Q. I am thinking about starting a small business with another person. We would be providing experts on different subjects to our clients. I wanted to use the word 'consultants' in the title. Is it a good word to use these days or has it gone out of favor? *Something like "Adams Accounting Consultants" The "Accounting" part above is just an example - it's not an accounting business. Sorry for any confusion.

A. I have been self employed for 20 years, and this is my take. I would not visit you for service. Why- I would rather hire a CPA I can get the same info from a CPA and then CPA is also liable for the information he gives me. If I hire a CPA for my yearly information, I basically get information all year round. I don't think it is a good idea for small business, but for large businesses they like big words.

Q. I am a CPA with experience in tax preparation / review. I recently quit my job to work with a family member to assist her in the accounting / tax function of the business. Can I still get a seasonal tax job with a CPA firm? Do firms hire on a seasonal basis and when ???

A. The trick is to know the firm personally. If you have proven your skills to someone, firms can always use the extra help during tax season. If you have the experience there's no reason they wouldn't want the help, but I do think you would have to be a sure bet in the firm's view though. Good luck!

Q. I was just wondering how real entrepreneurs handle their bookkeeping, accounting, and taxes. Do you hire a firm or CPA? Do you hire employees? I currently have a small business and I do most bookkeeping and taxes myself, but I am looking to potentially hire someone to do this. However, I am worried that it might be too costly. Can you tell me how much you spend on your accounting or CPA services? Thanks!

A. I have an accountant that comes to my store monthly, balances my checking account, files my sales tax and does my income taxes at the year's end. $4000.00

Q. It is my understanding you have to be a CPA to own PC who prepares compilations & reviews. Can an enrolled agent buy into a CPA Firm?

A. It may vary from state to state but yes you can "buy" into a professional firm but you are still going to have to have someone there who is a licensed CPA to conduct business. I repair copiers at a local medical firm that has a full staff of doctors but is actually owned by a small group of investors who have no medical experience whatsoever.

Q. I just came to Dallas TX,USA .I have undergrade degree in Business Admission.Now i want to study accounting.So i am looking how can i go to CPA.Can anybody help me how to approach to it.

A. I hate to be anal about things, but the correct abbreviation for CPA is Certified Public Accountant... to find information on becoming one for your state board accountancy, do a google search of Texas CPA. Recommended materials in preparation of the exam is of course Becker CPA materials. Good luck!

Q. After looking at a certain user's credentials, it made me question it because it really doesn't make sense. The person had 24+ years of accounting, 14+ years of CPA, and 7+ years of tax preparation experience. So why is it that you can do tax returns as a accountant and not be licensed as a tax preparer? It seems a little backwards to me. I mean you should be licensed to prepare taxes before you could be a CPA and a CPA before you could be an accountant. That's just my two cents.

A. You can be an accountant just by working in the field and getting on the job experience. The CPA credential is given by state boards in order for the holder to give an opinion on financial statements. That is the only purpose of the CPA designation. This is why the person had so many years as a CPA without the same years of tax experience. Taxes are secondary to us CPA's as our main job is protecting users of financial statements. Most CPA's make their big money from audits and consulting, not tax work. Just about anybody can do tax work. However, only Tax Attorneys, CPA's, and EA's can argue in front of the IRS.

A. You need a CPA to do an official audit of a publicly traded company. Otherwise, except in the few states or cities where there is some licensing requirement, no, you don't need any CPA, education, or even experience. Scary, huh?

Q. Where I am from (New Zealand) we have chartered accountants but not cpa's. What is the difference and how long does it take become a CA and CPA. Which countries do the have CPA's in. and is it difficult to become either of them?

A. They're almost the same thing. NZ has a Chatered Accountant and the US has a Certified Public Accountant. I'm not sure of the requirements to be a CA in NZ, but for CPA's you have a minimum education requirement, set by each state, a work requirement, and you have to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. If you've got your sight set on being an accountant, it's not to hard to become a CPA. For instance, the state I ilve in, you must have 150 semester hours of college credit and work at leat a year in a professional accounting setting, as well as pass the CPA Exam. Getting the education takes more effort as you can get a BS degree at most schools with only 120 hours or so. That's at least another year of school and then you have to work and pass the exam. The exam can be rough. If you don't study for it, you will not pass it, simple as that.