If you live or run a business in the Metro East, you have more accounting options than the average small town, and that turns out to be a problem.
The 30-second Google search returns a dozen firms that all describe themselves the same way (full service, trusted partner, family-owned since whenever). What that result doesn’t tell you is which firm is actually a fit for what you need.
We get this question a lot, and our honest answer is that the right firm depends on what you are filing, who you are, and how often you want to talk to your accountant. So here is a quick breakdown of three accounting firms in the Metro East that cover three very different needs, what each one is genuinely good at, and how to figure out which one fits you.
What’s the Difference Between Metro East Accounting Firms?
Most people think of accounting firms as interchangeable, but they sort into a few clear categories: chain tax-prep shops, full-service CPA firms, and audit and assurance firms. Each one is built to do something different, and trying to use a chain shop to handle a complicated business return (or a full-service CPA to handle a simple W-2 filing) usually leaves money on the table.
The three firms in this guide each represent a different category. None of them is the right fit for everyone, which is the whole point of doing the comparison instead of treating all CPAs as interchangeable.
How to Choose the Right Firm for Your Situation
Match the firm to your situation. Three quick questions usually surface the right answer.
First, what are you actually filing? A simple personal return with W-2 income and a standard deduction is a very different problem from a small business return with payroll, depreciation, and state nexus. Match the complexity of the return to the depth of the firm.
Second, how much do you want to talk to your accountant? Some people want a once-a-year transaction. Others want a year-round relationship with someone who picks up the phone in October when they are thinking about a new hire or a property purchase. Pick a firm that actually offers the level of contact you want.
Third, do you need certified audited financials? Most CPA firms do not perform audits. If your business is raising capital, applying for an SBA loan, working with grant funders, or preparing for sale, you may need audited statements. That is a different category of firm with a different licensure.
The three firms below cover the three different answers people typically give to those questions.
Thompson Flaherty CPA & Tax Consultants
Best for: small business owners and families who want year-round support.
Thompson Flaherty is a full-service CPA firm based in Edwardsville, working with small business owners, families, and individuals across the Metro East, St. Louis, Chicago, and nationwide via virtual CPA services. Services include monthly bookkeeping, accounting, year-round tax strategy, business advisory, personal and business tax preparation, and IRS representation when client tax matters arise.
The fit: small business owners who have outgrown DIY accounting and need a real partner. Families with multiple income sources, rental property, or investment complexity. Anyone who wants to talk to their CPA about the moves they are considering before they make them, not after they have shown up on a tax return.
The trade-off: this is not a high-volume tax shop. Engagements involve a dedicated CPA who handles both the tax work and the year-round advisory, which means clients pay for that level of attention. For someone with a single W-2 and a standard deduction, this is more firm than they need.
Cost expectation: tax preparation starts at $450 for a basic return. Small business engagements that combine year-round accounting, tax planning, and the annual return typically run $5,000 to $15,000 annually, depending on complexity.
Block Advisors (formerly H&R Block)
Best for: simple personal tax returns.
Block Advisors is the Metro East branch of the national H&R Block tax-preparation network, located at 1538 H Troy Rd in Edwardsville. They handle a high volume of personal tax returns each season and are set up for walk-in service during the January-to-April filing window.
The fit: a W-2 employee filing a relatively simple return (federal 1040, maybe a state return, a few common deductions). For someone whose tax situation does not change much year over year, the chain model works well. Pricing is generally posted in advance, the experience is transactional, and the staff is trained to handle common personal-return scenarios.
The trade-off: Block Advisors is not built for ongoing relationships. The preparer you see this year is unlikely to be the same person next year. They are also not the right fit for complex small business returns, multi-state filings, or anything that needs strategic tax planning across the year. For people who just want their personal return filed correctly and on time, that is fine. For business owners or families with more going on, it usually is not.
Cost expectation: a basic federal return at a chain shop typically runs $200 to $400 in 2026. More complex returns add $50 to $150 per additional schedule.
Scheffel Boyle
Best for: businesses, nonprofits, and government entities that need certified, audited financial statements.
Scheffel Boyle is a long-established CPA firm founded in 1924 with a substantial audit and assurance practice across the Metro East and southwestern Illinois. The firm has seven offices (Edwardsville, Alton, Belleville, Highland, Jerseyville, Columbia, and Carrollton) and serves privately-held businesses, nonprofits, school districts, government entities, agribusiness, and financial institutions on audit and assurance engagements.
The fit: clients who need certified, audited financial statements. That includes businesses raising capital, applying for an SBA loan, working with a lender that requires audited financials, nonprofits with grant or compliance requirements, and any entity facing a Single Audit. Most Metro East CPA firms do not perform audits at all, which is what makes Scheffel Boyle a meaningful option when audit work is what you need.
The trade-off: an audit engagement is a different scope and price point than tax preparation or ongoing accounting. Audit work involves a structured engagement letter, fieldwork, and a multi-week timeline. For owners who only need a tax return prepared or year-round books maintained, an audit firm is more than they need.
Cost expectation: audit and assurance engagements for financial statements typically run into the five figures annually, depending on entity size and scope. Initial scoping conversations are generally complimentary.
How Much Do Metro East Accounting Firms Cost?
Pricing varies by firm category. A useful 2026 reference range looks like this.
Chain tax-prep shops like Block Advisors run $200 to $400 for a basic personal return, $300 to $600 for moderately complex personal returns, with additional fees for multi-state or rental schedules.
Full-service CPA firms like Thompson Flaherty start at a $450 minimum for a basic personal tax return, $1,500 to $5,000 for small business returns, and $5,000 to $15,000 annually for full-service business engagements with year-round support.
Audit and assurance specialists like Scheffel Boyle price by service line. Audit engagements for financial statements typically run into the five figures annually, depending on entity size.
The honest reality is that comparing pricing across these firms is comparing apples to oranges. A $300 chain return and a $5,000 full-service relationship are not solving the same problem, and an audit engagement is a different category entirely. Match the firm to the problem first, then compare pricing within that category.
What Questions Should You Ask Before Hiring?
A short list that surfaces real differences fast.
What kinds of clients do you specialize in? A firm that works with five Metro East restaurants will spot deductions a generalist misses. The same applies to real estate investors, medical practices, or any other vertical.
Will I work with the same person year over year? At chain shops the answer is usually no. At small CPA firms it is usually yes. Decide which one matters to you.
Are you available between January and April, or only during tax season? If your accountant only takes calls in March, you are getting compliance work, not strategy.
How do you charge? Flat-fee, hourly, or per-return? Each model creates different incentives. Hourly billing punishes you for asking questions. Flat-fee aligns incentives toward year-round availability.
What happens if I get an IRS notice after we file? Some firms include representation in their engagement; others do not. Find out before you sign.
The right Metro East accounting firm is the one whose business model matches your needs, not the one with the best Google ranking.
If you are a small business owner or a family with growing complexity, and you want to talk through whether ongoing CPA support makes sense for your situation, let’s talk.
You can reach out through our contact page for a no-cost first conversation.
If you are filing a simple return and you just want it done, Block Advisors is faster and cheaper. If you need a certified financial audit, Scheffel Boyle is the right call.
The point of this guide is the same point we make to every client who calls us: the right firm is the one that fits what you are actually trying to do.
Until next time!
