Need help finding a qualified tax professional for growing small business - advice needed

My wife's affiliate marketing business has really taken off lately and is now making more than her regular job. I've been trying to handle our taxes using TurboTax online, but I'm starting to feel like I'm in over my head with all the business tax stuff. Is it really as straightforward as just finding a local tax person to answer questions about whether we should form an S-Corp or C-Corp, what expenses we can legitimately write off, etc? My wife thinks we can just walk into any tax office and they'll be able to help us, which might be true, but if I'm going to pay someone for their expertise, I want to make sure we're getting the absolute best advice possible to maximize our situation. Would really appreciate any suggestions or advice on how to find a good tax professional who can help our small business maximize deductions and provide consulting on things like business structure (S-Corp vs C-Corp) and other tax planning strategies. We're making around $85,000 annually from the business now and want to make sure we're setting things up correctly.

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19 comments

Philip Cowan

•8M

Finding the right tax professional for your business is definitely worth the effort! With your wife's affiliate marketing income exceeding her job, you've outgrown the basic tax software approach. Look specifically for an Enrolled Agent (EA) or CPA who specializes in small businesses, preferably with experience in online/affiliate businesses. The right professional will save you far more than their fee by identifying deductions and optimal business structures. For your situation, I'd recommend interviewing at least 3 different professionals. Ask about their experience with affiliate marketing businesses, their thoughts on business structures for your income level, and how they approach tax planning versus just tax preparation. A good tax pro should be asking YOU lots of questions about your business model, future plans, and financial goals. Don't just look at fees - the cheapest option rarely gives you the comprehensive advice you need at this stage of business growth.

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Philip Cowan

•8M

For a growing business like yours, I'd recommend a local independent professional over a national chain. Local tax pros tend to provide more personalized service and are often more accessible throughout the year for questions. The big chains are primarily focused on high-volume tax preparation rather than strategic planning. As for cost, expect to pay anywhere from $250-500 for an initial consultation and tax planning session, with ongoing tax preparation services ranging from $800-2000 annually depending on your location and the complexity of your business. This might seem steep compared to TurboTax, but the right professional will typically find enough additional deductions and strategies to more than cover their fee.

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Lena Schultz

•8M

After struggling with similar questions for my dropshipping business, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was honestly a game-changer. It's like having a tax professional look over your shoulder, especially for self-employed situations and small business structures. What I found most helpful was uploading my business docs and getting clear guidance on what structure made sense for my revenue level. The tool basically analyzed my situation and explained why an LLC taxed as an S-Corp was better for me than staying as a sole prop. It also flagged several deductions I was missing.

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Lena Schultz

•8M

It doesn't completely replace a human professional for complex situations, but it does an excellent job of helping you understand what questions you should be asking. The analysis gives you a solid foundation so you're not going into meetings with tax pros completely clueless. It basically helps you become a more informed client. The system definitely handles state-specific rules - that was actually one of the most helpful parts for me since my state has some weird deduction limitations. And yes, it absolutely handles mixed income situations with both W-2 and business income. It actually helped me understand the self-employment tax implications of my business income alongside my day job.

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Pedro Sawyer

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai after my skeptical questions and was pleasantly surprised. My situation with my consulting business alongside my regular job was causing me major confusion about estimated tax payments. The tool actually walked me through the whole process and even explained how much I needed to set aside each quarter. It wasn't just generic advice either - it specifically addressed my situation with having both types of income and recommended the most tax-efficient way to pay myself from my business. I still plan to meet with a CPA, but now I actually understand what we'll be discussing!

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Mae Bennett

•8M

If you're still looking for a human tax pro to talk to, I'd highly recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS's Business Tax Line. I wasted DAYS trying to get answers about business structures, and the regular IRS line kept transferring me around or disconnecting. Claimyr got me through to an actual IRS business tax specialist who answered all my S-Corp vs LLC questions for free. They even emailed me official guidance docs afterward. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Not saying this replaces a dedicated tax pro for your business, but it helped me understand the basic requirements before paying for professional help.

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Mae Bennett

•8M

It works by using technology to navigate the IRS phone system automatically and wait on hold for you. When they reach a live person, you get a call connecting you directly to that IRS agent. It's basically like having someone sit on hold for you so you don't have to waste your day listening to that horrible hold music. Yes, it is a paid service, but considering the value of your time and the importance of getting accurate information directly from the IRS, it was absolutely worth it for me. I spent less than I would have billing two hours of my own work time, and got definitive answers straight from the source.

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Melina Haruko

•8M

I have to eat my words. After being super skeptical about Claimyr, I tried it yesterday out of desperation after my 5th attempt to reach someone at the IRS about my business taxes. Within 45 minutes (during which I just kept working), I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS business tax specialist. Got clear answers about S-Corp election timing requirements for my situation and avoided what would have been a costly filing mistake. The agent even emailed me the specific forms I needed. Definitely beats spending hours on hold only to get disconnected!

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Dallas Villalobos

•8M

One thing I'd add - look for a tax pro who's willing to be proactive and not just reactive. My first accountant only contacted me during tax season, but my current CPA reaches out quarterly to help me plan and adjust things BEFORE tax time. Makes a huge difference! For affiliate marketing specifically, look for someone familiar with nexus issues if your wife is promoting products that ship to multiple states. This is getting increasingly complex and you want someone who stays current on these rules.

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Dallas Villalobos

•8M

Many CPAs offer quarterly services but it's definitely something you should specifically ask about during your initial consultation. Some will include quarterly planning as part of their annual fee, while others charge separately for these check-ins. Either way, it's worth the investment. I'd recommend asking potential tax pros: "How do you handle mid-year tax planning and what's your process for communicating tax-saving opportunities throughout the year?" Their answer will tell you a lot about their approach to client relationships.

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