[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":733},["ShallowReactive",2],{"help-\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website":3,"help-related-\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website":618},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"category":606,"description":607,"extension":608,"meta":609,"navigation":610,"order":611,"path":612,"product":613,"seo":614,"stem":615,"updated":616,"__hash__":617},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website.md","Accountant and tax preparer website: what clients check before they call",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":587},"minimark",[9,13,16,23,28,31,94,98,105,166,182,186,200,204,242,270,274,277,317,320,324,331,335,349,353,385,389,418,422,436,453,457,467,471,524,527,531,539,543,556,567,571],[10,11,12],"p",{},"Someone looking for an accountant wants to know three things quickly: can I reach a person, will you take me on, and roughly what will it cost. A tax firm's site also has a job most businesses don't: it must not become a place where strangers type Social Security numbers.",[10,14,15],{},"In October 2026 we opened 52 independent accounting and tax sites in 15 towns across 14 states. Thirty showed a tappable phone number on the first phone screen. Thirty linked a client portal or secure upload. Only two showed a price. Of 44 with a contact form, 39 had a blank message box, and one told visitors beside it to keep sensitive papers out of email.",[10,17,18,22],{},[19,20,21],"strong",{},"This isn't legal or tax advice."," CPA titles, advertising and fee rules differ by state board and change. We read the IRS's own rules, not every state's. Check your board's.",[24,25,27],"h2",{"id":26},"put-your-phone-number-and-your-hours-at-the-top","Put your phone number and your hours at the top",[10,29,30],{},"Twenty-two of the 52 sites had no tappable number on the first phone screen.",[32,33,34,52,78],"ol",{},[35,36,37,38,41,42,45,46,51],"li",{},"Click ",[19,39,40],{},"Business info",", then fill in ",[19,43,44],{},"Phone",". Visitors can tap it. See ",[47,48,50],"a",{"href":49},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours","Business info and hours",".",[35,53,37,54,57,58,61,62,65,66,69,70,73,74,51],{},[19,55,56],{},"Menu",". Under ",[19,59,60],{},"Header button",", turn on ",[19,63,64],{},"Call bar on phones",", type ",[19,67,68],{},"Button text"," like \"Schedule a call\", and under ",[19,71,72],{},"Goes to"," choose your scheduling link or contact page. See ",[47,75,77],{"href":76},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmenu#add-a-call-bar-on-phones","Add a call bar on phones",[35,79,80,81,84,85,88,89,93],{},"Fill in ",[19,82,83],{},"Regular hours",", then add ",[19,86,87],{},"Seasonal hours"," for tax season, like evenings and Saturdays from January to April (",[47,90,92],{"href":91},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#set-seasonal-hours","Set seasonal hours","). Only 17 of 52 sites gave hours.",[24,95,97],{"id":96},"keep-social-security-numbers-and-tax-papers-off-your-forms","Keep Social Security numbers and tax papers off your forms",[10,99,100,101,104],{},"Your site's form emails every message to you in ordinary mail and keeps it in your ",[19,102,103],{},"Inbox",". The FTC's Safeguards Rule treats tax preparers as financial institutions that must protect client information, including in transit. None of the 52 forms asked for a Social Security number. Keep yours that way.",[32,106,107,125,139,146,152,159],{},[35,108,109,110,113,114,117,118,121,122,51],{},"On your contact page, find the ",[19,111,112],{},"Form"," section. Under ",[19,115,116],{},"Start from",", choose ",[19,119,120],{},"Choose a ready-made form…"," and pick ",[19,123,124],{},"Contact",[35,126,127,128,131,132,57,135,138],{},"Turn on ",[19,129,130],{},"Ask for phone number"," and ",[19,133,134],{},"Ask what they need help with",[19,136,137],{},"Topic choices",", add \"Personal return\", \"Business return\", \"Bookkeeping\", \"Payroll\" and \"IRS letter\".",[35,140,141,142,145],{},"Change ",[19,143,144],{},"Label for the message box"," to something about timing, like \"What day and time is good for a call?\". Don't leave a box that invites a story with numbers in it.",[35,147,148,149,51],{},"Turn off ",[19,150,151],{},"Let people attach photos",[35,153,154,155,158],{},"Under ",[19,156,157],{},"Intro",", add: \"Please don't send Social Security numbers, bank details or tax documents here. We'll tell you how to send them safely.\"",[35,160,161,162,165],{},"Use ",[19,163,164],{},"Thank-you message"," to say when you'll call.",[10,167,168,169,172,173,176,177,181],{},"If you text clients, turn on ",[19,170,171],{},"Consent checkbox"," and choose ",[19,174,175],{},"Text messages"," (",[47,178,180],{"href":179},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fforms-and-inbox#add-a-consent-checkbox","Add a consent checkbox",").",[24,183,185],{"id":184},"send-documents-through-your-portal-not-email","Send documents through your portal, not email",[10,187,188,189,191,192,195,196,199],{},"Thirty of 52 sites linked a portal or secure upload. If yours has one (TaxDome, SmartVault, ShareFile, SafeSend and others), link it. Under ",[19,190,56],{},", then ",[19,193,194],{},"Footer links",", add \"Client login\" with ",[19,197,198],{},"Another website…"," and paste its address, and add it to the header too. Say on the contact and \"What to bring\" pages: \"Don't email tax papers; upload them here.\" The IRS expects preparers to have a written security plan for the data they hold. That plan is yours, not ours; see the IRS's guidance on safeguarding taxpayer data.",[24,201,203],{"id":202},"say-who-does-the-work-and-what-they-hold","Say who does the work and what they hold",[10,205,206,207,191,210,191,213,216,217,220,221,220,224,220,227,131,230,233,234,237,238,51],{},"People want to know who will sign their return. Click ",[19,208,209],{},"Lists",[19,211,212],{},"Edit team",[19,214,215],{},"Add person",". Fill in ",[19,218,219],{},"Name",", ",[19,222,223],{},"Role",[19,225,226],{},"Photo",[19,228,229],{},"Short bio",[19,231,232],{},"Credentials",". Then add a ",[19,235,236],{},"Team"," section to your About page. See ",[47,239,241],{"href":240},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fteam","Your team",[243,244,245,258,264],"ul",{},[35,246,247,250,251,253,254,257],{},[19,248,249],{},"CPA"," is a state license. Say which state, and in ",[19,252,40],{}," use ",[19,255,256],{},"License number"," for the state and number, like \"CPA, licensed in Ohio\". Forty-one of 52 sites said CPA; 14 named a state; one showed a number.",[35,259,260,263],{},[19,261,262],{},"Enrolled agent"," may be said as \"enrolled agent\", or \"enrolled to represent taxpayers before the IRS\". The IRS bars \"certified\".",[35,265,266,269],{},[19,267,268],{},"A preparer with a PTIN"," is a preparer. The IRS's directory lists credentials it recognizes, not \"approved\" preparers, so skip those words. If you completed the Annual Filing Season Program, say \"Annual Filing Season Program record of completion\", no more.",[24,271,273],{"id":272},"say-what-you-charge","Say what you charge",[10,275,276],{},"Only 2 of 52 sites showed a price, yet the searches are \"how much does a CPA charge\" and \"tax preparation cost\".",[32,278,279,292,311,314],{},[35,280,37,281,191,284,287,288,291],{},[19,282,283],{},"Pages",[19,285,286],{},"New page",", and make a page called \"Fees\" from the ",[19,289,290],{},"Pricing or menu"," template.",[35,293,294,295,298,299,302,303,306,307,310],{},"Add a ",[19,296,297],{},"Packages"," or ",[19,300,301],{},"Price list"," section. Give each service a ",[19,304,305],{},"Price"," and what's included: a simple return from $",[19,308,309],{},", a business return from $",", bookkeeping from $__ a month, your hourly rate.",[35,312,313],{},"Say what changes the price (self-employment, rental property, extra states), and what a first call costs. Sixteen sites said \"free consultation\" without saying what it covers.",[35,315,316],{},"Link the page from your footer.",[10,318,319],{},"Prices you publish bind you: for practitioners who represent clients before the IRS, Circular 230 lets you publish fixed fees and hourly rates, holds you to them for at least 30 days, and wants you to say whether clients owe costs on top. Avoid a fee based on the size of the refund; your state board may ban it.",[24,321,323],{"id":322},"say-when-to-call-deadlines-and-extensions","Say when to call: deadlines and extensions",[10,325,326,327,330],{},"\"Tax extension\" is a top search. Make a page from the ",[19,328,329],{},"Basic page"," template called \"Deadlines and extensions\". Say when you stop taking new returns, what an extension does (more time to file, not to pay), what you need from a late filer, and that you help with unfiled years. Don't type dates that change every year without checking them; link the IRS's own calendar. Twenty-one of 52 sites had a due-dates link, mostly one copied from the same site-builder.",[24,332,334],{"id":333},"say-if-youre-taking-new-clients-and-what-to-bring","Say if you're taking new clients, and what to bring",[10,336,337,338,340,341,344,345,348],{},"Only one site said either way. Say it on your home page, and under ",[19,339,283],{}," add a ",[19,342,343],{},"Steps"," section: call, engagement letter, upload documents, draft, review. Add a ",[19,346,347],{},"What to bring"," list: last year's return, W-2s and 1099s, business records, ID. Fourteen sites had one.",[24,350,352],{"id":351},"be-careful-what-you-claim","Be careful what you claim",[243,354,355,361,367,373,379],{},[35,356,357,360],{},[19,358,359],{},"\"IRS approved\", \"IRS certified\", an IRS logo or seal",": don't. None of the 52 used them. Enrolled agents may use the IRS's official EA logo.",[35,362,363,366],{},[19,364,365],{},"\"Maximum refund\", \"biggest refund\", \"best CPA\", guarantees",": skip them. Three sites guaranteed something and one offered a refund advance.",[35,368,369,372],{},[19,370,371],{},"A refund advance or loan against a refund"," is a loan, not your refund. Name the lender, show its fees and APR as it gives them, and say it's optional.",[35,374,375,378],{},[19,376,377],{},"Results and client stories",": use only with the client's written permission.",[35,380,381,384],{},[19,382,383],{},"Using tax information to market",": federal rules need a client's written consent to use return information to sell other services. Don't add a client list to marketing without it.",[24,386,388],{"id":387},"let-people-book-a-first-call","Let people book a first call",[10,390,391,392,220,396,400,401,404,405,409,410,413,414,417],{},"If you use Calendly, TaxDome or another scheduler, link or embed it (",[47,393,395],{"href":394},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-booking","Connect a booking calendar",[47,397,399],{"href":398},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-embed-code","Add embed code","). Only 4 of 52 sites had online scheduling. Or use the ",[19,402,403],{},"Bookings"," add-on (",[47,406,408],{"href":407},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookings","Take bookings on your site",") and add an ",[19,411,412],{},"Appointment"," called \"First call\". Under ",[19,415,416],{},"Questions to ask",", ask only for the kind of work, never numbers or details.",[24,419,421],{"id":420},"show-your-reviews","Show your reviews",[10,423,424,425,428,429,432,433,435],{},"Nineteen of 52 sites showed reviews; two showed a Google rating with a count. Add real reviews word for word to your ",[19,426,427],{},"Reviews"," list (",[47,430,427],{"href":431},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freviews",") and a ",[19,434,427],{}," section on the home page.",[243,437,438,444,450],{},[35,439,440,443],{},[19,441,442],{},"Never trade a discount or favor for a review."," The FTC's rule on reviews bars paying for positive ones.",[35,445,446,449],{},[19,447,448],{},"If you reply, don't say the person is a client"," or mention their return. \"Please call the office\" is safe.",[35,451,452],{},"Ask your state board whether it limits testimonials for CPAs.",[24,454,456],{"id":455},"add-a-privacy-page-and-a-notice","Add a privacy page and a notice",[10,458,459,460,463,464,466],{},"Make a page from the ",[19,461,462],{},"Privacy policy"," template (say the site keeps form messages and counts visits without cookies), and a \"Legal notice\" page from ",[19,465,329],{},": the site is general information, not tax advice, and using it doesn't make someone your client. Link both from the footer.",[24,468,470],{"id":469},"what-we-cant-do-for-an-accountant","What we can't do for an accountant",[243,472,473,483,489,500,506],{},[35,474,475,478,479,482],{},[19,476,477],{},"Hold a client's money."," Payment requests, booking deposits, the store and gift cards pay into ",[19,480,481],{},"your own Stripe account",", where Stripe's fees and disputes come out of the balance. Estimated tax payments, payroll tax deposits, refunds and anything held for a client don't belong there. Link your accounting-firm payment page (CPACharge, Aiwyn and others) for fees.",[35,484,485,488],{},[19,486,487],{},"Secure documents or a portal."," Link yours.",[35,490,491,494,495,499],{},[19,492,493],{},"E-file forms or tax organizers."," Keep ",[47,496,498],{"href":497},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsigned-forms-and-waivers","Signed forms"," off anything with tax data. Use your practice software.",[35,501,502,505],{},[19,503,504],{},"Chat."," Don't turn on Ask us chat. Visitors would type their situation into it.",[35,507,508,511,512,515,516,519,520,181],{},[19,509,510],{},"Review requests or a newsletter to a client list from your tax software."," Use the ",[19,513,514],{},"Leave-a-review link"," at the desk (",[47,517,427],{"href":518},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freviews#share-your-short-review-link","), and let newsletter readers sign up on the site themselves (",[47,521,523],{"href":522},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fnewsletter-signup","Add a newsletter signup",[10,525,526],{},"Before pasting in a marketing company's code, ask whether it records visitors' screens or sends data to ad networks from your contact page. We add none, and our visitor stats count visits without cookies.",[24,528,530],{"id":529},"out-of-town-and-spanish-speaking-clients","Out-of-town and Spanish-speaking clients",[10,532,533,534,538],{},"Twenty of 52 sites said they work remotely or nationwide; only two mentioned Spanish. Say where you can file returns and where you're licensed. You can turn on Spanish (",[47,535,537],{"href":536},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flanguages","Show your site in Spanish","). It's translated automatically, so have a fluent reader check your fee terms and notice.",[24,540,542],{"id":541},"photos-accessibility-and-questions","Photos, accessibility and questions",[10,544,545,546,550,551,555],{},"Real photos of your office and team beat stock ones; keep client papers and screens out of the shot. Until you have your own, see ",[47,547,549],{"href":548},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#free-photos","Free photos",". ",[47,552,554],{"href":553},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#describe-your-photos","Describe your photos",". Use real fixes, not an overlay widget; the FTC fined one overlay maker $1 million for claiming compliance.",[10,557,558,559,562,563,51],{},"Add an ",[19,560,561],{},"FAQ"," section: are you taking new clients, what to bring, cost, what a CPA vs an enrolled agent can do, IRS letters, extensions. See ",[47,564,566],{"href":565},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffaq-list#use-suggested-questions","Use suggested questions",[24,568,570],{"id":569},"tips","Tips",[243,572,573,584],{},[35,574,575,576,579,580,51],{},"Keep your ",[19,577,578],{},"domain"," renewed; your email, portal login and Google profile hang off it. See ",[47,581,583],{"href":582},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-your-domain","Connect your domain",[35,585,586],{},"Update the footer year and your hours each January.",{"title":588,"searchDepth":589,"depth":589,"links":590},"",2,[591,592,593,594,595,596,597,598,599,600,601,602,603,604,605],{"id":26,"depth":589,"text":27},{"id":96,"depth":589,"text":97},{"id":184,"depth":589,"text":185},{"id":202,"depth":589,"text":203},{"id":272,"depth":589,"text":273},{"id":322,"depth":589,"text":323},{"id":333,"depth":589,"text":334},{"id":351,"depth":589,"text":352},{"id":387,"depth":589,"text":388},{"id":420,"depth":589,"text":421},{"id":455,"depth":589,"text":456},{"id":469,"depth":589,"text":470},{"id":529,"depth":589,"text":530},{"id":541,"depth":589,"text":542},{"id":569,"depth":589,"text":570},"Guides by business","We looked at 52 small accounting and tax firm websites: what clients look for, what most leave out, how to handle forms, documents, fees and claims, and what we can't do for you.","md",{},true,387,"\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website","sites",{"title":5,"description":607},"help\u002Faccountant-website","2026-10-30","TAldiyGDeq4vCSggSx00OCVMFcdHHVIrEEh6DRfvKb4",[619,622,625,628,631,634,637,640,643,646,649,652,655,658,661,664,667,670,673,676,679,682,685,688,691,694,697,700,703,706,709,712,715,718,721,724,727,730],{"path":620,"title":621},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fauto-repair-shop-website","Auto repair shop website: what earns the call",{"path":623,"title":624},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcar-wash-website","Car wash website: what brings drivers in and keeps members happy",{"path":626,"title":627},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsmoke-shop-website","Smoke and vape shop website: useful and on the right side of the rules",{"path":629,"title":630},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdeli-website","Deli website: what gets the order",{"path":632,"title":633},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fstaffing-agency-website","Staffing agency website: what brings in applicants and orders",{"path":635,"title":636},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flive-theater-website","Live theater website: what sells the tickets",{"path":638,"title":639},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcinema-website","Independent cinema website: what fills the seats",{"path":641,"title":642},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhair-salon-website","Hair salon and barbershop website: what gets people into your chair",{"path":644,"title":645},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fplumber-website","Plumber website: what earns the call",{"path":647,"title":648},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdentist-website","Dentist website: what patients check before they call",{"path":650,"title":651},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frestaurant-website","Restaurant website: what gets the table filled",{"path":653,"title":654},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgym-website","Gym website: what brings people through the door and keeps members",{"path":656,"title":657},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freal-estate-website","Real estate agent website: what brings sellers and buyers to call you",{"path":659,"title":660},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fveterinarian-website","Veterinarian website: what pet owners check before they call",{"path":662,"title":663},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flaw-office-website","Law office website: what clients check before they call",{"path":665,"title":666},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flandscaping-website","Landscaping and lawn care website: what earns the estimate",{"path":668,"title":669},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdaycare-website","Child care website: what parents check before they call",{"path":671,"title":672},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcafe-bakery-website","Cafe and bakery website: what gets the order",{"path":674,"title":675},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmassage-spa-website","Massage and spa website: what gets people onto your table",{"path":677,"title":678},"\u002Fhelp\u002Felectrician-website","Electrician website: what earns the call and the big jobs",{"path":680,"title":681},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhvac-website","Heating and cooling website: what earns the call and the sale",{"path":683,"title":684},"\u002Fhelp\u002Froofer-website","Roofer website: look local, honest and easy to call",{"path":686,"title":687},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpainter-website","Painter website: what earns the estimate",{"path":689,"title":690},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcarpenter-website","Carpenter and remodeler website: what earns the estimate",{"path":692,"title":693},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fflorist-website","Florist website: what gets the order and the trust",{"path":695,"title":696},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website","Photographer website: what clients check before they write to you",{"path":698,"title":699},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fyoga-pilates-website","Yoga and Pilates studio website: what fills your classes",{"path":701,"title":702},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmartial-arts-website","Martial arts school website: what parents look for and how to show it",{"path":704,"title":705},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdance-studio-website","Dance studio website: the classes, costs and policies parents look for",{"path":707,"title":708},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fnail-beauty-website","Nail salon and beauty studio website: what gets people in the door",{"path":710,"title":711},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpet-grooming-website","Pet groomer website: what dog owners check before they book",{"path":713,"title":714},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookstore-website","Bookstore website: what brings readers through the door",{"path":716,"title":717},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fantiques-website","Antique and vintage shop website: what buyers and sellers look for",{"path":719,"title":720},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website","Gift shop and boutique website: what shoppers look for",{"path":722,"title":723},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finsurance-agent-website","Insurance agent website: what customers check before they call",{"path":725,"title":726},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website","Inn or bed and breakfast website: what guests check before they book",{"path":728,"title":729},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fwinery-brewery-website","Winery, brewery or distillery website: what fills the tasting room",{"path":731,"title":732},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffarm-stand-website","Farm and farm stand website: what gets the visit and the order",1793740286936]