Table of Contents
- What Makes Accounting Firms in Miami Unique?
- What Do Miami Accounting Firms Specialize in?
- What Are Different Types of Accounting Firms in Miami?
- How Much Do Miami Accountants Charge for Their Services?
- Why Should You Work with Accounting Firms in Miami?
- How to Select the Best Miami Accounting Services Provider
- 10 Questions to Ask Miami Accountants Before You Hire One
- Takeaways on Accounting Firms in Miami
What Makes Accounting Firms in Miami Unique?
As Florida’s major cultural and economic gem and a gateway to Latin America, Miami has become one of the fastest-growing hubs in the US.
Its unique socio-demographics position turned the city into a cultural beehive and the main attraction for many technology-oriented businesses and startups.
Beyond its first-class beaches and world-famous weather (residents enjoy 249 sunny days a year), there are a few more reasons why accounting firms in Miami are thriving.
1. Miami Attracts Highly Skilled Talent
Although Miami’s cost of living is higher than the national average (by 11.6%), it is a significantly more affordable city compared to some other metropolitan areas in the country (like NYC, San Francisco, Washington, etc.)
Additionally, since it’s based in Florida, it is also in good company with states that don’t collect personal income tax.
Because this specific tax can skyrocket in other places, the city has more tax-friendly conditions than most areas in the nation, which is another compelling reason why Miami accounting firms are increasing in number.
2. Miami Is a Business-Friendly Environment
For most of its history, Miami’s economy has been based on tourism. While it is still one of the primary industries, the city’s vibrant economy has become more diversified in the past couple of decades.
Taking into account that Miami has tax-friendly conditions and is home to highly skilled talent, the city attracts many business investments.
Miami is a major center for commerce, culture, entertainment, the arts and, ultimately, international trade. The city’s Civic Center has become a noteworthy hub for research institutes, medical centers and biotechnology industries. And the list goes on.
Additionally, since many companies choose The Magic City to establish their Latin American HQs, the need for accounting services in Miami skyrocketed.
Accounting firms in Miami are widely known for working with businesses of all sizes needing help with strategic financial decisions, maximization of sales, managing payable/receivable, bookkeeping, payrolls and more.
Many Fortune 500 large companies consider Miami their home, including:
- Lennar Corporation
- Office Depot
- World Fuel Services
- AutoNation
- Ryder System
- And more
Serving such world-renowned brands, it’s clear that Miami accounting firms are able to successfully tackle the most challenging projects.
Miami has become one of the fastest-growing hubs in the US
3. Miami Is Home To Bilingual Talent
Considering that more than half of Miami-Dade County’s residents are immigrants, the city has a multilingual and multicultural population.
Interestingly, the most common language in the city is not English but Spanish, spoken by 70.25% of the population.
This points to the fact that Miami accounting firms employ bilingual talent who has profound knowledge of the multicultural markets.
What Do Miami Accounting Firms Specialize in?
As opposed to their peers elsewhere in the world, accounting firms in Miami tend to be more qualified to work for the locally dominant sectors.
These are the primary industries of Miami’s economy:
- Tourism
- Finance
- Media & Communications
- Retail/International trade
- Agriculture
- And more
Not to mention that Miami held the third position on WalletHub’s 2019 rankings on the best cities to start a business, which is why it has the most startups per 100,000 residents in the country.
All Miami accountants offer bookkeeping and payroll services. Some of them, however, offer more specialized services, among which are tax strategy, audits, business finance valuation and more.
- Tax planning and preparation
- Operational bookkeeping and payroll
- Business development and valuation
- Financial advisory and consulting services
What Are Different Types of Accounting Firms in Miami?
Miami accounting firms are numerous and large and most of them diversified to not only cater to specific types of accounting but to stand out as well.
Most of them can be categorized in a few different ways based on the type of services they provide.
1. Full-Service Accounting Firms
A full-service Miami accounting firm is large and competent enough to focus its resources and expertise on providing every single type of financial service there is.
Generally, these providers work with large international firms that established their HQs in the city and they usually employ dozens of specialists dedicated to specific accounting areas.
2. Tax Firms
Accounting firms in Miami that specialize in taxes work with both corporations and individuals. They are the more commonly known firms as they are experts in various tax planning services including high-income tax preparation, real estate taxing and more.
3. Audit Firms
These types of firms perform audits of companies, organizations, small to mid-sized businesses, government entities, as well as individuals.
Similar to other types of audits, these accountants look for any inaccurate/questionable processes and/or activities in an organization’s information system.
4. Bookkeeping Firms
Small to mid-sized businesses commonly work with bookkeeping firms which doesn’t require special certification to maintain and manage their finances.
How Much Do Miami Accountants Charge for Their Services?
The cost of hiring accounting firms in Miami may depend on the specific type of accounting services you seek.
The typical hourly rate ranges between $100 and $149, but this varies depending on the type of work, size of the accounting company and the team’s experience. However, bookkeeping services cost less.
Miami accountants have varied cost structures. Except for audits, flat fees are fairly uncommon. They’re usual for recurring or predictable projects and the fee itself largely depends on the scope and nature of the project/work.
Why Should You Work with Accounting Firms in Miami?
Here are the top reasons why you should outsource accounting services in Miami:
- High-level talent pool: Miami drives highly skilled talent from across the nation and it is one of the best destinations for top-rated accountants. This results in highly-educated and skillful professionals that offer globally competitive expertise.
- Local Market/Industry Experience: Operating in a highly-competitive environment, accounting firms in Miami have a deep knowledge of the local market and dominant industries.
- Work with bilingual talent: Miami is one of the most ethnically diverse places in America where 66.4% of its population are Hispanic. (Beacon Council) This indicates that Miami accounting firms employ bilingual professionals who can improve your localization efforts and increase your competitive edge in the bigger market.
How to Select the Best Miami Accounting Services Provider
The first step is to clearly define your business goals and determine the type of accounting service best suited for your needs.
Follow these steps when thinking of hiring Miami accountants:
1. Evaluate Their Expertise
Depending on your goals, you should try to find an accounting firm that already knows the ins and outs of your industry and has worked on projects similar to yours.
Evaluate their experience by reading through client reviews and experiences. That way, you’ll have a good understanding of their previous work and ensuing results.
2. Evaluate Their Approach
The right accounting firm for your business can also help you save money, not just manage it.
For that to come to fruition, your selected firm needs a deep understanding of your company’s cash flow and should have a proactive approach to achieving a cash surplus for your business.
3. Learn About Their Team
Partnering with Miami accountants guarantees you’ll be working with a team of specialists, but that doesn’t mean you should “hire and abandon” without first getting to meet and learn more about them.
For example, who will manage different accounting tasks and how? Are they certified? Do they have strong IT support for tax-managing software and the like?
To get all the answers, you should dig deeper and ask about their individual experiences, skillset and expertise.
4. Evaluate Your Budget
As mentioned above, accounting costs vary wildly depending on the duration and type of service, accountant’s specialties, experience and more.
Before partnering with a Miami accounting firm, check first whether their pricing structure corresponds to your budget.
10 Questions to Ask Miami Accountants Before You Hire One
To help you gather as much relevant information about the firm’s expertise, quality of work and approach, consider asking them these questions: How long have you been in the business and what services do you provide?
- Do you have the right qualifications and certifications to operate in the state of Florida?
- What is your pricing structure and rate for each type of service?
- Have you worked with clients in our industry/niche and what challenges specific to our industry are you concerned with the most?
- Will my account be handled by a dedicated team or a single person?
- How often do you communicate with your clients?
- Can you provide feedback on my current accounting system and which (if any) accounting programs or systems do you recommend?
- What steps will you take to prepare my business for tax season?
- What tax software do you use to prepare returns?
- Does your fee include tax advice throughout the year?
Takeaways on Accounting Firms in Miami
Accounting firms in Miami are working in a unique and vibrant environment so they are more poised and adaptable than their peers across the nation.
They can implement the latest accounting strategies and effortlessly organize your business finances, manage accounts, prepare you for tax season and more.
What sets them apart from their peers are the following:
- Top-rated, bilingual talent
- Local market/industry experience
- Compelling business environment
They tend to be most competent when working for the locally dominant sectors:
- Tourism
- Finance
- Media & Communications
- Retail/International trade
- Agriculture
- And more
Most accounting firms in Miami have an average hourly rate between $100 and $149, depending on the type of service you require.
Best of luck!
