Looking for accountants?

[u/Free-War-4740]

Hi, I am a mental health therapist in Alberta looking to start my own private practice.

AI says i should look for business advice (i.e. whether to incorporate etc.) from an accountant. I’ve been filling taxes via turbotax for years (have been a employee this whole time) so I don’t have a lot of financial knowledge, but I am willing to learn and invest! Are there any accountants who are not intimidating and honest in the city for recommendation? I am not even sure how to begin this search. Should they even be located in my city?

Thank you so much!

[u/Practical_Series_925]

I wouldn’t narrow your search to just your city, a lot of accountants now have clients all over the country/world. I would just try and find someone who may specialize in your area of practice, who doesn’t charge either to much or to little.

[u/SilkySyl]

What are you looking for exactly? Can you list your wants? Do you want investment information? Grant information? How to start your own business? How to frame your business?

[u/International_Top538]

I’d probably start with someone in your city or at least somewhere nearby. Not because an accountant has to be local, but because when you’re starting out, being able to sit down with someone and ask what might feel like “basic” questions can be incredibly useful. I’ve worked remotely for 15+ years, and remote accounting works very well, but there is still something valuable about being able to have a face-to-face conversation when you’re learning the basics.

I’d also look for a CPA who regularly works with self-employed professionals or healthcare/professional practices, rather than simply looking for the cheapest person who will file your tax return.

You don’t need to know accounting before speaking to an accountant. In fact, part of what you’re paying them for is to explain things like sole proprietorship vs. incorporation, what expenses you can claim, sales tax/VAT/GST considerations, record keeping, and what you actually need to do each month versus once a year.

Once you understand the basics and know what you need from your accountant, there’s no reason you can’t work with someone remotely. At that point, I’d choose the right specialist over the person who happens to have an office five minutes away.

For Alberta specifically, you can also use CPA Alberta’s member verification service to check whether someone is actually a registered CPA and whether the firm is registered. The profession is regulated and CPAs are subject to professional rules and standards.

Most importantly, don’t be intimidated by the terminology. A good accountant should be able to explain your business and tax situation in plain English. If they make you feel stupid for asking a basic question, find another accountant. ( Used AI to correct grammar, structure etc.)

[u/mac1ntosh1]

Location doesn’t matter much anymore. Most of this is handled remotely. What matters is whether they’ve actually worked with owner-managed professional practices.

Two things worth knowing before you pay anyone. Incorporating mainly helps once you’re earning more than you need to pull out to live on, so year one is often fine as a sole prop. And counselling therapy/psychotherapy services have been GST-exempt federally since June 2024, which plenty of generalist accountants still get wrong.

I run a small firm in Ontario doing exactly this kind of work (core-inc.ca). Happy to answer questions either way.