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Accounting headaches? The bills are piling up, you're not quite sure exactly how much you have in petty cash, and you could paper your walls with the number of receipts lying around your desk. Sound like you? Often times, small business owners and staff end up doing the jobs of several, including accountant. But you didn't start this company to count beans all day, did you? Save the beans for dinner—get a good accountant.
1. Research and Compile a List
Referrals
Flip to the yellow pages, and you'll likely find hundreds, with no way of knowing who's worth calling, and who's not. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a good accountant, especially an expert in small businesses.
Ted Byer, an accountant who specializes in small businesses for Mintz Rosenfeld & Company, Fairfield, NJ, says referrals by financial professionals are much better than simply opening the phone book and thumbing through the yellow pages.
"Your attorney who helped you incorporate is a good source," he says. "Your banker is another good source. Don't forget; ask for an accountant who specializes in small businesses. An accountant that usually handles big businesses will not give you the kind of attention and help you will need."
Accounting Organizations
Byer also suggests calling the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Every state also has a State Board of Accountants.
2. Interview Candidates
What small businesses need is strategic and tax planning advice. Owners or managers should interview an accountant before making a choice. Why interview a money professional? Because the accountant is working on an hourly basis, just like other employee, you'd better make sure you get your money's worth.
Sample Questions
Byer outlines some essential questions you should ask your potential accountant during an interview.
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How are you going to help my business grow? Ask for an outline in writing.
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If my business goes through a growth period, how can I get additional financing, so my business doesn't go bust? Ask for specifics like which lenders will be ready to extend money and how long will it take to get the money.
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Are you a tax planner or a tax preparer? You will want to meet with your accountant once a year for both strategic and tax planning.
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What benchmarks will you help me set for my business, so that I can track my projects? An accountant specializing in small business finances should be able to help you set month-by-month goals to chart your progress.
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How tech savvy is the accountant? Are you going to have to print out your accounts to hard copy or can you simply transfer everything electronically? What kind of software are you going to have to buy? Remember, your CPA bills you by the hour, so electronic transfers can cut down the time your CPA uses to go through your financials.
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What overall services can the accountant provide besides business advice, like estate planning, gift planning, legal referrals, etc.? The accountant should be the financial quarterback for your business. Can he or she find outside experts to help meet your goals, like attorneys, insurance agents, real estate agents, etc.?
3. Choose Someone with Broad Experience
According to Byer, your business accountant should be more than just a tax preparer. "You don't need someone to go over your financials for the last year," he says. "That's the past. To prepare your taxes you can buy TurboTax and simply input the numbers. You don't need a CPA for that. A strategic and tax planner will help you take advantages in business and tax laws during the business year."
Remember, however, that as your business grows and becomes more complicated, you may indeed need the services of a good CPA to prepare your taxes, as well.
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