Finding Small Business Accountants to Strengthen Your Company
Small business accountants can provide a great deal more than just general bookkeeping. Choosing the right small business accountant can help you grow your business with their advice in advance of your decisions more efficiently and cost effectively than almost anything else you can do. Making the wrong choice can cause tax issues and other problems, but switching from one to another is almost always impractical, if not virtually impossible.
Over the years I have seen dozens and dozens of business owners suffering, not so much from bad advice as from indifferent advice, because of their dependence on an out-dated relationship with an out of touch advisor. Why is that, when other products and services they found wanting we jettisoned with a flick of the wrist, do these otherwise smart business owners keep getting their advice from accountants who are no longer relevant?
Often it seems that their small business accountants gain detailed knowledge of them, of their business and their life over time and they the business owner can’t face the prospect of telling someone new everything their current small business accountant already knows.
The result, many businesses stay with the same provider, even if they are dissatisfied, because the costs in time, money, and aggravation of switching are just too high. Are you one of those people who is willing to continue getting less that cutting edge advice because you are too lazy or too cheap to investigate your options – and then bring them completely into the picture?
If so, it pays to make the right choice from the beginning. And if this is not the beginning, resolve to go through the pain of switching once – so you can go forward with the right people. But, you ask – how do you do that?
You should interview a small business accountant in the same way that you would interview an employee – because that is all they are. You should ask to see their resume, their references and their credentials and who they are doing business with that you will know. And don’t be tempted by a non-CPA, just because they charge lower fees. There are numerous transactions that require CPA involvement. If your small business accountant is not certified, you would have to use another service at times calling for the involvement of a CPA.
OK maybe that’s a little strong, especially for those who live in remote areas where there are slim pickings for professional help. If the person you choose is not a CPA – they must either have one in their office or have a close working relationship with a CPA that will be available to you in those situation where their expertise and credentials are necessary.
During the interview, ask what kind of creative advice he or she is able to offer. If they have the knowledge, small business accountants can be your primary source for tax planning, business consulting and personal financial advice. They can also help you grow a network of service providers that you may need in the future. They know their clients well enough to make referrals. That can be an invaluable tool for finding a good lawyer or other service provider.
You should be sure that the person handling your business’ money makes use of all of the tools that are available today. They should be familiar with business management software and make full use of it.
One of the things that you need to be sure about before you hire a small business accountant is the fees that they charge. This may sound like common sense, but many business owners fail to ask. A CPA may charge an hourly fee, based on the amount of time that he or she spends on your books. CPAs may charge for time spent on the phone with you or for sending faxes or emails. If a simple two minute phone call is equivalent to an hour of billable time, interview someone else.
In short, small business accountants can help or hurt your business. Choosing the right one now will save time, frustration and possibly money in the future.
Recommended Reading
- How To Choose The Right Small Business Accountant
- Small Business Accountants Know a Buy Sell Agreement is Not Enough
- Small Business Accounting Quickbooks Tutorial 2
- Accountancy Services Direct – One Minute Accounting ‘The Accounting Equation’
- Three Ways To Pay Business Accountants That Work For The Accountant & The Client
- Small Business Accounting Quickbooks Tutorial 1
