You own a small business in the Twin Cities area, and you’ve been swamped handling accounting and payroll yourself - or you’ve gone through the same experience that so many others have with big-name national payroll services and online accounting services.
How do you fix this? Find a reputable, local accounting and payroll provider to help you get back on your feet.
Prospective clients sometimes ask us who our competitors are so they can do their research, and since we're not the right fit for everyone, we encourage them to consider all of their options. Here are the top six small business accounting and payroll firms in the Twin Cities area:
- BerganKDV
- Corneliuson & Associates
- Haworth & Company
- Padgett Business Services
- Prudent Accountants
- CSI Accounting & Payroll
The criteria used to declare these the top services in the area include the basics, like how long they've been in operation and what their Google reviews and reputation are like.
Then there's our personal rankings. A high Website Experience Score means the website looks modern, is easy to navigate, has a search bar or live chat, and features an information center or database. A high Service Range Score means they clearly advertise what their services entail, they have a large range of services, and they provide services that are not commonly provided.
Scroll for more information on the firms! These are listed in no particular order.
Creative Planning
Creative Planning, formerly BerganKDV, was born when three companies came together - the history of which begins as far back as 1945. Today they operate in multiple states and service clients across the country.
They offer a robust and competitive service portfolio, delivering comprehensive business, financial, and technology solutions, which include:
- Tax, audit and accounting
- Business advisory
- Technology
- NetSuite and ERP
- Human capital management
- Wealth management
- Turnaround management services
Corneliuson & Associates
Corneliuson & Associates has been in business since 1998, focusing on the difficulties that entrepreneurs and small/medium-sized business owners face. Their offices in Hopkins and Minneapolis, MN work with businesses in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin that lack an internal accounting department.
They provide:
- Bookkeeping
- Accounting
- Bill paying
- Payroll
- Tax services
Haworth & Company
Haworth & Company has been in business for over 30 years. If proximity is important to you, they have several offices in the Twin Cities area, including Coon Rapids, Edina, Maple Grove, and West St. Paul. Their defined service packages mean you always know what you will be getting and what it will cost.
They provide:
- Accounting
- Tax
- Payroll services
- Business management guidance
- Bill-pay
- Audit support
Padgett Business Services
Padgett has more than 300 locations across North America and more than 50 years of experience.
They offer a variety of services, including:
- Small business consulting
- Complete payroll services
- Tax preparation
- Tax consulting
- Government compliance
- Planning for the future
Prudent Accountants
Prudent Accountants has two locations, including one in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their services are designed to scale and service small to mid-sized businesses. Prudent also specializes in working with non-profits and on individual taxes.
They offer:
- Accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Payroll
- Tax preparation
- Audit support
- CFO services
CSI Accounting & Payroll
CSI Accounting & Payroll was founded in 1966 by Al Clausnitzer and purchased by an employee, Brian Paulson, in 2002. Today, under his ownership, we have grown to have two locations, including one in St. Louis Park, MN. Unlike other accounting firms, we only work with small businesses and their owners, prioritizing your service instead of getting bogged down with individual taxes or large-scale payrolls.
The accounting services that we offer include:
- Monthly Balance Sheets & Income Statements
- Monthly bank reconciliations
- Year-round tax planning
- Business tax projections, preparation, and filing
- Individual tax filing (if also a business client)
- Proactive financial support & unlimited one-off questions
- Audit representation
- Consulting projects
- Detailed general ledgers
- Census Bureau reports
- Responding to IRS & State notices
- Annual Secretary of State filings
- Buying or selling a business or building
- Entity formation or filings
- Loan procurement assistance
The payroll services that we offer include:
- Conducting annual workers' compensation audits
- Timekeeping services
- PTO tracking
- HR & 401(k) services
- Garnishments and voluntary deductions
- W-2s & 1099s
- Amending W-2s
- New hire reporting
- Software integrations
- Multi-state tax account setup & compliance
- Direct deposits to HSA or FSA accounts
- Retirement plan reporting
- Quarterly payroll & unemployment tax return amendments
- Employee verifications
- Payroll check processing
- Direct deposit
- Electronic payroll tax payments
- Federal (941) & State withholding tax returns
- Federal (940) & State unemployment tax returns
- Workers' compensation audit reports
- Payroll tax audit representation
- Personal portal logins for your employees
- Employer portal login for your admin account
- Standard report package:
- Cash requirement report
- Payroll journal report
- Check register report
Find the Best Accounting and Payroll Service for You
As a Twin Cities small business owner, you want to consider all of your options for local accounting and payroll firms. We know you’re going to do your research whether we help you or not - so why not?
If another firm is a better fit for you, then you should be working with them. Here’s a list of characteristics to look for when picking a new firm.
If you haven’t made a decision yet, you can still learn more about CSI Accounting & Payroll by clicking the button below to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation.
Not ready to have a conversation yet? Make sure you know if you’re a good fit to work with CSI Accounting & Payroll first!
