How to Find Reliable CPAs in New Jersey
So business is going well– you have a stable client base, money is coming in, and it appears all the hard work is paying off.
You’re basically living the dream of business owners!
However, it is not enough that you are passionate about what you do. If you want to have a successful business that lasts, you need to ensure that your finances are managed effectively and you are on track to reaching your business goals. If you’re like most small business owners, you tend to wear too many hats thinking you’re saving a couple of bucks by doing everything on your own. However, spending your precious time working on ancillary, yet essential, tasks such as accounting is not an efficient use of your time.
As a business owner, you need to focus on the core aspects of your business and high value activities that directly impact your bottom line.
If you think it’s time to focus on the bigger picture and on growing your business, it’s time to find a reliable CPA in New Jersey that you can trust to take care of the accounting side of your business. Now, the question is: how do you find an accountant near you?
In this article, we’ll help you find reliable CPAs in New Jersey or anywhere else.
Why You Need a CPA
An accountant is a professional that specializes in managing finances. Some of the most common tasks of accountants include bookkeeping, financial reporting, preparation of financial statements, filing of tax returns, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow optimization, and other related tasks.
Meanwhile, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is an accountant who managed to pass the Uniform CPA Exam or meets the educational and experience requirements of a particular state. In other words, we can say that all CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs.
When you hire a CPA for your business, you can be assured that you are hiring a professional who can do more than just crunching numbers, organizing your books, and helping you maintain tax compliance. A CPA can help you with expert tax planning, audit and assurance, forensic accounting, management and consultancy services, strategic financial advice, and other higher value services.
How to Find the Best CPA Accountant
The best CPA to work with is one who can ease your burden and address your unique pain points. Below are some effective tips that will lead you to the right professionals for your needs:
1. Know your needs and goals.
Before anything else, you need to have a clear idea why you are looking to hire a CPA first. What are you struggling with? What are your desired outcomes?
Are your books a mess? Do you find payroll too time consuming? Are you having cash flow troubles? Do you want to try to reduce the amount of taxes you pay in a legal manner?
By identifying your specific needs and goals for hiring a CPA, you’ll be able to have some sort of criteria when going through potential candidates.
2. Get recommendations from family and friends.
The easiest way to find reliable CPAs near you is to ask the people you trust, such as your friends and family, for recommendations. Talk to these people who have had first-hand experience in working with a CPA to find out about the quality of service and the value that the professional can provide.
Ask around and consider adding these personal recommendations to your shortlisted candidates.
3. Research about the CPA.
If you fail to get good recommendations from your family and friends or you simply want to consider other options, simply do your own research online.
By simply searching for “CPA in New Jersey” or “CPA near me”, you’ll be able to find dozens of results. There are also online directories that can help you find reliable CPAs within your area.
However, be diligent enough to go through them and verify their credentials and licenses before striking a deal with them.
Another thing that you can check online is the ratings, feedback, and testimonials from previous clients.
4. Contact your shortlisted CPAs.
Always remember, it’s best to have multiple options and not just go for the top search result. As mentioned, the best CPA for you is one who can address your specific needs and goals. Although they are all CPAs, their areas of specialization and skills in particular areas may vary.
So once you have a shortlist of CPAs, take the time to contact them to know more about their qualifications and experience. This is also the best time to ask for key information such as the full list of services they offer, their availability, and pricing structure.
You can also request for references that you can reach out to just to check if the CPAs that you may potentially work with are good at what they do.
5. Set a face-to-face meeting with your chosen CPA.
Before you sign any contract and finalize the partnership, take the time to meet with your chosen CPA in person.
Use this opportunity to clarify gray areas and ask questions you might have. Basically, get to know the person who will handle your money a bit more.
Final Thoughts
The task of finding a reliable CPA can be daunting and time-consuming, but with these simple tips, you’ll surely be able to find the right professional for you.
If you’re looking for a reputable CPA accounting firm in New Jersey, you might want to consider Lear & Pannepacker! From bookkeeping, accounting, and tax compliance to audit & assurance, business advisory, and CFO services, our team can provide the support you need!
Get in touch with us today so we can discuss how we can help you!
