How to Choose a CPA in Redlands: 5 Questions You Should Ask
Hiring a CPA isn’t something you do lightly. Especially if you're a small business owner, freelancer, or S-corp operating in Redlands or the greater Inland Empire. The right CPA can help you save on taxes, stay compliant with California’s rules, and actually make sense of your books. The wrong one? They can cost you money, time, and unnecessary stress.
But with many options out there, how do you know who’s right for you?
In this guide, we’re walking you through five essential questions to ask before hiring any CPA in Redlands or the broader Inland Empire. Whether you’re vetting someone for tax prep, bookkeeping, or long-term advisory help, these questions will help you find someone who understands your business—not just someone who files forms once a year.
Let’s get into it.
1. Are You Familiar With Businesses Like Mine?
This is the first question you should ask, and it’s the one most people forget. Not all CPAs work with the same types of clients, and experience matters, especially if you run a small service business or freelance in a specific niche.
Ask directly:
“Have you worked with businesses like mine before?”
If you’re a Redlands-based handyman, a mobile notary in Yucaipa, or a social media consultant in San Bernardino, your needs are very different from those of a large retail chain or a nonprofit. Your CPA should understand:
How your business earns and tracks revenue
What deductions are most relevant for your industry
Which red flags to avoid in your specific tax situation
How to advise you on estimated taxes, write-offs, and recordkeeping
You’re not just looking for someone who can file a return. You want someone who can help you make better decisions all year long, and that starts with industry context.
Green flag: Your CPA can offer real insights about your business, not vague answers.
Red flag: They give you a generic pitch or clearly don't understand the financial patterns of your business type.
2. How Do You Communicate and Deliver Work?
In today’s world, how your CPA communicates is just as important as what they know. If you're running a business in the Inland Empire, you're probably juggling customers, employees, and a dozen priorities. You need someone who keeps things simple, clear, and responsive.
Ask:
“How will we communicate, and how do you deliver work?”
A modern CPA will walk you through:
Their preferred contact method (email, phone, secure messaging)
Whether they use a secure client portal or shared QuickBooks access
How fast you can expect responses during tax season or in Q4
How they deliver reports, returns, and action items
It’s also smart to ask if they offer ongoing communication or only speak to you at tax time. The best CPAs stay in touch all year, not just in April.
In Redlands, we’ve seen business owners struggle with CPAs who don’t return emails or go dark when deadlines approach. That’s not what you want. You need a CPA who makes the financial side of your business feel easier, not more stressful.
Green flag: They respond quickly, offer clear channels for questions, and use secure systems.
Red flag: You have to chase them down, or everything feels scattered. Getting ghosted or no response for weeks on end isn’t normal.
3. Do You Offer More Than Just Tax Filing?
A lot of CPAs market themselves as tax preparers, and that’s fine. But if you’re building a business in Redlands or anywhere in the Inland Empire, you need more than someone who shows up once a year to plug numbers into a form.
Ask:
“Do you offer advisory services, tax planning, or bookkeeping support?”
Tax prep is reactive. Real value comes from ongoing planning, cleanup support, and strategy. These are the things that help you:
Avoid big tax bills by making smarter choices year-round
Understand your business performance month to month
Get support when your books are a mess and tax deadlines are approaching
Here’s what a full-scope CPA might offer:
Quarterly tax planning to help you pay in and avoid surprises
Bookkeeping cleanups or monthly reconciliation (especially in QBO)
Strategic check-ins to answer questions, plan for growth, or pivot when needed
Help with California compliance, like PTET or estimated payments
This is especially important for service-based LLCs and S-corps. In California, there are deadlines, fees, and filings beyond the federal 1040. A good local CPA will help you manage all of it, not just file a return in April.
Green flag: They offer bundled services or regular check-ins.
Red flag: They disappear after tax season and never talk about strategy.
4. What Is Your Pricing Structure?
No one likes surprises when it comes to professional fees. That’s why it’s important to ask upfront how your CPA charges, and what’s included.
Ask:
“Do you charge flat fees, hourly rates, or per service? What’s included in your pricing?”
Some CPAs charge by the hour. Others offer flat-rate packages. Neither is wrong, but you need to understand exactly what you're paying for. Also, ask whether things like cleanups, strategy meetings, or tax projections are included or billed separately.
Here’s what to look for:
Clear engagement terms: You should know what services you’re getting and when they’ll be delivered (this is typically outlined in an engagement letter, but you can ask for clarity ahead of that step)
No hidden fees: Additional charges for “extra emails” or vague service add-ons are red flags
Tiered pricing or packages: These give you flexibility depending on the level of support you need
Bundled services: Combining tax prep with bookkeeping or cleanup can be more efficient and cost-effective
In Redlands and surrounding areas, we’ve seen clients come from big firms that nickel-and-dime or never explain their pricing. At ThriveWell CPA, we provide clear proposals based on your needs, especially for QBO cleanup or monthly support.
Green flag: Transparent pricing, clear deliverables, and an upfront proposal and/or engagement letter.
Red flag: Vague pricing, unclear service scope, or surprise invoices at tax time.
5. Will You Help Me Stay Compliant in California?
California is one of the most complex states to do business in, and compliance is where many business owners accidentally get in trouble.
Ask:
“Do you help with California-specific requirements and deadlines?”
Your CPA should understand more than just federal filings. If they’re local to Redlands or anywhere in San Bernardino County, they should be familiar with:
The $800 minimum franchise board tax for LLCs and S-corps
Quarterly estimated payments and how they work for CA taxpayers (there’s a federal and state component and it can be tricky)
PTET (Pass-Through Entity Tax) and whether it applies to your situation
Common issues with mixing personal and business expenses, something that can trigger Franchise Tax Board reviews among other issues
If your CPA isn’t advising you on this stuff, you’re left to figure it out yourself. That’s risky, especially for growing LLCs and S-corps trying to keep up with evolving rules. The most successful business owners leverage the knowledge of others to help them enjoy continued success.
Green flag: They ask about your entity type, review state requirements with you, and track deadlines.
Red flag: They only talk about federal forms and ignore California compliance entirely.
ThriveWell CPA: A Redlands CPA Firm Built for Service Businesses
ThriveWell CPA was built with one thing in mind—making life easier for small service business owners in Redlands and the Inland Empire. We specialize in helping service-based businesses not just file taxes, but run smarter, cleaner, more efficient businesses.
If you're looking for a CPA who:
Understands California-specific compliance
Speaks in plain English, not tax jargon
Uses modern tools like QBO, Gusto, and secure client portals
Offers fixed-fee bookkeeping cleanups, monthly support, and advisory planning
Then you're in the right place.
From bookkeeping rescues to multi-year tax strategies, we help local businesses take control of their finances, reduce stress, and plan with confidence. Whether you're in Redlands, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, Calimesa, or San Bernardino—we're your local partner, ready to help.
Don’t Settle for a Generic CPA. Find the Right Fit.
You don’t need to figure it all out alone. You just need someone who understands your business and gives you clear answers, not cookie-cutter advice.
Book a free consultation with ThriveWell CPA today
We’ll walk you through what we offer, how we price, and whether we’re the right fit to support your business.
👉 Visit our contact page to schedule a consult or explore our services.
