Prefer the stories behind the stars? The three testimonials we quote on-site and the case-study library show the work itself, and pricing shows what it costs before anything begins.

Where these reviews come from

Google. Google reviews are posted on a business profile by people signed in to a Google account, and they appear beside the business in Google Search and Maps. The reviewer chooses the star rating and writes the text; the business can reply publicly but cannot edit or remove what a reviewer wrote. Bark. Bark is a marketplace where a customer posts a job and professionals respond with quotes. Reviews on a Bark profile come from customers who found the professional through the platform, which is why many describe the first contact, the quote and how the work went. Upwork. Upwork is a freelance marketplace. Feedback is left once a contract on the platform ends, so each review is tied to a piece of work that was actually agreed and paid for through Upwork. Facebook. Facebook recommendations are left on a business Page by people using their own Facebook account, so the reviewer's name and profile are visible alongside what they wrote. Clutch. Clutch is a review platform for business services. It verifies reviewers before publishing, and its reviews tend to describe the project, the scope and how the provider managed it. Trustpilot. Trustpilot is an open review platform: anyone who has used a business can post a review, and the business can reply but cannot remove a review it dislikes.

How to read reviews of an accounting firm

Star ratings say little on their own. The useful reviews name the work: which return was filed, what deadline was involved, whether the CRA followed up, and whether the fee matched the quote. Read a few in full rather than the average, and look at the dates, because a firm's recent reviews describe the team you would deal with today.

Check how the firm answers criticism, too. A public reply that explains what happened is a better sign than silence. Then check what a review cannot tell you: every tax file is different, so ask for a written quote on yours before any work starts. We agree a fixed fee first, you pay after the service, and the first 15-minute consultation is free.

Before hiring any accounting firm, ask four questions. Who prepares my return, and who is my contact? Is the fee fixed, and is it in writing before work starts? What happens if the CRA reviews the return? And when do I pay? Our answers: a dedicated tax accountant manages your account, the fee is fixed and quoted in writing first, we respond to a CRA review of a return we prepared at no extra charge, and you pay after the service.

Credentials can be checked independently. Udit Gupta, one of our directors, is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (member 521458) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (member CA 44667), and both institutes publish member registers. His full profile is on the team page.