10 Questions to Ask Your Future Accountant

​Here are a list of questions to ensure you find a great accountant to fit your needs!

How long have you been in business?
  A good accountant can make your business flourish. Someone who has been in practice longer has had more time to encounter unique problems that you may run into as well.

How do you communicate with your clients?
  Face to face meetings, emails, etc. What best fits your needs and do they work as a good fit for you based on how they plan to communicate with you.

How many people will handle my account?
  Building report with a single accountant builds trust between you and that person. Having to jump around to multiple accountants within a firm makes this a harder task.

How do you calculate your fees?
  Each firm differs on how they bill clients. Some do it by hour, some will bill at a fixed fee. Being clear upfront will on how they bill you will eliminate any surprises in the future that might damage your relationship with your firm.

What specifically in my field is a challenge?
  Having an accountant who is familiar with the particular challenges that businesses face in your field is a great asset. It also shows how inept the firm is at analyzing risk.

What services do you provide?
  Accounting firms do more than just taxes. Some firms can do your bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes. When looking for an accountant as yourself if these services can benefit you.

How much of your time can I expect?
  Some accountants limit their services to just peak tax time. While some firms stay open year round. You would like to find a firm that operates year round ideally. Since you are not their only client knowing about how fast they might be able to get back to you if something is urgent would be a good question to ask.

How can you help me improve my cash flow?
  Maintaining a positive cash flow can be a nightmare. Keeping positive cash flow is important to growth. Finding an accountant who can help you to understand your cash flow and analyze problems could help your business immensely.

How well can they communicate with you?
  This is a question to ask yourself. Since accounting has its own jargon that accountants are used to using. How well do you feel that your accountant can explain to you in layman's terms and be effective in communication.
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How do they stay current?
  Tax codes change. Make sure to find a firm that is current and familiar with the tax codes. Beyond that, a firm that is constantly learning will also be able to bring new ideas to your business.