Advisor preparation
Questions to ask a QSBS advisor
A meeting-preparation guide for turning founder facts into focused questions for a CPA, tax attorney, or startup attorney.
Overview
The strongest QSBS meeting starts with specific facts, document gaps, and questions a qualified professional can actually review.
Key takeaways
- Ask about the fact pattern, not a yes-or-no outcome.
- Separate federal, state, transaction, and document questions.
- Bring a written brief so the advisor can respond precisely.
Company questions
Use company questions to confirm which entity, asset, and business-activity records the advisor wants to inspect.
- Which formation and conversion documents should be reviewed?
- Which financing dates matter most?
- Which business activities need closer review?
Shareholder questions
Use shareholder questions to clarify acquisition date, ownership history, transfer events, and holding-period documentation.
- Which stock acquisition records should be checked?
- How should transfers or secondary sales be reviewed?
- What holding-period documents are needed?
Transaction and state questions
If a sale or liquidity event is expected, ask the professional which federal, state-level, and transaction-specific issues should be reviewed.
- What should be reviewed before signing transaction documents?
- Which state-level questions apply?
- Should a tax attorney, CPA, or startup attorney lead the next step?
Suggested next steps
- Generate a discussion brief
- Send documents before the meeting where appropriate
- Capture follow-up requests from the advisor
FAQ
How should founders use this guide?
Use it to organize facts, records, unknown items, and questions before speaking with a qualified professional.
What should be done with state-level questions?
List them as review questions for a qualified professional. This guide does not make state-specific tax claims.
Preparation only
Use this guide to prepare a clearer advisor conversation.