Prepare your first business meeting with an accountant

Your first accountant meeting is more productive when you bring understandable source documents and clear questions, rather than trying to imitate a complete set of books. The professional needs to learn how your business works, what records exist, and which decisions still need attention.

Start with a simple business summary: what you sell, how customers pay, which tools you use for invoices, and where purchase evidence is kept. Do not invent accounting labels for transactions you do not understand. An accurate explanation of an unusual purchase is better than a confident but unsupported classification.

Confirm the engagement you are asking for

Ask whether the firm is providing bookkeeping, year-end preparation, tax filing, advice, or a combination. Confirm the period and any additional records it needs. Access to Just Invoice documents does not itself define those services or authorize the accountant with CRA, Revenu Québec, or a bank.

If you use more than one business or registration, say so early. If the file has gaps, identify them before the meeting. The accountant can help prioritize work when the missing months or sources are known.

Bring a small, representative document sample

Include a customer invoice PDF, a supplier purchase receipt, and an example that needs explanation. A subscription invoice, mixed-use equipment purchase, or unpaid customer invoice can reveal what context the firm needs. Keep source amounts and dates intact.

Explain how the receipt date was entered and whether documents were uploaded late. Tell the accountant which reports use invoice dates and which payment totals reflect the current record. This helps prevent a source-document tool from being mistaken for a complete cash ledger.

Ask practical workflow questions

• Which documents should I upload, and which stay in another channel?
• What period do you want for receipt packages and invoice reports?
• How will you send questions about unclear purchases?
• Who makes corrections to my invoice and receipt metadata?
• Who pays for the customer subscription?
• What should we export if the engagement ends?

These questions establish the handoff without forcing the owner to learn technical bookkeeping terminology. Record the answers in a short follow-up so both parties can refer to the same process later.

Decide how access will work

If you already pay for Just Invoice, you can invite the accountant into a free firm workspace connection. If the firm offers sponsorship, review that separate arrangement and any existing subscription conflict. In both cases, your account and documents remain yours and access requires consent.

Test one receipt and one invoice after acceptance. Ask the accountant to show where they will record private notes and explain that those notes are not automatically delivered as customer messages. Keep the onboarding checklist for the next steps.