How to Start an Accounting Firm

Accountants provide tremendous value to businesses, individuals, and families, which is why it’s a $120 billion industry in the US alone. If you’re a certified public accountant (CPA) and tired of working for someone else, why not take the leap and start your own accounting firm? You’ll have more control and your income potential will be unlimited. In fact, some financial analysts rank accounting firms as the most profitable type of small business.

While accounting will of course be a crucial element of the business, you’ll need to know a great deal more before starting your own firm. Fortunately, this step-by-step guide provides all the information you’ll need to supplement your expertise and put you on your way to accounting success.

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons

Starting an accounting firm has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

Accounting industry trends

Corporate profit is expected to increase as the economy recovers from the pandemic recession, opening up many opportunities for accounting businesses.

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – The US accounting market is worth a whopping $142 billion and has expanded by over 45% in the past decade.((https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/accounting-services-united-states/))  
• Growth forecast – The US accounting services market is expected to be stable and grow by nearly 1% per year through 2024.((https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/54121C%20Accounting%20Services%20in%20the%20US%20Industry%20Report.pdf))
• Number of businesses – More than 90,000 accounting firms are operating in the US.((https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/accounting-services-united-states/)) 
• Number of people employed – The industry employs more than 600,000 people.((https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/accounting-services-united-states/))

Trends and challenges

Trends in the accounting industry include:

• A record 17 million new businesses are expected to start in 2022, boosting demand for accounting services. 
• Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), is automating many accounting tasks, allowing accountants to focus on high-level work that enables higher rates. 

Challenges in the accounting industry include:

• Changing tax laws and regulations create the need for continuing education.
• Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is leading to new regulations on business financial disclosures, adding new and challenging elements to financial statements.

Popular accounting firms

The largest accounting firms in global market share in 2019 were:

1. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (9.8%)
2. EY (9.2%)
3. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. (7%)
4. KPMG International (6%)
5. BDO Global (1.2%)

What kind of people work in accounting?

• Gender – 62% of accountants are female, while 38% are male.((https://www.zippia.com/accountant-jobs/demographics/#gender-statistics))
• Average level of education – 71% of accountants hold a bachelor’s degree and 12% have an associate degree.((https://www.zippia.com/accountant-jobs/education/))
• Average age – The average age of an accountant is 44 years old.((https://www.zippia.com/accountant-jobs/demographics/#age-statistics))

How much does it cost to start an accounting firm?

If you’re already a CPA and have a reliable computer, you can start your own firm from home for about $2,300. If you need to take the CPA exam and want to rent an office space and purchase a computer, you’ll spend about $12,000.

You’ll need to meet education and experience requirements, which vary by state and are extensive, to take the CPA exam. To take the exam and become certified costs about $1,500. The entire education, experience, and exam process will take 6 to 7 years if you’re starting from scratch. You can get your education at any college or university that offers an accounting program, and there are online self-study courses to help you prepare for the exam through places like the International Association of Cerftified Professional Accountants (IACPA).

Even if your business is mainly online, as a US-certified CPA you can, for the most part, only provide services to clients within the US, as other countries have different rules and regulations and certification requirements. A handful of countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) that enable you to provide services to clients in those countries.

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your accounting firm, including: 

• Computer
• Printer
• Accounting software

How much can you earn from an accounting business?

The average hourly rate of a CPA is about $200. Working from home, your profit margin should be about 90%. 

In your first year or two, you could work from home for 10 hours a week, bringing in more than $100,000 in annual revenue. This would mean more than $90,000 in profit, assuming that 90% margin. As your brand gains recognition, you could add other accountants to your staff and have 150 hours of work per week. At this stage, you’d rent an office space and hire additional office staff, reducing your profit margin to around 20%. With annual revenue of more than $1,500,000, you would make an impressive $300,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for an accounting firm. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Having accounting education and a CPA designation
• Facing a highly competitive market

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Step 2: Hone Your Idea

Now that you know what’s involved in starting an accounting firm, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research accounting firms to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a CPA firm that provides internal auditing.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as the financial elements of succession planning.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your products or services

You can decide to specialize in small business accounting or personal tax accounting. You can also decide if you want to offer a full range of accounting services or if you want to specialize in something like taxes.

How much should you charge for accounting services?

Accounting services run anywhere from $100 to $500 per hour, but as a CPA you should be able to begin with a rate of $150 or $200. Once you have an office, after you pay rent, payroll, and overhead, your profit margin should be around 20%.

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market depends on whether you plan to specialize in personal tax accounting or small business accounting, or another element of accounting. If you specialize in businesses, you can find small business owners on LinkedIn. 

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to run your business from home to keep costs low. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need to hire workers for various roles and other accountants, so you’ll need to rent out an office. Find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist, Crexi, and Instant Offices.

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Business Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “accounting” or “CPA”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Jim’s Bakery” over “Jim’s Cookies”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
• Use online tools like the Step by Step Business Name Generator. Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

• Executive Summary: Brief overview of the entire business plan; should be written after the plan is complete.
• Business Overview: Overview of the company, vision, mission, ownership, and corporate goals.
• Product and Services: Describe your offerings in detail.
• Market Analysis: Assess market trends such as variations in demand and prospects for growth, and do a SWOT analysis.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyze main competitors, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and create a list of the advantages of your services.
• Sales and Marketing: Examine your companies’ unique selling propositions (USPs) and develop sales, marketing, and promotional strategies.
• Management Team: Overview of management team, detailing their roles and professional background, along with a corporate hierarchy.
• Operations Plan: Your company’s operational plan includes procurement, office location, key assets and equipment, and other logistical details.
• Financial Plan: Three years of financial planning, including startup costs, break-even analysis, profit and loss estimates, cash flow, and balance sheet.
• Appendix: Include any additional financial or business-related documents.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist at Fiverr to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to accounting firms. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your accounting firm will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC, which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using ZenBusiness’s online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have. 

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan.
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Venture capital: Venture capital investors take an ownership stake in exchange for funds, so keep in mind that you’d be sacrificing some control over your business. This is generally only available for businesses with high growth potential.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding an accounting firm. If your firm is successful and you’re poised for high growth, you may be able to attract venture capital or angel investors.

Step 8: Apply for Licenses/Permits

Starting an accounting business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments. To start an accounting firm, you need to have a CPA license and register with your state accountancy board.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your accounting business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Karbon, canopy, or Jetpack, to manage your workflows, client data, documents, budgets, and reporting.

Accounting

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks, Freshbooks, and Xero. 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Marketing

Some of your business will come from online visitors, but you should still invest in digital marketing! Getting the word out is especially important for new businesses, as it’ll boost customer and brand awareness. 

Once your website is up and running, link it to your social media accounts and vice versa. Social media is a great tool for promoting your business because you can create engaging posts that advertise your products: 

• Facebook: Great platform for paid advertising, allows you to target specific demographics, like men under age 50 in the Cleveland area. 
• Instagram: Same benefits as Facebook but with different target audiences.
• Website: SEO will help your website appear closer to the top in relevant search results, a crucial element for increasing sales. Make sure that you optimize calls to action on your website. Experiment with text, color, size, and position of calls to action such as “Schedule Now”. This can sharply increase purchases. 
• Google and Yelp: For businesses that rely on local clientele, getting listed on Yelp and Google My Business can be crucial to generating awareness and customers.

Kickstart Marketing

Take advantage of your website, social media presence, and real-life activities to increase awareness of your offerings and build your brand. Some suggestions include: 

• Signage – Put up eye-catching signage at your store and website. 
• In-Person Sales – Offer your accounting services to local businesses.
• Sponsor events – You can pay to be a sponsor at events that are relevant to your target market.
• Email marketing/newsletter – Send regular emails to customers and prospects. Make them personal. 
• Start a blog – Start a blog and post regularly. Change up your content and share on multiple sites.
• Seek out referrals – Offer incentives to generate customer referrals to new clients. 
• Paid ads on social media – Choose sites that will reach your target market and do targeted ads.
• Pay–per-click marketing – Use Google AdWords to perform better in searches. Research your keywords first.
• Do a webinar – Share your accounting expertise online with a video seminar.
• Testimonials – Share customer testimonials about how your accounting services helped them.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism. They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your accounting firm meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your accounting business could be: 

• Strategic accounting to grow your business
• In a financial pinch? Fast and reliable tax help now! 
• Succession planning to ensure your business stands the test of time

Networking

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running an accounting business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in accounting for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in accounting. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for an accounting business include:

• Accountants – perform accounting services
• Office Manager – set appointments, customer service
• General Manager – staff management, accounting
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media, other marketing

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Start Making Money!

Accounting firms are the most profitable type of small business, and the US market is worth more than $140 billion and continues to grow. Accountants provide invaluable services that help small businesses, and thus the economy, grow. With your own accounting firm, you can provide that value while making a good living. 

Even as a solopreneur with a home office, you can bring in six figures. The business is easily scalable if you are consistent with the quality of your services. Now that you know what’s involved in the business, fire up that computer and start planning the launch of your new accounting firm!