*Note: CPAs may specialize in different areas. Be sure to check credentials and service offerings.*
If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
*Tip: Organize your documents in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.*
*Note: Preparation helps you make the most of your CPA’s expertise.*
*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
9007 Damascus Hills Ln
Damascus, Maryland 20872
I would highly recommend CFO ReStart if you need help with finance and accounting services for your business. The CEO worked with me to find the right accountant for my business needs and Heather has been terrific! She is excellent at managing my accounts receivables and payables, but she has provided recommendations to streamline my business processes and enabled me to expand my business to offer financial management services to my event clients. I'm a small business and CFO Restart and Heather have been a
CFORestart has been supporting my small business with account reconciliation since 2024. Laena has been a fantastic resource for me and has collaborated well with my accounting support as well. She is extremely responsive and accurate in her work. I strongly recommend her and CFORestart!
We started working with Wendy two years ago after our CFO passed away. Wendy helped us to set up procedures so that our monthly financial statement process became a well oiled machine. She helped me by providing support and filling in on tasks for me that I was too busy to handle. And, she helped to coach and build the team. I am excited that we are now fully staffed and fully functioning. Wendy worked herself out of a job by helping us get things on track. We really appreciate her efforts and great a
We have had the privilege of working with Hailey and Wendy for the past several months. As a new business owner, CFO Restart came highly recommended to us and now we understand why. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional and always taking the extra time to make sure everything is done right! Not sure where we'd be without them!
Wendy Biava is a consummate professional and great to work with. We have worked together on multiple business valuations and I have found Wendy to be very organized, responsive, and knowledgeable. She provided all of the information that I needed for the valuations on a very timely basis and was very responsive to all of my questions. We have many mutual clients that think the world of her financial services and can?t say enough good things about her. I highly recommend her financial services and I am very
I've been working with CFO Restart for about 2 months now and they have been wonderful. Always willing to sit down and explain items or decisions made, to help me better understand my business.
Laena has been a game changer for our business! She is incredibly efficient and detail-oriented, always ensuring everything is accurate and up to date. Her expertise and organization give me so much peace of mind, and I can always count on her to handle even the smallest details with care. Highly recommend for anyone looking for top-notch bookkeeping services
CFO Restart has made everything about small business ownership doable. The team is very responsive and helpful. I work with Sherry, and in the rare case she doesn?t have an answer to a question, she sends me in the right direction. With so much to navigate as a business owner, it is incredible to have this group in my corner! Highly recommend!! To the point that I use them for two completely different businesses that I have!! Their resources know no bounds!
As a small business owner I really appreciate the support and services CFO Restart offered me. Wendy and team are very responsive to my inquiries. The services were extremely easy to understand. They were able to quickly put together a plan for me and began work immediately after we gave the greenlight to proceed. I had frequent and consistent updates on our books. Their price point was great for me as a small business as we really have to pick and choose where we place our money to get the best bang for th
Wendy and her team are excellent to work with. As a public accountant, I work with various companies and their outsourced accountants, and my experience with CFO Restart was nothing short of a 5 star review. Specifically, Karen, Nancye, and Karen had my client's books completely reconciled and clean, with minimal adjustments. They were responsive, intelligent, and professional, making the audit a very smooth process from start to finish!
Our experience with CFO Restart has so far been really great. In a very short period of time, they have managed to grasp our business, help us clean up our financial management, and allow us to move back to focusing on running the day-to-day. Can't emphasize our recommendation enough.
I'm so grateful for CFO ReStart. After trying unsuccessfully (and stressfully) to do my own books, I turned to Wendy and CFO ReStart. They immediately took the bookkeeping stress and workload off my plate. Their communication is fantastic and their team is kind and incredibly easy to work with. I can't recommend them enough. Thank you CFO ReStart!
The team at CFO Restart is terrific -- responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. Laena has been handling the bookkeeping for my small business since 2022, and I'm always grateful for her professionalism and patience.
CFO ReStart is an accounting lifesaver. Wendy is an outstanding professional who is well educated, knowledgeable, prepared, smart, and ready to take action. She is an entrepreneur with experience in creating new ventures and turning them into successful businesses. She is a leader who is kind, considerate, and caring. She listens to your situation and proposes a plan of action. We needed help with a catch up project and she assigned Hailey to work with us. Hailey is an excellent representation of Wendy. A g
I am thrilled to share my experience working with CFO ReStart an exceptional and highly skilled firm. Karen B. and team have been an invaluable asset to my business, and I am grateful for the level of professionalism and expertise she consistently brings to the table. Karen possesses an impressive attention to detail, ensuring that every financial aspect of my business is meticulously handled. She has not only organized and streamlined our financial processes but has also provided insightful guidance on fin
CFO ReStart has been fantastic. We began working with them after a raving referral from our accountant. We have worked with Carolyn specifically who is amazing. She was able to get our old version of quick books switched over to QB online in no time. She?s also been helping with bookkeeping and accounting since. 10/10 if I could!
We have been using CFO ReStart for the past 7 years to handle the finance and accounting needs that have been instrumental for the success of our government contracting business. As a growing company, we have benefited tremendously from their flexible and scalable fractional accounting model that has helped us augment the staff based on our needs. The team at CFO ReStart has deep knowledge of government contracting accounting requirements and has guided us through implementing DCAA-compliant systems, passi
I don't know where we would be without Jennifer Diamond from CFO ReStart. She helped us clean up our books a few years ago and has kept us organized ever since! She is smart, reliable and always willing to help when a new accounting project comes along. Thank you for all you do!
CFORestart is an excellent resource for interim accouting resources and also to ensure continuity. When I first started at B&R we were several months behind in AP/AR and Bank Recs among other things. With the help of Laena under Wendy's excellent guidance we were all caught up and ready for our financial statement review. Thank you Wendy and team for helping us.
A couple years ago GAC Services was in need of a interim Controller and CFO ReStart sent Jennifer to the rescue. With minimal guidance she started organizing us and made the transition successful. Since then we have used some bookkeeping services and even CFO Services! Thank you to Wendy and the entire team!
KidsCo is delighted with our recent collaboration with CFO Restart. Karen, a member of the CFO Restart team, proved to be an ideal match for our company's requirements. Her seamless integration into our family-like atmosphere has been invaluable, and she has played a pivotal role in helping us regain control over our accounting needs. Previously feeling lost and navigating budgetary challenges blindly, we are grateful for the expertise and support provided by CFO Restart. Thank you, CFO Restart, for making
Wendy and the entire team at CFO ReStart has been extremely helpful. They are extremely knowledgeable and are always accessible with quick and efficient answers and solutions. I don't know how we operated without them up until now.
I?ve been very happy with CFO Restart. Our bookkeeper. Carolyn, has been absolutely fabulous for the last 3+ years. I highly recommend her and Wendy?s company CFO Restart!
I use their services for bookkeeping and I could not be happier. Sierra has been amazing since we started working together. I never have to worry about where my expenses get categorized or anything. I recommend any small (or big) business to go to them for all their bookkeeping needs.
CFO restart has been AMAZING! sierra is extremely efficient, detail oriented, and quick to reply. i could not recommend this company more!
Hailey Bohrer took over the work last year and I must say, Hailey did a FANTASTIC job for us and in a very short time with almost no learning curve at all. Her questions were spot on, her requests were only made once and she was able to anticipate the answers to questions that I had not even asked yet. Although we have never spoken by phone, she closed out 2023 for me in short order and made it appear to be so simple. What a fantistic experience.
Excellent customer service and attention to detail. CFOReStart acts as a partner -- committed to your success.
Laena Yi and her colleagues at CFO Restart have done an excellent job! I recommend them highly!
Enjoy working with Wendy and her staff. Very knowledgeable and professional. Highly recommend!!
Wendy is great to work with! Helped our company tremendously!
Hailey is a very nice young lady and a pleasure to work with.
Jennifer Diamond is the best! Work with her a lot and she is so patient
The best!! Sherry is professional, responsive, thorough.
Great work with us on several issues. A great help!
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.