Three Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask Before Hiring a CPA or Financial Consultant
When business owners look for outside help with their finances, it is often because they have reached a point where they can no longer handle everything themselves. Whether it is hiring a CPA to prepare a tax return, bringing in a fractional CFO to provide strategic guidance, or engaging a consultant to support bookkeeping, these relationships can be transformative. They can also be frustrating if expectations are not aligned from the start.
As a CPA and teacher, I have seen both the success stories and the breakdowns. The truth is that technical expertise is only part of the equation. The real difference comes from communication, trust, and shared expectations. If you are considering hiring someone in this space, here are three essential questions to ask before signing an agreement.
1. How will success in this engagement be measured?
This is the question that often gets overlooked, yet it frames the entire relationship. Success looks different for every business. For one client, it may be accurate, timely tax filings. For another, it could mean cash flow forecasting that supports growth. Without a shared definition of success, even technically flawless work can feel unsatisfactory.
A good consultant should be able to tell you how they measure progress and results. Just as importantly, they should ask you what outcomes matter most to you. This two-way conversation helps ensure that value is not just delivered but also received.
2. What scope of work do you typically provide, and what do you not provide?
One of the biggest misconceptions clients have is assuming that every financial professional offers the same services. A bookkeeper records transactions. A CPA can handle compliance and tax filings. A CFO provides forward-looking strategy. Sometimes, one person can cover more than one role, but rarely all three.
Asking about scope prevents confusion later. It also clarifies what is not included, which can save time, money, and frustration. You do not want to discover halfway through an engagement that your consultant expected you to provide reconciled books or that you expected them to prepare a strategic growth plan.
3. What roadblocks have you seen with clients like me, and how can we proactively avoid them?
This is the question that shows you are serious about being a good client. Many small businesses have imperfect data or limited internal staff. That is often why they are hiring outside help in the first place. But those imperfections can add cost, delay, or scope creep if they are not anticipated.
A seasoned consultant has almost certainly seen these roadblocks before. Asking them to share common pitfalls opens the door to proactive planning. It also signals that you want to work as a partner rather than expecting magic results.
Final Thoughts
The best consultant-client relationships are built on trust, communication, and clear expectations. These three questions help establish all three. They keep both sides accountable and create space for honest conversations about scope, value, and potential challenges.
For students and new professionals entering this field, these questions are also a reminder of what matters most in consulting. Clients are not just buying technical expertise — they are investing in clarity, communication, and confidence. Learning how to guide clients through these conversations is just as important as knowing how to prepare a tax return or a set of financial statements.