How long will it take to find an accountant in Quebec in 2026?

In short, finding an accountant on your own in France typically takes 2 to 6 weeks: identifying firms, waiting for calls back, meeting with them, and comparing quotes. During peak tax season (February to April), many firms simply stop accepting new clients, making the search even longer. With a matching service like Bankeo, the typical turnaround time is 48 hours between the request and being connected with an audited accountant from their network (1,500+ accountants, more than 15,000 requests received since 2023). The service is free for business owners.

Whether you've just settled in, are launching your freelance business, or your accountant is retiring, you need an accountant, and the real question quickly becomes, "How long will it take?" The answer depends almost entirely on your method and the time of year. In this article, we break down the actual timeframes for each approach, step by step, explain the origin of Bankeo's famous 48-hour turnaround, and provide a calendar of the best times to search (and those to avoid) in Quebec.

Why deadlines matter: Your obligations don't wait. DAS remittances are due monthly, GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) returns follow your filing frequency, federal T2 (CRA) and Quebec CO-17 (Revenu Québec) forms must be filed within six months of the fiscal year-end, and personal T1 and TP1 slips are due on April 30. Every week without an accountant means these deadlines get closer.

The actual delay, method by method

Here are the typical timeframes for a Quebec entrepreneur, depending on the search method. The table reads like a realistic range, from the initial step until an accountant accepts your application.

The "2 to 6 weeks" of blind research is not mysterious: it is the sum of steps that no one can compress alone.

• Define the need (1 to 3 days). Monthly bookkeeping, corporate taxes, catch-up, payroll and DAS: as long as it is not clear, each call starts from scratch.
• Identify 5 to 10 practices (2 to 5 days). Research, online reviews, websites, cross-referencing with your sector.
• Wait for responses (3 to 10 business days). Firms respond between deadlines; some never return calls.
• Meeting (1 to 2 weeks). Accountants' schedules fill up weeks in advance, especially from January to June.
• Compare offers and decide (3 to 7 days). Fees, scope of services, personal chemistry.

Add it up: 10 to 27 business days in the best-case scenario, or 2 to 6 calendar weeks. And that's without considering the most frustrating scenario: the perfect firm that tells you, two weeks later, that it's no longer taking on new clients.

Where does Bankeo's 48-hour promise come from (and why it's not a promise)?

The figure you see everywhere at Bankeo is 48 hours. Here's exactly what it measures, so you can quote it (and challenge it) with full knowledge of the facts.

• What is measured: the time between receiving your request and being put in contact with an accountant in the network ready to review your case.
• The observation base: more than 15,000 applications received since Bankeo's founding in 2023, across all sectors, throughout Quebec and the Canada .
• The observation: the connection is often made within 48 hours. This is an observed timeframe, not a contractual guarantee: catching up on several years' worth of work or a very specific request during peak season may take longer.
• Why this is possible: Bankeo knows the actual availability of the 1,500+ accountants in its network. Rather than blindly calling firms, your request is directed straight to those with the capacity and expertise needed for your situation.

The fundamental difference compared to a blind search isn't just speed: it's that the initial screening has already been done. The proposed accountant already works with companies like yours, and if there's no connection, we'll introduce you to another, free of charge and without starting the process from scratch. We support you for as long as necessary, even six months after the match. Our 4.7/5 rating based on over 180 Google reviews reflects this approach.

The French tax calendar: when to look for it (and when to avoid it)

In Quebec, the availability of accountants follows the rhythm of the CRA and Revenu Québec deadlines. Here is the overview, period by period.

Two points to note. First, incorporated companies have their own "season": T2 and CO-17 tax returns are due six months after the fiscal year-end, which isn't necessarily December 31. Second, bookkeeping, payroll, and VAT remittances run year-round: for these recurring tasks, the calendar is less of a factor than the firm's capacity. To approach the next deadline without stress, consult our 2026 Quebec tax season checklist .

How to speed up your search, regardless of the method

Whether you go through a twinning program or your own efforts, four preparations shorten the process by several days, sometimes several weeks.

• Define your needs in writing. Are you looking for tax services only (T2 and CO-17, or T1 and TP1)? Monthly bookkeeping? Payroll and DAS? Incorporation? A clear need allows the accountant to respond quickly and effectively.
• Prepare your documents. Latest tax returns filed, financial statements, access to accounting software, GST and QST numbers. A complete file can save you an entire meeting.
• Balisez votre budget avant le premier appel. La médiane est d'environ 3 000 $ par année pour une entreprise, et la plupart des mandats se situent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le secteur et le volume. Basé sur les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues. Le détail par secteur est dans le Baromètre Bankeo.
• Prepare your questions and checks. Our guide to questions to ask an accountant before hiring them and our guide to verifying an accountant's reliability in Quebec provide you with a ready-to-use checklist, including verification of the CPA designation with the Quebec CPA Order when the mandate requires it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to find an accountant?

Searching independently typically takes 2 to 6 weeks: defining your needs, researching firms, waiting for responses, meetings, and comparing quotes. Through Bankeo's matching service, connecting with an audited accountant within the network is frequently done within 48 hours, a timeframe observed in over 15,000 requests received since 2023.

Is it harder to find an accountant during tax season?

Yes. From February to April, the T1 and TP1 tax filing season keeps accounting firms busy, and many stop accepting new clients; a blind search can then take more than six weeks. The best time to shop around for an accountant is from July to October, when appointments become available.

Is Bankeo's 48-hour deadline guaranteed?

No, and this is intentional: 48 hours is the typical timeframe between request and match, based on over 15,000 requests received since 2023. This is not a contractual guarantee. A complex case or a highly specific request during peak season may take longer. In any event, we will assist you until you find the right match, free of charge.

How much does an accountant cost?

La médiane est d'environ 3 000 $ par année pour une entreprise, et la plupart des mandats se situent entre 500 $ et 6 000 $ selon le secteur et le volume. Basé sur les honoraires réels de 1 248 mandats conclus via Bankeo (2024-2026), sur plus de 15 000 demandes reçues. Le Baromètre Bankeo détaille ces fourchettes par secteur.

How can I verify that an accountant is reliable before hiring them?

Check their experience in your industry, ask for references, and if the engagement requires a CPA (for example, certain financial statements), confirm their designation in the Quebec CPA Order's directory. Accountants in the Bankeo network are audited before being recommended, which saves you some of these steps.

When should I start looking for an accountant for the 2026 season?

Ideally, search between July and October, when firms have availability: you can choose at your leisure and your file will be ready before the February rush. For an incorporated company, start your search at least two to three months before the end of the fiscal year, as the T2 and CO-17 forms are due six months later.

Official sources

1. Revenu Québec, Business section (VAT, DAS, CO-17)
2. Revenu Québec, personal income tax return (TP1);
3. Revenue Agency of the | Canada (T1, T2, VAT)
4. Quebec CPA Order