Your business needs the right accountant. Here are ten interview questions to help you land the right one for the job:
What clients do you usually work with?
It would be to your advantage to hire someone who is already familiar with you’re the type of business you’re in. Restaurants, for instance, have certain rules for wages and tips. An accountant who has handled those in the past will know what to do to keep your finances.
When are you available?
Some accounting firms don’t exist beyond the tax returns filing day, typically on April 15, only coming back when the next tax season comes. However, if you have a small business, you’ll need tax help all year round, through every season.
Who will do the work?
Firms typically assign your records to a CPA. Take the time to meet up with that employee. If you think there’s something fishy about the person, don’t hesitate to call out any unfavorable signs. Those might be red flags telling you to go elsewhere.
Will you review my previous tax returns?
It shouldn’t require too much time to take a look at your previous tax returns. A good accountant, at a glance, knows the kind of help you need, can tell the mistakes you’ve made and will use this insight to make better tax returns to deliver.
What are your fees?
Being upfront about costs can help you figure out which accountant to go for. By comparing services as well as rates, you’ll find it easy to make final decision on an accountant.
What can I do to lower my fees?
Organize, organize, organize. The shorter the time your accountant spends on trying to sort through your tax mess, the less fees you pay for. So keep records in an orderly pile instead of shoving everything inside a drawer. For more information visit Robert A. Woloshen CPA, PC.
