How To Find A Small Business Accountant 2024 Guide

Reviewing your latest return is one of the best ways for the tax pro to evaluate your situation and give you an idea of how much they might charge. The one qualification every paid tax preparer must have is a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). Anyone can apply for a PTIN online for free, startup cpa so a PTIN alone isn’t indicative of the person’s skill or experience. Costs will vary widely depending on where you are located, what states you do business in and whether you choose an accountant or an accounting firm. As a general rule, you will either pay a fee per service, or an hourly rate.

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Henn said he’s worked with many clients who feel funny about sharing their personal https://www.bookstime.com/ financial information with a tax preparer in their own town, so they work with someone in another city or state. “Because of technology like Skype and Zoom, secure portals, and electronic filing, you can work with accountants anywhere in the country,” he said. EAs are federally licensed tax practitioners who are authorized to advise, represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals and businesses.

How to Choose a CPA

It’s tax season and many small-business owners are probably spending more time with their accountant than they do all year. Like others, you may be using this time to reevaluate your relationship with your accountant. If you’re thinking of potentially choosing a new accountant, here are a few things to consider.

If you have accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, or Bench (that’s us!), already in place, check that your prospective CPA knows how to use them. A finance toolkit for a SaaS startup looks different than that of a mobile app business, for example. If your CPA is comfortable with the software, they’ll be able to immediately begin working with it to analyze your cash flow, inventory management, and pricing. Asking questions like these will give you, as the business owner, the opportunity to assess your tax advisor needs, as well as the individual tax advisor themselves.