September 5, 2022
5 Qualities Your Accountant Must Have
5 Qualities Your Accountant Must Have
If I could go back to the early days of my business there are plenty of things I would change. Iâm sure thatâs true for just about anyone, and Iâm a big believer in learning from other peopleâs mistakes.Â
But there are also several actions I took that I would never change, and I hope you can learn from those too.Â
Hiring a talented, supportive accountant was a major factor in my success, and I hope I can convince you to take that step too.Â
If youâre already convinced and just here for the tips, all the better! Iâll help you narrow your search and ensure your new accountant is a perfect fit for you and your business.Â
If youâre riddled by thoughts like:
- When should I get an accountant?Â
- How do I find an accountant for my online business?Â
- Should I get an online accountant for my small business?
Iâll go over all of that and more.
When Should I Get an Accountant?
Right. Now.Â
Okay but really, you know I want whatâs best for you, right? Hiring an accountant is one of those things that most people put off, but in reality itâs like greasing a pan before you bake. If youâve never made brownies before, you might be wondering why you need to mess with all this. But when that chocolatey decadence comes out of the oven, I promise you will be very glad you set yourself up for success.
Many new business owners think, âBut I have no money to manage⌠why would I pay someone else to manage it for me?âÂ
But a quality accountant doesnât manage your money persay (thatâs more of a financial plannerâs job). Rather, theyâll set you up with systems that keep your money organized and well documented â something thatâs essential for everything from taxes and audits to hiring help and reevaluating your business structure.
Accountants can also help you avoid tax liability, and capture more business expenses, adding yet another reason to get an account for your online business sooner rather than later.
If you have another job, a partner/spouse, or dependent(s), itâs even more important to understand how your new business will affect your taxes and accounts.Â
So, even if youâre just starting out, take the time to find an accountant. Â
What Should I Look for in an Accountant? đŠđ˝âđť
Remember: when you reach out to an accountant you arenât committing yourself to them. Be sure to ask questions, get price quotes, and donât feel obligated to move forward if you donât feel completely comfortable with them or their team.Â
There are 5 qualities I suggest you look for when youâre selecting an accountant.
â Quality #1: They listen Â
And I mean really listen. đ§ They need to understand what you do â not just âOh yeah, I get it, you âwork onlineââ. The nuances of an online business can make a vast difference in how your accounting should be handled, so you want to make sure they know the ins and outs of your business.Â
- Do you need to itemize your receipts for your clients?
- Do you need to charge sales tax on your products or services?
- Does your trip to visit a colleague count as a business expense?
Your accountant should be able to help answer these questions.Â
You want to make sure that they know enough about your business to guide you in areas like what expenses you can deduct and when your business might benefit from shifting to filing your taxes as an S-Corporation. (If youâre an LLC, by default youâre taxed as a sole proprietorship. Talk to your accountant about if and when it makes sense for you to elect to be taxed as an S-Corporation instead. Yet another reason to get an accountant early and stay in regular communication with them!)
â Quality #2: Communication is Easy, Open, and Prompt
Here Iâm not just talking about a quick response time, or the fact that they should send you notices about your quarterly taxes â although both of these things are important!Â
I also mean that they are open to communicating with you throughout the year.Â
No matter how far along in your business you are, youâre going to have questions. Â And you want to find an accountant who doesnât want to nickel and dime you if you pop in their email or jump on the phone every now and then.Â
Tax code changes constantly. So even if you think you have a good grip on things now, you might have some questions again next year.Â
When youâre looking for an accountant, ask them:Â
- Am I able to call you when I have questions? Can I email you?
- Do I get charged for that time?
Iâm all about people getting paid for their work, but when youâre a new business owner, itâs nice to know what youâre being charged up front and feel comfortable asking questions about little things. Of course if you need to have a more in depth meeting about something, thereâs always going to be a charge.Â
â Quality #3: Clear, Straight-Forward Fees
Iâm a big fan of flat fees rather than hourly fees, especially when youâre a new business owner. When youâre just starting out and have tighter profit margins, itâs comforting to know exactly how much you need to budget for your accountant.Â
Whichever you decide to go with, make sure the fees are crystal clear and donât be afraid to ask questions. They should be able to clearly and quickly tell you how much they charge to do your taxes at the very least. Youâll also want to ask them if they charge for quick phone calls or emails throughout the year to answer your quarterly tax questions, whether they file quarterlies for you, and how much they charge for any/all of that.
If and when youâre ready to switch to filing taxes as an S-Corp, ask your accountant how much they charge for it and whether they handle the entire process on both the state and federal levels.
â Quality #4: Patience
As a new business owner this is particularly important. If you get a sense of frustration from an accountant or bad vibes when you ask them a question, go ahead and move along on your search.Â
You need to feel confident and secure to reach out as often as you need to until you have a solid understanding of the systems and tax processes for your business. And like what I do for legally protecting your online business, they should make you feel comfortable to ask any question that comes to mind, without judgment. Otherwise, you run the risk of not asking something that could be important.
This is one of my pet peeves with lawyers. Some attorneys will make you feel intimidated or silly or stupid for asking questions. They might make things overly complicated or act like itâs super fancy when it doesnât need to be.Â
But just like I try to provide straightforward guidance on your legal concerns, there are good accountants out there who will do the same for your money.Â
You deserve to understand your finances and you deserve to have an accountant who treats you with patience and respect.Â
Please donât let someone make you feel stupid for not knowing what a 1099 is or for not knowing if you owe quarterly taxes â thatâs why youâve reached out for help! Youâre smart enough to hire an expert! đđ˝ *Pound it*
Quality #5: They Offer Audit Protection
When you call and ask questions about hiring a new-to-you accountant, be sure to ask if they offer some sort of audit protection.Â
This means if they file your taxes for you, they will back it up with all the paperwork and filing necessary if/when you ever get audited. This is one of the biggest benefits to having an accountant, so you donât want to miss out on this! Youâd also want to ask them if this service is included for no additional fee, or whether youâd have to pay if you got audited.
How Do I Find an Accountant?
Now that you know what to look for, you probably want to know how to find an accountant.
My best piece of advice here is to ask your fellow small business friends. Thereâs probably someone in your network who loves their accountant, so ask around! Thatâs how I found my wonderful accountant (shout out to Lauren!)Â
Itâs helpful if you reach out to people who you know have a similar business to your own. That way you know the accountant has relevant experience.
Should I get an online accountant for a small business?Â
Keep in mind that taxes are state dependent, so youâll want to confirm that your accountant knows the taxes where your business is registered and operating. Other than that, online accountants can be an excellent option for online business owners. (Online Financial Strategists can help too!)Â Â
Some online accountants specialize in several states, but you may want to be cautious with larger corporations who offer tax services to all 50 states. Thatâs not to say theyâre all bad â just be sure to ask lots of questions. Will you be given a single point of contact? If not, are you okay talking to a different person each time you reach out?Â
Personally, I prefer to know and trust my accountant on a personal level, but some people appreciate the convenience and rapid response times of a larger team. Itâs really up to you, but these are some things to consider.Â
For my own business, I use an online bookkeeper and then use a local CPA, so there are a lot of ways to set this up that could work for you.Â
PSA: You Donât Have to Be an Expert at Everything
Youâve probably heard this before, but please remember you donât have to be an expert at everything in your business.Â
Thereâs a good chance youâre already acting as the founder/CEO, lead service provider, full-time customer service rep, marketing director, SEO manager, and wearing a gazillion other hats while trying to actually run your businessâŚÂ
So hereâs your permission to give yourself some grace and hire a professional when it comes to your taxes and accounting. Youâre not meant to know everything. You cannot be every single expert in your business. And when it comes to your legal and financial affairs, I highly recommend you hire a professional.
For more legal tips and a behind the scenes look at how I built a multi 7-figure business, drop your email below. Iâll be in your inbox twice a week with the best nuggets, podcasts, and business gold I can offer.
So What Do you think?