How to Find a Trusted Accountant: What to Ask and Where to Look

A good accountant saves you money, time and stress. A poor one costs you all three. Because you're trusting them with your finances, the best place to start is a recommendation from someone who already works with them.

Know what you need

• Tax preparation for yourself or your business
• Bookkeeping and monthly financial statements
• Tax planning throughout the year, not just in April
• Payroll and sales tax for a growing business
• Advice on structure, cash flow or buying and selling a business

A CPA (certified public accountant) is licensed and can represent you before the IRS. A bookkeeper keeps your records accurate. Many small businesses need both.

Questions to ask

1. What kinds of clients do you work with most?
2. Who will actually do my work, and how do I reach them?
3. How do you charge: by the hour, by the return or a monthly fee?
4. How do you help clients plan ahead, not just file?
5. What do you need from me, and when?

Start with a referral

Ask business owners you trust who they use and why. In a referral networking group, members recommend professionals they've worked with themselves, so you start with someone who has already earned a client's trust.

Watch for red flags

• Promises of an unusually large refund before seeing your records
• No clear fee arrangement
• Slow or no replies before you've even hired them

Looking for a trusted accountant or another professional near you? Find a referral networking chapter: members are one professional per category, recommended by people who know, like and trust them.