• Are you getting the latest tax laws
  IN YOUR FAVOR put to work for you?
  
  
• Is Your Accountant helping you
  Make More Money?
  
  
• Does Uncle Sam OWE YOU money?
  
  
• When paying your taxes are they what
  you had expected to pay or are they
  more than you are prepared for?
  
  
• Is your accounting system set up to
  save you money?
  
  I have made it very easy for you to get your answers to all these questions and many more...

Hello, I'm Keith Huggett
CEO of Keith & Co.,

When it comes to you strategically planning to grow your business by paying less in taxes and increasing your net profits who is better qualified to help you than a former state tax auditor and a consultant to Fortune 500 companies?

I’m very passionate about helping business owners Make More Money. My broad experience over the past fifteen years, as a state tax auditor and as a tax consultant for Fortune 500 companies as well as small and mid size businesses gives me a unique perspective and diverse background which I use to help business owners keep more of what they earn.

Let's get right down to it.
Owning and operating a business is not easy.
In fact staying in business is not easy.

According to a 'Dun & Bradstreet' report, start-up businesses with fewer than 20 employees, have only a 37% chance of surviving the first 4 years of being in business, and only a 9% chance of surviving to 10th year. That’s a 91% of failure to reach their 10th anniversary. Interestingly, of these failed businesses, only 10% of them close involuntarily due to bankruptcy and the remaining 90% close because the business was not profitable. There go their dreams of providing for their families and retiring early to live a life of luxury.

What is the problem?
What is the number one reason for business failure?

While there are several different reasons for each business, one reason that is constant in all of the businesses is that business owners do not know and track their numbers as well as they should.

Do you know your numbers as well as you should?

Choosing accounting and tax professionals who do nothing more than data entry and not analyze and advise you as to what will grow your businesses plays a big part in your profit margins. So the most important thing you need to know is your numbers and it's your CPA's responsibility to make sure you do.

"5 mistakes people make when choosing a CPA
and how you can avoid them"

The fact is most business are paying too much in taxes! Choosing the right CPA is crucial to the health and growth of your business. That's why I have put together this informative site. Let's take a look at "The 5 mistakes people make when choosing a CPA and how you can avoid them."

Mistake #1
Hiring a CPA or Bookkeeper that are NOT engaged in your businesses.
They are data entry specialists that can fill out forms for their clients but not give the advice the owners want and need. You need to find a professional genuinely interested in you and your business, not just interested in obtaining a fee for filling out tax forms based upon information given to them by you or your staff

Mistake #2
Business owners do not sit down and meet with the CPA. 
They do not discuss their desires, wants and needs.  Be sure to ask a lot of questions. Be sure to set up an appointment with the CPA.   An appointment should be setup at your location, the CPA should want to see your business and how you are set up.  If you go to their location, they should at some time also visit you.  There is a lot to be learned from a tour of the facilities.

Mistake #3
Believing the CPA is smarter than you. 
If any professional talks in words you don’t understand, or can not communicate with you, they are not the right person to work with you.  Make sure you can talk with your accountant, not be talked to.  If you cannot understand what language your CPA is speaking you will never understand what they are doing with your business tax returns or records.  Make sure they can communicate with you.

Mistake #4
Not requesting and verifying business references.
Make sure to request at least 3 references.  Make sure they are business owners, not individuals the CPA works with.  Also, contact those references given, if you are not able to contact them ask for additional references or keep looking.

Mistake #5
Business owners are not prepared when they first meet with a CPA.
Make certain to have copies of prior filed tax returns, if you have them.  Also have copies of your financial statements, perhaps bank statements, credit card statements.  In order to make the most of an initial consultation, the business owner has to have documents to discuss and questions they have ready to be asked.  Don’t waste your time or the time of the CPA, be sure to be ready.

"The top 10 questions you should ask to be sure
you are choosing the right CPA for your needs"

There are some important and relevant issues you should be aware of when choosing your CPA. Here are the top 10 points you should look for in a CPA to be sure you are choosing the right one for your needs. Knowing your needs and asking the right questions are crucial for a profitable and lasting relationship.

Question #1:
Is timely service delivered?
Accounting information can get out of date quickly. Except for annual information, most accounting information should be no more than 10 to 30 days old. You should be access your up-to-date information and your CPA quickly and easily. I make it a habit to get back to my clients as quickly as possible.  Phone message are replied to the day they are left, no later then the following day.  I work with my clients to make sure their expectations of service is met.

Question #3:
What services beyond the usual reporting and number-crunching are offered?
A CPA needs to be more than a data entry clerk. I feel it is my duty as an advisor to make sure the information I am given makes sense, and ask questions if it doesn’t or ask for clarity, so that it can be made to make sense. 

Question #4:
How can the accountant help you Make More Money?
It sounds like a wise-guy question, but the answer will help you find out if candidates are interested in your business. Did they review the financial information you provided prior to the interview? Did they make sure you understood the accounting concepts, instead of just tossing off a bunch of jargon? It is our goal to save you more in taxes.  It is also in our best interest that you succeed.  We will evaluate and advise in all areas of your business, with the goal of success.

Question #8:
How do you calculate your fees?
Ask the accountant what you can expect fees to be and will he guarantee that you will not exceed certain amounts that you agree upon up front. In a time-based fee structure, make sure to find out the hourly rate, as well as all fees for expense reimbursement. Find out now whether a simple two-minute phone call or a one page fax means an hour of billable time. If that’s the case, run for the door. When I reach an agreement with clients to provide accounting and tax services I do so on a flat rate structure.  I prefer to work on a quarterly basis for a set fee.  Depending upon the business type fees vary.  I do not believe in charging fees on an hourly basis, and charging for each question asked by my clients.  I want my client to be comfortable calling me to ask for advise, not wondering what the bill for the advice will cost.

Question #10:
Why should I use you?
Ask the question and just listen for the answer somewhere in the answer you should FEEL like they really care about your success. I consider myself to be outside of the norm. I am attentive, and provide you with the opportunity to tap into my experience, overcome obstacles, adopt coherent strategies while effectively and efficiently achieving your goals in a more timely manner. I listen to your needs and advise you of the best course of action. I realize I do not have all the answers and cannot know everything, and therefore I am constantly updating my skills and knowledge.

I am an accounting and tax advisor for business owners, I do not attempt to go beyond, I prefer to work with your attorneys and financial planners to achieve what is best for you.  I believe with a team of professional advisors you will get better advice than with just one person.

You'll receive unlimited consultation, because I want to be a part of your success.  If a business owner fails, part of the failure lies in the team of advisors.  I will work with you and advise you to the best of my ability.  I want you to think of me when you have questions and issues.  If I am not able to assist you I will either find or refer you to someone who can.