In 2025, Lloyd Evans sold his Kingswinford and Wolverhampton practice to The TaxAssist Group, remaining employed as the Practice Partner. Here he looks back on his experiences with TaxAssist.
What made you decide to join TaxAssist Accountants?
I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in 1990, working primarily within their small business team. As well as gaining valuable experience in practice post-qualification, I subsequently spent more than 20 years in industry working in a number of small businesses across a variety of industry sectors. One of these sectors was franchising with ChipsAway, where I joined as Finance Director in 2006.
I became Chief Executive in 2007 leading them through the acquisition of IPR, from the American originator, and the subsequent sale to a PLC. I was involved in a later buyout which saw the business (along with other franchise brands) being bought into private hands.
In 2012, I moved on following a wish to build a business of my own where I had the majority stake. I was looking for something where I could use my skills and experience gained over many years. I knew the benefits of being involved with a quality franchise, so I turned to that sector for my inspiration.
I looked at a variety of businesses within franchising but none of them gave me that spark until I looked at TaxAssist Accountants. I felt I could use my experience gained from working within a professional accountancy practice, and I very much enjoyed the buzz associated with helping small businesses. Additionally, I felt I could provide added value to my clients through my experience of being involved with and running small businesses.
In addition, I knew of the high reputation of the management team, the strength of the brand and business model. This was supported by many awards, gained from both within and outside the franchise industry. I carried out a high level of initial research before committing to a Discovery Day. After meeting the team on that day, I was convinced this was the right opportunity for me – that’s where the excitement and hard work really started!
What have been the highlights of being a TaxAssist Accountants' franchisee?
Working for myself with the challenges, flexibility and excitement that it brings.
Being part of a team which includes our shop team, fellow franchisees and the support team in Norwich
How did you grow the business during your time as a franchisee?
Having started by myself in 2012 I grew the practice in Kingswinford to a stage whereby I could expand further and purchased my neighbour's business in Wolverhampton, when he was looking to retire. This acquisition gave me the opportunity to develop the team working with me and used the skills I had gained over many years in business. During the acquisition, the TaxAssist Support Team were always on hand to bounce ideas off and to sense check the approach being adopted to ensure fairness on both sides.
There is much hard work ahead for anyone starting in business and just because you join a franchise that does not mean it is any easier, however you do not have to re-invent the wheel, and you are part of a team!
What would your advice be to anyone looking to join TaxAssist Accountants?
If you have a desire to work for yourself and have an interest in small business, then look no further. Ensure you carry out research about your target area and visit/speak with existing franchisees to pick their brains. During this process you should find out whether this is the business for you. Just because TaxAssist Accountants is a good business doesn’t make it the right business for everyone!
What part do the complementary TaxAssist services play in the practice?
I've already referred several clients over to the team in Norwich.
Financial Planning by TaxAssist gives me and my team additional comfort and confidence that we can tackle almost anything and we’re becoming more and more like a one-stop-shop. Clearly, we can’t talk about the specifics of investment or whether they are right for the client, but we can certainly talk about the tax benefits, particularly for Limited Companies and higher rate taxpayers with pension contributions and with relevant life policies. Introducing a colleague from the team is a great offering for us as TaxAssist.
My perception is that clients think about us even more positively. So rather than us just being a small accountancy practice that looks after small businesses, we can offer a lot more, with even more value for money propositions.
Why did you decide to sell your accounting practice?
I wasn’t looking to retire, but I was keen to continue growing the business with the support of others. When The TaxAssist Group, as part of its strategic plan to build scale and profitability through a direct provisioning model, sought to acquire select franchises, I was approached about selling the practice while remaining in place as a practice partner. This arrangement works well for both parties, and I look forward to continuing my work in the practice for the foreseeable future.
Why did you sell the business to The TaxAssist Group?
TaxAssist Accountants is a fantastic brand and I was keen to preserve the continuity of the brand name and the team which the clients have trust and confidence in.
How do you see the future for you and your clients?
Personally, I see this as an opportunity to work closely with The Group to help achieve its strategic aims. For my staff, I see exciting times ahead in terms of personal development. Clients will continue to benefit from the enhanced range of services that the TaxAssist family offers, including digital bookkeeping, advisory services, tax consulting, payroll and financial services, investment, pension and protection products.
