Best Accounting Services for Automotive Repair Shops (Reviews / Ratings)

You own a U.S.-based automotive repair shop, and although there’s no shortage of things to work on, you’ve still been trying to handle your accounting in-house. 

That changes now. It’s time to find a reputable accounting service with experience in the auto repair industry so you can get accounting off your plate.

Prospective clients 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. In no particular order, here are the top four auto repair shop accounting firms in the U.S.:

• CSI Accounting & Payroll
• Paar, Melis & Associates
• Kaizen CPAs & Advisors
• Straight Talk CPAs

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.

CSI Accounting & Payroll

CSI Accounting & Payroll was founded as an automotive repair accounting firm 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 in Minnesota and Maryland that serve businesses nationwide. Unlike other accounting firms, we only work with small businesses and their owners, prioritizing your service instead of getting bogged down with individual taxes.

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

Besides auto repair-related articles, CSI also makes tons of free materials for auto repair shops to use. For example, to efficiently price your parts and labor, check out these matrix pricing templates:

Paar, Melis & Associates

Paar, Melis & Associates was founded in 1992 in Mount Airy, Maryland. Unlike the other firms on this list, they exclusively serve auto repair shops nationwide.

They offer three tiers of service, with the highest level including:

• Chart of accounts
• Monthly financial reports
• Mid-year tax estimates
• Benchmark reports
• Strategic check-in calls
• Accounting & tax training
• Weekly bank & credit card feed updates
• Transaction management
• Monthly account reconciliations
• Fractional CFO support
• Cash flow forecasting
• Weekly performance tracking calls
• Cash management guidance
• Budgeting & variance analysis
• Profitability & pricing strategy
• Growth & financing guidance
• Succession planning & exit strategy

Kaizen CPAs & Advisors

Kaizen CPAs & Advisors was founded in 1964 and is a second-generation, family-owned business. They have several locations across Illinois, one in Wisconsin, and one remote office in India. Their website states that although they serve most small businesses, they have a strong auto repair shop niche.

They also offer three tiers of service, with the highest level including:

• Monthly strategic tax planning
• Business advisory
• Business tax prep & filing (State & Federal)
• Personal tax prep & filing
• Notice & audit protection
• Prepare & file Forms 1099
• Prepare & file multi-state sales tax
• Monthly financial statement preparation
• Custom reporting
• Bank & credit card reconciliation
• Fixed asset schedule & loan amortization maintenance
• Bill pay processing

Straight Talk CPAs

Straight Talk CPAs was founded around 25-30 years ago (no year listed) by CEO Salim Omar. Their website mentions serving businesses from startups to up to $25M in revenue, located in a wide range of metro areas across the U.S. While they don’t specifically focus on auto repair shops, their site does mention a specialty in trades and service businesses.

They offer:

• Accounting services
• CPA services
• Tax planning (business, personal, trusts, & estates)
• Tax preparation (business, personal, trusts, & estates)
• CFO services
• Online bookkeeping

Find the Best Accounting Service for You

As an automotive repair shop owner, you want to consider all of your options for accounting 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 and our auto repair shop experience by clicking the button below to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation.

Not ready to talk? That’s okay! First, learn more about what it’s like to work with CSI by clicking the image below: