*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.*
28179 Vanderbilt Dr Suite 2
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
Kidwell and Associates has been doing my taxes and helping me with any tax issues for several years now. They are highly professional and knowledgeable. Carl is particularly efficient, and always quick to respond. I highly recommend this company for all of your tax needs.
Ray is always great about getting back to me. He answers all my questions and addresses all my concerns. His recommendations are very well thought out and intelligent. I would recommend his firm to all my friends and associates.
I have been using Kidwell & Associates for several years now and have been extremely happy with their work. All of the staff is very professional, helpful and friendly. On serval occasions I have had questions about my return or asked for a document and have always received a quick response. I would highly recommend them.
Ray and the Kidwell team are terrific! After becoming a client he reviewed my past taxes and was able to claw back about $8K in past Minnesota state income taxes. Oh, the state didn't want to refund this money, but Ray filed all the correct forms and a few months later the refunds were rolling in. Thank you Ray.
Ray Kidwell and his team are a friendly and knowledgeable group of accountants who keep on top of the tax laws and who are always willing to meet with you for as long as necessary. I have been using them for nearly 10 years, and I have never had an issue. Their guidance and expertise are invaluable!
Raymond and all the staff at Kidwell & Associates are extremely competent, reliable, and, above all, confidential. Financial matters are a matter of trust. Kidwell & Associates have been serving me since 2017, and everything has always been excellent and accurate. I highly recommend them.
I've been a client of Ray Kidwell for the past couple of years. Ray is very well organized and up to speed with the latest tax laws. Overall, 100% recommend his services!
I moved to the Naples area and had to find a new tax preparer. Kidwell and Associates were recommended to me. And l can say I?m very happy they prepare my taxes in a timely manor and are always very responsive to me. I would definitely recommend them.
We very much appreciate that Ray does all of the work himself on our return. He is very responsive to emails in a timely manner. I, personally appreciate that he is very thorough.
I have been working with Ray for 12 years now. He is always available when needed and quick, precise and gets me the most deductions possible. Very professional. I would, and have recommended Ray!
We have been going to Ray Kidwell for over 10 years. It's nice going to one person year after year. Tax time can be a stressful time, but not with Ray. I would highly recommend him. Janet & Mark Schadler
Kidwell & Associates have been doing my Federal Taxes for the last several years. I am very pleased with his attention to detail and completing in a timely fashion. I don`t dread tax season anymore with Kidwell & Associates doing my taxes.
My experience with Kidwell & Associates has been truly exceptional ! They are knowledge and helpful in all aspects, consistently responding quickly to any questions. I highly recommend.
I am the owner and President of a small business. Prior to using Ray Kidwell, I burned through two other local CPAs who didn't teach me how to set up my S-Corp or benefit from that structure. All that they did was file extensions and bill me extremely high rates. Ray is a consummate professional and expert in accounting.
Kidwell & Associates are a very easy to work with. Calls are quickly return, taxes were done promptly.
Having moved from Ohio to Florida, I needed an accountant that was knowledgeable about my circumstances and able to work with both states. Kidwell & Associates did an excellent job!
Taxes very efficiently prepared. Kidwell Associates very helpful with small business deductions. I would recommend this firm whole heartedly.
Very satisfied with the service and results received at a very fair fee. We highly recommend and will continue to utilize their services without hesitation.
The best company in the business! Kidwell will help you in any situation! Any questions you have?just ask them. They will help and walk you through the process.
I highly recommend kid well associates for all your tax and accounting needs. There were very knowledgeable and very pleasant to work with and I?m very happy With the work that they have done for me.
This tax season was my first with Kidwell & Associates. I will surely be returning. It was a very comfortable experience.
Excellent service and timely filing of taxes. Ray is very easy to communicate with and returns calls promptly!
Excellent! Responsive, personal and most of all, very skilled at the profession. Highly recommend Kidwell & Associates.
Been using Ray and company for years. They came highly recommended and I?m passing it on !!! Great staff and personable, friendly, efficient people!
We. Are very comfortable with the Kidwell accounting service. Tax prep was a breeze with great results.
Fabulous accounting firm. Highly recommended for tax preparation ~ everyone I have worked with has been very professional, helpful, patient, kind, and thorough.
We love the prompt, professional & courteous service. They almost make u happy to be paying taxes!
Really enjoy working with Carl Scott. Extremely knowledgeable about current tax laws and works hard to take advantage of them.
A pleasure working with Mr Kidwell for the first time since moving to Florida. Friendly and knowledgeable.
Kidwell and Associates are very professional and do a great job on our taxes every year.
Hassel free experience with all the professional support you may need in a timely manner.
As always, the accounting and work that goes into compiling all the documents necessary are fast and accurate. Kidwell & Associates have always been professional and courteous and very thorough! We are always extremely satisfied with their work and have been enjoyed their professionalism.
Very nice and professional ! I called them and left a message and they got back to me within the hour !
Ray & his staff have been helping my husband & I with our personal & small business taxes for the last few years. Not only do they make filing our yearly personal & business tax returns easy & seamless, they answer all of our questions, & helped convert our small business to an LLC.
Have been with them for a few years now. Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
I have used a number of accountants over the years and I finally feel that I found the right one. Raymond not only does a superior job over the others I have used, he also charges half the price. All my family and friends use him now. I have never been more satisfied with an accountant. I would highly recommend his services!
Kidwell & Associates have always done a great job with our taxes.
Courteous and understanding staff, I definitely has not been disappointed with their service since the first day I came across the place on a morning run.
Awesome customer care. Excellent human relations! Efficient work!
We have utilized Kidwell & Associates for several years for tax preparation. Very professional with a great, friendly staff.
Very professional and knowledgeable. If you need tax help?this is where you need to go!
Dave Ramsey endorsement confirmed trying Kidwell & Associates four years ago. We appreciate their intelligence, service, and value! So we gladly continue working with them.
Kidwell & Associates is the BEST in the business. I would highly recommend them to all of my family and friends. Melissa V.
Awesome company so easy to work with them.
Ray and his team were fast and efficient and nice to work with. Thank you for your help.
Straight talk and easy to deal with, highly recommend Ray Kidwell
I had the opportunity to work with Ray Kidwell on my business and personal taxes and was very pleased with my experience. He explained everything thoroughly, was very quick to respond and answer my questions, and helped to put my mind at ease throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Ray -- he was a pleasure to work with!
Ray will answer any questions and our taxes were on time.
We've been working with Carl from Kidwell & Associates for the past few years and have always had a good experience. The services provided are always fast, thorough and up to date. They ask all the right questions, and the response time is outstanding too, usually no more than a day. Everything is also set up to be easy and convenient no matter where in the world you are.
Rarely responded, required constant chasing for the simplest of things. I terminated service and Ray didn't even have the courtesy to respond to that email. If this is how they treat clients, I can only assume their 68 4+ star reviews must be planted by friends and family.
Carl was great to work with! I had an amendment for three years and the process with him was easy! He answered all my questions and I will be using him again! Highly recommended!
Carl is excellent to work with. I can ask questions anytime and get prompt replies. He is certainly on the ball. The firm is top notch in my book keeping us informed and ready for tax season with periodic correspondence. Recommended!!
I think Ray and team were great once we were able to contact them. Ray is very knowledgeable and will save you money, even if you think you have an ordinary return. Email is the best way to reach them; and now that we have worked together, I?m expecting to give them 5 star reviews in the future.
Raymond does a great job, is dependable and really understand tax matters. He has handled my filings for four years now competently and is both reasonable and great to work with. I have recommended him to others in the past and they have had the same experience.
We used to have Burling Consultants do our yearly taxes. When they told us they were selling we stuck with their buyer (Kidwell & Associates) and we are so glad we did. Being from North Carolina they made it so easy and they were so quick and responsive. Definitely will keep using them and highly recommend to anyone looking for their service!
Ray is EXCELLENT ! Professional, competent, honest, reliable, helpful. Great personality and sense of humor as well- Now how often can you say that about an accountant ?! Scott
Always prompt with responses and very knowledgable. We have peace of mind when working with them on all our transactions.
We were new to Florida and found Kidwell & Associates through an online affiliate referral. At every touchpoint, from my initial contact through to filing, the team was friendly, courteous, patient and responsive. A wonderful experience.
Ray took over our 3 company accounts as well as our personal account after our accountant retired. Ray returns calls and has the answers to all our our questions. He has a stall of well organized people that respond to your needs. We look forward to a long relationship with Kidwell & Associates.
Ray and his folks are wonderful--Mike
I hired an accountant for the first time to file my taxes to help with a few different things I had going on, including a rental property. Ray Kidwell & Associates assured me they could help me. Prior to submitting my taxes, I found a few errors in my return and asked for them to be corrected. I asked that the revised return not be submitted until I reviewed it and I also held off on signing it until I reviewed it. They submitted the return anyway, without my signature (they used the signature page from the
Outstanding service and all questions answered
Ray Kidwell and Elizabeth Barnes have both been super friendly and highly efficient! I will highly recommend Kidwell and Associates to anyone who needs a good CPA.
Kidwell & Associates have been providing us with excellent tax assistance for a few years now. They are competent, knowledgeable and professional.
I have worked with Carl for the last 3 years to file my taxes. He makes the process quick and painless. I am very thankful to work with him and enjoy having peace of mind during tax season!
We had a complicated return, The firm 's assigned enrolled agent was able to solve our issues and more importantly solve a major isue for a family member. Two other firms had promised to unravel that issue but failed in performance, one was a local t6ax preparer and the other was the large National firm. Both keep trying to get me to re hire them but no way I leave Kidwell & Associate after the help they gave us, at a reasonable cost too.
Best tax firm ever. Carl Scott is a rock star.
Very supportive as I went from filing single to filing jointly due to marriage in 2022. Raymond was very responsive given the lateness of some of the required information. He was very helpful.
The team at Kidwell and Associates are prompt, polite and operate with respect, honor and integrity. I am so grateful to have found them when we relocated 2 years ago.
Extremely professional and detailed oriented.
I've worked with Carl Scott for a few years now and can honestly say that he is very knowledgeable and thorough. I am a member of an LLC and he is on top of everything. Wish that I had found him 30 years ago.
Everyone in the office was very helpful. They were always quick to respond to any questions that I had. I will definitely use them again next year.
We live in the Pacific Northwest - have used Kidwell & Associates for the past 2 years for our filings. They are fast, responsive, and helpful.
I went to Kidwell & Associates because they were close to where I live. They did everything I needed for them to do quickly and easily. I will be returning to them in the future.
What a blessing! After several attempts to find a good accountant for our business in Bonita Springs, we found Stopps & Kidwell. I will never use anyone else again.
I have worked with Carl the past 3 years on my return and he has been nothing but efficient, professional and extra communicative.
I had a great experience dealing with Mr Kidwell and my tax return.
Fantastic, professional tax preparation... My taxman retired and we just love Ray and Elizabeth! Fast and efficient..
I live out of state and my taxes are always done swiftly (sometimes same day!) and I can do everything online! I'm always impressed with their speed!
Carl was so helpful, answered ALL of my questions, took the time to explain my situation thoroughly. I am so happy to have Carl help prepare my taxes!
Good responsible service
I have had Carl Scott as my accountant for years now and he is professional, patient and very good at what he does!
Accountants are pleasant, professional and quick in response time. They are also patient, thoroughly answering all my questions. Highly recommend.
Professional, kind and informative! Excellent CPA firm that you can trust! I would highly recommend!
very friendly. Dave Ramsey recommended tax professionals. Thank You!!!
Professional, responds to emails and phone calls in a timely manner. Stress free filing of taxes.
It was great working Carl. Highly recommend Kidwell & Associates!
Outstanding Service! Very helpful and attentive! Highly Recommend!
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.