My wife and I recently got our two month old Cairn Terrier puppy, Stella, from a breeder near where she grew up in the Catskill Mountains. The purchase happened to coincidence right as this year’s tax season bonanza was starting in early February. What I didn’t know was that I was in for a crazy adventure this year! For those who don’t know, Cairn Terriers are great dogs and have many great qualities, however they are stubborn and aren’t easy to train.
I’ll tell you, trying to run a business while training Stella was a lot to handle and I probably could’ve used a skilled trainer to help me through the tough times. This leads me to the mailbag question of the week. This one isn’t from one client or reader but from years of hearing the same thing over and over again:
Question: Why should I hire an experienced accountant when I can do it myself or hire someone cheaper?
I know what you’re probably thinking – here we go again, another advertisement for someone’s business. Well, that’s not my goal here. Most business owners view accountants as a necessary evil and just want their books and taxes done at the end of the year. What a huge mistake – it’s like driving a race car blind 365 days per year.
Look, you went into business doing what you know best and for most people it isn’t accounting or taxes. Trying to do something you have no experience in causes headaches and takes precious time away from growing your business. Let’s say you already realize this and decide to hire the cheapest accountant in the market. In most cases you get what you pay for – you end up with books that are a mess. If your books aren’t correct, how do you make sound business decisions to grow your company? How can you even begin to plan out your quarterly tax estimates or plan out tax strategies for larger transactions? Where do you even begin to draw up a budget or forecast out your income? On top of all these issues, you will end up spending more money to clean up your books just to have your taxes done.
By having an experienced accountant on your side (specifically a CPA), you will have comfort that your financials are accurate and have sound strategies in place to minimize your tax liability before April arrives. Not to mention that you will now have timely financial data and analysis that will aide in decision making.
If you are still “driving blind” you should be re-think things and find an accountant, regardless if it’s The Quantify Group or another person/firm. If you would like to discuss this in more detail feel free to contact me directly.
Cameron Bennett
I like that you mention that an experienced accountant can help you minimize your tax liability before tax season. Taxes can be very stressful, but it’s nice to know that you can hire someone who is an expert in making the most out of your taxes. They’re there to help and guide you through the process, so it’s worth it to see if hiring an accountant is right for you.
Jocelyn McDonald
My husband and I have been struggling with our finances and we’ve been considering hiring an accountant. Your article about why to hire an accountant was very helpful, and I especially liked the point you made that having an experienced pro gives you peace of mind knowing that your finances are accurate and your tax liability will be minimal before April. Thanks for the great article, I’ll be sure to take this advice into account when handling my finances.
Gerty Gift
I liked what you said about having an experienced accountant on your side will help to make sure that your financials are accurate. My friend has been trying to do everything for herself with her business, but it’s not working out too well. I think that it would be great for her to hire an accountant to help her out.