TaxAssist Accountants is an award-winning accountancy franchise, which offers a first-class accountancy service to small businesses and self-employed individuals. Established in 1995, TaxAssist Accountants is the U.K.’s largest network of accountants specifically servicing the small business market, adhering to the highest professional standards.
Globally, the network consists of more than 250 franchised areas, services over 85,000 clients and has a fee bank of more than £55million. It is currently at 22nd in the Accountancy Age Top 50 league of U.K. Accountants, the only accounting franchise opportunity to be recognized in the league tables. TaxAssist Accountants has build a successful business model that is easily replicated across multiple markets.
International opportunities
Since 2009, TaxAssist Accountants has been growing the brand internationally and has exciting international franchise opportunities, which are primarily available in:
- Canada
- U.S.A.
- Ireland
- Australia
- New Zealand
While there are many differences between the U.K. and the target countries, both cultural and legal, there is one constant – every country has a high number of small businesses and self-employed individuals that have to pay tax and are in need of a professional accounting service.
The TaxAssist branding, marketing, training, support functions and shopfront concepts lend themselves to international franchising. Being one of the U.K.’s leading franchisors, TaxAssist is able to demonstrate its ability to recruit and support franchisees and the strength of the business model through the work of its qualified accountants’ first-class services.
With more than 24 years experience of operating a substantial network, TaxAssist branded shopfronts are well-recognized and respected.
Canada
For the ambitious business owner or companies with an accounting, franchising, corporate or financial background, the brand is offering totally comprehensive support and a license to use the TaxAssist Accountants brand which will allow franchisees to build a network of 65+ of your own franchisees within an agreed territory.
Master franchisees will be expected to commence recruiting, training and supporting your growing network of franchisees within their exclusive territory.
U.S.A.
TaxAssist Accountants are looking to award the area representative rights either to an individual who has been working at senior management level and is looking to use their business experience to build a saleable business, or to a firm of accountants looking to go state-wide but don’t want the costs of opening multiple offices or the risks associated with employing managers who could leave, with clients following.
Unlike the master franchise model, the area representative and the franchisor share responsibility for recruiting, training, supporting and administering a network of franchisees.
The responsibility will be split for the core support services. The area representative’s role will be to facilitate franchisee recruitment, train, and provide ongoing support to franchisees who open and operate single unit franchises within their development area. In return, area representatives will receive a percentage of the franchise fee for each new unit sold, as well as a percentage of the ongoing Management Service Fees.
Out of all the 50 U.S. states, 22 have a population in excess of five million and are, therefore, suitable for TaxAssist Accountants area representatives. There are a further 28 states with a population of less than five million which could be viable for area representatives or be bolted onto existing states.
Ireland
In February 2009, the brand awarded its first master franchise opportunity to the Republic of Ireland (R.O.I). The master franchise rights were awarded to an established accountancy practice (principle being a Certified Public Accountant) that was already successful in its own right, but wanted to grow nationally and saw the value in the TaxAssist Accountants brand, experience and support.
At the end of September 2019, the master franchisee in R.O.I. had recruited franchisees covering 19 areas, who look after more than 6050 clients with a fee bank of €5.97m. TaxAssist Accountants Ireland is operated by managing director Alison McGinley.
“Where the franchise model adds value, is the strength of the brand, the high visibility of the TaxAssist Accountants store premises, which have become a welcome drop-in center for many established small business customers as well as passing trade – and an extremely experienced network and central Support Centre” – Alison McGinley, Managing Director, Ireland.
Single-unit franchise opportunities are currently available.
Australia
In 2015, business partners Terry Murphy and Celeste Godwin, acquired the master franchise license for Queensland and have extended this to New South Wales, ACT and Victoria. Terry and Celeste currently have their own company-owned TaxAssist Accountants practices across both Queensland and New South Wales and have grown their network to ten franchised areas.
In 2018, TaxAssist Accountants awarded the master franchise rights for Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory to business partners Steve Herlihy and Tricia Kingston. Steve and Tricia opened their first shopfront in Mount Hawthorn, central Perth, in July 2018.
Single-unit franchise opportunities are currently available.
New Zealand
Business owners running an existing accounting practice who want to accelerate their growth, are offered master franchise opportunities to existing accountants in New Zealand. The brand will provide comprehensive support and a license to use the TaxAssist Accountants brand, which will be provided to allow the master franchisee to build a network of 30-40 of their own franchisees across New Zealand.
The first step will be to establish the TaxAssist Accountants operation in order to prove the concept in the territory and give visibility to the brand. Once established, master franchisees will then commence recruiting, training and supporting the growing network of franchisees within their exclusive territory.
Training at the U.K. support center
The package for master franchisees and area representatives provides comprehensive training and a complete overview of the TaxAssist Accountants system in action.
The initial training at TaxAssist’s Support Centre in the U.K. is split into two parts. The first program trains master franchisees and area representatives on how to successfully recruit, develop and support a network of franchisees. The second element covers running a TaxAssist Accountants franchise and includes training on business development, marketing, practice management, software and technical operations.
TaxAssist Accountants are focused on not just awarding master franchise and area representative rights, but working with its international partners to secure long-term success. The lead generation service will provide crucial prospects to help support growth across the brand’s entire franchise network.