What to look for in your accounting firm.

Experience
Select a firm with a proven track record with your type of business or industry.

Accreditation
Is your accountant accredited by a professional organization or association? If so, is the accreditation appropriate to your needs?

Professional to Support Staff ratio
Does the firm have the wherewithal to quickly respond to your questions and needs? An accountant may be top notch, but without the appropriate support staff, your needs may become lost in the shuffle, particularly during tax preparation season.

Up to Date
Check to see if your accountant is current on applicable tax laws, regulations and trends within your business or industry. An accountant proficient in personal income tax issues may not be proficient in business matters.

Ask questions and get references
Check if relationships are long-term, are deadlines met, are fees in line with estimates, does the firm carry an errors or omission policy.

Keep good records
Regardless the firm you hire, make sure your record keeping is as automated as possible, keep clear records of all transactions made during the conduct of business.