When tax season arrives and you don’t feel like doing your taxes anymore or you just don’t have the time to do your taxes, it may be time to find an accountant.  Before you start your accountant search, make sure that you follow a few steps so that you can find the perfect accountant.

Do heavy research

When you’re browsing through the yellow pages or you’re getting a referral from a friend, make sure that you look into this accountant’s service.  When I say do heavy research, make sure that you look up their BBB (better business bureau) record and look for complains online via a search engine search.  If everything looks good, you’re already on the right path.

Make sure of the certification

Make sure that when you’re looking for an accountant that he/she are qualified.  If you’re unsure if they are or aren’t, simply browse their company website for information or ask the accountant for documents to prove his/her certification.

Experience is important

If you think you’ve found a great accountant because he/she is cheap, be aware of the accountant’s experience.  Like anything in life, you’re going to want someone that has a few years under their belt.  If they are new to the field, you may find that you might encounter some troubles in the long run that aren’t worth it.  If possible, pay a little bit more for an experienced accountant.  It’s also important that your accountant is experienced in your sector if you’re running a small business.

Check the fees

Like anything when you’re shopping for something, make sure that you review all the fees before you start any work.  Make sure that you get all the numbers up front.  If possible, sign some sort of contract so that the accountant doesn’t back out or change his mind on the prices.  Like I stated above, make sure that you don’t get a cheap accountant just because the accountant is cheap.

See if you can talk with previous clients

If you’re unsure of the accountant you’re going to work with, see if the accountant will let you talk or see the clients that he/she has worked with.  If an account usually declines this request, I would highly recommend that you work with someone else.  A good accountant that is trustworthy will always let you see his/her previous work.

Great contact

The most important part of finding a good accountant is having good contact.  This means that every time you want to get a hold of him/her, you get a response within a reasonable time period.  You will not want someone that replied two to three days later.  Whenever you have questions, you will want them answered.

Finding a good accountant includes a lot more things than just the things mentioned above.  You’re going to want to find an accountant that gives you a lot of tax breaks that save you money.  This is one of the main reasons you’ll want one.  If you can find an accountant that meets the above requirements, you should be on the right road.