The 6 Most Essential Questions To Ask Your Accountant This Year

The relationship between a business owner and their accountant is often tragically underutilized. For many, it’s a once-a-year conversation focused squarely on the past: filing taxes. But in the complex economic landscape of 2025, this is a monumental missed opportunity. 

Your accountant is not just a historian; they are your most valuable strategic navigator, equipped with the data, foresight, and expertise to guide your business toward a more profitable and resilient future.

The businesses thriving in 2025 are those that have embraced proactive, continuous financial dialogue. They use their accountant as a co-pilot, not just a mechanic called in for an annual inspection. This article outlines the six critical questions you must ask your accountant this year to unlock strategic insights, optimize your financial health, and future-proof your operations.

Why is the Annual Accountant Meeting Obsolete?

The traditional model of a single, stressful meeting in April is dead. The integration of cloud-based accounting platforms (like QuickBooks Online, Xero) and the rise of AI-driven financial analytics have transformed accounting into a real-time, advisory-focused profession. A 2025 study by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) found that businesses that engage in quarterly strategic reviews with their CPA see 28% higher year-over-year revenue growth and are 45% more likely to secure financing on favorable terms.

Your accountant now has access to live data, allowing them to provide insights on cash flow trends, profitability per product line, and market shifts as they happen. The questions below are designed to shift your conversation from “What happened?” to “What’s possible?”

The 6 Essential Questions for Your 2025 Strategic Review

1. “Based on our current trajectory and 2025 economic forecasts, what are our projected tax liabilities for this year and next, and what strategic moves can we make now to minimize them?”

• Why Ask This? Tax planning is no longer a year-end scramble. It’s a year-long strategy. Proactive planning allows you to make informed decisions about investments, expenses, and retirement contributions that can significantly reduce your tax burden.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • Section 179 Deduction & Bonus Depreciation: Understand the current limits for immediately deducting qualifying equipment and software purchases. With potential legislative changes on the horizon, timing large capital expenditures is crucial.
    
  • Energy Efficiency Credits: The Inflation Reduction Act’s expanded credits for commercial clean energy and electric vehicle purchases are a major opportunity in 2025. Your accountant can model the ROI of these investments.
    
  • QBI Deduction Maximization: For pass-through entities, the Qualified Business Income deduction remains complex. Ensure your salary vs. distribution structure is optimized to preserve this valuable deduction.
    
• Goal: To create a proactive tax strategy for the rest of the year, not a reactive tax bill next April.
  

2. “How can we better leverage technology and AI in 2025 to improve our financial efficiency, accuracy, and real-time reporting?”

• Why Ask This? Manual bookkeeping is a costly, error-prone drain on productivity. Your accountant is on the front lines of fintech innovation and can recommend tools that automate everything from expense tracking to financial forecasting.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • AI-Powered Expense Management: Tools like Ramp and Brex use AI to automatically categorize expenses, enforce company policy, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
    
  • Automated Accounts Receivable/Payable: Platforms like Bill.com streamline invoicing and payments, improving cash flow.
    
  • Predictive Cash Flow Analytics: New features in major accounting software can now forecast future cash flow based on historical data and pending invoices, giving you an early warning system for potential shortfalls.
    
• Goal: To reduce administrative overhead, minimize errors, and gain faster access to critical financial data.

3. “When looking at our key financial ratios (profit margin, quick ratio, debt-to-equity, etc.), where do we stand compared to industry benchmarks for 2025, and what do you see as our biggest opportunity for improvement?”

• Why Ask This? Numbers in isolation are meaningless. Comparing your performance to industry peers reveals strengths to leverage and weaknesses to address. This moves the conversation from abstract numbers to actionable competitive intelligence.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • Industry-Specific Benchmarks: Your accountant can access databases with updated 2025 benchmark data for your specific NAICS code.
    
  • Profitability Analysis: Which products or services are your most profitable? Should you re-price, bundle, or discontinue underperforming lines?
    
  • Balance Sheet Health: Is your debt level sustainable? Do you have enough liquid assets to cover 3-6 months of operating expenses in case of an economic dip?
    
• Goal: To gain an objective, external view of your company’s financial health and identify the single most impactful area for improvement.

4. “What is our plan for navigating potential economic uncertainty (inflation, interest rates, supply chain issues) in the next 6-12 months, and how can we strengthen our cash reserves?”

• Why Ask This? The post-pandemic economy has taught us that resilience is everything. Your accountant can help you stress-test your business model and build a robust cash management strategy.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • Cash Flow Forecasting: Develop a detailed 12-month rolling cash flow forecast.
    
  • Line of Credit Setup: It’s easier to secure a line of credit before you need it. Discuss options and ideal amounts based on your forecast.
    
  • Inventory Management: Optimize inventory levels to free up cash without risking stockouts.
    
• Goal: To build a financial buffer and contingency plan to ensure your business can weather any economic storm.

5. “From a financial perspective, are we structured correctly (e.g., S-Corp, LLC, C-Corp) for our growth goals, and would a change unlock significant tax or operational advantages?”

• Why Ask This? The business entity you chose at launch may not be the best fit for your current size or ambitions. An entity change can offer liability protection, tax savings, and make your business more attractive to investors or buyers.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • S-Corp Salary vs. Distribution: Ensuring compliance and optimal tax treatment.
    
  • C-Corp Considerations: If planning for venture capital funding or an IPO, a C-Corp may be necessary.
    
  • State-Specific Implications: The state you are registered in may have specific franchise taxes or fees that make one entity type more advantageous than another.
    
• Goal: To ensure your legal and financial structure is a catalyst for growth, not an impediment.
  

6. “What should our financial priorities be for the next quarter to ensure we hit our annual goals?”

• Why Ask This? This question translates the strategic discussion into a concrete, actionable plan. It ensures you and your advisor are aligned on the immediate next steps.
  
• What to Discuss in 2025:
  
  • A 90-day action plan with clear ownership: “I will research energy credit-qualified vehicles,” “You will run a profitability analysis on Service Y.”
    
  • Setting a date for the next quarterly review meeting.
    
• Goal: To leave the meeting with a clear, prioritized to-do list that directly ties to your financial objectives.

FAQs about 6 Most Essential Questions To Ask Your Accountant This Year

Q1. I have a small business with straightforward finances. Do I really need to ask all these questions?
Absolutely. The size of your business doesn’t diminish the importance of proactive financial strategy. In fact, for small businesses, a single financial misstep can be catastrophic. These questions help you avoid pitfalls, seize opportunities, and build a stronger foundation for growth. Think of it as essential preventative care for your business’s financial health.

Q2. How can I prepare for this meeting to make it more productive?
Come prepared! Send your accountant your year-to-date financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) and a brief agenda beforehand. Have a list of your top business goals for the year (e.g., hire two employees, launch a new product, increase revenue by 15%). The more context you provide, the more tailored and valuable their advice will be.

Q3. My accountant seems to just want to do my taxes and doesn’t offer this kind of advice. What should I do?
This is a sign that you may need a new accountant. The profession has shifted toward advisory services. If your current CPA is resistant to having these strategic conversations, it may be time to interview a few firms that specifically market themselves as “strategic business partners” or ” fractional CFOs.” The right advisor should be eager to discuss these topics.

Q4. How often should I be having these strategic financial conversations?
At a minimum, you should meet quarterly. Annual is not enough. Many successful business owners have a brief monthly check-in with their bookkeeper or accountant to review cash flow and key performance indicators (KPIs), and a deeper strategic review each quarter. This ensures you can adjust course quickly in a dynamic economy.

Q5. Are there any new tax laws or credits in 2025 that I should be aware of?
While major new legislation is always possible, the key for 2025 is fully understanding and implementing provisions from laws already passed, like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The credits for commercial clean energy and electric vehicles are particularly significant. Your accountant is your best resource for understanding how these complex laws apply specifically to your business.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, data is the most valuable currency a business owns. Your accountant is the key interpreter of that data. Moving from a compliance-based relationship to a strategic partnership is the single most effective shift you can make to improve your bottom line and secure your company’s future.

The questions outlined here are a blueprint for that transformation. They are designed to unlock insights that go far beyond the tax code, touching on technology, strategy, and long-term resilience. Don’t settle for an accountant who just looks backward. Partner with one who helps you navigate the road ahead. By investing time in this strategic dialogue, you’re not just planning for tax season; you’re building a smarter, more agile, and more profitable business.