When should I hire an accountant for my business?
Most business owners wait too long. They try to handle everything themselves until tax season becomes a nightmare or the IRS sends a notice. By then, you’re paying to fix problems that could have been prevented.
Here are the practical triggers that mean it’s time.
You’re behind on your books. If you haven’t reconciled your accounts in months or can’t answer basic questions about your profitability, you need help. Bad financial data leads to bad decisions.
You have employees. Payroll creates ongoing compliance requirements with the IRS and Arizona agencies. Missing deadlines or calculating withholding wrong creates problems that compound quickly.
The IRS sent something. Any letter from the IRS deserves professional attention. What looks like a simple inquiry can become an audit if handled incorrectly.
You’re spending too much time on it. Hours spent wrestling with QuickBooks are hours not spent running your business or serving customers. If bookkeeping sits undone for weeks because you dread it, that’s a sign.
You’re making tax decisions based on guesses. How much should you set aside for taxes? Should you buy that equipment before year-end? If you’re guessing at these questions, you’re probably leaving money on the table or setting yourself up for surprises in April.
The real question isn’t whether you can do the work yourself. It’s whether you should. Calculate what your time is worth per hour, then consider how many hours you spend on bookkeeping, tax prep, and financial questions you can’t answer confidently. For most business owners, the math favors getting help sooner rather than later.
Some business owners start with basic bookkeeping services and add tax preparation later. Others need the full package from day one. The right answer depends on your transaction volume, your business complexity, and how much time you’re willing to spend on tasks outside your core expertise.
A Queen Creek area bookkeeper who understands your industry can often spot tax savings and cash flow problems you’d miss on your own. That insight frequently covers the cost of the service and then some.
If you’re at the point of asking this question, you’re probably ready. Waiting until you’re overwhelmed usually means paying for cleanup work on top of the ongoing help you actually need.
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More Questions
Do small businesses need to worry about accounting?
Small businesses can't ignore accounting because tax filing requires accurate records and good financial data drives better decisions. The goal isn't to worry about it constantly but to have systems that keep your books accurate without constant stress.
Read answerHow should contractors track expenses?
Track construction expenses by coding every purchase to a job number in your accounting software, saving receipts digitally, and reconciling accounts weekly instead of monthly.
Read answerHow should I record construction accounting?
Construction accounting uses job costing to record every expense by project and percentage-of-completion to recognize revenue as work progresses, not when you get paid.
Read answerDo contractors charge tax in Arizona?
Prime contractors in Arizona pay Transaction Privilege Tax on their gross receipts from construction contracts. This is typically built into the contract price rather than shown as a separate line item to customers.
Read answerWhat is catch up bookkeeping?
Catch up bookkeeping is the process of bringing your financial records current after falling behind. It involves entering transactions, reconciling accounts, and producing accurate financial statements for the months or years you missed.
Read answerWhat is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
Bookkeepers handle day-to-day transaction recording, categorization, and reconciliation. Accountants analyze financial data, prepare tax returns, and provide strategic advice. Most small businesses need both, though many firms handle both functions.
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