Hire the Best Certified Public Accountants

Clients rate our Certified Public Accountants
Rating is 4.8 out of 5.
4.8/5
Based on 3,348 client reviews
Chris W.

Boerne, Texas

$100/hr
5.0
51 jobs

I am currently a CPA and Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at a Fortune 500 company looking for some freelance work on the side. I am a motivated hard worker who pays attention to detail while delivering exceptional results. I am proficient at performing: Bookkeeping Financial Analysis Financial Statement preparation Tax Returns Monthly/Quarterly Filings Quickbooks Online Microsoft Excel (including VBA and Macros) Report Building

  • CPA
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Bookkeeping
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Tax Preparation
  • Financial Analysis
  • Financial Statement
  • FreshBooks
  • Visual Basic for Applications
Yogesh S.

Gurgaon, India

$25/hr
4.8
125 jobs

*Crypto Tax Accountant | Fixing Inaccurate Reports Before They Cost You Money* Crypto tax mistakes don't come from trading too much. They come from trusting software reports that were never properly reviewed—and filing them anyway. I'm a crypto tax accountant specializing in reconciliation, cost basis reconstruction, and fixing the exact errors that cause inaccurate crypto tax filings. If you've imported wallets into Koinly, CoinTracking, SUMM, CoinTracker, CoinLedger, ZenLedger, or Blockpit and assumed the report was "done"—that's exactly where most problems begin. ⚠️ What I See Every Day Most reports arrive showing one or more of these: • "Review Needed" errors on the tax summary page • Missing cost basis or missing price warnings • Portfolio value or balance mismatches across exchanges and wallets • Negative coin balances • DeFi, NFT, bridging, or staking activity misclassified as taxable disposals • High-value trades showing zero or inflated gains • Bitcoin Ordinals with incorrect gains/losses • Validation errors that software flags but cannot resolve These are not cosmetic issues. Left unresolved, they can materially change your tax liability. Fixing them after filing is far more expensive than getting them right upfront. 🧠 Why Software Alone Isn't Enough Crypto tax platforms are tools—not solutions. They don't understand intent. They can't determine whether a transfer is internal, whether a DeFi interaction is non-taxable, or how cost basis breaks across bridges, LP exits, or wrapped asset conversions. That judgment requires a human crypto tax accountant. That's the work I do. 📌 What I Handle End-to-End I manually reconcile crypto activity across wallets, exchanges, and blockchains so that: ✓ Transfers are matched and cost basis flows correctly ✓ DeFi, staking, NFT, and bridge transactions are classified accurately ✓ No high-value disposal is left without a verified cost basis ✓ Final reports reflect economic reality—not software assumptions Complex activity I regularly work with: ✓ Perpetuals, margin positions, and derivatives ✓ DEX aggregators, LP tokens, liquidity events, and protocol migrations ✓ Staking derivatives, validator income, yield vaults, and rebases ✓ Bridging, wrapped assets, MEV rewards, and airdrops ✓ NFTs, Bitcoin Ordinals, nodes, mining, and ICOs ✓ Multi-wallet, multi-exchange portfolios with long transaction histories Chains: Ethereum and all EVM chains, Hyperliquid, Solana, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BSC, Cosmos, Near, Aurora, Cardano, Terra, EGLD, and more. 🛠 Platforms & Protocols I Work With I use Koinly, CoinTracking, CoinLedger, CoinTracker, ZenLedger, Blockpit, and SUMM as data engines—not final authorities. I apply professional judgment where automation falls short. DeFi protocols I routinely reconcile: Uniswap, Sushiswap, Aave, Curve, and similar platforms across complex multi-chain setups. 🧾 What Makes My Work Different I don't press "generate report" and hand it over. I trace transactions end to end, validate transfers on-chain, reconstruct cost basis accurately, and confirm every tax classification is defensible. Every account goes through structured validation checks before the final report leaves my hands. The result: reports that are complete, consistent, and ready to file with confidence. 🌍 Countries I Serve I work with clients across multiple jurisdictions and understand the reporting expectations in each market. I currently serve clients in: • United States (US) - IRS Form 8949, Schedule D, 1099-DA, HIFO/FIFO/LIFO cost basis methods • United Kingdom (UK) - HMRC crypto guidelines, Section 104 pooling rules • Canada - CRA crypto tax treatment, adjusted cost base (ACB) method • Australia - ATO crypto tax rules, CGT events and discount method • Germany - BZSt crypto tax rules, 1-year holding period exemptions • Austria - Austrian tax authority crypto reporting standards • New Zealand - IRD crypto guidance, income vs. capital treatment If your jurisdiction is not listed above, feel free to reach out. I regularly work with international clients and can adapt reconciliation outputs to suit local reporting needs. 🎯 Who I Work Best With Investors, traders, and businesses who value accuracy and documentation—and understand that a professional second set of eyes before filing is far less painful than an amended return or an audit afterward. Clients typically come to me when: • Their crypto tax report doesn't match their expectations • They want DeFi, NFT, or multi-chain activity reviewed properly • They need a defensible report before filing, not a rushed one • They've tried the software and realized something is off 📩 If your report shows Review Needed, Warning Transactions, or ⚠️ caution alerts—or if your profit and loss figures don't align with what you actually earned—reach out. I'll review your situation, explain exactly what needs to be fixed, and make sure your crypto taxes are filed accurately.

  • Tax Preparation
  • Blockchain, NFT & Cryptocurrency
  • Tax Accounting
  • Crypto Asset
  • Accounting
  • Account Reconciliation
  • US Taxation
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Bookkeeping
  • Crypto Wallet
Hassam A.

Faisalabad, Pakistan

$25/hr
4.9
45 jobs

✅ Top-Rated CPA | 10+ Years Experience in Tax, Bookkeeping & Financial Consulting for SMEs As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over a decade of hands-on experience, I help small and medium-sized businesses streamline their accounting, reduce tax liabilities, and maintain financial clarity — so they can focus on growth. My services are tailored for: Sole Proprietors, Partnerships, and SMEs Startups needing clean books & tax guidance Businesses seeking ongoing accounting support 🔹 Core Services I Offer: Tax Preparation & Filing (Business & Individual) Bookkeeping (QuickBooks Online, Xero, Excel) Financial Reporting & Analysis Payroll Processing & Compliance Audit Support & Internal Controls Budgeting, Forecasting & Advisory Human Resource Accounting Support 💼 Whether you're behind on your books, unsure about compliance, or scaling and need advisory support — I'm here to help with accuracy, integrity, and responsiveness. 💡 Why Clients Choose Me: 10+ years of proven accounting experience across multiple industries Strong communication & on-time delivery Committed to long-term relationships, not just one-off projects Transparent, trustworthy, and detail-focused Fellow Public Finance Accountant with additional certifications in Accounting & Finance Tools: QuickBooks | Xero | Microsoft Excel | Wave | FreshBooks | Sage | Tally Let’s work together to simplify your finances and support your business success. Send me a message to discuss how I can help you today.

  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Data Entry
  • Bookkeeping
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Financial Accounting
  • Cost Accounting
  • Financial Statement
  • Xero
  • Financial Reporting
  • Management Accounting
  • Accounts Payable Management
  • International Financial Reporting Standards
  • Accounts Receivable Management
Julie M.

Framingham, Massachusetts

$125/hr
4.8
146 jobs

I am a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Accounting, specializing in tax preparation. I have years of experience helping clients save money with my knowledge of tax law for business and individual taxes. My main goal with a client is to help them understand their tax situation and help them succeed in their financial goals, including a forward look approach to ensure the client receives the maximum deductions to increase cash flow, by offering tax planning and business consulting. My specialty is in small business, including accounting, tax preparation, and tax consulting to ensure that the business entity type is best suited for your needs and the most tax advantageous. I also offer accounting services, where my main goal with clients is to ensure that their books and financial statements accurately reflect their finances. With accurate financial statements, businesses can see their strengths and weaknesses, which will help them continue to grow their business and succeed. In my accounting business, my main goal is for my clients to be successful and help them by offering not only accounting and tax preparation services, but also business consulting on what is the most advantageous business entity type and taking a forward looking approach to see what they can do in the future to grow their business. I have worked with several small business owners just starting their business by setting up their accounting software and chart of accounts, creating a business strategy, including tax planning, to maximize cash flow to prepare them for success.

  • Tax Planning & Advisory
  • Tax Return
  • Bookkeeping
  • GAAP
  • Income Statement
  • Financial Analysis
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Tax Strategy
Anupama A.

Torrance, California

$200/hr
4.8
337 jobs

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)with 15+ years of experience as a Senior Accountant, Skilled in all areas of accounting and extensive knowledge of Tax from individual to large businesses with consistently meeting deadlines under pressure. • Licensed CPA from California. • Responsible for payroll & sales tax filing for clients. • Expert at designing accounting functions, systems, and best practices. • Responsible for reviewing & compiling client’s financial statement from E-commerce , Health, Automobile, Construction, Manufacturing & entertainment industries. • Expertise in remote work with minimal supervision, ensured client information confidentiality & Maintained positive relationships with prompt response to calls and emails. • Experience using online tools like Slack, Google Drive and Zoom skill • Individual Taxation ( form 1040 ). Expertise in case like capital gain, RSU ,ESPP , Rental income, Foreign income • Business Tax return ( Form 1120S, 1120, 1065).Expertise to solve all tax complication with required schedule for pass through business entity. • Bookkeeping, accounting and payroll services.

  • CPA
  • Tax Preparation
  • Budget Management
  • Payroll Accounting
  • Bookkeeping
  • Certified Tax Preparer
  • International Taxation
  • Corporate Tax
  • US Taxation
  • Sales Tax
Kevin M.

Scottsdale, Arizona

$250/hr
4.3
135 jobs

☑️ 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 ☑️ 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗣𝗔 - 𝟯𝟱+ 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 ☑️ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 & 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ☑️ 𝟱𝟬𝟬+ 🇺🇸 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 ☑️ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 $𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗠+ 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 ☑️ 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘆” 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 ☑️ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 ☑️ 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗻-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 ☑️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗘𝗢, 𝗖𝗙𝗢, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 & 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 ☑️ 🇺🇸 𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 & 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ☑️ 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗙𝗹𝘆 & 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗢𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂 (𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆) To schedule a complimentary tax consultation, 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲. ❝ 𝙆𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙍𝙎 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 $𝟮𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. ❞ 🗣 𝘾𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙠 Hi! I'm Kevin, a CPA with 35+ years of experience helping US business owners legally reduce taxes, solve complex tax problems, build tax strategies leveraging tax credits, and significantly improve cash flow. Most accountants are very good at telling you what happened last year. I think that's about 12 months too late. One of my genius-zones is identifying tax-saving opportunities before the year ends, while there's still time to do something about them. Think of me as your one-stop shop for proactive tax strategy, tax planning, tax credits, tax preparation, and complex tax problem solving. I'm also a former CEO, CFO, Controller, entrepreneur, business owner, author, and strategic advisor. I understand what it's like to sign the front of the check. Because I've spent my career building, buying, operating, and selling businesses, I look at taxes through a business owner's lens, not simply an accountant's. My clients often want to answer questions like: 🔹 How can I legally reduce my tax bill? 🔹 Am I using the right business structure? 🔹 Which tax credits am I missing? 🔹 What tax opportunities have been overlooked? 🔹 How can I improve cash flow? 🔹 What tax strategies should I implement before year-end? Examples Of Tax Services I Commonly Support Clients With Includes: ✅ Tax Services - Tax Planning & Strategy - Advanced tax planning, tax mitigation, tax reduction, and tax savings strategies - Proactive year end and multi year tax planning - Tax credit identification and prior year opportunity reviews ✅ Business & Corporation Tax Planning - S corporation, LLC, and partnership tax planning - Entity structure analysis and optimization - Reasonable compensation planning - Multi state tax planning ✅ Tax Credits - Employee Retention Credit (ERC) analysis and recovery - Research and Development (R&D) tax credits - Industry specific tax credits - Tax credit identification, analysis, and recovery ✅ Tax Preparation - Form 1040 individual tax returns - Form 1120 C corporation tax returns - Form 1120 S S corporation tax returns - Form 1065 partnership tax returns - Form 990 nonprofit tax returns - Amended and delinquent tax returns - Foreign owned LLC Form 5472 compliance ✅ IRS Resolution & Complex Tax Matters - IRS notices and tax disputes - Prior year and multi year tax issues - Accounting cleanup and reconciliation - Complex tax resolution ✅ Business & Financial Advisory - Fractional CFO services - Financial statement review - Cash flow and profitability analysis - Strategic business consulting - Multi entity accounting ✅ Software & Tools - QuickBooks Online, Drake Tax, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Gusto, ADP, Xero, and Sage After 35+ years I still deeply enjoy my work because I genuinely enjoy finding opportunities other people miss. There's something incredibly rewarding about showing a business owner that the tax bill they thought was inevitable, is not! To schedule a complimentary consultation, 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲. Kevin Marshall. CPA. ❝ When Kevin first told me I might qualify for a tax credit, I said, "We pay our CPA a lot of money. I'm sure they already took care of it." Kevin cared enough to keep pushing. It turned out our CPA had not taken care of it, and we received a very nice refund check from the IRS. ❞ 🗣 Terha Marie

  • CPA
  • Tax Planning & Advisory
  • Tax Preparation
  • Tax Strategy
  • Tax Law
  • Taxes
  • Financial Accounting
  • Accounting
  • Accounting Advisory
  • Tax Accounting
  • Financial Planning
  • Bookkeeping
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Corporate Tax
  • Taxation
  • Tax Return
  • US Taxation
  • Business Consulting
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Certified Tax Preparer

How it works

Post a job for freePost a job

Tell us what you need. Create your own job post or generate one with AI then filter talent matches.

Hire top talent fast

Consult, interview, and hire quickly, so you can meet the freelancers you're excited about.

Collaborate easily

Use Upwork to chat or video call, share files, and track project progress right from the app.

Payment simplified

Manage payments in one place with flexible billing options. Only pay for approved work, hourly or by milestone.

Don't just take our word for it

Certified public accountant hiring guide

A certified public accountant (CPA) can protect your business from costly tax mistakes, identify deductions you'd otherwise miss, and keep your financial records audit-ready. When you need help with annual filings, quarterly estimates, or ongoing bookkeeping, the right CPA brings specialized knowledge that pays for itself.

What does a certified public accountant do?

A CPA is a licensed financial professional who has passed the Uniform CPA Examination and met state-specific education and experience requirements. CPAs handle a wide range of accounting tasks, from preparing tax returns to advising on long-term financial strategy. Their license also grants them authority to represent clients before the IRS and sign audited financial statements.

Common CPA responsibilities include:

CPAs often rely on QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, FreshBooks, Drake Tax, Intuit ProConnect Tax, Lacerte, CCH Axcess, Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS, and Microsoft Excel for bookkeeping, tax preparation, financial analysis, and reporting. 

How to hire a certified public accountant on Upwork

Upwork gives you access to freelance CPAs across specializations, from individual tax prep to corporate audit support. Follow these four steps to find and hire the right CPA for your project.

Step 1: Post a job

Start by describing what you need explicitly so qualified candidates can self-select. Check out this certified public accountant job description template for guidance. Your job post should mention:

  • The type of engagement (one-time filing, ongoing monthly accounting, or audit support), your business entity type, and any industry-specific requirements such as nonprofit or e-commerce accounting.
  • Required CPA license and state of licensure
  • Relevant specializations (tax, audit, forensic accounting, or advisory)
  • Software proficiency (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, or similar)
  • Deadlines tied to filing dates or reporting cycles
  • Expected budget
  • Whether you need experience with specific tax codes or entity types

Use the Job Post Generator — powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI — to speed things up. Describe what you need in a few sentences, and Uma will draft a job post for certified public accountants that you can review and customize.

Step 2: Evaluate candidates

As proposals come in, look for CPAs with the credentials, industry expertise, and tax or accounting experience that match your business needs.

  • Confirm the candidate holds an active CPA license in good standing
  • Look for relevant experience in tax, audit, advisory, or financial reporting
  • Prioritize candidates who’ve worked with businesses similar to yours in size or industry
  • Review their experience with your accounting software, such as QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite
  • Check Job Success Score, talent badges, client reviews, and portfolio samples

Uma can conduct instant video interviews and provide shortlists with side-by-side comparisons to help you identify strong candidates faster.

Step 3: Interview your top choices

Use interviews to evaluate each CPA's technical expertise, communication style, and ability to support your financial goals.

  • Discuss their experience with your industry, business structure, and accounting needs
  • Ask how they approach tax planning, compliance, and identifying potential deductions
  • Explore how they stay current with tax law changes and continuing professional education (CPE) requirements
  • Confirm familiarity with your accounting software and financial reporting processes
  • For additional guidance, review these accountant interview questions

You can schedule interviews directly within Upwork Messages. Conversations are documented with transcripts and summaries so you can revisit details when making your final decision.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Before work begins, agree on a contract with clear expectations for deliverables, deadlines, and communication to keep your engagement on track.

  • Define project milestones around specific tax filings, financial statements, audits, or advisory services
  • Establish reporting schedules, filing deadlines, and communication preferences
  • Clarify whether the engagement is project-based, seasonal, or ongoing
  • Determine how financial documents and sensitive information will be shared securely

Use Upwork's messaging and contract workroom to manage communication and project details in one place. Take advantage of identity verification, Hourly Payment Protection, hourly tracking, and project funds for a secure engagement.

The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

How much does hiring a certified public accountant cost?

Hiring a freelance certified public accountant on Upwork generally costs $19-$70 per hour, depending on scope and experience.

This table breaks down typical project-based pricing for common CPA engagements.

Individual tax return

$150-$500/project

Intermediate
  • Federal and state return filing
  • Deduction and credit optimization
  • Prior-year amendment review

Small business tax filing

$500-$2,500/project

Intermediate to expert
  • Business entity return (1120, 1120-S, 1065)
  • Quarterly estimated tax calculations
  • Year-end tax planning memo

Financial statement preparation

$750-$3,000/project

Expert
  • GAAP-compliant balance sheet and income statement
  • Cash flow statement
  • Notes and disclosures

Audit preparation

$1,500-$5,000/project

Expert
  • Internal controls documentation
  • Supporting schedule compilation
  • Auditor liaison and response drafting

Ongoing monthly accounting

$500-$2,000/project

Intermediate to expert
  • Monthly reconciliation and close
  • Management reporting package
  • Sales tax filing and compliance

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a certified public accountant worth it?

For most businesses, yes, hiring a certified public accountant is worthwhile. Many small business owners on Reddit and Quora report that a good CPA saves them thousands of dollars in missed deductions and penalty avoidance, making the investment pay for itself within the first filing season.

Is a CPA better than an accountant?

A CPA generally has more credentials than other accountants, but that doesn’t always mean a better fit for business needs. CPAs have passed the Uniform CPA Examination and hold a state-issued license, which grants rights that general accountants don't have, including the ability to sign audited financial statements, issue audit opinions, and represent clients directly before the IRS. If your needs involve audits, complex tax situations, or IRS correspondence, a CPA is the stronger choice. For routine bookkeeping, payroll, or basic accounting tasks, an experienced accountant may be all you need.

What are red flags when hiring a CPA?

When hiring a CPA, watch out for candidates who lack an active, verifiable license; guarantee specific refund amounts before reviewing your financials; or refuse to provide an engagement letter outlining scope, fees, and responsibilities. These are signs of an unprofessional or potentially unqualified practitioner.