Accounting Tax Advisor Construction Contractors Bookkeeping Hiring a CPA

Choosing a CPA Firm for Your Roofing Business? Ask These 10 Questions Before You Hire Them

Skip Gronauer

Running a successful roofing business takes a lot of time and effort. The last thing a business owner wants to do at the end (or the beginning) of the day is to dig through financials and figure out taxes.

Many small and medium-sized roofing companies lean on experienced CPA firms to handle their accounting needs. That way they can focus on pleasing clients without worrying they’re missing a tax deadline or forgetting to enter an expense into a spreadsheet.

If you’re considering hiring a CPA firm to help you with your roofing business, congratulations! You’re making a great decision. You need to ensure, however, you choose the one that can deliver what you seek.

10 Questions To Answer Before You Choose A CPA Firm For Your Roofing Business

1. What Services Do They Offer?

You should go with a CPA firm that can deliver the services you’re looking for. If you only want to outsource your payroll and taxes, choose a firm that will handle those tasks. If you want them to handle your bookkeeping and other financial aspects of your business, make sure in advance that they have the bandwidth to cover you with those services, too.

2. Do They Have Experience In The Roofing Industry?

You may be interviewing the most awesome CPA ever, but, if they don’t have the proper experience, you should choose someone else. Small, independent businesses like roofing companies have specific needs. CPA firms that focus mainly on large businesses or other industries won’t be the best fit.

3. Will they Give You references?

If a CPA firm freely hands over a couple of contacts and phone numbers (after getting permission, of course), you should put them on your shortlist. If they avoid sharing references that are in a similar business to yours, you probably need to keep looking.

Talking to happy customers is one of the best ways to feel confident in your decision.

4. Are They As Accessible As You Need?

Decide what you need in a CPA firm and find one that best fits your expectations. For example, you may want to be hands-on and informed of every step they take. If so, you need to hire a firm with good communication channels in place to keep you in the loop. By deciding on your needs up front, you’re more likely to pick a firm you're satisfied with.

5. Do They Have Good Communication SKills?

The average person on the street isn’t going to understand endless tax codes and financial speak. CPAs worth their salt do. During the interviewing process, note the way the CPAs lay out their offering and communicate their value proposition.

If you don’t understand most of what they’re talking about, they're probably not a good fit.

Accounting and bookkeeping can be complicated, but the best CPAs can explain it in a way that makes sense to everyone.

6. How Will They Keep Your Information Secure?

The CPA firm you ultimately choose will have access to your personal financial information. Before making your choice, have them explain their security policy.

Their policy should include:

Heavy firewalls
Strict password requirements
Locking down files
Shredding printed documents

If they can’t answer this question clearly, keep looking.

7. Do You feel Comfortable With Them?

No, you don’t have to go on vacation or out to dinner with your CPA, but you do need a connection with them. After all, you’ll be working closely with them and want to be able to ask questions when you need to. Find a firm that gels with your personality.

8. Are They Willing TO Address Your Company's Specific Needs?

Small businesses have unique needs. Roofing companies particularly face issues (like seasonal work) that other companies don’t deal with.

If you talk with a CPA firm that focuses on your business, your processes, and your clients, put them above the ones that only speak in generalities.

9. Does Anyone You Know Use or Know THem?

Insight from a friend or colleague, both positive and negative, speaks volumes about a CPA firm. If you have connections who use the firm and speak highly of it, this information should weigh heavily into your decision.

10. How Much Will The CPA Firm Cost?

While business owners never want to waste their hard-earned money, it’s important to remember you get what you pay for. Is your company the least expensive roofing company in town? Probably not. The same principle applies to experienced, reputable CPA firms.

That being said, it’s smart to include a firm’s pricing in the choice, but don’t let the fees be the only deciding factor.

Leave Your Bookkeeping, Payroll, and Taxes To the Professionals At Chaliff + Associates

Make the move to the Chaliff + Associates CPA firm to free yourself from the stress of managing your roofing company’s finances by yourself. The time and effort you save will more than make up for the investment in our services. And, with our experience working with other roofing companies, we can better understand your needs and goals than some of your other choices.

Schedule a free consultation to find out how we can help alleviate your accounting burden so you can focus on growing your business.