Guide to Accountants in California

Accountants in California that are qualified and professional can be challenging to locate for you and your business. Like accountants in other states, California accountants offer services for a variety of business needs.

As a small business, your accounting concerns will be different from other, larger companies. When seeking accounting in California, keep those special concerns as you seek out and interview accountants for your business. Some tips to consider are:

1. Find a California accountant that specializes in the needs of your business, be it tax preparation or bookkeeping.

2. Ask your accountant what professional organizations he is a part of. While not required to do business, it shows that she or he takes the profession seriously.

3. Seek out an accounting firm that specializes in the needs of small businesses, if you feel a firm would better suit your needs than an individual accountant.

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

Find accountants in California that specialize in tax preparation for small businesses

Small business needs are different from those of a larger company. When searching for an accountant, look for New York accountants that are well versed in the tax code and how it applies to small businesses.

I recommend: BookkeepingHelp.com offers a list of California accountants that may be a good fit for your small business tax needs. The Society of California Accountants can help you find a California CPA that can assist you with your small business needs.

Find out if your CA accountant is part of a professional organization

Accountants in California have several professional organizations they can participate in and join. California accountants who are not members of a professional organization isn't an indication that they are any less qualified, but accountants who do join professional societies shows a seriousness about their profession that may mean more dedication and attention to your accounting needs.

I recommend: The California Society of CPAs is a major professional organization for California CPAs. If you’re looking for accountants in California, this website is a good place to begin your search. The California Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals is another professional organization for California Accountants to join.

Find good California accounting firms

There are plenty of independent accountants in California. However, you may feel you'd rather work with California accounting firms than an individual accountant because of the security it offers. If you don't want to work with an individual accountant and would rather work with a firm, then it is best to find one that specializes in accounting for small businesses.

I recommend: CPA Finder can help you find California CPA firms that specialize in small businesses. CPAinCalifornia.com offers California certified public accountants that focus on small businesses.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Don't rely solely on word of mouth when choosing California accounting firms. Find a few accounting firms that fit your needs and interview them to see who would be the best fit.

The official source of Accountants in California is
the Accountants in California page at Business.com