Accounting Firm in Chattanooga

June 14, 2026

An accounting firm in Chattanooga gives businesses and individuals a local partner for tax, audit, and advisory work in a market built on manufacturing, logistics, insurance, healthcare, real estate, and a growing technology sector. A local firm offers year-round access to professionals who understand the Scenic City’s economy and can work directly with owners on planning, compliance, and assurance rather than a single seasonal engagement. Chattanooga is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 186,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and it serves as headquarters or regional base for several established CPA and advisory firms, some of which carry national rankings.

Not all accounting work in Tennessee requires a CPA. Non-CPAs can legally handle general bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax preparation. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) title and attest services, including financial statement audits and reviews, are restricted to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. The board operates under the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and regulates both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms. Consumers can verify a CPA or firm license through the board’s public lookup at verify.tn.gov before engaging a provider.

The distinction between a CPA firm and a general accounting service matters most when the work involves outside parties such as banks, investors, regulators, or the IRS. A lender underwriting a commercial loan, a nonprofit overseeing federal funds, or a buyer conducting acquisition due diligence will typically require statements that carry a licensed CPA’s audit, review, or compilation report. Many Chattanooga firms also belong to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of CPAs (TSCPA), which establish professional standards and continuing education requirements. These voluntary memberships signal a firm’s engagement with current standards in assurance, tax, and ethics.

Service offerings among Chattanooga firms generally include tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, advisory and consulting, outsourced accounting and bookkeeping, and payroll. Larger firms add specialized practices such as business valuation, mergers and acquisitions advisory, transaction due diligence, succession planning, and industry-focused consulting for sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, construction, and nonprofits. Tennessee imposes no state income tax on wages, which shapes planning for individuals and businesses, although federal obligations, the state’s franchise and excise taxes on businesses, and the 7% state sales tax plus local option still apply. Consumers who encounter deceptive practices can contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct go to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy.

Top Accounting Firm Providers in Chattanooga

1. HHM CPAs (Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough, PLLC)

Address: 1200 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 756-7771
Website: https://www.hhmcpas.com
Services: tax planning and compliance, audit, review, and compilation services, transaction advisory and due diligence, business valuations and M&A advisory, estate and wealth planning
Description: HHM CPAs, formally Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough, PLLC, is headquartered in Chattanooga, where the firm describes the city as the heart of its practice. The firm traces its origins to 1981, when it acquired an existing 18-year-old practice, and has grown to more than 30 partners and 250-plus professionals across offices in Chattanooga, Memphis, Cleveland in Tennessee, and Pensacola, Florida. HHM operates two Chattanooga locations, including its Freight Depot office on Market Street. Its services span tax planning and compliance, audit and assurance, transaction advisory and due diligence, business valuations and M&A advisory, and estate and wealth planning. Industries served include nonprofit, governmental, higher education, dealerships, healthcare, private equity, real estate and construction, employee benefit plans, and manufacturing and distribution.

2. Mauldin & Jenkins

Address: 200 W M.L.K. Boulevard, Suite 1100, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 756-6133
Website: https://www.mjcpa.com
Services: tax planning and compliance, assurance (financial statement audits, compilations, attestations, retirement plan audits), outsourced accounting and CFO services, business valuation, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, fraud detection, internal audit, technology services
Description: Mauldin & Jenkins operates a Chattanooga office in the downtown M.L.K. Boulevard corridor as part of a firm ranked among the top 100 nationally, with multiple offices across Tennessee and the Southeast. The firm combines big-firm resources with a local presence, offering tax, assurance, accounting, and advisory services. Its tax practice covers planning and compliance, estate, gift, and trust work, international taxation, and credits, while its assurance group handles financial statement audits, compilations, attestations, and retirement plan audits. Advisory services include business valuation, M&A, succession planning, fraud detection, and internal audit. Industries served include financial institutions, governments, higher education, nonprofits, real estate, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, insurance, and agriculture.

3. Hood, CPA & Associates

Address: 7110 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 541-7800
Website: https://www.hoodaccounting.com
Services: tax services (business, nonprofit, estate and trust, individual, state and local, tax planning, IRS assistance), assurance services (audits, reviews, compilations), payroll services, bookkeeping
Description: Hood, CPA & Associates is a Chattanooga firm led by Ryan J. Hood, CPA, operating from an East Brainerd Road office. The firm describes its approach as offering the services available at a large accounting firm with the personality and service of a small one, working with both business and individual clients across a range of sizes. Its services include tax preparation and planning for businesses, nonprofits, estates and trusts, and individuals, along with state and local tax work and IRS assistance. The firm also provides assurance services in the form of audits, reviews, and compilations, as well as payroll and bookkeeping support for ongoing client needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accounting Firm in Chattanooga

Q: Do I need a CPA, or can a regular accountant handle my taxes in Chattanooga?

It depends on the work. General bookkeeping, payroll, and basic tax return preparation can be handled by a non-CPA accountant. The CPA title and attest services such as audits, reviews, and compilations of financial statements are legally restricted to individuals and firms licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. If a lender, investor, grantor, or regulator requires audited or reviewed financial statements, you will need a licensed CPA firm.

Q: How do I verify that an accounting firm in Chattanooga is a licensed CPA firm?

You can verify both individual CPAs and registered accounting firms through the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, which operates under the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The board provides a public license lookup at verify.tn.gov, and you can also reach the board by phone at 888-453-6150. Confirming the license verifies that the firm is authorized to use the CPA designation and provide attest services in Tennessee.

Q: What is the difference between an audit, a review, and a compilation?

These are three levels of assurance a CPA firm can provide on financial statements. An audit offers the highest level of assurance and involves testing and verification to express an opinion. A review provides limited assurance through inquiry and analytical procedures. A compilation presents management’s financial information in statement form without providing assurance. All three, when issued under a CPA report, must come from a licensed CPA firm.

Q: Does Tennessee charge state income tax on individuals?

Tennessee does not levy a state income tax on wages and salaries. This affects how individuals and businesses approach tax planning, though federal income tax obligations remain, and businesses must still address Tennessee’s franchise and excise taxes and the 7% state sales tax plus the applicable local option rate. A CPA firm can help structure compliance with both federal and state requirements.

Q: What should I look for when choosing an accounting firm in Chattanooga?

Consider whether the firm holds an active license with the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy, whether it offers the services you need (tax, audit, advisory, bookkeeping, or payroll), and whether it has experience in your industry, such as manufacturing, healthcare, or real estate. Membership in the AICPA and the Tennessee Society of CPAs indicates engagement with current professional standards. For audit or assurance work, confirm the firm is a registered CPA firm rather than a bookkeeping-only service.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an accounting firm in Chattanooga?

Complaints about a CPA’s professional conduct or licensing should be directed to the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy. For disputes involving deceptive business practices, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) and accepts consumer complaints. Keeping your engagement letter, invoices, and correspondence helps support any complaint you file.