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Find CPAs & accounting professionals in Denver
Denver CPAs serve tech, aerospace, cannabis, and the Front Range's outdoor and energy economies.
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Service providers in Denver
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Match the right kind of help to the work — CPA firms, tax preparers, bookkeepers, payroll providers, fractional CFOs, and industry specialists serving Denver.
CPA firms in Denver
Licensed CPAs for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance.
BrowseTax preparers in Denver
Individual and business tax filing for the upcoming season.
BrowseBookkeepers in Denver
Monthly close, AP/AR, and reconciliation specialists.
BrowsePayroll providers in Denver
Payroll, tax filings, and benefits administration.
BrowseFractional CFOs in Denver
Senior finance leadership for growing companies.
BrowseIndustry specialists in Denver
Restaurants, real estate, medical, construction, and more.
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Find a CPA in Denver
Filter by service, industry, language, and free consultation.
Local hiring guide
Common CPA services in Denver
The work Denver residents and small businesses most often hire a CPA to handle.
- Annual business and individual tax preparation
- Tax planning and quarterly estimates
- Bookkeeping and monthly close
- Entity selection and formation (LLC, S-corp, C-corp)
- Payroll setup and filings
- IRS notice response and audit representation
- Financial statement preparation (compilation / review)
Average CPA pricing
What CPAs typically cost in Denver
Typical fee ranges across common engagement types. Final pricing depends on complexity, deadlines, and any cleanup work required.
Individual return
W-2 households, RSU/equity comp, real estate owners
$350 – $1,000
Small business return
Tech S-corps, cannabis dispensaries, outdoor brands
$1,200 – $4,000
Monthly bookkeeping + tax
Growing SaaS, cannabis, and retail brands
$750 – $3,000 / mo
Fractional CFO
VC-backed startups and multi-state cannabis operators
$3,000 – $9,000 / mo
Illustrative ranges only — request quotes from listed CPAs for exact pricing.
Local business requirements
What Denver businesses need to file and renew
State and local filings most often missed by out-of-state or newly formed businesses.
Denver business license
City and County of Denver requires a sales/use tax license (free) for any business making retail sales, plus occupational privilege tax (OPT, $5.75/mo per employee earning $500+).
Home-rule sales tax
Denver self-administers its 4.81% city sales tax separately from the 2.9% state tax — businesses file with both Denver Treasury and the state Department of Revenue.
Cannabis tax
Colorado adds a 15% retail marijuana excise tax and 15% retail sales tax on top of standard sales taxes — a major engagement area for cannabis CPAs.
Industries
Small-business industries shaping Denver
The local economy your Denver CPA should already know how to serve.
Tech & software
Aerospace & defense
Cannabis
Energy & renewables
Outdoor recreation & apparel
Decision guide
When to hire a CPA vs. a bookkeeper
A bookkeeper records the past. A CPA shapes the future — taxes, structure, strategy.
Hire a bookkeeper when…
- •You need day-to-day transaction categorization and bank reconciliations
- •You want monthly financials but no tax filings or planning
- •Revenue is under ~$500K and your structure is simple (sole prop / single-member LLC)
- •You already have a CPA for taxes and just need clean books
Hire a CPA when…
- •You're filing business taxes (S-corp, C-corp, partnership)
- •You need tax planning, entity restructuring, or multi-state filings
- •You received an IRS or state tax notice or are facing an audit
- •You're raising capital, selling a business, or doing equity comp planning
- •Your books are a mess and you need cleanup plus a long-term advisor
Before you sign
Questions to ask any Denver CPA before hiring
Use this checklist on your first call. Strong CPAs welcome these questions.
- Are you a licensed CPA in this state? What's your license number?
- What industries do you specialize in, and how many clients like me do you serve?
- Who actually does the work — you, a staff accountant, or an offshore team?
- How do you bill — hourly, fixed-fee, or monthly retainer? What's typical for my size?
- What software do you use (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite), and do I get access to my files?
- How do you handle IRS notices or audits if they come up later?
- What's your response-time expectation during and outside of tax season?
- Can you provide references from clients in my industry?
Stay compliant
Tax deadlines and Colorado notes
Federal deadlines plus the state and local filings that catch most filers off guard.
Colorado individual income tax due — flat 4.4% rate.
Colorado corporate income tax due — flat 4.4% rate.
Colorado state sales tax + home-rule city sales tax (Denver self-administers at 4.81% city + 8.81% combined).
Denver Personal Property Declaration due to the City Assessor.
W-2s and 1099-NEC due to recipients and the IRS.
S-corp (1120-S) and partnership (1065) returns or 6-month extension.
Individual (1040) and C-corp (1120) returns; Q1 estimated taxes due.
Q2 estimated taxes due.
Q3 estimates; extended S-corp and partnership returns due.
Extended individual and C-corp returns due.
Informational only — not tax advice. Confirm current deadlines with your CPA or the relevant authority.
Browse by specialty
Top specialties in Denver
Certified Public Accountants
Licensed Certified Public Accountants for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance services across the United States.
ExploreSmall Business CPAs
Licensed CPAs specialized in small business taxes, S-Corp and LLC structuring, quarterly estimates, and year-round advisory for owner-operated companies.
ExploreTax Preparers
Find tax preparers for individual returns, small business returns, multi-state filings, and amended returns.
ExploreBookkeepers
Professional bookkeepers for startups, small businesses, and growing companies. Day-to-day books, reconciliations, and clean financial records.
ExplorePayroll Services
Payroll specialists and providers covering payroll runs, tax filings, multi-state compliance, and contractor payments.
ExploreFractional CFO Services
Part-time CFOs for growing companies. Strategic finance, board reporting, fundraising support, cash forecasting, and KPI dashboards — without a full-time executive hire.
ExploreNearby
Nearby cities to Denver
Major metros our directory also serves.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CPAs in Denver
How much does a CPA cost in Denver?
Denver CPAs typically charge $225–$475/hour, individual returns $350–$1,000, and small-business returns $1,200–$4,000. Cannabis CPAs charge a significant premium because of 280E tax complexity and additional excise filings.
What is Denver's Occupational Privilege Tax?
Denver's OPT is a 'head tax' of $5.75/month per employee earning $500+ within Denver, plus $4/month employer share. It's filed quarterly with Denver Treasury — often missed by out-of-state employers placing remote staff in Denver.
How do Colorado home-rule sales taxes work?
71 Colorado cities (including Denver) self-administer their own sales tax separately from the state. Businesses selling into multiple home-rule cities may need to register and file with each city individually — though the Colorado SUTS portal now centralizes most filings.
Compare your options
Hiring a verified Denver CPA vs. DIY
| Factor | Verified Denver CPA | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Local tax knowledge | Denver state + local filings | Federal only |
| Audit defense | Represents you to the IRS | You handle correspondence |
| Year-round planning | ||
| Typical fee | $200–$3,500 / engagement | $0 software + your hours |
| Specialty match | Industry-experienced | General-purpose |
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2026 CPA Pricing Guide
Real fee benchmarks for tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory — by service and business type.
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