Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

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For many people, finding the right CPA can be just as importanyt totheir well-being as findingv a good physician. So time and care are neededx in choosing thecorrect person. "In the busines world, there are few relationshipz more personal than that of a business andits accountant, " says Kenneth C. Dewitt, a CPA with Tidwelo DeWitt LLC. "After all, nothing is more private and delicates than the issueof money." The first step is to determinde exactly what type of CPA you need. Whil there are numerous companies that will prepare taxes for any typeof business, CPAs often specializ in certain areas.
"Determine what your needz are andwhat you're lookingb for," says Jimmy Williamson, chairman of the Boardd of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. "Some CPAs want to do but I think that canbe dangerous. If you have a hearrt problem, you don't want to just go to your standared practitioner. You want to go to a cardiologistr who can do specializedc testing and see exactly what yourproblem is." Then ask aroundc among friends and professional colleagues to find out who they use as an Williamson says it can be particularly useful to talk with attorneys, bankers and since people in those fieldes tend to be knowledgeable about CPAs.
"Most new clients come from referrales fromother clients," Williamson The AICPA also offers help in findingg a CPA through its Web site at Narrow your list of potentia CPAs to at leasyt three, and then interviee each one. Come equippe with a number of specific including how much theCPA charges. "Thar needs to be addressed on thefront end, to prevenft surprises down the road," Williams says. * How long has your firm been in business? Some people want to use an established CPA, while others prefer a newer firm that has a smallerclienr list, enabling it to pay closer attention to its customers. * Do you offee an initial consultation, and is theres a charge?
Many firms offer a free initia l consultation and should be able to give an estimate of the fees for the servicesyou require. * Can I contacrt any of your current clients fora referral? A reputable firm will be willinb to provide you with references. * What educationn have you recently completed in your areaof expertise? CPAs who have an active certificate to practice publicf accounting are required to complete a specified amoun of continuing professional education. They receive credift by attending courses, writing articles or teaching. * What compute r programs do you prefer your clients to use forrecord keeping?
Using a program the CPA is familiar with can save time and moneyh on your billings. A firm also should be able to help you in settingv up and maintainingcomputerized bookkeeping. In addition to obtaining this you should also look for a CPA who fits your Some people want their CPA to beall business, whils others prefer a lighter "It's important that the chemistry be there," Williamsomn says. "There shouldn't be anything uncomfortable about working witha CPA. If therde is, then move on to somebody else."" DeWitt agrees.
"Since open and frequent communication is ofte n the key ingredient ina relationship, it shoulcd be considered with equal importance as experience and ability," DeWitt says. "There are tens of thousands of CPA firmasin America. That means there is most definitely a CPA out therefor you."