Questions worth bringing
- Which clients and situations are the best fit for your firm?
- Who will be my regular point of contact, who holds the license or credential on my work, and who signs my return?
- What information do you need before defining scope?
- What recurring work, meetings, filings, or responses are included?
- How will we exchange documents and track open questions?
- Which complexity or timing factors can change the fee?
- What would make either side decide the relationship is not a fit?
Listen for an operating answer
A strong answer should describe ownership, cadence, and boundaries. Broad promises such as “proactive” or “full service” are more useful when the firm explains what that means in practice.
Keep the first conversation proportionate
The goal is to determine fit and define the next step. A professional may need records and a signed engagement before providing advice about a specific tax or accounting decision.
Sources and scope
This guide is general educational information, not accounting, tax, or legal advice for a specific situation. Rules change and individual facts matter, so confirm how any of it applies to you before you act on it.