One of the many challenges of any small business owner is that, without help, they need to perform as a jack of all trades. The problem there is that while you may have a deep topical knowledge of your business, the actual running of all business aspects behind the scenes is something you may not understand. The fact that you can be successful at doing business on eBay doesn’t make you a tax expert. Hiring an accountant to ensure that the back end of your business is (and stays) legitimate is a wise move. My first recommendation is that you get advice from friends, associates, and business contacts regarding accountants who they have done business with. These first hand recommendations are worth their weight in gold. I believe that it is important to go with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) rather than a standard public accountant. As a small business owner, shop around for the smaller accounting firms that have experience working with businesses of your size – and be sure to ask the right questions. Find out about their experience in working not only with small businesses, but also with business whose business model is closely, or exclusively, tied to the internet.