- Look for professional credential(s)
- CPA
- Masters in taxation
- Enrolled agent
- Look for membership in professional organization(s)
- AICPA
- WICPA
- NATP
- NSTP
- Look for someone with a permanent office - nothing worse than trying to track down a nomad.
- Look for someone with a year round office
- IRS & WDR notices rarely come 1/1 - 4/15!
- You'll come across times you need Q's answered all year long!
- Tax planning is best done in May-Dec!
- Choose an office size where you are going to deal with only a few people and not someone new each year.
- Look for a firm that's hourly charges are neither the highest nor the lowest.
- Too high and you'll be afraid to incur fees.
- Too low and you'll probably get what you pay for - limited time and/or effort.
- If you don't know someone personally - ask several business associates who they use. Then ask why!
- Sometimes the best way to choose a professional is the way you choose a friend or stay in business - gut feel - talk to them - Do they sound intelligent? Up to date? Well rounded? Friendly?
- Your efforts are best spent doing what you are best at and hiring professionals for those areas in which you lack expertise. Even if you are charging $45/hour and they are charging $90/hour, if they can cut your time in half you get two major benefits.
- It's done professionally. Your mind should be put at ease and you should get a better result. If your mind is weighed down by fear or preoccupation, you can't concentrate on those areas of your life you need to be giving your all to.
- You didn't have to do it. If your extra time was spent productively by obtaining additional clients your investment will pay off in repeat business!!!
- Finally, even though you should have a professional, don't divorce yourself from the project. Be involved - choose someone who will teach you how to:
- Be a better taxpayer - pay less taxes.
- Be a good client - pay less fees or get more for the same fees.
-
