Summary of What This Blog Covers:
- How to spot signs your CPA may be falling short.
- Why proactive tax guidance matters for your business.
- What to look for in a CPA who supports your growth.
- How to regain clarity and confidence with the right advisor.
As a woman business owner, you’ve already proven your resilience, your vision, and your ability to lead. You know how to make tough decisions. You know how to pivot. You know how to grow. But even the most driven entrepreneurs can’t and shouldn’t do everything alone.
Especially when it comes to your finances.
Your CPA should be more than a name on your tax return. They should be a trusted advisor, a strategic sounding board, and someone who helps you see around corners. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Am I getting the guidance I really need?” you’re not alone. Many women entrepreneurs settle for reactive, transactional service simply because they don’t know there’s a better option.
Let’s explore the nine signs your CPA may not be giving you the full picture and what to look for instead in a modern, strategic tax and accounting partner.
1. You’re Always the One Reaching Out
A high-quality CPA relationship should never feel one-sided. If you’re the one chasing them down, sending follow-ups, or initiating every conversation, your CPA is not being proactive.
Financial success comes from consistent collaboration. Your CPA should reach out with reminders, insights, and updates, especially before important deadlines or shifts in your business. The best CPAs offer a concierge-level experience where communication flows easily and regularly.
If you’re feeling like your accountant is “too busy,” consider partnering with a licensed CPA firm that believes in real-time, responsive service. At Insogna CPA, one of the top-rated Austin CPA firms, we treat proactive communication as a cornerstone of your client experience.
2. You Get Vague Answers About Estimated Taxes
Have you ever asked your CPA what you’ll owe in quarterly estimated taxes and received a guess or a generic estimate? That’s not okay.
When it comes to your cash flow, precision matters. Your CPA should run the numbers, explain the logic, and help you forecast tax obligations with confidence. Understanding your estimates allows you to plan ahead, avoid penalties, and make strategic decisions about when to invest or when to save.
If you’re working with a tax professional near you who leaves you guessing, it’s time to seek out someone who respects the power of data and your right to understand it.
3. You’re Constantly Surprised by What You Owe
Let’s be honest: there’s no worse feeling than expecting one tax bill and getting another. If you regularly feel shocked by what you owe the IRS, it’s not your fault. It’s a sign your CPA isn’t guiding you through the year with adequate tax planning.
Your CPA should help you anticipate your tax liability months in advance, not when it’s too late to do anything about it. They should walk you through options like accelerating deductions, shifting income, or investing in retirement accounts.
At Insogna CPA, our clients don’t get blindsided. They get quarterly updates, annual projections, and a trusted tax advisor in Austin who helps them plan ahead.
4. You Don’t Receive Tax Strategy Just Tax Forms
If the extent of your CPA’s work is handing you a completed return in April, that’s not a relationship. It’s a transaction.
Real strategy involves tax planning, forecasting, and custom recommendations that align with your goals. Are you structured as the right entity? Are you maximizing all available deductions? Should you be thinking about a SEP IRA, S corp election, or capital purchases?
As a woman entrepreneur, your business journey is unique. You deserve a CPA who listens carefully, asks the right questions, and builds a plan around your life and your ambitions.
If you’re searching for a tax consultant near you who sees beyond the forms, you’ll find that and more at Insogna CPA, a client-centered Austin accounting firm.
5. There’s No Secure System for Uploading Documents
Data security isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. If you’re still sending sensitive tax and financial documents through email or physical mail, it’s time for an upgrade.
Modern CPAs use secure client portals that encrypt your information, allow for electronic signatures, and streamline document management. This protects your identity, simplifies your workflow, and saves you valuable time.
As part of our Austin accounting services, we provide every client with a personalized portal that makes sharing financial data secure and effortless. Because safety and sophistication should go hand-in-hand.
6. You Have No Idea What Your Effective Tax Rate Is
Understanding your effective tax rate isn’t just about knowing a number. It’s about knowing what that number means for your business and personal wealth. If your CPA hasn’t explained how your rate is calculated or how to reduce it, you’re missing out on key insights.
This knowledge can shape how you pay yourself, when you invest in your business, or even when to delay income. An informed business owner is a powerful one and your CPA should be empowering you, not keeping you in the dark.
Our approach as a certified public accountant near you is always grounded in clarity. We help you understand not just the “what,” but the “why” behind your tax profile.
7. You’re Getting Hit with Penalties
Penalties for late filing, underpayment, or inaccurate reporting aren’t just frustrating. They’re avoidable. If you’re being fined repeatedly, your CPA isn’t managing the moving pieces of your tax life effectively.
A reliable tax preparer near you should keep you ahead of every deadline and help you avoid costly mistakes through ongoing oversight and education. From FBAR filing to estimated tax payments, your financial obligations should be managed with precision.
At Insogna CPA, our systems are designed to keep you compliant, calm, and clear so you can focus on growth, not paperwork.
8. They Never Ask What’s New in Your Life or Business
The best CPAs know your life and business are always evolving. New team members, investments, partnerships, or personal changes (like marriage or a move) can all affect your tax strategy.
If your accountant isn’t checking in about what’s changed, they can’t possibly offer personalized advice. And when your CPA doesn’t ask, they miss opportunities to save you money or support your success.
At Insogna CPA, we treat you as a person, not a number. We build real relationships with our clients so that as your story grows, your tax strategy grows with you.
9. You Don’t Feel Like a Priority
This might be the most important sign of all. If your CPA talks over you, rushes through meetings, or leaves your emails unanswered, it’s no wonder you feel unseen. And it’s absolutely not acceptable.
Your time, your business, and your questions deserve respect. You should feel like your CPA values your success as much as you do.
At Insogna CPA, we’re honored to serve women entrepreneurs who want more than just a tax return. They want a thoughtful, strategic partner. When you call, we answer. When you ask questions, we explain. When you share your goals, we listen and we build around them.
What to Look for in Your Next CPA
If you see yourself in more than one of these signs, know that you’re not alone and you’re not stuck. You have every right to seek out a CPA who supports you fully and consistently.
Here’s what to look for:
- A licensed, certified public accountant near you who specializes in small business support
- A firm that offers proactive tax preparation services near you, not just once-a-year forms
- Someone who explains things clearly, with empathy and transparency
- Secure technology and systems that streamline your experience
- A team that’s as invested in your growth as you are
Whether you’re in Austin or beyond, Insogna CPA delivers that and more.
Let’s Redefine What a CPA Relationship Should Be
You deserve more than box-checking. You deserve partnership. At Insogna CPA, we offer the kind of tax and accounting support that brings peace of mind, not just compliance.
If you’re ready for a team that blends technical precision with personal care, strategic insight with deep listening, and long-term thinking with real-time action. We’d love to meet you.
Schedule a consultation today. Let’s build the financial foundation your business deserves.