Local college alumni groups and freelance job sites also feature skilled accounting experts from beginner to advanced levels. Ratings and client reviews also appear on most directories, helping you quickly gauge each candidate’s reliability and communication skills before reaching out. Industry peers may connect you to specialists who grasp your particular business costs and compliance concerns. From there, use online directories and accounting associations to gather more accountant profiles worth checking out. For complicated tax filings or preparing professional financial statements, a CPA Chicago is often the smartest choice. CPAs typically start around $38 per hour but often cost between $150 and $250 or more.
There may be a required retainer agreement, so do your research when deciding on an accounting firm. Now that you know what a business accountant does, you may wonder how to find one for your small business. Considering that our 2025 Entrepreneurship report found that 3 out of 10 business owners have made a tax error, the answer is probably yes. But, like all business decisions, you want to ensure you’re making the right one.
Affordable Accounting Options for Cash-Strapped Startups
However, working with a firm provides the support of an entire expert team without having to hire a full-time employee. And remember, using accounting software like QuickBooks can streamline your financial management and make collaboration with your accountant seamless. This software can help keep your financial data organized, making it easier for your accountant to provide the best possible service. The cost of accounting services can vary widely and depends on many different factors.
Prepare a job posting and interview questions
The qualifications you should look for in a small business accountant depend on the type of accountant you’re seeking. Business accountants can provide value for you and your business all year round—they do more than handle small business tax prep when tax season comes around. If you’re operating a new business, ask for accounting software recommendations as part of the interview process. Armed with a list of accounting interview questions to ask, make an appointment. If you’re hiring a self-employed accountant as a subcontractor, you should expect to pay at least $40 as an hourly rate. If you’re working with an accounting firm, you’ll pay from $100 to $250 an hour.
- CPAs typically offer extra services that ordinary accountants may not.
- Forensic accountants specialize in investigating financial discrepancies and fraud.
- Before you begin the hiring process, it’s essential to assess your business needs.
- For employers, setting up a company profile can help attract the right talent.
This means setting them up with the right tools, clear communication channels, and a solid understanding of your firm’s culture and expectations. By investing a little time upfront to create a structured and welcoming experience, you pave the way for your new hire to start delivering value quickly and confidently. This initial effort pays dividends in loyalty, quality of work, and a seamless collaboration that helps your firm grow. This is your opportunity to get an unbiased, third-party perspective on the candidate’s performance, work ethic, and reliability.
There’s no standard rate for a CPA, but you should expect a CPA’s services to cost more than the services of a bookkeeper or non-CPA accountant. Many small businesses don’t need a CPA, so it’s worth considering accountants with other credentials like the IRS Enrolled Agent program whose services may cost less. QuickBooks Live makes it easy to get in touch with an expert accountant whose qualifications meet your needs.
- Many small business owners delay the decision to hire an accountant until it is clearly evident that these services are essential.
- Their experience managing finances for similar companies gives you confidence they’ll handle yours smoothly and help your business grow.
- Knowing what kind of accountant you need is a critical step in understanding how to hire an accountant for your small business.
- Include required qualifications, but try not to scare off candidates with too many must-haves (they’re usually not that necessary anyway).
The right accountant doesn’t just know numbers, they know the tools that manage them. The right accountant doesn’t just know numbers, they know your industry’s language. Ask for their license number—and be sure to confirm it on your state’s accounting board website.
Ask the Right Interview Questions
Financial requirements and tax circumstances differ from one company to another. For instance, sole proprietors have different needs compared to business owners with employees. When you’re focused on managing your own business, accounting tasks can often be overlooked.
Cost Structures for Accounting Services
This isn’t about micromanaging; it’s about empowering them with the information they need to excel and contribute effectively to your team’s goals from the get-go. Use behavioral questions to understand how they handle challenges, manage deadlines, and work with others. Ask about a time they had to deal with a difficult client or a complex project. Their answers will reveal a lot about their problem-solving abilities and whether their approach aligns with how your team operates.
What is Accounting and Why Businesses Hire Accountants
We handle the intensive vetting, HR, and payroll, so you can focus on integrating a fully committed professional into your firm’s culture. When dealing with sensitive financial information, security is non-negotiable. Before granting access to any systems, ensure your new hire understands and agrees to your firm’s security protocols and confidentiality agreements. Use secure platforms for sharing documents and communicating client data. It’s also important to stay current on compliance and security in your hiring and operational practices.
Choose a candidate that aligns with your needs and budget
Accountants can provide personalized support to your small business. They can help you find the right documentation for your business type and source tax deductions that are appropriate for your type of business. Tax audits happen when the IRS wants to review your or your business’s tax return to ensure that the data is accurate. Although this process can induce anxiety, a CPA can help streamline the process.
Working with an accountant on contract is often a smart choice for sole proprietors and other owners of very small businesses who need to keep costs as low as possible. … it might be time to consider working with a professional accountant. These errors can cause issues ranging from embarrassment to serious financial losses or business disruptions. They’re far from the only accounting errors that a business can make — but they’re both some of the most common and some hire accountants of the most potentially disruptive.
A resume can tell you what a candidate has done, but a thorough vetting process tells you what they can do for your firm. This is your chance to look beyond the bullet points and find someone who not only has the right skills but also fits seamlessly into your team. A great hire is more than an extra pair of hands; they’re a long-term partner who contributes to your firm’s growth and success. Before you agree to work with any new hire or contractor, make sure you have a clear picture of their entire fee structure. A great practice is to ask if their quoted fee includes everything you need, such as both federal and state tax return filings for a client.
How do you find and hire a small business accountant?
Assessing your accounting situation matters as the outcome informs your recruitment parameters. For instance, if you need high-level tax advice, the job description and ideal candidate profile will include information about compliance experience with relevant tax laws. However, with a bit of planning, it’s not hard to find a small business accountant (or even one for a large corporation!). Before advertising the role or inviting candidates to interviews, you need to choose the correct type of accountant and whether you even need an accountant at all. The reality is that preparing compliant annual statements is very difficult without specialist accountancy input. Internal business accountants convert raw financial information into accurate statements of the company’s finances.
Their tax knowledge, coupled with the financial planning they bring to the table, will likely help your business in the short and long term. Finding the right person is a huge step, but the work doesn’t stop once the contract is signed. The way you integrate your new accountant into your firm from day one will define the success of your partnership.