Guide · Choosing a CPA
Best Small Business Accountants in Charleston (2026)
This is Haigler CPA Group's list, so we rank ourselves first and disclose it. For most Charleston small businesses the best accountant is a local CPA firm that handles both the business and owner returns, keeps an eye on the books during the year, and plans before year-end. The firms below all have Charleston-area offices and say on their websites that they serve small businesses.
Disclosure: This list is published by Haigler CPA Group, which is included in it and appears first. Other firms are described from what their own websites said when we checked them; they did not review this page and are not affiliated with us.
A small business usually needs the same few things from an accountant: clean books, correct federal and South Carolina returns, estimated tax guidance, and someone to call when a notice arrives. The firms below are smaller local practices rather than regional audit firms, and each one lists small business work on its own website, which we checked in September 2026. After our own entry they appear in no particular order.
What to weigh when you choose
- The firm prepares both the business return and the owners' personal returns, so the two are planned together.
- It offers the bookkeeping support you actually need, from monthly reconciliations to a year-end cleanup.
- It plans during the year (estimated taxes, entity choice, retirement plan, equipment purchases), not only at filing time.
- You can reach a CPA directly and know who handles your file.
- It is comfortable with South Carolina specifics such as sales and use tax, withholding and the 2026 state rate changes.
- Fees and scope are set out in an engagement letter.
1. Haigler CPA Group
James Island, Charleston · Best for: Owner-run businesses that want tax returns, tax planning and bookkeeping handled by one CPA firm.
Haigler CPA Group is a one-office CPA firm on Wappoo Drive on James Island, founded in 2023. We prepare business and personal tax returns, provide bookkeeping services and tax planning, and handle IRS and state tax controversy for small businesses across the Charleston area. We do not process payroll or issue audited or reviewed statements, so a business that needs those will need another provider for that piece.
- Free consultation, in person or virtual, Monday to Friday by appointment
- Business tax, personal tax, bookkeeping and tax planning under one engagement
- IRS and SC Department of Revenue notice and audit help
- No payroll processing and no attest work
2. James R. Tuten, Jr., CPA
Mount Pleasant (1002 Anna Knapp Blvd) · Best for: Small businesses and individuals in Mount Pleasant and the tri-county area.
James R. Tuten, Jr., CPA, LLC lists its office at 1002 Anna Knapp Boulevard in Mount Pleasant and says it serves clients in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Its website lists accounting and bookkeeping, business and financial consulting, new business advisory, QuickBooks services, tax preparation, tax reduction planning and IRS problem resolution, and it offers a free initial consultation.
- Mount Pleasant office
- Website lists new business advisory and QuickBooks services
- Industry pages include law firms and retail businesses
3. Brian D. Kurtz, CPA
Mount Pleasant (1092 Johnnie Dodds Blvd) · Best for: Owners who want an accountant who will meet at their place of business.
Brian D Kurtz PC describes itself as a locally owned CPA firm in Mount Pleasant focused on small business solutions and individual tax filing. Its website lists tax filing, accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services, says the first consultation is free and can take place at your business or its office, and says Brian Kurtz is a registered QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
- Office at 1092 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Suite 100
- Lists bookkeeping and payroll services
- Says it serves Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Summerville, North Charleston and nearby towns
4. Calvert & Company
West Ashley (513 Savannah Hwy) · Best for: Small businesses in West Ashley that want bookkeeping, payroll and tax from one office.
Calvert & Company describes itself as a family-owned business that helps small businesses with bookkeeping, payroll, accounting and tax. Its website lists QuickBooks setup and configuration, account reconciliations, financial statement production, payroll processing and payroll tax payments, income taxes, and sales and use taxes, and it offers a free consultation.
- West Ashley office on Savannah Highway
- Lists payroll processing and payroll tax payments
- Lists sales and use tax work
5. Daniel Island CPAs
Daniel Island (125 River Landing Drive) · Best for: Small businesses on Daniel Island and in Berkeley County that want planning as well as compliance.
Daniel Island CPAs lists its office at 125 River Landing Drive, Suite 201, on Daniel Island and says it works with individuals and small businesses. Its services page lists business advisory services, succession planning, tax resolution, wealth and tax planning, tax preparation, small business accounting and bookkeeping, and outsourced CFO services.
- Daniel Island office
- Lists outsourced CFO services and succession planning
- Lists small business accounting and bookkeeping
6. Fringe Advisory
Mount Pleasant (1125 Bowman Road) · Best for: Service businesses such as salons, restaurants, therapists and trades that want outsourced bookkeeping.
Fringe Advisory describes itself as a Charleston CPA firm and lists its office at 1125 Bowman Road in Mount Pleasant. Its website lists business accounting, outsourced accounting, QuickBooks services, incorporation services, tax preparation, tax planning and IRS tax problem help, with industry pages for beauty, chiropractors and physical therapy, construction subcontractors, real estate and property management, recreation and tourism, and restaurants.
- Mount Pleasant office
- Industry pages for restaurants, beauty and property management
- Offers a free consultation
7. Tideline CPA Group
Mount Pleasant (1214 Chuck Dawley Blvd) · Best for: Closely held businesses that want payroll, bookkeeping and bill pay handled locally.
Tideline CPA Group lists its office at 1214 Chuck Dawley Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. Its website lists payroll, bookkeeping, bookkeeping consulting, client bill pay, tax planning, tax compliance, compilation of financial statements and sales tax, and names real estate, construction contractors, professional services, restaurant and hospitality, and closely held businesses among its tax specialty areas.
- Mount Pleasant office
- Lists payroll and client bill pay
- Lists compilation of financial statements
What a Charleston small business should expect from its accountant in 2026
- Estimated taxes: individuals, including sole proprietors, partners and S corporation shareholders, generally must pay estimated tax if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file, according to the IRS. Your accountant should set the amounts and dates with you.
- Form 1099 changes: for payments made after December 31, 2025, Form 1099-NEC and most Form 1099-MISC reporting starts at $2,000 per payee, up from $600, under P.L. 119-21. Attorney gross proceeds in box 10 of Form 1099-MISC still start at $600.
- South Carolina income tax: under H.4216, 2026 SC individual rates are 1.99% on income under $30,000 and 5.21% minus $966 at $30,000 and above, and South Carolina no longer follows the federal standard and itemized deductions. Pass-through owners feel this directly.
- Sales and use tax: a business selling taxable goods in South Carolina needs a retail license and must file sales tax returns; an accountant should confirm your retail license and filing schedule with you.
- Depreciation: 100% federal bonus depreciation is permanent for property acquired after January 19, 2025, but South Carolina does not follow federal bonus depreciation, so state and federal depreciation schedules differ.
Bookkeeping, payroll and tax: who does what
Some small firms do all three. Others, including Haigler CPA Group, handle bookkeeping and tax but leave payroll processing to a payroll provider. Before you sign, list what you need each month (reconciliations, bill pay, payroll runs, sales tax filings) and each year (business return, owner returns, 1099s), then ask each firm which of those it will do and which you or another provider will cover.
| Firm | Bookkeeping | Payroll | Tax planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haigler CPA Group | Yes | No | Yes |
| James R. Tuten, Jr., CPA | Yes | Not listed on pages checked | Yes |
| Brian D. Kurtz, CPA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calvert & Company | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daniel Island CPAs | Yes | Not listed on pages checked | Yes |
| Fringe Advisory | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tideline CPA Group | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will the same person handle my books and my tax return?
- How do you share documents, and how quickly do you usually reply to email?
- Do you review whether my entity type (LLC, S corporation) still fits?
- What do you need from me each month, and by when?
Sources
The information on this site is general in nature and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice for your situation. Tax law changes and the right answer depends on facts we would need to review with you. Please speak with a qualified professional before acting on anything you read here.
Questions people ask about this
Why is Haigler CPA Group first on this list?
Because this is our list. We disclose that and list ourselves first. The other firms are in no particular order, and their descriptions come only from their own websites.
Do I need a CPA or is a bookkeeper enough?
A bookkeeper can keep your records current, but a CPA can prepare and sign your returns, plan your taxes and, according to the IRS, represent you with unlimited rights in audits and collection matters. Many small businesses use both.
When do I need to issue a Form 1099-NEC in 2026?
For payments made after December 31, 2025, you generally file Form 1099-NEC when you pay a non-employee $2,000 or more for services in the course of your business during the year. The threshold may be adjusted for inflation starting in 2027.
Does Haigler CPA Group run payroll?
No. We do not process payroll. We can help you set it up correctly and work alongside your payroll provider.
Keep reading
- Best CPA Firms in Charleston, SC (2026)Haigler CPA Group's 2026 list of CPA firms with Charleston-area offices, from a James Island tax practice to regional firms offering audit work.
- Best CPAs for Contractors and Trades in the Lowcountry (2026)Haigler CPA Group's 2026 list of CPA firms for Lowcountry HVAC, plumbing, electrical and specialty subcontractors, and what to look for in one.
- Best Bookkeeping Apps for Small BusinessesSeven bookkeeping and receipt apps small businesses use, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave, Zoho Books, Dext and Expensify.
- Biggest Tax Mistakes Small Business Owners MakeEleven costly tax mistakes small business owners make in 2026, from missed estimates and the new $2,000 1099 threshold to payroll deposits and SC depreciation.
- Small BusinessOwner-operated companies, pass-through entities, and the books behind them.
- Bookkeeping ServicesClean books, reconciled monthly, ready for tax time.
- LLC vs. S Corporation Taxes in South CarolinaAn LLC and an S corporation are not two competing entities — one is a state-law structure, the other a federal tax election, and most South Carolina owners can have both. What changes is how much of your profit is exposed to self-employment tax.
- South Carolina Sales Tax for Small BusinessSales tax is the obligation small businesses most often discover late, because nothing about it is triggered by profit. It is triggered by making a sale, and it starts on the first one.
- A Monthly Bookkeeping Checklist for Small BusinessesBookkeeping goes wrong slowly. A month that is never closed becomes a quarter nobody trusts, and then a filing season spent reconstructing a year from bank statements. The routine below prevents that.
- All Charleston tax & accounting guidesEvery list, choosing a CPA and the tax reference lists.
Talk to a tax expert
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will tell you how we would handle it.