Choosing the right accountant can be the most important decision a small business can make. In the end, a good accountant is not just a bean counter but a valuable financial consultant. They can help you maximize your revenues and minimize expenses by uncovering key success factors in your business.

Your accountant gains detailed knowledge of your business and its operations. Over time they can quickly audit your business and provide you with the required reporting. It is this familiarity that makes changing accountants very painful. This causes many businesses with mediocre accountants to keep with them year after year instead of finding a better accountant.

Knowing the pain involved with changing accountants, it is surprising how many people don't spend the effort to find the right accountant for them. They know little about accounting and think one is like another.

But the reality is that not all accountants are created equal.

So how should I decide who is the right accountant for me? Start by considering what accounting services you need and who you would work best with: