Billing survey

[Strongsilence-CPA]

Just learned this yesterday from a former client.  He owns a profitable company in California doing commercial building services.  His current CPA charges $700 per month for accounting and tax preparation.  The CPA does not provide monthly financials, check registers, etc. nor any verbal reporting of monthly results. According to my former client, the CPA does not mention or bring up topics about short-term strategy or entity selection or growth planning.  (He thinks he is locked into a one-year contract, but I thought it could be terminated. IANAL.)  

I was shocked at the minimal service for that price. (I suppose I should comment this guy for getting a great deal. I would have kept the client for that price, but I didn't try to get a subscription.)

[sjrcpa]

Maybe he charges the monthly fee but doesn't do monthly work.

I have a client on a similar retainer. We do the bookkeeping (not monthly) and tax return. He wanted to pay throughout the year instead of getting one large annual bill.

EDIT: I do answer questions throughout the year and do year end planning, too.

[Strongsilence-CPA]

That is possible that he doesn't do monthly work.  As a client, I would expect a P&L monthly. Quarterly is fine but he doesn't do that either.  A way to learn other CPA billing methods and rates would be wonderful for me.  I haven't seen such a survey. Maybe I will ask a few CPAs that I know.