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Hiring an accounting firm is a serious choice. The wrong fit can drain time, money, and trust. The right one can steady your business and protect your peace of mind. Before you sign a contract, you should ask clear questions and expect clear answers. You deserve straight talk about fees, services, and who will handle your books. You also need to know how they respond when something goes wrong. This guide gives you six sharp questions that cut through confusion. Each one helps you test truth, not just promises. It also helps you compare local options, including accountants in Springfield, MO. Use these questions in your first meeting or phone call. Then listen closely. The words matter. The tone matters. The follow-through matters. Your money is at risk. Your records are at risk. Your choice should protect both.
1. Are you licensed and in good standing?
Your first question should confirm that the firm is licensed. You can check many licenses through your state board of accountancy. You can also review public records of discipline. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy lists state boards and contact links.
Ask the firm:
- Are your CPAs licensed in this state
- Has the firm faced discipline
- How often do you renew licenses and training
Request proof. A steady firm will share license numbers and explain how they stay current with tax law and financial rules.
2. What services do you provide and what do you not provide
You need a clear list of what the firm will and will not do. Some firms focus on tax returns. Others handle payroll, budgeting, or audits. Confusion here leads to missed deadlines, surprise bills, and stress at tax time.
Ask for a service sheet in writing. Then match it to your needs, such as:
- Personal tax returns
- Business tax and payroll
- Bookkeeping and monthly reports
- Help with IRS letters or audits
Ask who they refer you to when your need falls outside their service list. Clear limits protect you.
3. How do you charge for your work
Money questions can feel tense. Ask anyway. Fees affect your budget and your trust. The firm should explain how they charge and when they bill you.
Common fee models include:
- Flat fee per service
- Hourly rates
- Monthly or yearly packages
Ask about extra charges. For example, rush work, extra forms, or calls during peak tax season. Then ask how and when you can end the contract if the cost no longer fits.
Sample fee models you might see
|
Fee type |
How it works |
Best for |
Possible risk |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Flat fee |
One set price for a defined task |
Simple tax returns or one-time jobs |
Extra work may cost more than you expect |
|
Hourly |
Charge based on time spent |
Complex or changing needs |
Hard to predict total cost |
|
Monthly package |
Set amount each month for a bundle of services |
Ongoing business support |
Paying for services you may not use |
4. Who will handle my account day to day
You should know who will touch your records. Many firms use a team. One person sells the service. Another does the work. A third reviews the returns.
Ask these questions:
- Who is my main contact
- Who prepares my returns or books
- Who reviews and signs before filing
Then ask how often you can meet or talk with that person. A strong firm will explain how they share work and how they protect quality when staff change or leave.
5. How do you protect my data
Your tax and business records hold private facts about your family and staff. You need to know how the firm stores, shares, and protects that data.
Ask about:
- Use of secure portals for document upload
- Encryption for email and files
- Rules for staff access to data
- Backup and recovery plans after a breach or disaster
The firm should be able to explain its security steps in plain words.
6. How will you communicate with me and how often
Clear contact can calm fear during tax season. It also prevents small mistakes from growing. Ask how and when the firm will reach out to you and how you can reach them.
Key questions include:
- Do you prefer email, phone, or a secure portal
- How fast do you respond to messages
- Do you schedule regular check-ins during the year
Also, ask how they handle urgent issues such as IRS letters. A firm that sets clear response times and keeps them shows respect for you and your time.
Putting it all together before you decide
Use these six questions as a short checklist. Bring it to your first meeting. Take notes. Then compare firms side by side.
Pay attention to three things.
- The clarity of their answers
- The honesty about limits and risks
- The care they show for your time and money
When a firm is open about licenses, services, fees, staff, security, and contact, you gain more than tax help. You gain a steady partner who respects your work and your family. That respect is the real test before you sign.
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