You can use a service like Thumbtack to find accountants in your area. We recommend speaking with a few, running your questions by them, and meeting them in person.
If you are a non-US resident and need help with your US taxes, we recommend O&G Accounting, GW Carter, and James Baker.
The following is our recommendation on how to find a great accountant for your LLC:
1. Create questions
Write down your top 4-5 questions about taxes and LLCs and put them in a Word document or a Google document.
2. Clone questions
Copy and paste those questions 7 times, and create a horizontal line between each section of questions.
3. Google searches
Do a Google search for “business accountant + CITY, STATE” and browse websites very quickly (1-2 minutes each) and then enter the contact information of 7 accountants in your document. The reason we say fast here is because you want to be using your gut/intuition on your initial decisions. You’ll be able to make a better judge of character over the phone.
Note: If you are a non-US resident and own an LLC, add the word “non-US resident”, “non-resident alien”, or “foreign national” to your google searches. You’ll want to make sure you’re dealing with someone who is familiar with your situation.
If the Google search wasn’t helpful, you can check with your local Society of CPAs or Accountancy Board.
4. Call ’em all
Spend an hour or two and call every accountant. You can introduce yourself and say, “I’m starting a new business and I have a few tax questions about my LLC. Do you have a few minutes?”
We don’t recommend leaving messages and waiting for calls back as this can slow down your momentum. If someone isn’t available, ask for an ideal time to call back. Or just call another accountant.
Most accountants will be happy to spend 10-15 minutes with you on the phone at no cost.
Write down their answers to your questions and any other notes about the call.
By calling 7 accountants, you’re comparing the answers you get and you’re getting an initial feel of what it may be like to work with them. You’ll notice some people may be far more detailed and confident in their answers than others.
At the end of your calls, you’ll be mentally tired, yes, but you’ll have learned a lot.
You’ll likely gravitate to one or two people. We then recommend asking them to meet in person or via a video call. The in-person meeting or video call shows that they are willing to invest time in you, builds rapport, and it allows you to get a feel for what it would be like working with them.
Do this and you’re likely to find a great accountant for years to come.
Need help finding an accountant?
Most states have an organization or society that many of the state’s Certified Public Accountants are members of – often called the Society of CPAs.
And usually the state Society of CPAs has a “Find a CPA” tool on their website which will give you a list of CPAs. Some of them let you filter the results by accountants in your town/city, or accountants who specialize in working with small businesses.
In some states, the accountant licensing board has a search feature that gives you a list of CPAs.
Once you have a few names of CPAs in your state, we recommend that you Google search them. Read any reviews from other small business owners that hired that accountant, and check out the accountant’s website.
Then you can add these accountants to your list of people to call in Step 4 above.
Here’s a table of the CPA society or accountancy board in every state:
| State | Organization | Link to CPA Finder Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy | Find a CPA |
| Alaska | Alaska Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Arizona | Arizona Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| California | California Board of Accountancy | Select a CPA |
| Colorado | Colorado Society of CPAs | CPA Referral Service |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Delaware | Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| District of Columbia | Greater Washington Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Florida | Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Georgia | The Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Idaho | Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA Directory |
| Illinois | Illinois CPA Society | Find a CPA |
| Indiana | Illinois Professional Licensing Agency | Search for a License - set Profession to "Accountancy Board" |
| Iowa | Iowa Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Kansas | Kansas Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Louisiana | Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Maine | Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Maryland | Maryland Board of Public Accountancy | CPA Public Query |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Michigan | Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Missouri | Missouri Board of Accountancy | License search |
| Montana | Montana Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy | Searchable License Database |
| Nevada | Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find-a-CPA |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Society of CPAs | Find-a-CPA |
| New York | New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants | Contact your Local NYSSCPA Chapter |
| North Carolina | North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners | Search the CPA Database |
| North Dakota | North Dakota State Board of Accountancy | Search for an Accountant |
| Ohio | Accountancy Board of Ohio | Accountant License Look Up |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Society of CPAs | Find your CPA |
| Oregon | Oregon Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants | CPA Locator |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Board of Accountancy | Accountant Licensee Lookup |
| South Dakota | South Dakota CPA Society | Find a CPA |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Texas | Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants | How to Find a Texas CPA |
| Utah | Utah Association of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Vermont | Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| Virginia | Virginia Society of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Washington | Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Society of CPAs | Find a CPA Firm |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Institute of CPAs | Find a CPA |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Society of Certified Public Accountants | Find a CPA |
An accountant is the small business owner’s best ally when dealing with taxes and bookkeeping. Finding the right accountant for your LLC is important, so take your time to research this decision.
References
IRS: Things to Remember When Choosing a Tax Preparer
IRS: Need Someone to Prepare Your Tax Return?
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
hi
i need help can you please help me for tax about non us resident LLC in my online business
Hello, we are not a tax firm, so we can’t help. We recommend contacting an accountant that specializes in working with non-US residents with US LLCs. We have recommendations above on this page.
Hi, I just created my LLC to start selling on Amazon, My question is: How many documents do I need in order to have everything according to the law of texas?
Thanks in advance
Hi Michel, congratulations. It’s not about the number of documents, but rather, if you filed the Texas LLC Certificate of Formation and it was approved. If yes, you’ll want a Texas LLC Operating Agreement and an EIN Number from the IRS. Please also see the page about Texas LLC Franchise Tax (you’ll most likely file a “No Tax Due Report”), which won’t be due until May 2022. Those links and more can be found in our How to form an LLC in Texas guide. Hope that helps.
Matt, Your detailed information has saved me a ton of time and headaches as I navigate the whole LLC and business licensing process. My wife and I recently purchased a rental property rather hastily initially to help out a family member. It was only afterwards that I realized everything that went along with it. After following all your advice we are now legal, and I am working on finding a good accountant to help us with the taxes and the rest of the financials. Your guides were invaluable and I can’t thank you enough.
Joe
Joe, what a lovely comment! I’m so happy to hear about the time saved and headaches reduced :) Congratulations on the LLC and the purchase. I’m hoping you took title to the property in the LLC?
Hi Matt,
I am a non US citizen and want to form an LLC in Illinois for ecommerce purpose, I want to make it inside this state as my business partner is living in this state i.e. in Chicago, want to know your expert opinion about formation of my LLC elsewhere in any other state where taxation issues will be less or at least have no state tax at all. Is it possible and recommended or will it create issues later on, please advice.
Hi Syed, we are not a tax firm so cannot address a question like this as there is a lot unpack and discuss. We recommend speaking to an accountant (or a few) regarding tax strategies. Thank you for your understanding.
Matt,
I REALLY wish I had found your website prior to forming my LLC. You could have saved me from the hidden Registered Agent. However, I have yet to hire an accountant and will be using your advice, here, to find the right one. This comment is partly a reminder and partly a big THANK YOU for providing all this information for all of us newbies, wide-eyed and terrified!
Sincerely,
Nancy
Hi Nancy, thank you for your lovely comment! So glad you found our site and that’s it been helpful for you :-)
Hi,
I am a non US citizen, living outside the US. I want an LLC to sell my home services, and get paid in the US. The work will be done in my home country, but I want people to go online and pay for the services. Can this be done? Can you help me with everything starting from scratch? Thanks
Hi Andre, we don’t offer a service that includes everything, however, we have LLC filing instructions for every state. Or, if you want to hire a company to form your LLC, we recommend Northwest Registered Agent. The way a non-US resident forms an LLC with the state is the same as Americans, however, how you get an EIN Number and open an LLC bank account are different. Also, if you are the only owner (Member) of your LLC, you also need to file Form 5472 with the IRS. Here is the information:
How to get an EIN Number without SSN
Non-US resident opening LLC bank account
Form 5472 foreign-owned Single-Member LLC
Hope that helps!
Im in the process of forming a new LLC in Texas. Does my physical address that I’m using for my registered agent have to a mailbox or will all documents sent to me through being registered agent be hand delivered?
Hi Joey, something would only be hand-delivered if it were service of process, a notice, or a demand. Likely not to occur, unless the LLC is involved in a lawsuit. So it’ll be mail. And yes, a place to leave the mail will be needed. We have more details here: Texas LLC Registered Agent. Hope that helps!
I just have a simple question, im confused when I form my LLC and then apply for my EIN what will be my control name ? Will the IRS go by my the responsible party or the name of my entity?
Hi Jessica, what do you mean by “control name”. Thanks.
Hi Matt,
I am a Canadian PR, running a small business in Canada (Data Outsourcing), planning to expand this business in USA but I wont live or work in USA and want to operate from Canada itself. In this case which state is the best and easiest to start a business and which state has low corporate tax and sales tax where can my clients get benefits? Can i get business bank account?
Hi Ravindran, while you could form an LLC in the U.S. and open a business bank account here, we recommend speaking with an accountant first. LLC may not be the best entity structure. I believe Canadians that form an LLC in the U.S. face a form of “double taxation” in that you have to file with the CRA and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Hope that helps.
Is it easy to turn an existing business into an LLC ? What inf. would be needed from the Co ? Thanks, Susan M Beard
Hi Susan, if you’re referring about changing from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC, we have that information here: change from Sole Proprietorship to an LLC. If you’re referring about changing a Corporation (or other legal entity) into an LLC, that is usually referred to as a Conversion (depending on the state), however, we don’t have any info on those conversions at this time. Hope that helps.
hello, i read where you say to buy a single llc for each property unless it becomes a lot of properties. then consolidate them into one. heres my question to you. if i live in florida and i am buying out of state only one property lets say in north carolina should i only have the one llc in north carolina or should i also have a holding llc in florida as well. just the one in nc or 2 llcs one in north carolina and the holding llc in florida
Hi Doris, you could do either one. Either an LLC in North Carolina or an LLC in Florida that owns the LLC in North Carolina. The pros and cons will need to be discussed with an attorney. The 2-LLC setup may provide better asset protection. Hope that helps.
Honestly Matt, I don’t know where I’d be without your huge contribution, we all truly appreciate it.
Aziz, thank you so much! Really appreciate the kind words :)
I AM A NON US RESIDENT OR NON US NATIONAL, I DO NOT INTEND TO LIVE IN US. I AM GOING TO OPEN A LLC IN US. IF OUR LLC HAS PROFIT BY DOING OUTSOURCE SERVICE IN US. DO I HAVE TO FILE TAX?
Thanks for your kind information
Hi Kim, yes, you most likely do, however that is a detailed conversation you will need to have with an accountant. Thanks.
Hi Matt,
would you refer your accountant to me? LOL
Do you know the average price for a good accountant in NYC market?
Hey Sharon! At some point in the future, we might create an accountant referral/recommendation network, but that’ll take years to develop. So nope, we don’t have a recommendation for you at this time. Give the strategy a go that we mention in this article. Once you speak with 5-10 accountants, you’ll get a good feel for people and understand the range of prices. I’d say if your business is straight-forward, it could be $300 on the lower end to $700 – $1,000 on the higher end. Hope that helps.
Hello I am starting my own LLC in Texas and your information has been heavenly sent, what questions should I ask when calling an accountant to make sure I pick a great one.
Hey Tammy, that is so awesome to hear! Great question. We’ll consider adding information like this to this article. To start, you can just something like that: “I’m new. What questions should I be asking you?”. Some others could be: What type of clients do you specialize/prefer to work with, how long have you been in business, what made you interested in this profession, how many times per year/quarter should we talk (by email or by phone), what documents do you need from me, what should I think about/prepare throughout the year, how should I plan for growth, and are you free to meet for a quick coffee and say hello. Hope that helps!