Accountants in Maryland bring expertise and invaluable advice to businesses of all sizes. Whether you need estate planning services, tax advice or assistance with implementing an accounting system, an accountant offers vital assistance. Finding the right Maryland CPA to meet all of your needs can be challenging because not all accountants provide the same services.

Knowing what business goals you want to achieve is the first step in finding accountants in Maryland that will meet your current and future needs. Follow these steps to help you find a CPA for a small business in MD:

1. Search for a MD CPA.

2. Research the validity of the licenses and affiliations of accountants in Maryland .

3. Decide which Maryland accountant or firm is the best fit.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Perform a general search of Accountants in MD

All CPAs in Maryland are not full-service. Some specialize in estate planning, tax planning or bookkeeping while others may handle the full spectrum of accounting needs of a small business.

I recommend: The Maryland Association of CPAs website features a referral service to help you find Maryland CPA that meets your business' specific needs. CPA Finder is another search option to locate a Maryland CPA firm. Finally, the Accountants World website is a great tool to perform a directory search of top Maryland public accounting firms. The CPA Firms website helps you locate accountants in Maryland for small businesses as well as giving you their websites and email addresses.

Research the credentials of the CPA in Maryland that you are interested in working with

Make sure the Maryland accountants that you are considering are professional and licensed. Verify their affiliation with local and national accounting associations as well as the status of their professional license.

I recommend: The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy has a search function to allow you to search for licensed accounting professionals by name or location. The Etaking website verifies the licenses of participating accounting firms and lists them on their website. CPADirectory is another option to check licensing information on a specific Maryland accountant.

Choose a Maryland CPA that meets all of the unique needs of your organization

Your company may have particular goals and not all firms may offer the service or services that you need. It is important to find a MD CPA that will work with your current and future business plan.

I recommend: If you need help setting up an accounting system for payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable, then a firm specializing in bookkeeping would be your best bet. The Harding Group, Inc. is one possibility, serving the areas of Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park and Crofton. Another option is AMB Small Business Accounting Services whose service areas include Rockville and Baltimore. For more extensive services like tax planning, you need more advanced Maryland accounting firms. Donald L. Cunningham, CPA, LLC who serves Millersville, Annapolis and Pasadena, offers tax planning as well as tax return preparation services. Lawrence M. Raigrodski CPA who is located in Rockville, offers tax planning as well as IRS representation. For a firm that specializes in the needs of small companies, you may consider Etienne & Associates, LLC. located in Silver Spring who services the areas of Bethesda and Rockville. If you want a well-known firm with locations around the world, PricewaterhouseCoopers is one option and they have an office in Baltimore.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Interview various top MD CPA firms before making a decision. Talk to colleagues and members of local accounting associations to find a CPA for a small business in MD with an exceptional record. Accounting firms usually serve clients in a many industries. Find clients in your industry and then weigh the pros and cons of a particular accountant or firm before settling on the one you think will be the best fit.