Finding a CPA
March 27, 2018 | By Kevin Vela
As I’ve discussed before, the four external pillars of any small business are a lawyer, a CPA, a banker, and an insurance broker. Each of these professionals will be critical to the growth and health of your business.
The first two that you need to find are a CPA and an attorney, in no particular order. In fact, “Do you have a CPA?” is one of the first questions I ask prospective clients, as there are usually not many decisions we want to make without the benefit of a CPA’s input.
You should interview multiple CPAs the same way that you should interview multiple attorneys. Ask them if they have worked with small businesses like yours, ask about their billing structure, and ask for estimates on accounting fees over the next few years. It is important that you find the right fit.
Once you find a CPA, invest an hour with her or him to talk about your business and your short-term and long-term goals. The more the CPA knows and the better she understands your business, the more helpful she can be. It’s much better, and more cost efficient, to be proactive instead of reactive. I would recommend checking in with your CPA for an hourly planning session twice per year. This will allow your CPA to look at your business without the stress of deadlines or distraction of short-term projects and help guide you to make better financial decisions for your business.
About the Author(s)
Kevin Vela
Kevin is the managing partner at Vela Wood. He focuses his practice in the areas of venture financing, M&A, fund representation, and gaming law.
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