TaxAssist Accountants continues to expand year on year and recently celebrated reaching two milestone figures
Growing a saleable fee bank, a better work-life balance and a business offering in demand services are all reasons why franchisees choose TaxAssist Accountants, the largest network of small business specialist accountants in the UK.
The award winning franchise of over 200 franchisees continues to grow year on year and recently celebrated two milestone figures - hitting the 60,000 client mark and the combined network fee bank reaching £40 million.
Both accountants and finance professionals are encouraged to take on a TaxAssist franchise and will benefit from the full back-up and support of a dedicated and experienced support centre. Franchisees can employ accountants, while they concentrate on building the business, holding client meetings and networking. What is important is that candidates have plenty of energy, a friendly persona, are technically competent and have a desire to succeed.
Phil Marriott joined TaxAssist in 2002 and after operating from offices in the Loughborough area, opened his first shop in Shepshed in 2008. Carl Whitehead joined Phil as a partner in 2011, having been employed in the practice since 2008. Together they launched a second shop in Long Eaton, Nottingham in 2013 and they’ve recently expanded their practice by moving into a new, larger premises to keep up with demand.
Carl says: “We now look after more than 350 small businesses and with a growing client base and business going from strength to strength, we’ve been on the lookout for a more centrally located shop for some time. Demand for our services continues to grow and with new businesses starting up, the new shop gives us the opportunity to grow with it.”
The TaxAssist support package includes initial and ongoing training for franchisees and their staff. In addition, there are helplines providing comprehensive support on accounting and tax issues, a lead generation service, marketing tool kits, localised and national PR and a raft of additional service providers for franchisees to offer an enhanced service to their clients.
Phil says: “The TaxAssist training has been good and support is excellent, including regular visits from the franchise development manager, business support with senior directors, half-yearly tax update days, a technical helpline and access to other courses/sponsored materials.
“The integrity, willingness and openness of all the team at TaxAssist struck me right from the outset, such that the decision to join them was much easier to make. As the TaxAssist network has grown, the directors and support centre have never lost that personal touch. This makes being a franchisee more enjoyable and the franchisor relationship is not remote in any way.
“The accountancy and tax advisory market continues to be in demand, especially as tax legislation becomes evermore complex. There seems to be no shortage of start-up businesses and existing businesses are keener than ever to ensure they have secured competitive fees, which drives enquiries in our direction. Growth has always been strong and having more than one visible shopfront increases the growth potential significantly.
“The main attraction of TaxAssist is their professional approach and the benefit of their mature business model. The TaxAssist brand is excellent and allows me to portray a big practice feel, but with a smaller practice price structure - a winner with the clients.
“TaxAssist seem to have their support structure with franchisees just right - there when you need them, but leaving you to run and develop your business when you don’t.”
The franchise fee to join TaxAssist is £36,950 (plus VAT) and allows franchisees to work from a commercial office and then move to a shopfront by the end of their third year.
Alternatively, franchisees can open up a shopfront from day one, allowing their business to grow faster. Full support and advice is available to help with business planning and finance raising and TaxAssist works closely with franchisees to help them achieve their goals and aspirations.
If you would like to find out more about the TaxAssist franchise, call Jody Macmillan for an informal chat. The next step would then be to attend a discovery day at the company’s support centre in Norwich, where you will be provided with more details and get to meet with one or more of the directors of the franchise.
You will also be provided with a full list of franchisees for you to speak with as part of the research process.