Wisconsin · WI
Find CPAs & accounting professionals in Milwaukee
Milwaukee CPAs serve manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, and the Lake Michigan industrial corridor.
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Service providers in Milwaukee
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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 Milwaukee.
CPA firms in Milwaukee
Licensed CPAs for tax, audit, advisory, and assurance.
BrowseTax preparers in Milwaukee
Individual and business tax filing for the upcoming season.
BrowseBookkeepers in Milwaukee
Monthly close, AP/AR, and reconciliation specialists.
BrowsePayroll providers in Milwaukee
Payroll, tax filings, and benefits administration.
BrowseFractional CFOs in Milwaukee
Senior finance leadership for growing companies.
BrowseIndustry specialists in Milwaukee
Restaurants, real estate, medical, construction, and more.
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Find a CPA in Milwaukee
Filter by service, industry, language, and free consultation.
Local hiring guide
Common CPA services in Milwaukee
The work Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Typical fee ranges across common engagement types. Final pricing depends on complexity, deadlines, and any cleanup work required.
Individual return
Households with W-2, investments, and rental income
$325 – $950
Small business return
LLCs and S-corps under $2M revenue
$1,100 – $3,800
Monthly bookkeeping + tax
Manufacturers and breweries with monthly close needs
$700 – $2,800 / mo
Fractional CFO
Industrial firms scaling past $5M revenue
$3,000 – $8,000 / mo
Illustrative ranges only — request quotes from listed CPAs for exact pricing.
Local business requirements
What Milwaukee businesses need to file and renew
State and local filings most often missed by out-of-state or newly formed businesses.
Wisconsin annual report
All LLCs and corporations file an annual report with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions; $25 for LLCs, $40 for corporations.
Milwaukee business license
City of Milwaukee requires industry-specific licenses (food service, contractors, retail tobacco) through the Department of Neighborhood Services.
Wisconsin sales tax
5% state + 0.5%–1.75% local — Milwaukee County adds 0.9% local sales tax.
Industries
Small-business industries shaping Milwaukee
The local economy your Milwaukee CPA should already know how to serve.
Industrial & precision manufacturing
Insurance & financial services
Healthcare systems
Beer & beverage
Logistics & Great Lakes shipping
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 Milwaukee 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 Wisconsin notes
Federal deadlines plus the state and local filings that catch most filers off guard.
Wisconsin individual income tax due — graduated to 7.65% top rate.
Wisconsin corporate franchise/income tax due at 7.9%.
Wisconsin Personal Property Tax return due to local assessors (most personal property exempt as of 2024).
Wisconsin Pass-Through Entity (PTE) election deadline for the prior tax year.
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 Milwaukee
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 Milwaukee
Major metros our directory also serves.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CPAs in Milwaukee
How much does a CPA cost in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee CPAs typically charge $200–$425/hour, individual returns $325–$950, and small business returns $1,100–$3,800. Manufacturing and brewery specialists charge a premium for cost accounting and excise tax work.
What is the Wisconsin Pass-Through Entity tax?
Wisconsin's PTE election lets partnerships and S-corps pay state income tax at the entity level (federally deductible), preserving the SALT-cap workaround. The election is made annually on Form 5S-ET or 3-ET by March 31.
Does Wisconsin still tax business personal property?
Most personal property became exempt January 1, 2024. Manufacturing machinery, leased equipment in some categories, and certain telecom property may still be reportable — check with your CPA.
Compare your options
Hiring a verified Milwaukee CPA vs. DIY
| Factor | Verified Milwaukee CPA | DIY / generalist |
|---|---|---|
| Local tax knowledge | Milwaukee 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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