5 Ways to Evaluate an Accountant Before You Sign Anything

Kimberly Green | 2026-04-14

5 Ways to Evaluate an Accountant Before You Sign Anything Hiring an accountant is one of those decisions that shouldn't be made fast. Your accountant touches your finances, your tax strategy, and ultimately your ability to keep more money in your business. Yet most founders pick one based on a referral from a friend or whoever responds to an email first. That's risky. This guide will walk you through how to evaluate an accountant properly so you don't end up with someone competent at filing returns but useless at strategy. The right accountant becomes a trusted advisor. The wrong one costs you time, money, and peace of mind. Before you sign that engagement letter, use these five evaluation tactics to figure out which bucket yours falls into. 1. Ask for a Client Reference in Your Specific Industry and Actually Call Them This is non-negotiable. Not a generic reference—someone in your industry or with a similar business model. A CPA who works well for SaaS founders might be a poor fit for an e-commerce operation or a service business. When you call, ask specific questions: How responsive are they? Do they proactively flag tax opportunities? How long does it take to get answers to questions? Did they catch anything the last accountant missed? What would they do differently if they started over? Real conversations reveal what no website or proposal can. You'll hear the tone in their voice when they talk about their accountant. That matters. If a reference sounds neutral or lukewarm, keep looking. Red flag: An accountant who won't provide references, or who only offers references they've clearly coached. You want someone confident enough to let happy clients speak freely. 2. Read the Full Text of Reviews—Your CPA Evaluation Questions Answered by Real Clients Star ratings lie. A five-star review from someone who needed basic tax return filing tells you almost nothing about whether that firm can handle strategic tax planning. A three-star review that mentions "responsive but expensive" at least gives you decision-making information. On Sam's List , spend time reading what actual clients describe getting from their accountants. Look for patterns. Do multiple reviews mention proactive tax planning? Do people complain about communication gaps? Are there mentions of specific capabilities—quarterly reviews, cash flow analysis, expense categorization—that matter to your business? Pay attention to recent reviews. The firm that was great three years ago might have lost key staff. Recent feedback reflects who they are now. Also notice what's not mentioned. If nobody...