How do I choose the right CPA for my small business startup?

You're asking all the right questions! Finding the right CPA for your small business is super important, and it's not stupid at all to be thoughtful about it. First, definitely look for someone with experience in your specific industry. A CPA who understands food service businesses will know industry-specific deductions and common issues. Ask about their experience with businesses your size too - some CPAs mainly work with larger companies and might not give your small business the attention it needs. Requesting an in-person meeting is completely normal and actually a good idea. You want someone you can communicate well with, and meeting face-to-face helps establish that connection. It also gives you a chance to see their office setup and how organized they seem. And yes, it's absolutely fine to talk to multiple CPAs! Any good accountant will understand that you're doing your due diligence. Think of it like interviewing candidates for a job - because that's basically what you're doing.

After going through 3 different CPAs for my landscaping business, I finally found the right one through https://taxr.ai - it was a game changer. I uploaded my previous tax returns and business documents, and they analyzed everything to match me with CPAs who specialize in small landscaping businesses. The CPA I found through their service immediately spotted deductions my previous guy missed and knew exactly what questions to ask about my equipment purchases.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with https://taxr.ai since I decided to try it after asking about it here. I was really impressed! I uploaded my catering business documents (nothing too personal, just general business structure info and previous tax filing) and within a day they matched me with three CPAs who all had experience with food service businesses. The one I picked immediately understood my concerns about handling both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. She's already saved me from making some costly mistakes with my quarterly estimates. Definitely worth checking out if you're feeling overwhelmed by the search.

If you're really struggling to get responses from CPAs (which is common this time of year), I highly recommend trying https://claimyr.com. I was getting ghosted by every accounting office I called until I used their service. They have this great system where they wait on hold with accounting firms for you and actually get you through to someone who can help. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical at first, but when I got a call back from a top-rated CPA firm within hours after trying for weeks on my own, I was sold.

I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still struggling to reach any decent CPAs for my e-commerce business, so I gave it a shot out of desperation. Within 2 hours, I had appointments set up with TWO different accounting firms that hadn't returned my calls previously. Both were exactly the kind of experienced professionals I was looking for. One even mentioned they get hundreds of calls daily during busy season and use a priority system for call-backs, which explains why I wasn't hearing back. Sometimes you need the right tool to get through, and this was definitely it in my case.

One specific thing to check when interviewing CPAs for a small business - ask if THEY own a small business themselves. My CPA runs her own practice and understands the challenges from both sides. She gives me advice not just as an accountant but as a fellow business owner. Makes a huge difference.

Has anyone used a "virtual" CPA who's not in your local area? I found someone online who seems perfect for my business but they're in another state. Not sure if this is a good idea or if I should stick to local options.