Jonathan Frank joined the TaxAssist Accountants network in 2013. Ten years later, he runs a flourishing practice from two shops in Clitheroe and Colne in Lancashire. He has achieved year on year growth and now services over 400 clients with a fee bank of £350,000.
What did you do before taking up the franchise?
I worked for a Big Four national accountancy firm and had experience in audit, consulting and in public sector and corporate advisory.
I took voluntary redundancy after nearly 20 years and wanted my own local accountancy practice.
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why TaxAssist Accountants?
After seeing lots of TaxAssist Accountants shops, and carrying out some online research, I decided to investigate taking on an accountancy franchise.
I had long harboured a desire to focus on small businesses with my own practice and believed the ‘walk-in’ accessibility, coupled with national brand and support offered a winning formula.
My skills lie in implementing proven models, and TaxAssist provides a complete and up to date system.
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?
Normally a couple of client or initial consultation meetings, combined with supporting the staff team, and my own client work.
What challenges have you faced?
It does take time to build up clients initially, then getting the right team in place.
What have been the highlights of being a TaxAssist franchisee?
Seeing steady growth even during lockdown. I’ve also really enjoyed seeing team members develop and training more junior staff.
Receiving glowing reviews from clients has also been a particular highlight!
What has the training and support from TaxAssist Accountants been like?
Excellent. The initial training course was great and then a fantastic range of face-to-face and online tuition is available through the Training Academy.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so, how?
Yes, I’m so much happier running my own ship.
In your opinion, what differentiates TaxAssist from the competition?
Great leadership from the Franchisor keeps us up to date with the latest know-how at a local level. This for me is a huge differentiator between operating independently and being a part of a franchised network.
How has being a part of the franchise helped you to grow your practice?
We have a constant flow of leads from the Support Centre team which has meant continual growth for my practice.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy a TaxAssist Accountants franchise?
Be patient and stick to the plan. The business model works.
What are your plans for the future?
My aim is to keep growing and keep developing my team as a solid foundation for a sustainable practice.
I have no plans to retire, but when the time comes, I know I will have built up a business which is well respected and well run and is an asset for my future.