Community CPA & Associates

What Community CPA & Associates does

Community CPA & Associates, Inc. is a privately held, multi-lingual CPA firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of professional services including tax preparation and filing (federal, state, local, and international), sales and use tax filing, monthly accounting and bookkeeping, payroll processing, audit and attest, business and legal advisory, estate planning, and IT consulting. The firm serves an explicitly diverse client base—small and mid-sized businesses, individuals and families, nonprofit organizations, and a distinctive segment of immigrant entrepreneurs from over 52 countries of origin—through six physical office locations across Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, and California.

The firm operates on a professional services revenue model with quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing that varies by client complexity and scope. It is supported by standard accounting software platforms (Accounting CS, QuickBooks) augmented with Microsoft Copilot and CoCounsel AI tools used by staff accountants to improve efficiency. Customer acquisition is sales-led, combining direct in-office visits, community referrals, free discovery calls, and an unusually active content marketing engine that includes free weekly YouTube webinars (Tuesdays and Saturdays at 3pm CT), a blog, and social presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Community ties are anchored by the firm's role as presenting sponsor of the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit since 2008 and long-time sponsorship of the Chinese Association of Iowa.

The firm is led by CEO and Managing Partner Ying Sa, alongside partners Steve Hou, Dan Kim, Song Mo, and Minneapolis-based Tax Manager Tiffany Wong. Ying Sa also served on the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board (2013–2019, Chair in 2016), reinforcing the firm's regulatory standing. The firm has served 12,000+ clients and is independently owned without parent company, institutional investment, or M&A activity disclosed.

Name

Community CPA & Associates

Legal name

Community CPA & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://communitycpa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Multi-lingual CPA firm offering tax, accounting, payroll, audit, advisory, and estate planning services across six U.S. offices. Serves 12,000+ clients including SMBs, individuals, nonprofits, and immigrant entrepreneurs from 52+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Preparation and Filing: Federal, state, local and international taxes for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, trusts and more. Includes income tax audit resolution and sales & use tax filings.
2. Accounting and Bookkeeping: Monthly accounting, bookkeeping, and financial statement preparation services.
3. Payroll Services: Payroll and paycheck preparation, payroll tax liabilities, quarterly reports, and payroll-related audit representation.
4. Audit and Attest: Financial and special purpose audits ensuring compliance requirements are met.
5. Business Advisory: Business incorporation, taxes and licenses, ERC guidance, contracts, employment matters, and business legal advisory.
6. Estate Planning: Estate planning services to align with client goals and minimize tax liability.
7. IT Consulting: Business technology consultation for streamlining business processes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community CPA & Associates is a CPA firm providing tax preparation and filing (federal, state, local, and international), monthly accounting and bookkeeping, payroll processing, audit and attest, sales and use tax filing, business and legal advisory, estate planning, and IT consulting services. The firm serves small and mid-sized businesses, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and immigrant entrepreneurs through six physical offices and online portals. Services are delivered by multilingual staff who collectively speak twelve languages, enabling service to clients from over 52 countries of origin.

Product overview

Community CPA & Associates is a multi-lingual CPA firm offering a comprehensive suite of accounting, tax, and advisory services primarily for small businesses, individuals, nonprofits, and immigrants from over 52 countries of origin. The firm operates six office locations and serves clients across the United States. The core service portfolio includes Tax Filing Services, Sales & Use Tax Filing, Payroll Services, Accounting Services, Business Advisory Services, Audit & Attest Services, Estate Planning Services, IT Services, and Year-End Tax Planning & Tax Projections. Services are delivered through internal teams supported by technology including Microsoft Copilot and CoCounsel AI tools. The firm does not offer a standalone software product; rather, it provides professional services where expertise and client service are the primary deliverables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Filing Services Federal, state, local and international tax preparation and filing for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and trusts, including income tax audit resolution.
• Sales & Use Tax Filing Monthly sales and use tax filings to ensure deadlines are met and exact amounts owed are paid, with support for sales and use tax audits.
• Payroll Services Preparation and processing of payroll and paychecks, payroll tax liabilities, quarterly reports, and payroll-related audit representation.
• Accounting Services Monthly accounting, bookkeeping, and financial statement preparation providing an accurate picture of business activity.
• Business Advisory Services Business incorporation, business taxes and licenses, ERC guidance, contracts, employment matters, and broader business legal advisory.
• Audit & Attest Services Financial and special purpose audits ensuring compliance requirements are met.
• Estate Planning Services Estate planning designed to align with client goals and minimize future tax liability.
• IT Services Business technology consultation for streamlining business processes, including system integration, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions.
• Year-End Tax Planning & Tax Projections Proactive year-end tax planning strategies and tax projections to maximize savings and minimize tax liability for individuals and businesses.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa Accountancy Examining BoardcoreOthers · 1 January 2013CEO Ying Sa was appointed to the Board in May 2013 by the Governor, served as Chair in 2016, and completed service in 2019. The Board administers and enforces provisions of Chapter 542C, Code of Iowa, regarding the practice of accountancy.
• Immigrant Entrepreneurs SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Community CPA has been the presenting sponsor since 2008. CEO Ying Sa serves as co-founder and chair of this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. IES has helped create 2,220 new companies over 18 years and hosts 25+ workshops annually representing 50+ countries of origin.
• Chinese Association of IowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity CPA is a long-time sponsor of CAI. CEO Ying Sa has served on the Board of Directors for 10 years. CAI is a community-based, member-focused nonprofit representing the business, economic and community development of Iowa's Chinese American community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RSM US: Top-5 US accounting firm focused on the middle market with full-service tax, audit, and consulting. Overlaps with Community CPA in SMB tax and audit offerings but operates at vastly larger scale.
• H&R Block: National tax preparation retailer with multilingual service capabilities serving diverse consumer and small business tax clients. Comparable in client demographic focus and tax-preparation orientation, though operates at vastly different scale.
• BDO USA: Major global accounting network with strong US middle-market practice covering tax, audit, and advisory. Competes for the same SMB and owner-operated business clients but offers broader portfolio.
• Moss Adams: Top-15 US accounting firm with strong SMB and middle-market focus, particularly on the West Coast (relevant to Community CPA's California office). Comparable tax, audit, and advisory offering for similar client base.
• Marcum LLP: Top-10 US accounting firm with significant SMB, nonprofit, and closely-held business practices. Comparable service breadth including audit, tax, and advisory for similar client segments.

Direct peers

• CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen): Top-10 US accounting firm with deep SMB and middle-market focus across audit, tax, advisory, and wealth advisory. Comparable service breadth and target customer segments to Community CPA.
• Withum Smith+Brown: Large regional CPA firm serving SMBs, closely held businesses, and individuals with full-service tax, audit, and advisory. Comparable in SMB-heavy client mix and multi-office regional model.
• Eide Bailly: Top-25 US accounting firm headquartered in Fargo, ND with strong Iowa and Midwest presence. Closely comparable as a regional full-service CPA firm serving SMBs, individuals, and nonprofits with audit, tax, and advisory services.
• Cherry Bekaert: Top-25 US accounting firm serving closely held businesses, SMBs, and individuals across tax, audit, and advisory. Highly comparable in client profile and multi-office regional CPA model.
• Boulay PLLC: Minnesota-based regional CPA and advisory firm serving SMBs and closely held businesses with tax, audit, and business consulting. Highly comparable given Minneapolis overlap and similar service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/communitycpa
• Facebookfacebook.com/communitycpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-cpa
• Instagraminstagram.com/communitycpa
• TikToktiktok.com/@communitycpa
• Xx.com/communitycpa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community CPA & Associates