How do other founders source and vet niche service providers (legal, accounting, etc.) at the pre-seed stage? (i will not promote)

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Your Three things that actually move the needle: Your cap table is your best vendor list. Pre-seed angels and funds each have a go-to corporate attorney and accountant they push portfolio companies to, often at startup-friendly rates. Ask your current investors (and the ones you're about to raise from) for one intro each. This single move usually beats 50 cold emails, and it pre-vets fit because they only refer people who've handled this stage before. For cold sourcing, hunt for proof of fit, not titles. Look for attorneys who write about Delaware C-corp cleanups, list emerging-company clients, or who founders in your accelerator already use. The signal you want is someone who's done your exact 30-40 page review and Carta reconciliation a hundred times. Flat fee comes from tight scope, not negotiation. You already have the scope: '30-40 docs reviewed plus Carta reconciled against the underlying paperwork, here's the list.' Send that exact spec and ask for a fixed quote. Boutique and solo emerging-company attorneys quote flat fast, and that speed is itself your good-fit signal. If they need three calls just to scope it, they're learning on your dime. I run a GTM agency and this reply-rate dynamic is exactly what we fight in B2B outbound daily: more targeting and warm intros, less volume. Happy to go deeper on the sourcing side if useful.