By Caron Betts FCA, Practice Development and Learning Manager, TaxAssist Accountants
Caron plays a key role in driving learning, innovation and performance across the TaxAssist network, supporting franchisees and their teams to build stronger, more successful practices. She began her career in practice, managing a varied client portfolio ranging from start-ups to established businesses, with a particular focus on business planning and tax compliance. Caron later moved into professional training and learning development, supporting accountants throughout their careers, and has since specialised in learning technology to enhance skills, confidence and real-world application in practice.
I've spent most of my career working in - or training staff in - accountancy practices and I've been asked many times if I wanted to start up my own practice. Like many experienced accountants, I could have started my own practice. I had the training, the experience and the client-facing skills.
What held me back wasn’t ambition - it was the loss of the support structure I had always relied on, and the impact that could have on both clients and work-life balance. For many accountants, that same realisation is what leads them to join a franchise - because the right support, structure and shared expertise remove many of the risks and pressures of going it alone.
Always Having the Right Support Behind You
Throughout my time in practice, one thing was consistent; I was never truly working in isolation.
That safety net mattered. It meant I could be confident that clients were always receiving the best possible advice, even when the question went beyond my personal specialism. This is one of the biggest differences between working entirely alone and operating within a supported structure - you don’t have to be an expert in everything to deliver an excellent service.
If I had a tax query, there was always a specialist team I could turn to - much like the Technical Support team available to TaxAssist franchisees. If the work was more complex or outside my experience, it could be escalated to a Tax Partner, in the same way franchisees can lean on the Tax Consulting by TaxAssist team.
Staying Up to Date Without Constant Pressure
Another advantage of working within a structured environment is knowing that keeping up to date doesn’t fall solely on your shoulders.
In practice, I benefited from:
- Regular technical training
- Structured internal update sessions
- Access to trusted technical resources
and that combination meant I didn’t have to constantly worry about missing important changes.
While professional bodies offer excellent resources, much of that support is self-serve. Having information pushed to you - and explained in a practical, real-world context - makes a significant difference and ensures that what matters most is flagged clearly and promptly. That’s why TaxAssist franchisees value the Technical Update Days, webinars, Croner-i-subscriptions, weekly updates, compliance guidance and HR support available to them as part of the franchise Training Academy package.
Delegation, Pricing and Focusing on Higher-Value Work
One of the most practical benefits of working within a larger practice environment is the ability to delegate effectively.
In practice, I always had the option to pass lower-grade work to junior staff, allowing me to focus on higher-level advisory services. Friends who run one-person practices often tell me they spend a disproportionate amount of time on routine tasks - not because they want to, but because there’s no one else to do them. Even with good software, the ability to structure a team properly matters. It allows:
- Better use of time which can be used instead on practice development
- More appropriate, completive pricing
- A greater focus on advisory and relationship-based work
That structure is far harder to achieve when starting completely on your own. Part of the Initial Training at TaxAssist focuses on staffing structures and how to recruit & retain a team.
Developing as a Manager, Not Just an Accountant
Management skills don’t develop in isolation.
For me, growth as a professional came from:
- Having a team to manage so I could learn "on the job"
- Being supported with leadership and development training
Structured programmes that focus on leadership and people management are vital in helping accountants move from being technical experts to becoming confident business leaders and so expert advisors to their clients. This is an area many solo practitioners may struggle with - not through lack of ability, but lack of opportunity and support.
That’s why structured courses, like TaxAssist’s Lead Management programme, matter. They support accountants in becoming business leaders, not just technical experts - something many solo practitioners struggle to do.
The Value of a Peer Network
One thing I’ve always valued is being part of a wider professional community.
Having a peer group - people who understand the challenges you’re facing - provides reassurance, perspective and practical solutions. The opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges and learn from others is incredibly powerful.
I see first-hand the level of support provided to accountants across the TaxAssist network, from technical discussions to help with recruitment and operational challenges. That depth of best practice support and advice simply isn’t available to most small practices without significant additional cost.
Why Brand and Balance Matter
Brand is often underestimated in accountancy - but it matters.
Clients take comfort from a recognised, established name. It creates trust more quickly and removes some of the barriers that independent practitioners face when building credibility from scratch. Setting up entirely alone can mean:
- A longer path to building a stable, profitable client base
- Pressure to take on clients at fees you might not otherwise accept
- Less flexibility around work-life balance in the early years
Having the ability to learn from the TaxAssist marketing team on everything from using social media to networking, with the back-up of a nationally recognised brand makes winning clients much easier.
Support as a Platform for Confidence and Growth
Choosing not to go it alone isn’t about lacking confidence or ambition.
For many experienced accountants, it’s about wanting to deliver consistently high-quality work, without unnecessary risk or isolation. With the right systems, training and support, accountants can focus on what they do best - advising clients, leading teams and building sustainable, successful practices.
Caron Betts FCA is Practice Development and Learning Manager at TaxAssist Accountants.
