When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself to save money. However, sometimes cutting corners ends up costing you much more in the long run than you save. Dealing with your taxes is one such area. Unless you are a tax expert and have extensive knowledge about tax regulations and filing, this is one area that you’re probably better served by outsourcing to a professional than trying to do things yourself.

Here are a few tips you should follow when looking for someone to handle taxes for your small business.

• Referrals—Ask for referrals of tax professionals from other small business owners in your network. This is a great way to get ideas of who to hire and who to avoid.
• Credentials – Verify that any professional you are considering hiring has an appropriate tax preparer certification for the level of service that you need.
• Scope of Service – Find out exactly what you can expect your tax professional to help you with. Some focus specifically on preparing tax returns while others may work closely with you to develop a tax strategy.
• Personal Preference – The tax professional you choose should be someone that you trust and are comfortable working with. Interview the people who make your short list and consider who you seem to have the best rapport with.