A Few Good Accountants

Editor's note: Since 1964, business-management counselors at nonprofit organization Score have given free advice to small-business clients spanning every industry. They currently serve nearly 400,000 entrepreneurs nationwide each year -- check in every week for their prudent advice.

Last week Score NYC gave away its secret to finding a fulfilling attorney relationship. But for true satisfaction, your business needs two people in its life.

You've Got Needs

Like finding an attorney, finding an accountant who's right for your business shouldn't be done through people you know. Chances are, your accountant friend won't be able to address your business' unique needs.

To ease the strain of the great hunt, Score sends its clients to GoodAccountants.com. Like your bubbly matchmaker friend, these people take joy in seeing you and your accountant happy together.

A national registry and referral service of certified public accountants, public accountants and bookkeepers, Good Accountants deals with larger clients like restaurant chain Johnny Rockets and AvePoint, Inc., a developer of backup and recovery software for Microsoft's (MSFT Quote) Sharepoint Technology, but the company will also work with your small business, says CEO Johanna Laurent. Its referral services are free and the success fee is later worked out with the accountant.

Laurent started working with accountants because "they really want the business owner to win." But whether you choose to go it alone or with a referral service, you should know the basic rules of the accountant game.

Know What You Want

Simply knowing you need an accountant isn't enough. You need to know exactly what you will use them for, says Laurent. Good Accountants will get to the heart of your intentions as a business owner, and only then try to match you with a suitable accountant who is presented with your business and believes it could be a good fit.