What do I look for in an accountant?

My first criteria is you must feel comfortable with the person you choose as your accountant. A close second criteria is competency. A third criteria is cost. These same criteria also apply to a doctor or attorney or any other professional I might hire.

Accountants have much in common with doctors and attorneys. Some are generalists while others specialize in specific areas and they all charge varying rates. Your accountant should fit your needs.

Do I need a CPA?

A CPA is mandatory if you need audited financial statements. However, a CPA may not be the best choice for other areas; experience may be more meaningful. A CPA has passed a demanding set of tests centered around general accounting principles. If after obtaining his license he continues to work for an accounting and/or auditing firm, he likely will have very little ‘hands-on’ experience of running a business. He may never have faced the human resource problems a small business owner has had to face; never developed or administered a marketing plan; or sweat out making the next payroll for his employees.

About LP of Tallahassee

LP of Tallahassee, Inc. is a LedgerPlus franchise owned by Debbie McEachin & Les King. It has been in operation since July of 1998 and incorporated in July of 2000. Lp specializes in small businesses, handling their recordkeeping, payroll and taxes. Today, LP does all the recordkeeping for about 90 businesses in the Tallahassee area as well as 85 payrolls and over a 100 corporate tax returns and 250 personal and other returns.

Debbie's background includes calculating payroll and disbursing a cash payroll for the old Woolco Company. She has extensive knowledge in bookkeeping and general office procedures. She handles most of the payrolls and data entry duties.

Les has a degree in accounting from Cal State Fullerton, and MBA from Oklahoma City University, and is an Enrolled Agent in the IRS. His background includes among others being Controller and General Manager of a chemical company and Director of Finance for an association in Tallahassee.

His knowledge in manufacturing, retail, and the service industry well suits him to assist LP's clients in becoming more profitable. He does all the tax returns which includes closing the books and performing a balance sheet audit on all of LP's clients.