Macomb County lost 12 bookkeeping and other accounting offices from 2018 to 2023

Fewer bookkeeping and accounting offices, slightly more businesses

Macomb County had 103 bookkeeping and other accounting establishments in 2023, down from 115 in 2018. Over the same years its employer businesses grew 1.9%, from 19,219 to 19,593.

Per 1,000 employer businesses, that is a fall from 5.98 to 5.26. CPA offices in the county went from 100 to 96, and the whole accounting, tax, bookkeeping and payroll group from 336 to 313.

Macomb now has the lowest rate of the three counties

In 2023, Oakland County had 6.28 bookkeeping and other accounting establishments per 1,000 businesses and Wayne County had 5.34. Macomb had 5.26.

Wayne County was the only one of the three where the count rose, from 172 to 180. Oakland went from 257 to 250.

Most are small shops

In 2023, 73 of Macomb County's 103 bookkeeping and other accounting establishments had fewer than five employees.

What this means if you're choosing a bookkeeper in Macomb County

There are fewer bookkeeping and other accounting offices for each business in the county than in 2018. The data doesn't say whether the ones that remain are full, so ask early and ask specific questions.

• Ask whether your accounts are reconciled every month, and by what date you'll see a profit and loss statement.
• Find out what your tax preparer receives at year end, and in what state the books arrive.
• Check who you'll actually deal with each month, and how quickly they reply.

What this study does not measure

• Self-employed accountants and bookkeepers. County Business Patterns covers businesses with paid employees. Sole proprietors with no staff are not in these counts.
• Companies. An establishment is one business location. A firm with two offices counts twice.
• Where clients are. Firms are counted where they are located. A firm may serve clients in other counties or states.
• Demand, quality or prices. These are counts of business locations only.