FAQ’s

Q: Are you a CPA?
No, I’m not. I have a degree in accounting and 25 years experience in a variety of industries. If you have a CPA you’re happy with, I’ll work with them to ensure you get the best records to make their job easier. If you don’t have one, I work with several, one of whom would be a good fit.
Q: Are you an EA?
Again, no. If you have one you’re happy with, I’ll work with them to ensure your year-end records are in good shape for your tax return. If you don’t have one, I work with several, one of whom would be a good fit.
Q: What’s the difference between a CPA and an EA?
CPA’s are licensed by individual states, while EA’s are a product of the IRS. They may have worked for the IRS, or they have taken a rigorous exam on federal taxation. CPA’s may specialize in areas other than taxation.
Q: Do I need a CPA or an EA?
That depends. That’s one of the issues we’ll cover during our free consultation. If you have a complicated tax issue or are past due with the IRS and need someone who can represent you in front of the IRS, you’ll definitely need one. I can refer you to one of several that I work with who can guide you through the process to make it as painless as possible.
Q: Do you come to my office?
For the initial consultation, I’ll come to your office because it’s where you keep your stuff. Your software, your business records, bank statements, copies of your tax returns . . . all those things we may need to take a look at to decide the best course of action for you. If you’re not in the local area, we can do a consult by phone, and we can look at your QuickBooks file on your computer during the consult.
Q: Will you work at my office or yours?
Most work is done at my office. There are several reasons for this. First of all, I can work much faster in my office. My computer is what I’m used to, and using another computer/keyboard/mouse slows me down. You don’t want slow. Another reason is that I have to charge higher rates for working on-site because of the travel time, and we try to avoid higher rates whenever possible.

Simply, I’m faster, I’m less expensive, and I’m better when I work at my office. Also, you don’t have to think about when I’ll be there, and I won’t conflict with your schedule.

Q: Then how will you work on my file?
That depends. I use a variety of methods depending on your needs. We can have the file hosted so we can both access it simultaneously, or I can use a remote login solution that allows me to look at your file when you’re not using it. If you’d rather I do it all, I can keep the file here and provide reports to you. If you’re retail and have a POS solution, I typically login when the store’s closed to do the POS updates then transfer the QB file to my office to work on. The method varies on the situation.