Working with WJH

1.  Are there things I should consider before I talk to you about being my CPA?

2.  How much do you charge?

3.  How do I know what exactly services you will perform and what they will cost?

4.  What can I do to see to it that I get the most value out of a relationship with WJH?

If you have any other questions, please contact us.

1.  Are there things I should consider before I talk to you about being my  CPA?

Yes.  The more you understand about your needs, the better job we can do together of matching our services to those needs. 

Your first step is to decide what you want from your us. Different CPA firms offer different levels of experience and provide different services.  Prior to meeting with any CPA you are considering you should review your present and future financial goals and needs.  Some general questions you should ask yourself might be -

• Will you need help with personal financial issues, individual or corporate tax returns, retirement, estate or college planning?  Are you seeking investment help?

• Do you need financial statements prepared for your business?  Must those statements be audited or reviewed?  Will you need special financial reports for government agencies? 

• How comfortable are you in your own ability (or in the case of a business, your staff's ability) to handle financial and operational details.  Do you want to do as much as possible in-house or are you considering out-sourcing some of your bookkeeping, accounting, or CFO functions?

• Do you need help preparing a business plan or a personal or business loan application?

• Will your business need other services, such as technology planning, strategic planning, process consulting, or costs analysis?

• What is your budget for CPA services?

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2.  How much do you charge?

We base our fees on a number of factors including the type of services required, the time required to perform the services, the level of expertise and experience required, and the complexity of the work.  The fees at WJH fall into three categories.

• Hourly based fees - For much of our work we are compensated based on the numbers of hours it takes to complete the work.  We are happy to quote our hourly rates and to provide fee estimates for specific tasks.

• Task based pricing - Our payroll processing service is priced based on the number of pay periods per month, the number of checks in each pay period, and the costs of any expenses (such as delivery fees). 

• Fixed fee services - For some longer term projects or commitments such as monthly write-up we charge a fixed fee

Different types of services require different rates because of the expertise level of the people who perform them.  We will talk frankly with you about our fees and put together a plan that utilizes the right CPA or staff person for the services you need so that the value of the service and the price of the service make sense for you.

The bottom line is that for WJH or any other CPA you need to come in prepared to discuss your needs and to ask about fees so there are no surprises regarding what you get and what you pay.

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3.  How do I know what exactly services you will perform and what they will cost?

We use engagement letters that define the work and the associated fees before any work is performed.  The engagement letter is designed to prevent any misunderstandings and describes in detail the services to be rendered, fees, and other terms and conditions of the engagement.  It is a contract that determines our responsibilities and your responsibilities and sets both of our expectations for a successful relationship.

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4.  What can I do to see to it that I get the most value out of a relationship with WJH?

The primary step is to commit to a partnership with us.  While we believe we are very good at what we do, we are only as good as the information we have.  For our relationship to be successful for you you need to...

• Be prepared to discuss your plans, goals, problems, and questions.  We can most effectively advise you and serve your best interests when we understand your goals.

• Gather all relevant personal and business financial information so we can get a clear and accurate picture and ask specific questions.

• Be clear and candid about what you expect from our services.

• Keep us informed of changes in your professional and personal life.  A marriage or divorce, the birth of a child, an inheritance, a career change, or a generous bonus can have a significant impact on your tax liability and financial goals.

• Be open to new ideas, tools, and opportunities.

• Make sure you (or your staff) meet your commitments to deliver appropriate, accurate, and timely information so that we have the information we need when we need it. 

• Keep us informed regarding how we are doing.  If we are not meeting your expectations, let us know.

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