TaxAssist Accountants

TaxAssist Accountants is an award-winning franchise, which offers a first-class accounting service to small businesses and self-employed individuals. Established in 1995, TaxAssist Accountants is the UK’s largest network of accountants specifically servicing the small business market.

Globally our network consists of more than 250 franchised areas, services over 85,000 clients and has a fee bank of more than £55million. We are currently at 22nd in the Accountancy Age Top 50 league of UK Accountants, the only accounting franchise to be recognised in the league tables.

International opportunities

Since 2009, we have been growing the brand internationally and we have exciting international franchise opportunities, which are primarily available in:

• Canada

• USA

• Ireland

• Australia

• New Zealand

While there are many differences between the UK 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 UK’s leading franchisors, TaxAssist is able to demonstrate its ability to recruit and support franchisees and the strength of the business model.

With more than 24 years’ experience of operating a substantial network, our branded shopfronts are well-recognised and respected.

Canada

If you are an ambitious individual or company with an accounting, franchising, corporate or financial background, we are offering totally comprehensive support and a licence to use the TaxAssist Accountants brand which will allow you to build a network of 65+ of your own franchisees within an agreed territory.

Your role, as Master Franchisee will be to commence recruiting, training and supporting your growing network of franchisees within your exclusive territory.

USA

We are looking to award our 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 doesn’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 us, the franchisor, share responsibility for recruiting, training, supporting and administering a network of franchisees.

The responsibility will be split for the core support services. Your 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, you 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 US states, 22 have a population in excess of 5 million and are, therefore, suitable for TaxAssist Accountants Area Representatives. There are a further 28 states with a population of less than 5 million which could be viable for Area Representatives or be bolted onto existing states.

Ireland

In February 2009, we awarded our first Master Franchise Licence to the Republic of Ireland (ROI). 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, our Master Franchisee in ROI 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 welcome drop-in centre 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 licence 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, we awarded the Master Franchise Rights to 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

If you are running an existing accounting practice and want to accelerate your growth, we are offering Master Franchise opportunities to existing accountants in New Zealand. We provide comprehensive support and a license to use the TaxAssist Accountants brand, which will be provided to allow you to build a network of 30-40 of your own franchisees across New Zealand.

The first step will be to establish your own TaxAssist Accountants operation in order to prove the concept in your territory and give visibility to the brand. Once established, you will then commence recruiting, training and supporting your growing network of franchisees within your exclusive territory.

Training at our UK support centre

Our package for Master Franchisees and Area Representatives provides comprehensive training and a complete overview of the TaxAssist Accountants system in action.

Our initial training at our Support Centre in the UK is split into two parts. The first programme 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.

We are focused on not just awarding Master Franchise and Area Representative rights, but working with our international partners to secure long-term success.

If you are interested in acquiring our Master Franchise Rights, or becoming an Area Representative for another country then please call our recruitment team on +44 1603 447 402 or email david.paulson@taxassist.com