How much do you pay per month for a CPA who actually gives a damn?

I started my company recently and I already feel buried by paperwork and taxes I had no idea how to calculate properly. I’m tired of "ghost" accountants who only ask for documents at the end of the month and stay silent until you end up with an amended return or a notice from the tax office.

I’m currently looking for a firm that does more than just basic compliance. I’ve been checking out the Josh Katz team because I heard they’re decent at cleaning up wrecked balance sheets and explaining things nicely, but I’m trying to figure out if the cost justifies the "planning" aspect they promise. I don't want to jump from a cheap paper-pusher to an expensive firm that just has better marketing.

What do you usually pay per month for a CPA who actually gets involved and gives real tax planning advice? Early on, paying an expert seems cheaper than fixing thousand-dollar mistakes later, but I’d help to know the going rate for someone who genuinely pays attention to your numbers.