Hiring CPA vs. DIY Online Software

[Jacob Henderson]

Looking for some advice on which route to take to get my taxes done this year. In the past I had only W2 income and a single member LLC for drone video production, so using an online tax software has worked well for me. This year, I bought my first duplex (househack) and I started my career as a real estate agent, so a lot that has changed with multiple streams of income.

Today I spoke with the CPA that my broker uses (who is also an investor) and it seems like the easiest yet most expensive route to take. He charges $140 an hour and said the first year will probably take about 4 hours of work but the following years should take less time once initial paperwork is set up. On the other hand I could file my taxes online like I had in the past for about $100. 

I plan to continue to add properties to my portfolio and think it would be wise to start a relationship with a tax professional now rather than later.

Does it make sense for me to hire a CPA this year or should I wait until I grow my portfolio further?

Any and all experience/advice is appreciated.

Thanks!