By JANE SCHMITT

Trust the experts.

That's what it comes down to for local business owners.

While they're doing their thing - that is, running their company - they rely on professional advisers such as CPAs and lawyers to handle the rest.

"Business owners can't be everything," says CPA Richard Wojciechowski, a partner in Gaines Kriner Elliott LLP, Amherst. "There are certain aspects of what affects their business that they rely on other people to be the experts in. When you take the combination of law and finances, it's two segments of the business that could sink (it) if done improperly."

Trust goes both ways, he says. The best relationships are those in which all parties feel a high level of comfort, as well as confidence that they're working toward a common goal: a successful operation that is prepared to weather all kinds of economic storms.

"The trusted relationship is based upon the fact that 'I can't learn everything that I need to know to make sure I keep my business out of trouble. I need to know that I have somebody who is watching my back, protecting the best interests of my company and my family, helping to make sure that we stay successful.' The thing you have to grasp here," says Wojciechowsk, "the thing that's important, is this: It's not only the relationship between the business owner and the accountant, the business owner and the attorney, but also the attorney and accountant working together to make sure that the dual aspects of what is being done serve them well."

Kenneth Franasiak would agree. As chairman and CEO of Calamar Enterprises in Wheatfield, he wears many hats but says he counts on a team of professionals, both in-house and external, to get things done.

"All the professional advisers we use - whether it's accounting, legal, investment - are all integral parts of our team, and we consider them, really, a functioning part of the team versus outside resources," Franasiak says. "We have them involved in everything from strategic objectives to meat-and-potatoes-type accounting efforts to procedural things we do. They function lock step with the rest of our management team."

At times, protecting business owners from themselves is the name of the game for CPAs and attorneys. They pride themselves on helping to avoid missteps by educating management about legislative and regulatory developments.

"The biggest problem I have is knowing how much is information overload," says Wojciechowski.

Gaines Kriner Elliott looks to help area companies "create history, not just record it," he adds. "Our goal is to be proactive, help you do things that make your business better and make you more successful in the long term."

In this economy, achieving corporate and financial goals is no small task, no matter the industry or size of the company. Long-term planning is a must, according to CPA Denise Neamon, also a partner in Gaines Kriner Elliott. She steps in to assist clients with tax-savings strategies, mergers and acquisitions, succession plans, year-end evaluations and more.

"I believe that being a trusted business adviser is very important to a client's success. I invest time and effort in initiating and building long-term relationships, consistently look for ways to help the client through tax savings or suggesting ways to increase their bottom line, and also give them a level of expertise that they don't have in-house," Neamon says.

"This is all to help their businesses grow and thrive. When that happens, it is very exciting for the client, as well as me. I believe I have a trusted relationship with many of my clients."

While management focuses on day-to-day, CPAs specialize in looking at the big picture.

"I do look at the big picture for each of my clients. At various times throughout the year, I like to sit down with my clients to make suggestions as to how they can improve what they are currently doing. I believe they find this to be very beneficial," Neamon says.

As for what's on the horizon, she says, "I will be looking for legislative changes in health care and tax law as we move into 2012 to see how any of these changes may impact my clients."