What I keep hearing is: ‘I need a CPA.’
What they usually mean is something very different.
When business owners say “I need a CPA,” they’re often really saying:
- “I don’t trust my numbers.”
- “I don’t understand my financials.”
- “Cash feels tight and I can’t explain why.”
- “My tax person keeps asking questions I don’t know how to answer.”
- “I need someone to explain what these reports actually mean.”
That’s usually not a tax problem. That’s a clarity problem.
There are situations where a CPA is absolutely the right choice. If you’re explicitly looking for help filing business or personal taxes, doing tax planning, dealing with the IRS, or going through an audit or other attest work, then a CPA is non-negotiable. Those services require a licensed professional, and that’s exactly what CPAs are trained and authorized to do.
But if what you’re really seeking is confidence in your numbers, better visibility into cash flow, or help understanding whether the business is actually profitable, a CPA is often not the best first stop. In those cases, a bookkeeper can get the books clean, accurate, and consistent, and a Fractional CFO can help interpret the financials, spot risks, and translate the numbers into real business decisions.
In practice, these roles work best together. Bookkeepers build and maintain the foundation. Fractional CFOs help explain the story behind the numbers and guide decisions before problems show up. CPAs step in when it’s time for compliance, filings, or regulated work. When those pieces are in the right order, everyone’s job gets easier—and usually cheaper.
The real question isn’t “Do I need a CPA?”
It’s “What problem am I actually trying to solve?”
Because compliance problems need a CPA.
Clarity and insight problems usually don’t.