| The type of small business accountant you should be | | | | business. |
| looking for is one who wants to know what's | | | | Business accountants who are experienced in your |
| important to you and your businesses future, not just | | | | industry are a bonus. Generally laws are consistent for |
| what you've done in the past. Does that describe your | | | | all businesses, but you know that certain things are |
| business accountant or do you anticipate feeling | | | | unique to your industry. Doesn't it make sense then to |
| threatened, talked down to - even before you get to | | | | have a small business accountant who is not only on |
| their office. | | | | top of tax planning in general, but it your industry as |
| Business accountants who cause their clients to feel | | | | well. |
| that they have to sit there with their hat in their lap | | | | The result is that an even higher level of advice |
| waiting for pronouncements from on high are often | | | | comes your way and someone else has already paid |
| what business owners have come to expect. They | | | | for their education in learning it. The opportunities unique |
| are afraid they'll have to respond to "and why did you | | | | to your industry they have come across offer instant |
| do that" questions. | | | | possibilities to you, something that someone not familiar |
| Their interview questionnaires and fact-finders focus | | | | with your industry might never stumble upon. |
| on the details of taxation, accounting, audits, etc. - they | | | | Business accountants, the kind you're looking for |
| are upside down. The small business accountant you | | | | anyway - will be excellent at asking the right questions. |
| are looking for is one who wants to know more about | | | | But asking the right questions though is not enough. |
| you. Over two decades ago I read a quotation (it was | | | | They need to ask them in the context of what they |
| ages old then) that stated, "people don't care how | | | | know about you and your business. Because they |
| much you know until they know how much you care" | | | | understand you and where your want to go, and |
| and nothing could be more accurate when looking for | | | | because they see where you are right now - their |
| a professional advisor and especially when looking for | | | | questions will help the two of you uncover what's |
| an accountant for your small business. | | | | possible to achieve. |
| Many business owners feel threatened by having to | | | | The right small business accountant is also someone |
| justify decisions they made long ago and far away as | | | | who, if your answers seem to be taking them down a |
| far as their memory is concerned. Decisions that may | | | | road that is not part of their special expertise - they will |
| have been based on their gut instinct at the time or the | | | | tell you so. They will pick up the phone and introduce |
| advice of a well meaning friend or possibly something | | | | you to one of their colleagues who specializes in the |
| they read in their industry's association magazine. | | | | areas under discussion. |
| The small business accountant you are looking for | | | | They will say, "this is not something I can give you the |
| does not do these things. They are someone who | | | | best advice in, so let me get someone on the phone |
| wants to understand you as a person, not to test your | | | | who can" rather than taking your money and trying to |
| knowledge or display theirs. As time goes by an | | | | figure it out for themselves. |
| excellent small business accountant will work in the | | | | They will have business accountants in their Rollodex |
| background to fix problems some of your clever ideas | | | | who are knowledgeable in that area, people they can |
| have created, and they will do it without throwing it in | | | | pick up the phone and call - on the strength of their |
| your face. | | | | continuing relationship, that might result in a quick |
| Excellent business accountants are exceptional with | | | | authoritative answer without charge. Or it may provide |
| people skills. They never step on your pride to display | | | | you with a close-personal-friend introduction to a |
| their superior knowledge and importance. They would | | | | specialist at a huge sayings - because they will trust |
| never say, "see how much money I saved you" rather | | | | the work being done for you by your accountant. |
| they would say, "it looks like we're going to do better | | | | Self confident business accountants do not feel |
| this year than last" - with the emphasis on the "we" | | | | threatened by the specialist and they certainly don't |
| part of the statement. | | | | want to spend your money for both them and the |
| You should be looking for someone who will listen to | | | | specialist so they can learn something they may never |
| your concerns with interest and then counsel you on | | | | need to know again. |
| what should be done based on their experiences with | | | | The small business accountants you're looking for are |
| other business owners like you. You are looking for a | | | | confident in their knowledge, understand you and they |
| business accountant who is willing to invest their time in | | | | know that you know that they have your best |
| understanding you and what's important to you | | | | interests at heart. |
| personally as well as what is important to your | | | | |