Survey indicates a shift toward digitally-driven professional engagements and once again illustrates the importance of accounting and tax pros for small businesses

NEWPORT BEACH, April 24, 2019 -- In this 2018 US small business survey, over 2,500 CEOs and small business owners shared their thoughts about some key topics relating to professional service providers--and more specifically accounting and tax pros.

Some of the main findings include:

• 56% rated knowledge as the most important trait when working with any business professional
• 72% of small business owners declared accountants, CPAs, and tax professionals to be very important advisors over other professionals like attorneys, business bankers, insurance agents, and computer consultants.
• 65% use online reviews and social media to find professionals--referrals are no longer their go-to.

The CountingWorks platform allows accountants to showcase their knowledge and trustworthiness by building the reputation that small business owners are looking for.

Small business owners also revealed their preference for using reviews and social media when searching for a professional service has overtaken referrals. Although receiving referrals used to be the most important element for many service providers, reviews have taken over as the most important factor when it comes to hiring a business professional.

CountingWorks Founder and CEO Lee Reams II says this: "Referrals no longer happen in a vacuum. No matter how a new prospect finds you, they most likely are going to Google your name and look over what other people say about you. This means that protecting your reputation is now your #1 job."

The use of digital media in today's business world is a key factor as well. The survey results show that there is a shift to the cloud among small business owners and the pros they hire: 61% of respondents said they would be likely to participate in an online meeting or video conference with their accountant or tax professional rather than meeting in person, and 50% said they would be likely to hire a 100% "remote" or "virtual" professional located outside their local area. It is no longer a requirement for business owners to meet with their professional face-to-face.

CountingWorks, a platform that helps small business owners instantly compare thousand of trusted accounting professionals in order to find their best match, is pleased to share the results of their survey on the CountingWorks blog.

About CountingWorks

CountingWorks, a new service of ClientWhys, Inc., was established to provide a marketplace for small business owners to find top-rated cloud accounting and virtual CFO help, including CPAs, EAs and accounting professionals. Clients can search by service type, industry specialties, location and more. By comparing rich, in-depth profiles and showcasing background-screened professionals and verified client reviews, business owners can be confident that they will discover the accounting pro that best meets their needs. For more information or to find a cloud accounting professional, visit www.CountingWorks.com.

For tax or accounting practices wanting to be included in the TaxBuzz and/or CountingWorks marketplaces, contact our CountingWorks PRO team at www.countingworkspro.com or call 1-800-442-2477 x3.

Media Contacts:

Alexa Meyers
Marketing Specialist
CountingWorks
alexa.meyers@countingworks.com

Lauren Detweiler
Marketing & PR Specialist
CountingWorks
lauren@countingworks.com