Haines & Lagerquist, CPAs in Baltimore: Full-Service Tax and Accounting for Mid-Market Businesses and Individuals

Haines & Lagerquist is a locally established CPA firm serving Baltimore-area businesses and individuals with tax preparation, accounting services, and financial advisory work. The firm operates as a traditional full-service practice, meaning clients engage them for ongoing bookkeeping and tax strategy rather than single-year return preparation, and the partners hold the CPA credential with active licenses.

What Haines & Lagerquist actually is

The firm handles corporate tax returns, individual returns with business income, bookkeeping and accounting system setup, and payroll compliance for business clients. For individuals, they offer personal income tax planning and return preparation, particularly valuable for self-employed professionals, rental-property owners, and those with complex income sources. The practice is structured around multi-year client relationships; the standard engagement model involves continuous advisory rather than transactional one-off returns. The firm maintains an office in Baltimore and serves clients throughout the surrounding region.

Services and engagement basis

Haines & Lagerquist typically engages clients on a retainer or fixed-fee basis for ongoing accounting and tax work. Business clients pay annual fees that vary based on entity type, payroll complexity, and transaction volume. Individual tax returns for clients without business income generally cost less than business packages. The firm works with clients to organize financial records, establish bookkeeping routines, and plan year-round tax strategy rather than filing last-minute returns. Specific pricing is not published online; potential clients must contact the office for a quote based on their particular situation.

How it compares to other Baltimore CPA options

Baltimore has several tiers of CPA services. National firms like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt focus on high-volume, low-cost individual returns and serve walk-in clients with fixed, advertised pricing (typically $150 to $400 for basic individual returns). These are suitable for straightforward W-2 filers but do not offer ongoing accounting or business advisory. Local independent CPAs, such as those practicing solo or in two-person partnerships, often focus narrowly on tax preparation and charge similarly transactional fees. Haines & Lagerquist occupies the mid-market position: larger than a solo practitioner, smaller than a Big Four office, and positioned for businesses with payroll, multiple revenue streams, and ongoing accounting needs. The retainer model means higher upfront cost than a one-off return but lower cost than retaining a large firm. Choose Haines & Lagerquist if you need year-round accounting oversight and tax planning. Choose a tax-prep chain if you file a simple return once a year. Choose a solo CPA if you need an occasional phone consultation and a low-cost return with minimal advisory.

Who this firm suits and who it does not

The firm is best for small-to-mid-size business owners (pass-through entities like S-corps, LLCs, partnerships), self-employed professionals, and individuals with investment income or rental properties. It suits clients who value planning over speed and who can support the cost of ongoing services. It is not ideal for salaried employees with simple returns, filers who need their return done in one session at low cost, or businesses with complex international operations requiring Big Four resources. It also does not serve clients seeking real-time bookkeeping software support; the firm focuses on planning and filing, not daily transaction entry.

What the first engagement involves

An initial consultation typically includes a review of your current accounting setup (or lack thereof), discussion of your business structure and tax goals, and a scope proposal with fees. If you move forward, the firm will likely request three years of prior returns and financial records, then outline a bookkeeping and planning schedule. Some clients transition from prior tax preparers; others begin a relationship after years of doing their own accounting. The firm will guide you on what documents to retain and how to organize them going forward.

Hours, location, and contact

Haines & Lagerquist maintains regular business hours and operates by appointment. Contact the firm directly at their Baltimore office for availability and to request a consultation. Tax planning and business advisory are year-round services, not seasonal; the busier filing period runs January through April.

Haines & Lagerquist serves Baltimore business owners and property investors who need more than a one-time tax return and prefer a local partner who understands the region's economic landscape over a national chain or solo practitioner.