Say that you got a room of business owners together and you asked them to share with you something that they wished they had paid closer attention to during the first year of opening up their company. Something that many of them would probably say is that they wish they had spent more time choosing a CPA. That’s because when it comes to keeping a business financially safe and secure, it’s important that business owners have someone on their team who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and willing to do all that they can to keep the books in order.
If you happen to run a business and you know that you need to hire a CPA for your company, here are a few tips that will help you to find and hire someone who is ideal for you.
Know exactly what you need a CPA for. The first thing that you need to think about is what you need a CPA for. For instance, do you only want one to help you with filing your taxes? Do you need someone to help you with your day-to-day expenses? Or perhaps you run more than one business and you need a professional to assist you with putting a financial plan together.
Think about how much you can afford to pay a CPA. Unless you’re hiring someone to work full-time, in most cases CPAs charge by the hour. The actual prices vary depending on what your needs are, but in many instances, it’s somewhere between $25-50 per hour. Do keep in mind that when it comes to tax preparation services, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for a CPA to charge between $250-350 for each return.
Interview 3-5 different CPAs. Once you know what you need and how much you can afford to pay, it’s then time to start interviewing CPAs. As you begin your search, it’s best to go on referral and that you interview 3-5 different candidates. However, do keep in mind that the CPA you choose does not necessarily have to be someone who comes into your office every day. There are many individuals who hire CPAs to work as virtual assistants. That helps to reduce your overhead. Plus, they can work from the convenience of their own home.
Check out their credentials. Say that you heard good things about Bowman & Company CPA, PC. If you were going to hire a CPA from that firm, it’s important that you first check out their credentials. They should have an accounting degree. They should be a licensed CPA. It’s also important that they have more than one year of experience and can provide you with references upon request too.
Make sure you choose someone who is professional and friendly. There’s one more thing that you should look for in choosing a CPA: someone who is both professional and friendly. Being that you’re going to be sharing with them a lot of confidential information, you need to feel that you are comfortable in their space, that you can trust their insight and that they are great at what they do. When you have met someone who fits all of this criteria, you have found the perfect CPA for you and your business.
