We will be upfront with you. We are Performance Financial, and we wrote this article because we want to earn your business. But we also believe that a comparison worth reading includes real options, not just a sales pitch dressed up as a list. So below you will find an honest look at strong accounting firms serving the Des Moines area, including us, with enough detail that you can decide for yourself.

We put ourselves first because we believe we deliver the best value for contractors and growing small businesses in Iowa. You should still evaluate every option and choose the firm that fits your business. Here is the field.

#1 Best Accounting Firm for Des Moines Contractors: Performance Financial

We are an outsourced accounting firm built specifically for contractors, builders, trades, and growing small businesses across the Des Moines metro and Iowa. That focus is the whole point. When you work with us, you are not educating your accountant about how construction money moves. We already understand job costing, retention, work-in-progress reporting, and the tax strategies that matter to contractors.

Most accounting relationships fail contractors in the same way. The accountant is reactive, hard to reach, and only shows up at tax time with a bill and a surprise. You hand over a year of messy records, get a return filed, and never receive a single proactive idea about reducing what you owe or understanding your own profitability. That is the bar most firms clear, and it is a low bar.

We built our firm to be the opposite. As your outsourced accountant, we clean up your books and establish a proper chart of accounts, keep your bookkeeping accurate and current every month, and aggressively pursue every legal way to reduce your taxes throughout the year rather than reacting in April. We help you pay in taxes as you go so you never fall behind, prepare and file your business and personal returns, and give you the management reports and CFO-level guidance that turn your numbers into decisions.

The model matters too. Instead of paying for an in-house bookkeeper or accountant, you get the full outcome of one at a fraction of the cost, while your own team stays focused on production instead of paperwork. That is the difference between a firm that files your taxes and a firm that helps your business become more profitable and scalable.

We are aggressive on tax strategy and uncompromising on integrity. We will not waste your time, and we will keep you in the loop with financial information you can actually understand. If you are a contractor or small business owner who has outgrown your current accountant, we would genuinely like to talk. You can book a Tax and Accounting Analysis and we will examine your returns and books and show you exactly where the opportunities are.

We serve clients across the Des Moines metro including Waukee, Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Pella, plus the wider Iowa and Midwest market. We would be honored to earn your business.

#2: Community CPA

Community CPA is a well-established Des Moines firm with a long track record and a strong reputation, particularly for serving immigrant and minority-owned businesses across the region. They offer a broad range of services including tax, accounting, payroll, and business consulting, and they have built deep community trust over many years.

Clients frequently praise their consultants for being knowledgeable and helpful with year-round business tax strategy. If your priority is a firm with deep community roots and a generalist service offering across many industries, they are a respected option worth a look. You can find their reviews and details on their Google Business Profile. Where we differ is focus. We concentrate specifically on contractors and trades, so the job costing and construction-specific tax work is our home turf rather than one of many industries we serve.

#3: LWBJ

LWBJ is a leading West Des Moines CPA, consulting, and mergers-and-acquisitions firm. Many of their team came from national accounting firms, and their consulting group brings significant C-level and board experience. They serve clients across a wide range of industries and offer audit and attestation, tax, consulting, and investment banking services.

For a larger business that needs audit work, M&A advisory, or sophisticated investment banking alongside accounting, LWBJ brings real horsepower. You can review their offerings on their Google Business Profile. The tradeoff for a growing contractor is that a firm built around larger-company advisory and audit work is often more than a $300K to $5M trade business needs, and the personal, proactive, contractor-specific relationship can get lost in a bigger firm's structure.

#4: FORVIS (formerly BKD)

FORVIS is a top-tier national CPA and advisory firm with a substantial presence serving Iowa businesses, formed from the combination of BKD and a peer national firm. With thousands of professionals and a full slate of audit, tax, and advisory services, they serve clients in all fifty states and internationally.

If you are a large or rapidly scaling company that needs national reach, complex audit capability, and enterprise-grade advisory, a firm of this scale delivers it. You can learn more via their Google Business Profile. For most owner-operated contractors and small businesses, though, a national firm of this size is built for a different client. The proactive, hands-on, keep-more-of-your-money relationship that a growing contractor needs is usually better served by a focused local firm.

#5: Ann M Hartz CPA & Associates

Ann M Hartz CPA & Associates is a respected Des Moines firm known for professional, knowledgeable, and personable service. Clients consistently describe their tax preparation experience as pleasant and thorough, which is no small thing in this profession.

For individuals and small businesses looking for a trusted, personable CPA for tax preparation, they have earned their good reputation. You can check their reviews on their Google Business Profile. The distinction for a growing contractor is the difference between excellent tax preparation and full outsourced accounting. If what you need is year-round bookkeeping, job costing, cash flow forecasting, and proactive tax planning all under one roof, that is a different and broader engagement than tax prep alone.

#6: Your Local Generalist Bookkeeper

Many contractors start with a local generalist bookkeeper or a part-time bookkeeping service, and for a brand-new business that can be a reasonable first step. These providers handle transaction entry and basic monthly bookkeeping at a low cost.

The honest assessment is that this works until it doesn't. A generalist bookkeeper enters transactions but typically cannot build construction job costing, forecast your cash between draws, or plan your taxes. As soon as your contracting business is doing real volume, the gaps in that arrangement start costing you more in missed deductions and bad bidding decisions than you ever saved on the bookkeeping fee. That is usually the moment contractors come to us.

How to Choose the Right Firm for Your Business

The best firm depends on what you actually need.

If you are a large enterprise needing audit, M&A, or national reach, look at LWBJ or FORVIS. If you want a personable CPA for straightforward tax preparation, Ann M Hartz is well regarded. If you want a respected generalist firm with deep community roots, Community CPA is a strong choice.

But if you are a contractor, builder, or growing small business in the Des Moines area who wants an outsourced accounting partner that already speaks construction, plans your taxes year-round, keeps your books pristine, and treats your profitability as the goal rather than your tax return as the product, that is exactly what we built Performance Financial to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a contractor look for in an accounting firm?

Look for genuine construction experience (job costing, retention, work-in-progress), proactive year-round tax planning rather than once-a-year filing, responsive communication, and a clear service model. A generic accountant who treats your contracting business like any other small business will cost you in missed deductions and blind bidding.

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an outsourced accounting firm?

A bookkeeper enters transactions. An outsourced accounting firm enters transactions and builds your job costing, forecasts cash flow, produces management reports, and plans your taxes throughout the year. You get the full outcome of an in-house finance team at a fraction of the cost.

Are local Des Moines firms better than national firms for contractors?

For most owner-operated contractors and small businesses, a focused local firm delivers more proactive, personal, industry-specific service than a large national firm built for enterprise clients. National firms excel at audit, M&A, and large-company advisory, which most trade businesses do not need.

How do I switch accounting firms without disrupting my business?

A good outsourced accounting firm manages the transition for you, including obtaining prior records, cleaning up the chart of accounts, and getting current on bookkeeping. The process is routine, and the right firm makes it painless.

Ready to see what a contractor-focused accounting partner can do for your business? Book a Tax and Accounting Analysis with Performance Financial. We will review your tax returns and books and show you every way we can add value, lower your taxes, and help your business thrive. We would love to earn your trust.

Performance Financial CPA, Tax and Accounting is an outsourced accounting firm serving contractors, builders, and small business owners across Des Moines, Iowa, and the Midwest. The firms named above are independent businesses, and our descriptions reflect our honest, respectful assessment to help you make an informed choice.