The Accountant Shortage Is Real—Should You Be Worried?

(Spoiler: Maybe a little.)

So here’s a fun headline you probably missed:
📉 Accounting is in a hiring crisis.

Wait… accounting? Like… spreadsheets and calculators? Yep. The very people who keep your business legal, organized, and IRS-proof are getting harder to find—and fast.

🧮 What’s Going On?

There’s a big ol’ talent gap happening right now:

• The number of accounting grads has dropped by 17%

• CPAs are retiring faster than new ones are entering

• The work? Still piling up

And unfortunately, this isn’t just our problem—it’s yours, too.

⚠️ What This Means for Small Business Owners

If you:

• Wait until April to find a tax pro…

• Expect year-round support from a “once-a-year” guy…

• Think AI is about to replace your accountant…

You’re playing a dangerous game with your bottom line.

Fewer professionals = longer wait times, higher prices, and more people getting ghosted during tax season.

👀 But Don’t Panic—Here’s What to Do:

✅ Find your person early
If you have a great accountant (hi 👋), stick with them. If you don’t, get on someone’s radar before things get busy.

✅ Think long-term, not just tax-time
A good accountant helps you all year—not just when the IRS comes knocking. Budgeting, cash flow, strategy? That’s the real magic.

✅ Don’t DIY your way into disaster
Sure, ChatGPT and TurboTax can answer questions. But neither can help you explain a messed-up S-corp distribution to an auditor.

💬 TL;DR?

The shortage is real. The stakes are high.
But you don’t have to figure it out alone.

I’m Jessica—spreadsheet whisperer, IRS interpreter, and chaos-stopper at Kardinal Business Solutions. If you want someone in your corner before tax season gets wild, now’s the time to reach out.

👉 Let’s talk—before everyone else does.