| If you live in Sacramento, California, there are many | | | | Sacramento also has many small accounting firms, |
| accountants to choose from. First, there are the "big | | | | often run by just one CPA. These firms provide a |
| four" CPA firms, represented by Ernst & Young, | | | | wide variety of services to the local for-profit and |
| Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewaterhouse Coopers which I | | | | non-profit small businesses. They often provide |
| would suggest using if you have a multi-million dollar | | | | bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, tax planning and |
| business or if your firm is made up of a parent | | | | financial statement preparation. Some also specialize in |
| company and several subsidiaries. I would also suggest | | | | audit and review services. What really sets these small |
| using the large CPA firms in Sacramento if your | | | | firms apart, besides price, is their ability to build |
| business is publicly traded or does business | | | | relationships of trust and commitment with the |
| internationally. These large firms have the resource, | | | | businesses they serve. A small business owner |
| knowledge and experience with international | | | | normally tries to focus on his or her area of expertise |
| accounting standards, currency issues, SEC guidelines, | | | | and needs to be able to turn, sometimes at a |
| and consolidated enterprises that you will need. They | | | | moment's notice, to his or her accountant for advice. |
| also audit publicly traded companies, a service that you | | | | The owners of these small firms tend to be available |
| may need. | | | | to you and willing to drop what they are doing to help |
| Sacramento also has many medium-sized accounting | | | | out. The relationship of trust that builds is strong and it |
| firms to choose from with several partners running the | | | | is really a great feeling when the CPA and the |
| firm. Many of these specialize in certain areas such as | | | | business owner can use each other's services. |
| audits of government entities or wine industry taxation. | | | | The small accounting firms sometimes lack the ability |
| Because Sacramento is the capital of California, there | | | | to assist businesses on certain subjects. After all, one |
| are many government agencies to audit. These | | | | accountant can't know everything. However, if the |
| medium-sized accounting firms also work with large | | | | small CPA can't research the answer you need, he or |
| and medium-sized privately-owned companies to | | | | she can always refer you to another firm that offers |
| provide them with audit, tax, consulting and other | | | | the service you need. |
| accounting services. Due to their size and reputation, | | | | Whether your business is large or small, public or |
| the prices at these medium-sized accounting firms | | | | private, for-profit or not-for-profit accounting services |
| tend to be higher than those at the small Sacramento | | | | are really essential at all stages of business from the |
| accounting firms. Fortunately, Sacramento is still a fairly | | | | start-up stage through the growth stage and all the |
| small, friendly community where you can build a strong | | | | way through the selling or closing of a business. If your |
| working relationship with your accountant at a | | | | business is located in Sacramento, California, you have |
| medium-sized accounting firm and then run into him or | | | | many accountants to choose from. Use one. You'll be |
| her at the grocery store or the movies. | | | | glad you did. |