountant, don’t hesitate to get started. 

There isn’t a good or bad time to switch accountants. The new accountant has likely gone through the process many times and knows how to minimize the headaches. Professional standards require accountants to turn over necessary work papers so that the new accountant can properly continue with accurate business accounting.