Accountant for Entrepreneurs & Startups NYC

Year one, step by step

Form the business. Our Entrepreneur Starter Kit is $1,500 one time: the New York LLC filing, your EIN, the S corporation election and the New York publication requirement, with state and newspaper costs included.
Decide on S corporation status. Once profit is steady, an S corporation can lower self-employment tax. We compare both options with your real numbers. See S corporation election.
Pay yourself correctly. An S corporation owner needs a reasonable salary run through payroll. Payroll for the owner is $275 a month. See payroll services.
Keep clean books. Monthly bookkeeping starting at $300 a month keeps your numbers ready for decisions and for tax time. See bookkeeping.
Pay estimated taxes. Nobody withholds tax for a new owner. A quarterly estimated tax plan starts at $200 a year and covers federal, New York State and New York City. See quarterly estimated taxes.

New York pieces most founders miss

New LLCs must complete the publication requirement within 120 days. New York City does not recognize the S corporation election, so an S corporation still files the city General Corporation Tax return. If you sell taxable goods or services you need a Certificate of Authority before your first sale, and NYC sales tax is 8.875%.

Who we work with

Freelancers turning into companies, consultants, agencies, e-commerce sellers, restaurants and shops in their first years, and side businesses that started making real money. Chris Li also owns and runs a licensed retail business in Queens, so the advice comes from the owner's side of the desk as well as the tax forms.

Get a price estimate

Every service has a posted price on our pricing page, and you get a written estimate before any work starts. Call (516) 518-6678 or use the contact form.

Our posted prices

Payroll	$275/mo incl. 1 employee, + $15 each additional
Payroll problem fix (late 941 / NYS-45, missed deposits)	review $350, catch-up starting at $750
Quarterly estimated tax plan	starting at $200 a year
Bookkeeping	starting at $300/mo
Bookkeeping + Payroll	$475/mo incl. 1 employee, + $15 each additional
Business tax return	starting at $1,000
Personal tax return	starting at $300
Entrepreneur Starter Kit	$1,500 one time
Tax debt review (IRS or NY)	$400, credited toward the fix

Tax returns and bookkeeping are "from" prices. You get an exact quote in writing before any work starts. Full price list

Common questions

Do I need an accountant when I start a business?

You do not have to, but the first-year choices (entity type, S corporation timing, owner pay, sales tax registration and estimated taxes) are where most costly mistakes happen. A short planning session usually pays for itself.

Should a new business be an LLC or an S corporation?

Most start as an LLC. The S corporation election usually makes sense once profit is steady and well above a reasonable salary for your work. We run the numbers both ways.

How much does a CPA cost for a new small business in NYC?

With us: the Starter Kit is $1,500 one time, bookkeeping is starting at $300 a month, owner payroll is $275 a month and a quarterly estimated tax plan starts at $200 a year. You get a written estimate first.

An Accountant for NYC Entrepreneurs