What It Looks Like to Work with a CPA Year-Round, and Why September Is a Good Time to Start
For many business owners, the relationship with a CPA centers on tax preparation, returns, and filing deadlines. A year-round relationship creates regular opportunities to understand how the business is performing, prepare for tax obligations, and evaluate decisions about compensation, hiring, expansion, and investment.
September provides a practical point to begin year-end planning. With Q4 approaching, there is still time to review year-to-date results, estimate tax obligations, and address financial questions before year-end decisions are made. If you are considering whether to hire a CPA for your small business, it helps to understand how the relationship works, what it requires from you, and what you should expect in return.
The First Conversation
Laura Tackett begins by asking what prompted the conversation. For business owners comparing accountants in Chelsea, MI, this conversation helps clarify the services offered, the expected level of communication, and how the working relationship will function.
When a prospective client is leaving another provider, Laura wants to know what was missing. The concern may involve limited communication, slow response times, or a lack of guidance throughout the year. When someone is working with an accounting provider for the first time, the conversation focuses on what they believe is missing from their current financial process and where they feel additional guidance is needed.
“The first conversation is to see if what they are looking for from a service provider matches what we are good at,” Laura explains.
She also looks for an immediate way to help. That may involve identifying an expense that should be tracked for tax purposes, recognizing an opportunity to reduce payroll costs, or establishing clearer expectations for communication and response times.
This initial consultation also covers preferred forms of communication, and how financial information is currently managed. Some businesses use a formal accounting system, while others rely on spreadsheets. Understanding the current process establishes a starting point.
Quarterly Meetings Create a Working Rhythm
A year-round relationship is built through consistent conversations, and for many businesses, quarterly meetings become the foundation of the engagement.
“Minimally, we would want to meet quarterly to make sure the business is on track and the owner knows what’s coming from a tax perspective. Starting the relationship in September creates time to review year-to-date results, estimate remaining tax obligations, and enter Q4 with a plan,” Laura suggests.
These meetings cover year-over-year profitability, expected tax obligations, available cash, owner compensation, potential investments, and significant changes in revenue or expenses. They also provide space to discuss whether the business is supporting the client’s personal and professional goals.
Circumstances are specific for each business. Priorities may include investing in equipment, hiring an employee, moving to a new location, increasing personal compensation, or creating room in the household budget for a specific goal. Each choice carries different implications for cash flow, profitability, and taxes, and reviewing the financial position throughout the year gives business owners time to understand those effects before committing funds.
Understanding The P&L
Clients frequently tell Laura they wish they had understood their profit and loss statement earlier.
Business owners often receive this report without a clear explanation of how the revenue and expense figures relate to profitability, available cash, and the tax return. They know the report deserves attention, though they may remain uncertain about what the numbers mean or which questions to ask.
“What clients say they wish they had done sooner is talk to someone who could make the numbers in their profit and loss statement make sense,” Laura says.
A P&L can reveal whether revenue is growing, expenses are increasing, or profitability is changing. Its practical value comes from connecting those figures to decisions about pricing, staffing, compensation, taxes, and future spending.
Regular review can also explain why a profitable business may still feel short on cash. With the proper context, the P&L becomes a useful tool for understanding recent performance and considering what those results may mean for the months ahead.
Owner’s Advisory Circle
Major business decisions often affect several areas of a company. Hiring an employee changes payroll costs and cash needs. Purchasing a building affects financing, taxes, and operating expenses. Raising salaries supports retention while changing the firm’s margins.
Laura describes her role as being part of a client’s personal board of directors.
“Your CPA should be part of the conversation when you’re thinking about making a major decision for the business,” she says.
Because Laura already understands the books, the company’s history, and the client’s personal and professional goals, the discussion is specific to them. How much will the decision cost? How will it affect cash and taxes? What additional revenue may be needed? Does the timing make financial sense?
These conversations give clients an opportunity to evaluate their options before taking action.
Two-Way Participation
Year-round support requires clients to meet regularly, respond to questions about unidentified transactions, keep financial information current, and communicate openly about upcoming decisions.
Laura’s responsibility is to provide clear explanations, anticipate obligations, and ask questions that connect the financial records to each client’s goals. Her guidance depends on having an accurate and timely view of the business and a clear understanding of her client’s concerns and personal financial priorities.
“Working with Laura gives me a greater sense of control because I know she is looking ahead and anticipating what we need to consider,” says Kimber Zatkovich of Custom Ideation. “She asks questions before I know I need to be thinking about them, which gives us time to make a plan and avoid financial surprises.”
When to Hire a CPA for Your Small Business
Year-round support is designed for business owners who want regular financial visibility and guidance before decisions are made. It also requires a willingness to participate in the process and discuss financial concerns, business plans, and personal priorities openly.
The goal is straightforward: fewer financial surprises, a clearer understanding of the business, and a stronger sense of control.
Business owners looking for a local CPA in Chelsea, Michigan, can begin with a complimentary Agile Business Health Check to review their current financial position and determine whether ongoing support fits their needs.