How do I get my accounting firm recommended by ChatGPT and AI search?
Prospects now ask AI tools which accountant fits their situation. Firms that describe themselves clearly get named.
- Why does ChatGPT suggest other firms?
- What do AI tools look at?
- Can we pay to be recommended?
Be specific and consistent. Publish pages that say exactly who you serve, what you do and where, such as T2 returns for incorporated consultants in Ottawa, keep your Google Business Profile and directory listings accurate, collect genuine reviews and earn mentions on trusted sites. Google says its AI features need no special optimization beyond good SEO.
What helps
- Pages per service and client type, not one generic services page.
- Accurate Google Business Profile, Bing Places and directory listings.
- Genuine reviews that mention services and client types.
- Mentions in local business groups, associations and media.
Check what AI says now
Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI Mode the questions your prospects ask, such as "accountant for small business in Mississauga", and note who's named and which pages are cited.
Go deeper
Our AI search guide for accountants shows example questions, how assistants choose firms and how to track mentions.
How we look at it at ShoutEx
We work on the pages, listings and reviews together, and check AI answers monthly with the same questions.
- Guarantees of AI rankings.
- Generic "we offer accounting services" pages.
- Inconsistent firm details across listings.
- Fake or incentivized reviews.
- Specific service and audience pages.
- Consistent listings.
- Steady genuine reviews.
- Monthly checks with the same questions.
What accountants and regulators say
Here is what Google and practitioners say.
Google says there are no additional requirements or special optimizations to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode.
Read Google's guidance →Firm owners notice prospects mentioning ChatGPT and discuss what the recommended firms have in common.
Browse the threads →Pages written for AI search still need to follow the CPA Code's advertising rule: accurate and substantiated.
Read the guidance →Community summaries describe recurring themes in public threads, not individual posts. Vendor pages describe vendor claims, so test them on your own calls.
Read next
Go deeper in the ShoutEx guides, or check the sources behind this answer.
We'll check what AI tools say about your firm and what to fix.
Book a call →Follow-up questions
Does an llms.txt file help?
Google says no special files are needed. Focus on clear pages and listings.
Do reviews affect AI recommendations?
They're a public signal of reputation that assistants often draw on.
How long until we show up?
Usually months. Measure with the same questions each month.