*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.*
2869 Historic Decatur Rd #500
San Diego, California 92106
Nikki Semanchik gave me very good advice in a very short time. She explained that it was possible for a nonprofit to receive its revenue from providing services, rather than from donations. Since we were at an early stage, we did not yet have income from services, so she suggested delaying questions on the details of reorganization until we were closer to having to implementing them. We are getting close to that point now, and we expect to contact Nikki again soon to learn more about how we will need to
Nikki is a reliable and dependable expert in her legal field. Her knowledge has helped me with LLC management, trust creation, and general questions. When needed she has provided recommendations to other legal resources. She is an integral part of my virtual team.
If you're exploring ways to keep your family wealth, you've probably considered setting up a family trust. If so, are you wondering if you should do it on your own or hire a lawyer? Well, if you answer yes to any of the questions below, you may want to consider hiring Ms. Nikki Semanchik at Semanchik Law Group, Inc.. First, do you wish to spend as little time as possible preparing the documents needed to create your family trust? Nikki can certainly save your time. My wife and I spent much less time than w
Nikki is a sharp, attentive, compassionate attorney and advocate. Nikki has assisted me with both non-profit formation and advising me in starting up a new business. She is incredibly knowledgeable in the law, a strong negotiator, and creative in finding resolutions to difficult problems. Nikki is incredibly thorough with her research and can simplify complex legal issues. She provides practical advice and is a strong advocate for her clients. I highly recommend Nikki and will continue to work with her as t
Nikki helped me and my husband set up our trust and did an excellent job. She was very thorough and we felt comfortable with her and her professionalism. She was also very patient with our questions. I was so impressed with Nikki I asked her to set up my nonprofit. She did a great job with this also. I highly recommend Nikki.
I worked with Nikki to create an estate plan. As a lawyer myself I understood the importance of having an estate plan in place, and also recognized the importance of finding someone with the expertise to properly document my wishes and save my loved ones the time and expense of probate. Nikki's process is clear and organized, and made the administrative part of the process as painless as it could possibly be.
I don't look at Nikki and the Semanchik Law Group just as my attorney and legal counsel. I see them as a critical part of my team both personally and professionally. I've depended on and trusted the expertise of Nikki and her team for many years for everything from business dealings to estate planning. I've always been impressed by their knowledge, business savvy, attention to deal and execution. They make you feel like a priority as well, which I always appreciate. Highly recommend for business and person
We loved working with Nikki + team to create our Trust + Estate. This was a big step in "adulting" for me and my husband and they made the process feel a lot less intimidating and overwhelming. They were responsive to all our follow up questions and helped walk us through the process at the pace we were comfortable with. Definitely a great partner to have when tackling such a big and important project.
Nikki has been our trusted advisor for over a year now, and I don't know where we'd be without her direction. Her incredible knowledge of business law, strong communication skills, and passion for growing businesses makes her an invaluable part of our team. I would highly recommend Nikki to all business owners.
Nikki is an amazing lawyer and so much more! She helped me plan out the steps needed to create and start my business not just legally, but in all aspects. I knew what I wanted to create but knowing what steps to take and in what order was very overwhelming. She sat down with me monthly and helped map out my goals, and actions to take. She was my business coach and lawyer all in one! She incorporated my business for me, reviewed leasing contracts and developed a contract for my independent contractor. When I
Nikki helped me navigate my complicated estate plan with ease. As a fellow lawyer, I know the communication clients often expect and need, and Nikki did not fall short. She was always there to answer my questions and help me through the process. I highly recommend her for estate planning. She is THE BEST.
Nikki is an amazing estate planning attorney that knows what she's doing. I have been a property owner for the last few years and did not know the probate rules in California. Nikki walked me through what I needed to protect myself and my family from the troubles of the probate system. She's very knowledgable, personable, and trustworthy. I highly recommend her for any estate planning needs!
Nikki has always gone above and beyond to represent our sister and to give us excellent support and guidance. Her expertise and attention to our sister's needs have resulted in our increased peace of mind about her future.
A little over a year ago, I started looking into how to start a business with an idea I had for a mobile app. I wasn't sure where to begin or how to get started, but I knew my idea would get off the ground if I had a solid business approach. I met with Nikki soon thereafter and started speaking to her regularly about how to approach some of the legal issues. Specifically, Nikki helped me develop the business structure and counseled me as I worked to get my trademark application submitted. Not only is sh
Nikki provides prompt, thoughtful and caring service. More importantly, I find her to be totally trustworthy and very knowledgeable. I'm very grateful to have Nikki as my lawyer.
When my husband and I were expecting our first kid we decided we needed to get our wills in order. Nikki went way above helping us with our wills - she set up a whole estate plan with wills, a trust, medical paperwork and more. She was easy to work with, easy to get in contact with, and so knowledgeable. She explained very clearly to us complicated legal issues and gave us different options to consider. I would recommend her 100% of the time to anyone considering estate or will planning. - Kathleen And Rob
Nikki is one of the most knowledgeable attorneys we've ever worked with. We needed a complex NDA drafted for our digital marketing agency and Nikki over-delivered with extensive business planning as well as contract drafting and review. She is a phenomenal business attorney. I'd strongly recommend Nikki and her firm for any legal counsel whether it be business law, general counsel, nonprofit law, or estate planning.
Nikki put together our estate plan this year and made the process so easy and stress free. She had great insight and suggestions and made us feel confident in our financial and personal decisions. Everyone should have an estate plan and everyone should use Nikki.
Nikki set up my S-corp and it was such a smooth process. She was very friendly, professional, and gave me a lot of good advice. I've had multiple questions in regards to my new corporation over the last year and she has been able to walk me through each step and answer all questions in a timely fashion. Looking forward to working with the Semanchik Law Group more in the future.
Nikki is amazing. My wife and I were totally clueless going into the estate planning process and she made us feel so comfortable. She took time to carefully explain details. Pricing is competitive. I would highly recommend Nikki to family and friends.
I've been with Nikki since my business was founded. She is always available to help work through various things that come up and is constantly keeping the businesses integrity at the forefront of every decision we make. Highly recommended to anyone in need of a hyper-personalized experience.
Semanchik law group did a great job preparing and submitting our living trust. Nikki was very helpful in explaining the decisions required and implications. Overall, we were very satisfied with the communication, fast turnaround time and affordability.
Nikki is very knowledgeable of estate planning, and this helped her get us through our whole probate case with ease. She frequently met with us and explained each step of the process in detail. I would highly recommend using her if you are in need of her services.
It's always a pleasure to interact with Nikki or anyone in her office. We always feel that we can trust her advice because of her experience with non-profit organizations.
Nikki has been immensely helpful negotiating contracts and assisting us with our business. She is a knowledgeable business attorney and I highly recommend her.
Nikki and the Semanchik Law Group are fantastic. They went above and beyond to answer all our questions and make sure we had the estate plan, and other legal services to make sure we do not have to worry about our family or loved ones. You wont find a better legal team.
As a new entrepreneur with very little experience with agreements and contracts, Nikki has been a tremendous resource in getting my company up and running. I cannot thank her enough for her work and patience!
Having a reminder to take care of setting up a family trust is not a fun reminder because it's not a quick and simple thing but working with the Semanchik Law Group made it an easy job. They were available for questions through out and got everything put in order in no time. I would definitely recommend the Semanchik Law Group. We also used them to set up our corporation and would not have wanted to attempt this on our own. They took care of everything for us and we didn't have to worry about missing dottin
Nikki Semanchik and her team have provided me with excellent legal service and helped me set up a nonprofit foundation. They were highly recommended to me, and I am glad that they were.
Having the highest regard for Nikki and Mike, I'm happy to refer clients to SLG, knowing they'll receive superb service performed with great skill.
Although I'm family, I have received solid business advice from Semanchik Law Group in my corporate business work. I highly recommend SLG for all your contract and business needs.
Nothing but a positive experience from end to end by the Semanchik Law Group. They helped me navigate the structure and formation of my non-profit that was easy to follow. Thank you.
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.