How to Find a CPA for Artists
As an artist, you may think that your job is only to create art. However, a successful artist must keep an eye on the business side of things too. If your artist skills do not extend to finances, you will need to hire experienced professionals to help you, including a CPA. A certified public accountant (CPA) is a finance professional that helps individuals and companies manage and protect their money. As an artist, you are an independent contractor. This makes routine practices such as making a budget, starting a 401k or filing taxes more complicated. You will need a CPA who has experience working with an artist's finances.
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Instructions
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Talk to your colleagues or any other artists you may know. Ask them which certified public accountant they use and if they are happy with the work he is doing. If you can get a personal recommendation from another artist, you can be confident that the CPA will already understand your accounting needs.
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Check your local artist publications for a certified public accountant. These publications often have ads in the back pages for services geared toward artists. A CPA that markets to artists will more likely have experience handling an artist's finances.
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Use the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to help you find a CPA who has worked with artists in the past. They will have listings of their members located near you. You can also check any organizations for CPAs in your area for their listings. Contact the ones closest to you and ask about their experience working with an artist's finances.
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Set up an initial consultation regardless of where you found your potential CPA. This meeting will help you determine how well he understands an artist's finances. Ask about his experience filing quarterly tax returns and setting up a 401k for a sole proprietorship. You will also need to know if he has experience with itemized deductions based on the business of being an artist. For example, an artist can deduct supplies, marketing for shows and rent on a workspace from his gross income because these fall under the cost of doing business. A CPA who knows about working with an artist will also be familiar with the tax laws that allow you to deduct a portion of your rent or car expenses if you work from home or use your car for business purposes. If you don't already have one, ask your potential CPA for a reference that doesn't mind being contacted. This should be a client that is an artist or has the same concerns as one, such as a freelance writer. You can ask them about their experience with the CPA to gauge how he will treat you as a client.
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Tips & Warnings
If money is an issue, consider trying a bartering agreement. Craigslist is a great place to browse ads or place an ad offering to barter your artist skills in exchange for the services of a certified public accountant. (See Resources 2)
Before you take your business to a CPA, consider checking out his standing with the local Better Business Bureau. They can tell you if he has had any complaints about his business practices. Although one complaint does not mean that a CPA is questionable, two or more complaints should raise red flags.
