A trusted tax pro can be your most helpful ally in building a successful small business. As a true advisor, he can offer guidance on tax reduction, tax planning, retirement options, tax consequences of major business purchases and a sea of other tax issues.

You have several good options when choosing a tax advisor, each with different specialties and credentials.

A certified public accountant (CPA) is licensed by individual states and has passed a CPA exam. Some CPAs are also certified financial planners.

An enrolled agent (EA) specializes in tax issues and is licensed by the federal government.

Tax attorneys specialize in tax law and are certified by the state in which they practice.

Most small-owners choose either a CPA or an enrolled agent to handle their general business tax matters. Either is an excellent choice. Tax attorneys generally come to the rescue when you encounter more complex and complicated tax issues.

No matter which flavor of tax pro you choose, make sure she can represent you in an IRS audit. If not, go elsewhere.

Also, look for the right size tax pro for your business. With a large tax firm, you might not get the personal attention you want. A firm that’s too small might not be able to handle the workload or the intricacies of your business. When you go to your initial consultation, ask to meet with the actual professional who will handle your tax work.

Go prepared to the initial consultation. At minimum, take your last year’s return. Even better, create an outline of your financial picture by having a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and cash flow statement on hand. These documents will help the tax pro understand your needs.

CCH, a leading provider of business, legal and tax information, recommends choosing a tax pro whose professional approach closely matches your own. If you generally make conservative business decisions, don’t go with a tax pro who takes an aggressive approach to minimizing your taxes.

On the other hand, you want a tax pro that will generate ideas about ways you can reduce your taxes. There are plenty of legitimate ways to reduce taxes. You want a tax pro that knows how.

You also want one that will give time and attention to your business tax planning. And you certainly want to choose a tax pro that understands your individual business and your industry.

So during the initial consultation, ask questions specific to your business. If you want to purchase equipment in the next year, ask if the tax pro can help you plan the purchases for the most tax benefit. If you travel often on business, ask if pro is well-versed in showing you every legitimate deduction.

You want a tax pro that will explain the whys and hows of tax decisions so you fully understand. You want a pro who charges reasonable fees—and one that will admit mistakes, then fix them at no cost to you. You also want an accessible pro. Phone calls should be returned within one business day.