Perform a general search of Michigan accountants and accounting firms

Not all Michigan accountants are full-service. Some specialize in different aspects of accounting such as estate planning or bookkeeping and others tackle the full range of small business accounting requirements.

I recommend: The Michigan Society of Certified Public Accountants offers a free referral service to help you find an accountant in your area that meets your needs. The CPA Finder website is another good search option to locate Michigan CPA firms. Finally, the AccountantsWorld website offers a free accountant directory search.

Research the credentials of the Michigan CPA firms or professionals that you have short-listed

Ensure that the accounting firms in Michigan you are considering are professional and have solid credentials. One way to find this out is by their affiliation with recognized accounting associations as well as the status of their professional license. Even one negative review is a red flag that you should proceed with caution if you decide to work with this accountant or firm.

I recommend: The Michigan Board of Accountancy website has a search feature where you can verify the license of accounting professionals in the area. Etaking does the work for you by verifying the credentials of participating accounting firms ahead of time and listing them on their website. CPAdirectory is another option to check licensing information on specific regional accounting firms in Michigan.

Choose a Michigan CPA firm that meets the needs of your business

Your company has certain accounting needs and not all accounting firms offer all services. Find one that will fit the best with everything that is important to your organization such as level of service, experience and reputation.

I recommend: For projects like creating an accounting system for payroll, accounts payable or accounts receivable, consider using a firm specializing in bookkeeping. Carol L. Soens, CPA, MBA, PC is one example, serving the areas of Detroit and Livonia. Another option is Sterling Tax Service whose service areas include Kalamazoo, Lawton and Paw Paw. For more involved services like tax planning or international tax treaties, more advanced CPA firms in Michigan are required. Lettinga & Associates, LLC - CPAs, which serves the Grand Rapids, Holland and Hudsonville areas, offers tax and financial planning services. Oden Tax & Bookkeeping Service is one firm in Inkster that offers tax services including IRS representation, and serves the areas of Detroit, Ann Arbor and Livonia. For a firm that specializes in the needs of small companies, you may consider Craig A. Wagenschutz, CPA, PC located in Mount Clemens who services the areas of Troy, Sterling Heights and Port Huron. If you want a well-known firm with locations around the world that serves companies of all sizes and industries, PricewaterhouseCoopers is a great choice and they have offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids.