How do you find a tax pro for your business?

The best way to find a tax professional is to get a referral from a successful business owner in your field in your location. Do you know anyone that you could call and ask, “Say, who’s the best accountant in our area for our industry?”

If you aren't that close to a successful business owner in your field right now, can you think of anyone you could approach in your industry organization’s meetings locally? Or even anyone you’ve read about or heard of who doesn’t know you but just might be willing to help serious entrants to the field?

What if you don’t know of someone like that?

Here are some other ways to find a good accountant:

• Ask a business friend you respect in another field
Talk to people you already do business with. If they run a successful small business in your area, they probably use an accountant they can recommend.

• Ask your attorney
Your attorney probably has good working relationships with and respect for several accountants nearby that he or she could suggest that would be a good fit for your business.

• Go to a local trade group, Rotary or Chamber of Commerce meeting
You don’t have to join, just go as a guest. During introductions, note anyone who is in your field or is an accountant. Later, approach them, hoping to get a referral from that person in your industry or scope out whether you feel the tax pro is someone you’d like to work with.

• Look in the phone book
Yes, the fat one with all those pages. Look in the color pages under ”Accountants,” Accountants, Certified Public,” or “Tax Return Preparers.” Disregard any firm or individual with huge pictures and flashy smiles -- they are trying too hard -- there must be something wrong with them.

Highlight a few others that have small, discreet listings, with addresses close enough to be convenient. The smaller the listing, the more likely they get most of their clients via word of mouth, so they probably very good (and busy).

Call their office and explain you are a small business owner in the field of _________ and you are looking for a professional tax adviser. Ask what types of clients their office typically works with. If all sounds OK so far, ask them if they can add new clients. If so, ask if they offer a complimentary short initial meeting so you and the tax pro can determine if this is a good fit -- most probably do. But if you ask for this in March or April, you’re likely to get a “no” from anyone, so try to begin your research in the accountant’s off-season.

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