Your business relies on the skills of several professionals, many of whom work on a contract basis; these range from legal professionals to building inspectors and to accountants. With the current economy, accountancy is one of the areas where people are always looking for help.

Getting the right accountant is just as important as getting the right attorney or the right doctor for your family. You'll want an accountant whose skills and temperament match the culture of your business and is aware of how your business runs.

Like family doctors, the single most common way to choose an accountant is by referral by a colleague or a family member. While this is a decent way to find an accountant, it's not always better than just picking one out of the phone book.

Picking an accountant starts with their qualifications. At the high end of profession are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), who pass a rigorous exam to get the certification. CPAs will charge a premium for their expertise. Credentialed accountants are ones who've passed a state certification exam; it's not quite as rigorous as the nationwide CPA exam, but covers many of the same areas.

Accountants, like attorneys, vary in the size of their practice, from single accountant shops to full fledged accounting teams and analytical teams. They may also specialize in accounting matters related to specific fields or types of businesses. Look for ones that cover your kind of business – this will save you time and money in the long run.

When should you get an accountant? As early in the formation of your business as you can. Accountants can be a god-send when it comes to setting up a business plan and helping you avoid problems down the road.

A good accountant will have excellent time management skills, as well as being numerate and good with the standard accounting practices. Accountants have a busy season that runs from January through April; ones that can manage the business of running their business in this span will help you be able to get a grip on yours.

Accountants, like lawyers, have to make a lot of communications time. If your accountant can't speak clearly or get to the point quickly, then they may not be right for you. Likewise, you want an accountant who takes pride in their work and strives to always improve at their job. Accountancy is about making a model of what is and expressing it to your client, allowing them to make informed decisions about the future of their business.

Good accountants are also assertive. Part of being an accountant is being able to tell bad news to a client and tell them about harsh economic realities. They can't sit still and watch their client run their business into the dirt. Related to being assertive, good accountants that specialize in a field are also creative. Creativity isn't cooking the books – it's identifying a problem and helping the client overcome it. Strategies and ideas are an accountant's stock in trade.