What do you look for in a CPA?

[Richie Stephenson]

Hey everyone! I'm a CPA in the Pittsburgh, PA area working for a mid-size accounting firm. One of our main industries is of course real estate (personal investing, real estate development companies, as well as construction). I do my own personal investing as well so I feel like that helps me better connect with clients, but I was wondering if there are any specific things you look when working with a CPA? With it being in the middle of tax season, I figured now would be a great time to ask since it seems like relationships with CPAs are either fantastic or awful at this point of the year. Thanks for any help you can give me to help me better serve my clients!

[Linda Weygant]

The very best way to serve your clients is to be knowledgeable in their industry.

Given that Bigger Pockets frowns on self promotion (even posts like this which are not-quite-so-thinly-veiled as self promotion), the best way to "solicit" clients here is to prove your knowledge.  Get on the forums and give excellent advice.  Potential clients will recognize your excellent advice and then send you private messages.  Most real estate investors know when you're giving good advice and when you're full of it.

How will you know if your advice is excellent?  Don't worry, the other tax pros here on BP will upvote your advice when it is excellent and place additional comments to say "oh yeah, this dude is right and here's why", or the tax pros will disagree with your posts and lay out why.  Heck, sometimes they'll even start recommending your services when they recognize that you've got great knowledge in a particular niche where they are weak.

Clients will find you.  There will be no need to spam people's private mailboxes or do any aggressive marketing.  It may take a year or so, but become a knowledgeable source on BP and things will work out.