Accounting
Evaluating Your Accountant: 10 Signals Your CPA Fits Your Business
Ten concrete tests to run on your current CPA or bookkeeping firm. If they fail more than three, it's time to have a serious conversation or start looking.
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Why Most Owners Wait Too Long
- Switching accountants feels disruptive, so owners tolerate mediocre service far longer than they should.
- The real cost of a weak firm is not the fee; it is the missed planning, late filings, back-tax notices, and decisions made on stale numbers.
- Most owners can name their frustrations but have not systematically evaluated whether the firm is fixable or the wrong fit entirely.
- This checklist is a diagnostic. Go through it once a year, ideally in the summer so you have time to change before tax season.
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Educational content, not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Confirm with a CPA before acting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my accountant is doing a good job?
Run the ten-signal test: responses within two business days, a named person who knows your business, CPA-signed returns, at least one unprompted planning idea in the last year, quarterly estimates delivered before the due date, year-end planning in October or November, monthly reconciled books, coordinated business and personal returns, and real depth in your industry. Failing more than three signals means it is time for a serious conversation.
How often should I hear from my CPA outside of tax season?
A firm that fits your business raises at least one planning idea per year without being asked (an S-corp analysis, PTE election, retirement plan, or cost segregation study), and delivers quarterly estimated-tax numbers before each due date. If the only contact is a document request in March, you are buying tax preparation, not advice.
Should I talk to my accountant before switching firms?
Yes, have the direct conversation first. A good firm that is slipping will usually fix the problem when told plainly what is not working. Give it 60 days. If nothing changes, start a parallel evaluation of alternatives rather than waiting for tax season to force the issue.
When is the best time to switch accountants?
After your current firm files the most recent year's returns. Mid-year switches during an open return are painful for everyone. Practically, that means evaluating in the summer, deciding by early fall, and onboarding the new firm before year-end planning season starts.
What records should I collect before leaving my accounting firm?
Pull your last three years of business and personal returns, the general ledger, payroll registers, and depreciation schedules. You own this data, and the new firm will need all of it to onboard cleanly. Getting copies before you announce a change avoids awkward delays if the relationship ends badly.
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Educational content, not tax, legal, investment, or accounting advice. See our Terms.
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