Things to Consider Finding a Good CPA

Starting a business is usually a significant achievement for anyone. One of the things you have to consider as a business owner is finding a good certified public accountant (CPA) to be in charge of your business's financial information.

Hiring an experienced accountant has many advantages for a business, such as helping you know where you can lower expenses, explaining how business structures work, and dealing with taxes.

Questions You Can Ask a CPA

Once you have lessened the list of the CPAs you might wish to hire, create questions that you want to ask them. The right questions to ask are:

Do you have experience in my field?

You will probably have done some research and realized that the accountant has experience in your industry. Evaluate their level of experience by ensuring that they know the latest regulations. If they have worked for many employers in your industry, they will be more suitable to work for you than an accountant who has worked for many employers in different industries.

Do you have a license, and are you certified by professional organizations?

Sometimes, when you are doing a background check on someone you are about to hire, you might be unable to find all the vital information you want to know about them or come across something you did not expect. Make sure you clear your doubts by asking them about such things during the first meeting. Ask about the details of their education and memberships in various professional groups.

How much do you charge for your services?

This is a critical issue to discuss when hiring an accountant so remember to include it in your list. Find out whether they charge hourly, offer combined services, or charge as a package. Also, establish how they bill clients when they offer tax advice over the phone or email. You do not want any surprises after you have signed a contract only to learn that they charge high rates for such services.

Do you use outsourcing?

Some accountants outsource their services. Ask if the accountant you are interviewing outsources some of their work. Some accountants have small businesses and a team of people working within their accounting and tax services company. Find out what the credentials of those employees are.

Do you use any accounting software?

There is software for almost anything in this day and age, and accounting was not left behind in this technological revolution. You may want to know whether the accountant you are about to hire uses software and whether it can be connected to your financial data making the accounting work on your business easy for both you and your CPA.

What is your communication policy?

Be aware of what communication policy is acceptable to you. Ask what their phone and email policy is. Are they available 24/7, and how much time do they take before responding to clients? Do they only work certain hours? Do they only work occasionally when doing tax returns, or can they work throughout the year?

Can you help me sort out issues with the IRS?

Find out whether the accountant you hire has enough experience dealing with the IRS. One way to know this is by asking if they do e-files. If you learn that your accountant is e-filing, you can be assured that they have vast experience filing taxes and they have a considerable number of clients.

These questions will help you find a skilled CPA for your enterprise. Besides asking these questions, ensure that you select an accountant who is well versed in the unique needs of your business. For instance, if you are planning to export, find out how they can help you develop an export plan.

Work With Our CPA in Loganville, GA Today!

At Acuff Financial Services, our CPAs in Loganville, GA, are experts handling financial services and taxes. We have excellent experience when it comes to filing state and federal taxes for any business. If you're a business owner, we are the tax specialists to talk to about your accounting needs.

We understand how complicated taxes might seem to some business owners; thus, we will help you take the guesswork out of tax filing. We have experienced tax accountants who can do business tax preparation quickly and correctly. Contact us today at (770) 554-8344, and let us take care of your accounting issues as you focus on running your business.