"Professional services" covers a wide range: accountants and bookkeepers, tax preparers, marketing and web agencies, IT support, consultants and more. Some of these professions are licensed and some are not, which makes it especially important to know what you can verify and what you have to judge for yourself.
Accountants and CPAs
Certified Public Accountants are licensed by state boards of accountancy. You can confirm a CPA's license at CPAverify.org, run by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, or on your state board's website. Look for active status and any disciplinary history.
Tax preparers
Anyone who prepares federal returns for pay must have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) from the IRS and sign the returns they prepare. Credentials vary:
| Credential | Who grants it | Can represent you before the IRS? |
|---|---|---|
| CPA | State boards of accountancy | Yes, unlimited representation |
| Enrolled Agent (EA) | IRS | Yes, unlimited representation |
| Attorney | State bar | Yes, unlimited representation |
| PTIN only | IRS | Only limited representation, and only for Annual Filing Season Program participants |
The IRS publishes a searchable Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications. Warning signs include preparers who base their fee on the size of your refund, ask you to sign a blank return or want your refund deposited into their account.
Marketing, web and IT agencies
These fields are mostly unlicensed, so evaluate evidence rather than credentials:
- Ask for case studies with results you can check, and speak to at least two current clients.
- Make sure you will own your domain name, website, ad accounts, analytics and social profiles, with admin access in your name.
- Be wary of guaranteed rankings or results; no one controls search engine or platform algorithms.
- For IT providers, ask how they secure access to your systems and what happens to your data if you end the contract.
Consultants and coaches
Ask exactly what will be delivered, by whom, and how success will be measured. Relevant certifications can help, but check that the certifying body is established and has a public verification tool.
What to put in writing
- Scope: the specific services and deliverables included, and what is extra.
- Fees: hourly, fixed or retainer; how expenses are billed; payment terms.
- Timeline: key dates and how delays are handled.
- Term and exit: notice period, cancellation fees and how files and accounts are handed back.
- Confidentiality and data: how your information is stored, shared and deleted.
Other useful checks
Search the business name with your state's secretary of state business registry to confirm it is a registered entity in good standing. Search the owner's name and business name alongside words like "complaint" or "lawsuit". Your state attorney general's consumer protection office can tell you whether complaints have been filed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if someone is really a CPA?
Search CPAverify.org or your state board of accountancy's license lookup by name to confirm an active CPA license.
What is an Enrolled Agent?
An Enrolled Agent is a tax professional licensed by the IRS who can represent taxpayers before the IRS on any tax matter.
Should my agency own my website and ad accounts?
No. You should own your domain, website, ad accounts and analytics, with the agency given access, so you keep them if you change providers.
Sources are official government, regulator and professional-body resources named in the text. We do not accept payment from any organization mentioned. See our editorial standards.