Perform a general search of Minnesota business accountants

All accounting firms in Minnesota are not full-service. Some specialize in estate planning or bookkeeping while others may handle the full range of small business accounting needs.

I recommend: The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants offers a free referral service to help you find an accountant in your area that meets your business's specific needs. The CPA finder website is another search option to locate a Minnesota CPA firm. Finally, the Accountants World website is a great tool to do a directory search of accounting services in Minnesota.

Research the credentials of the CPAs in Minnesota that you are considering

Make sure the CPA firms in Minnesota you are considering are professional and licensed. Verify their affiliation with local and national accounting associations as well as the status of their professional license.

I recommend: The Minnesota Board of Accountancy lets you search for a CPA by name to check to see if their license is active or inactive. The Etaking website verifies the licenses of participating accounting firms and lists them on their website. CPA directory is another option for checking licensing information on specific Minnesota accountants.

Choose Minnesota accounting firms that meet the unique needs of your company

Your business has special accounting needs and not all firms may offer the service or services that you want. It is important to find one that will fit the best with everything that is important to your organization: experience, professionalism and integrity.

I recommend: A firm specializing in bookkeeping can help you get started with an accounting system for payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable. UptoDate Bookkeeping, Inc. is one example, serving the areas of Forest Lake, North Branch and Saint Paul. Another option is SBGB QuickBooks Consulting & Accounting Service whose service areas include Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Mendota Heights. For more complicated services like tax planning, you need more advanced Minnesota accounting firms. Brennan Accounting Services Inc., which serves the Shakopee, Chaska and Chanhassen areas, offers tax and financial planning services. Technology Advisory Group, LLC, located in White Bear Lake, offers tax planning as well as IRS representation. They serve the areas of Saint Paul, Minneapolis and western Wisconsin. For a firm that specializes in the needs of small companies, you may consider Business Advisors located in Saint Louis Park who services the areas of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Edina. If you want a well-known firm with locations around the world, Ernst & Young is a good option with an office in Minneapolis.