Did you know that there are around 46,000 CPA firms in the United States? If you are looking for the right accounting service for your business it is good to know what factors to take into consideration. We have put together this quick guide to share the top tips you want to follow when choosing between different accounting firms.
Table of Contents
1. Specialties
Some accountants specialize in different business areas in order to service their clients better. You always want to ask upfront if they specialize in a certain niche or business type because you do not want to hire an accountant that has zero idea about your type of business.
For example, a retail tax accountant might not be super helpful to a farmer that needs their taxes and books kept.
2. Certifications
Something else that you want to take into consideration is the accountants certifications. Tax firms hire and train their tax preparers to assist the public when it comes to filing their taxes but many times these firms are not able to offer in depth advice to small businesses.
This means that the more complicated your accounting needs are, the more you will benefit from a general accounting firm that employs CPAs or certified public accountants.
3. Service Level
A third factor you want to consider is the amount of services that you need. When looking at a reputable firm such as https://pacificgroupla.com take the time to ask them if they can not only do your taxes but also handle your day to day client transactions if this is something else you need help with.
4. Availability
The last thing you want to do is hire someone that does not really have time to answer your questions when you have them. If you are the type of client that requires timely answers and frequent business questions then you want an accounting firm that is only a phone call or email away. Some firms are so busy that you have to schedule time to talk or time to come into the office to talk to someone in person.
5. Audit Support
If the IRS happens to audit your taxes you want to make sure that your accountant is by your side. Facing an audit can be a stressful situation, specially if you have never been audited before. Ask your potential firm if they offer their offices for audit purposes if need be and ask if they provide an accountant to represent your interests in case of an audit.
Ready to Narrow Down Between Accounting Firms?
Now that you have the top factors to consider when deciding between accounting firms, you can start narrowing down your choices. Keep in mind that every year tax laws are tweaked by legislators, which means that if your accounting firm is not on top of the changes you can end up in trouble with Uncle Sam.
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