From Redundancy to a £1m Vision: Kam and Sejal Sira’s TaxAssist Success Story
When Kam and Sejal Sira opened their first TaxAssist Accountants shop in Watford in 2010, the UK was emerging from one of the toughest economic periods in recent history. What began as a bold step following redundancy soon became a powerful example of how the right franchise support, combined with determination and professional expertise, can lead to long-term success.
Today, the Siras run a thriving multi-office TaxAssist practice across Watford, Barnet and Borehamwood, supporting more than 1,000 small business clients and working towards an ambitious £1 million turnover target.
Why They Chose TaxAssist Accountants
After Kam was made redundant, the couple began searching for a business opportunity with proven demand and long-term stability.
“Knowing that accountancy services are always in demand, we took the chance to start our own business with TaxAssist,” explains Sejal, a former lawyer.
For Kam, the franchise model offered the ideal balance between independence and security.
“I wanted to work for myself using the skills I’d built over my career, but with the reassurance of a strong support network,” he says. “TaxAssist’s reputation and track record gave me the confidence to take that step.”
Getting Started With Franchise Support
To fund their new business, Kam and Sejal combined personal investment with a loan from NatWest’s franchise lending team, supported by a robust business plan.
Crucially, they also benefited from hands-on guidance from the TaxAssist Support Centre from day one.
“They helped us with everything from marketing and social media to networking strategies,” says Sejal. “That early support meant leads started coming in almost immediately.”
Growth and Expansion
From one shop in Watford, the Siras have expanded to two shops - in Barnet and Watford, plus an additional office in Borehamwood. They look after over 1000 clients and have ambitious plans to reach a £1,000,000 turnover within five years.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, their client relationships strengthened further.
“We contacted clients proactively to offer our expertise and helped many access government support schemes,” said Sejal. “We were busier than ever, and those goodwill gestures mean we’re more likely to keep clients long-term.”
Resilience in Challenging Times
Kam believes economic downturns can actually create opportunities: “Recessions often lead to people starting new businesses, and larger companies switching to smaller accountants to reduce costs. We were signing up two or three new clients every week, even during lockdown.”
For Kam and Sejal, joining TaxAssist was the right decision at the right time: “A recession can be a great time to start a business. My wife and I work together in our practice and we haven’t looked back!
Lessons Learned and Advice for New Franchisees
Like any growing business, challenges arose - particularly around work-life balance.
“In the early years, the business came first, even on family holidays,” admits Sejal. “Technology made it harder to switch off.”
Hiring staff and learning the power of delegation proved transformational.
“Once we built a strong team, we were able to establish clear boundaries between work and home and enjoy proper time away from the business.”
Kam and Sejal are passionate advocates for the franchise model:
“We have no hesitation in recommending TaxAssist and are always happy to talk about our journey and the central role the franchise has played in our success.”
Award-Winning Success
In fact, so successful has the franchise been, that in July 2022, Sejal won a Great British Franchisee Award.
"I was extremely honoured and proud to have received this important award," said Sejal. "I feel my success is largely because we have such dedicated and value driven support from our franchisor and my outstanding team, who share my goals and vision and help me build my business daily.
"Having witnessed my parents running several successful businesses – from newsagents to pubs and hotels – I know the value of hard work and the importance of customer experience and having a great team around you to support you. Therefore, I’m extremely proud that our dedication to customer satisfaction, the local community, staff development and incentivisation has been recognised in this way."
Further success has followed in 2023, with Kam and Sejal's practice shortlisted for SME Accountancy Firm of the Year at the British Business Awards.