Selecting the Best Accounting Firm for your Small Business

When you’re a small business owner, you normally believe in doing things yourself. You’ve come so far because you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and build something for yourself. This otherwise positive mindset can have one unfortunate side effect for many small business owners: not knowing when it’s appropriate to micromanage tasks or delegate them. This can be especially true for bookkeeping and accounting. Sometimes it’s just best to find the best accounting firm for small business.

Unless you’re already in the accounting business (in which case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this), then you’re not interested in spending many hours preparing, maintaining, and consolidating your monthly books and payroll. This doesn’t even scratch the surface. You will have to invest a lot of time confidence in your books. Sure you can use great software, such as QuickBooks. But QuickBooks is only as good as the effort you put into it.

“What could go wrong?”

This is a question many small business owners ask themselves. But usually after they have failed in their first endeavor to manage all company finances on their own. The reasons for not wanting to outsource accounting work for a small business are obvious: it seems like a way to save money.

Unfortunately, when small business accounting is done in-house, it is extremely easy for seemingly small but critical mistakes to occur. It often costs a lot more to have accountants fix these mistakes. It could have saved time and expense having an accounting firm handle it from the start.

Get the best value for your dollar. Hire an exceptional firm, without the exceptional price. We don’t claim that our services are cheap. But we are not over the top either.

“I never saw it coming…”

Regardless of which firm you select to help manage your books, the criteria are consistent across the board.

1. The firm should employ enrolled agents or CPAs who have experience assisting small businesses.

2. They should have consistent track-record of reliability and professionalism. These are your finances we’re talking about; you don’t want to save a buck by enlisting the help of someone who is naive and unqualified.

3. Ideally, they will be well-versed in tax law and related issues. Accounting is complex enough but it doesn’t change all that much. Tax policy changes every year and those changes have an effect on your company’s finances.

4. They’re adept at relevant software and are able to assist you, as needed, with suites such as QuickBooks.

5. They’re able to deliver a customized personal touch. Accountants may deal in numbers, but no one likes to be treated like they’re just another number. While larger firms have some advantages of their own, a principle edge that a relatively small firm has (besides adaptability) is a greater emphasis on personal touch. It’s crucial to work with someone who has an interest and an understanding of the specific needs and functions of your business.