Look at you running a successful business out of your house! You're serving customers day in and day out, and in exchange, you're getting what every small business needs to flourish: money. Your business has started to grow so fast that you need to hire someone to keep track of your money. It's time for you to find a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).
But how can you find the right CPA for your business? We'll guide you!
Look Online, But Verify Their Credentials
Online search is the best place to begin looking. Since Google search shows your results based on your zip code, you'll get a long list of CPAs in your area. If you reside in a small town, you may have to tweak the search radius to get CPAs near you.
During your search, make sure that the CPA is actually certified. A certified CPA is one who's passed the test and is given a license by the state. Moreover, CPAs should also fulfil the requirement of continuing education so that they're abreast with local, federal, and state tax laws. If you need them to prepare your business's taxes, ensure that they've got a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number).
Connect with a Reliable Professional
If you want to excel at something, look for a successful person in the field and emulate what they do. You can use this principle to anything. Want a good body? Get in touch with a person who's got a good body and learn from them.
Similarly, in your case, you can look for successful small businesses and connect with entrepreneurs. LinkedIn is a great place to start. Send them a follow request and drop them a message to start a conversation. What you'll learn this way is firsthand experience, and that's priceless.
Ask those entrepreneurs about how they went about finding a CPA and what financial advice do they have for you. There's a possibility that they might link you to their CPA and make your search easy. Always network!
Have an In-Person Meeting
A CPA will handle your money. Therefore, it's vital that you meet them in person. As you've put a lot of time and effort into establishing your business, you need a CPA whom you can trust. And the feeling of trust and reliability will only come with an in-person meeting. If the candidate is flaky about the meeting, cut them out from the list and look for someone else.
The meeting is all about gut feeling. Follow it.
Get Certified Public Accountants in Austin, TX
If you are a small business struggling with tax compliance and other accounting issues, get in touch with us, at Harmon/Harmon. We’re one of the CPA firms specializing in real estate operating in Austin, TX, that works with small businesses to assist them with tax planning and compliance. Get in touch to get your small business off the ground.