Just like with choosing any important member of your team, choosing an accountant can be a lengthy process, but once you do find one you like, your business will benefit from it hugely. This person can’t be just anyone, as they will need to be a trusted confidant who is always in the loop about your finances. You need to be able to work with this person well, and they also need to be experienced in the line of work you do.
An accountant will be there to take some of the workload off you, and offer advice when you need it. Not to mention they can take care of your taxes for you, so you have more time to focus on the actual business.
Here are a few tips to help you choose the best accountant for your business.
First Meeting
The best way to find an accountant is to ask among the people you know who run similar businesses. Don’t ask a friend who runs a business in a completely different industry. Their accountant may be great, but may not know too much about your line of work.
On the other hand, there is always the internet. Write down the things you are looking for, and start looking for an accountant in your area you feel you might like.
List of Services
Not all accountants will offer the services you need. Some only work during tax season, others can do your taxes and take care of your books, while other still can also offer valuable advice. Put the services you need down on paper, and see if the person you like offers any or all of them.
Some accountants also offer package deals, so if you need a lot of services, this might be the way to go. You can also look into ways to reduce your costs, so go into this search well prepared to reap the most benefits.
A Note on Accountant Fees
Now that we have mentioned fees, know that they will likely play a huge part in your decision. If you are operating with a small budget, only go for the services that would take the most load off your hands, and later expand on them. Also make sure to ask around and see what others are paying for their accountants, and interview different people to get a feel of the price that is out there.
Also make sure you clarify with the accountant how often you need to pay, if they bill by the hour of do they offer a deal for more services provided.
Personality Clashes
Finally, you need to know you can work with this person well – and that you can talk to them about the intricate details of your business. If not, you will likely not get very far. Also make sure that the person you are interviewing is the person you will actually be working with. Large companies often have teams of accountants who do the work, while others are responsible for dealing with the clients.
A good accountant will anticipate some of your questions and have answers ready beforehand. Before you sign anything, make sure you are all on the same page and very clear about what you need to done, and how things are going to work, like how often you will talk to each other, when will you meet, how papers will be transferred, what you will be doing to keep your information safe, and so on. Only after all this has been made clear can you actually start working on growing your company together.