HOUSTON BUSINESS REVIEW

Getting the Most from Your CPA, The First in a Series
By Gary Cooper

GARY N. COOPER, C.P.A., C.V.A., is managing partner of Cooper, Bergman & Company, L.L.P., certified public accountants which was formed in 1991, assisting small businesses and individuals with accounting, consulting and income tax planning and compliance. Services provided include medical practice consulting, business valuation, assistance with buy/sell transactions, development and implementation of policies and procedures, accounting services and tax compliance and planning. The Company has offices in Plano and Houston, Texas.

If you are using your CPA as a mere bean counter you are not getting the most of your money or that important relationship. Your CPA should have the knowledge, skills, and background to help in business financial services, estate planning, management consulting, financial planning services, and small business services. In the next several weeks we will review each of these areas and how you can make the most of that CPA relationship. If you don’t feel your CPA fulfills these objectives, feel free to contact me.

A CPA can assist you with the formation of a business of any type or size, and provide the services you need through various stages of development. A good accounting firm typically has excellent relationships with legal counsel to facilitate State filings for entity formation and preparation of all necessary agreements. Some of the services you should expect are as follows:

1. Provide an outline that provides all necessary steps to establish your business
2. Conduct studies on financing and proper capitalization, inventory management, costs control and functionality analysis
3. Consulting on accounting issues that could lead to future business problems
4. Develop budgeting processes and re-forecasting at each quarter ended
5. Setting up accounting systems tailored to your company’s specific needs
6. Perform audit, review and compilation services for reporting to external sources
7. Assist in merger and acquisition transactions, recapitalization of the business through either debt or equity funding