FAQs

Yes. Recruitment and retaining good people are important to the success of any growing accountancy practice, so you won’t be left to manage this alone.

TaxAssist provides recruitment templates, guidance and assistance with hiring, helping you create attractive roles and build the team you need as your practice grows.

We also launched Resourcing by TaxAssist to provide the network with additional staffing solutions, while our training programmes can help you develop the skills of existing team members and create career pathways within your practice.

You’ll receive guidance on the staffing requirements of your practice as it develops, helping you understand when you may need additional resource and what roles could add the most value.

The aim is to help you build a capable team around you, so that you can spend more time on business development, client relationships and growing the value of your practice, rather than trying to do everything yourself.

Support starts before you open your doors and continues throughout your time with TaxAssist.

Before launch, our Franchise Recruitment, Legal, Finance and Training teams will guide you through the onboarding process. You’ll then complete our initial training programme, designed to prepare you for running your own TaxAssist practice.

Once you launch, you’ll have access to our Support Centre team of more than 100 people covering areas including:

• Technical support – a dedicated helpdesk covering accounts, tax, VAT, bookkeeping, payroll, software and other technical queries.
• Training and CPD – ongoing training through the TaxAssist Academy, including online learning, courses and technical updates.
• Marketing and business development – advice, campaigns, lead generation and support to help you grow your client base.
• Technology and software – implementation, training and ongoing support for your technology systems.
• Operational support – guidance across the practical aspects of running and developing your practice.
• Specialist services – access to Tax Consulting by TaxAssist, Payroll by TaxAssist and TaxAssist Plus, helping you meet wider client needs and create additional opportunities.

You’ll also benefit from the experience and best practice of the wider TaxAssist network, giving you access to other accountants who have faced many of the same challenges and opportunities, as well as Regional Meetings, Masterclasses and our National Conference.

TaxAssist provides access to a comprehensive suite of software designed to support the efficient running of a modern accountancy practice. This includes solutions for accounts and tax, practice management, engagement letters, bookkeeping, client onboarding, data capture and advisory, with providers including TaxCalc, Dext, Ignition, Xero, QuickBooks, Fathom, Karbon, Engager and FreeAgent. TaxCalc is the only mandated software.

We continually review the technology available to the network and negotiate preferential rates with selected software providers. You’ll receive training, support, installation and ongoing updates to help you get the most from the systems.

Our aim is to take away much of the time and complexity involved in selecting, implementing and managing technology, so you can focus on your clients and growing your practice.

Yes, many TaxAssist franchisees have joined us from industry as well as from practice.

What matters is that you have the right qualifications, commercial awareness and the motivation to build and run a successful accountancy business.

You’ll need to be a qualified accountant with a practising certificate. If you don’t currently have a practising certificate, we can advise you on the process for obtaining one.

You’ll also receive comprehensive initial training covering the practical and commercial aspects of running your TaxAssist practice. This is supported by ongoing technical, business development, marketing and operational support from our Norwich-based Support Centre.

As a practice owner, you’ll be responsible for developing client relationships, growing the business, managing your team and overseeing the performance of your practice – with TaxAssist providing the systems, expertise and support around you.

AI and emerging technology are changing the accountancy profession, but we see this as an opportunity rather than something to fear. Technology is already helping accountants automate routine tasks, improve efficiency and free up time for higher-value work and stronger client relationships.

Nobody can say with certainty exactly how the profession will evolve, but practices that embrace technology and adapt how they work will be well placed to benefit. AI can support areas such as data processing, research, analysis, workflow automation and client communications, allowing accountants to spend more time on advice, planning and helping clients make better business decisions.

At TaxAssist Accountants, we are actively investing in technology and exploring how AI can be used responsibly across our network. Our scale and dedicated central resources mean we can assess emerging technologies, identify practical applications and share developments with franchisees, helping them keep pace with change.

TaxAssist Accountants is a network that is prepared to adapt, invest and make the most of what technology can offer, while keeping people and client relationships at the heart of its service.

In March 2024, TaxAssist unveiled a new look series of brands to highlight that it can advise and support clients with much more than accountancy and tax services.

We know that most clients want and need more from their accountant, and detailed customer research identified that our previous branding did not reflect the range of innovative and personalised services that we offer for both business owners and individuals.

The evolved branding maintains the personal, friendly and professional feel that TaxAssist is renowned for and incorporates a new strapline ‘We can do more for you’, to reflect the extensive services, clients can expect.

As well as a refreshed logo and strapline, the TaxAssist brand has a new vibrant colour palette which highlights the complementary brands. This can be seen across our digital presence and will be applied to shops and offices in a planned rollout across the UK and Ireland over the next two years.

Refreshing the TaxAssist brand is a key development in the evolution of our business model and we are confident that the modern and impactful design sets the network up for future growth.

The new branding is intended to increase client attraction and retention and be even more appealing to potential TaxAssist Accountants looking to grow or buy a modern, professional accountancy practice with a clearly defined suite of services.

You don’t need to be a marketing expert to build a successful practice with TaxAssist Accountants. Our experienced in-house Marketing and Communications team provides training, guidance and ongoing support to help you promote your practice, generate enquiries and build your client base.

Your clients can come from a combination of your local presence, networking and marketing activity, referrals, national campaigns and online enquiries. To help you get started, we provide an initial marketing campaign and guarantee 25 free qualified leads from our lead generation activities within your first 12 months.

Our Marketing Team runs targeted campaigns designed to generate enquiries for the network and strengthen the TaxAssist brand nationally. We also have an experienced in-house Inbound Sales Team that responds to lead enquiries generated by these campaigns, helping to turn marketing activity into opportunities for your practice.

You also benefit from the marketing power of an established national brand. Each TaxAssist Accountants office or shop has its own responsive webpage, supported by the main TaxAssist client website. Our digital team continually optimises and develops the website, including content and technical improvements, to help maximise visibility across search engines and AI-powered search and answer platforms.

We also work with key online directories to support strong local search visibility, helping potential clients find their nearest TaxAssist Accountants practice when they are looking for accounting or tax support.

Alongside digital marketing, we provide a centralised email service, allowing you to keep your clients informed with relevant news, updates and useful information.

So, while you are responsible for building relationships and developing your local business, you have access to a dedicated team, established marketing channels, national campaigns and lead-generation activity designed to support you as you grow.

The TaxAssist Accountants Franchise Agreement is granted for an initial five-year term. Subject to you operating your franchise in accordance with the Franchise Agreement, including meeting any applicable minimum targets, you can renew the agreement for a further five years. You may pay any reasonable legal costs incurred by us in granting the New Agreement up to £1,000.

We expect most franchisees to renew their Franchise Agreement at the end of each five-year term, allowing them to continue developing their practice and benefiting from the TaxAssist Accountants network and the support available.

This five-year renewal cycle can continue throughout your time with TaxAssist Accountants, until you decide to dispose of your practice in the future.

Established in 1995, TaxAssist Accountants is the UK’s largest network of accountants dedicated to serving small and medium sized businesses and individuals. With more than 30 years’ experience of building and supporting a successful national network, we offer a well-established brand, proven systems and the expertise to help you build and grow your own accountancy practice.

Today, our network spans more than 250 franchised areas and over 400 shops and offices across the UK. Our strong brand presence is supported by national marketing, digital activity, branded vehicles and professionally produced marketing materials, helping franchisees benefit from awareness that would be difficult and costly to build independently.

Our franchise fees contribute towards a comprehensive package of ongoing support and resources, including marketing, technical and business development support, training, technology, operational guidance and access to a network of like-minded accountants. We continually invest in the brand, systems and services available to our franchisees, helping them keep pace with changes in the accountancy profession and identify new opportunities for growth.

We also provide access to a range of additional services and specialist partnerships that can help franchisees broaden the support they offer to clients and develop additional revenue opportunities. These include TaxAssist Plus Financial Planning, Tax Consulting by TaxAssist and Payroll by TaxAssist, alongside preferential rates on selected software and other business services.

Our aim is to provide more than just a recognised name. We give you the infrastructure, expertise, support and resources to help you establish and grow a successful accountancy practice, while retaining the independence of running your own business.

Our directors and senior leadership team bring extensive experience across accountancy, franchising and business, supported by a dedicated Support Centre team. Combined with the knowledge and experience of our established franchisee community, this gives you access to a depth of expertise that can support you throughout your journey with TaxAssist Accountants.

Yes. We encourage prospective franchisees to speak with existing TaxAssist Accountants franchisees as part of their research and due diligence.

Our franchisee community includes people at different stages of their journey, from those who have recently joined the network to experienced practice owners who have been with TaxAssist for many years. This means you can gain a genuine insight into what it is like to run a TaxAssist practice, the support available and the opportunities and challenges involved.

During the recruitment process, we can help facilitate conversations with existing franchisees who can share their experiences and answer your questions from their own perspective.

We believe it is important that you have the opportunity to hear directly from people already running their own TaxAssist practice before making your decision. 

Many accountants join TaxAssist Accountants with an existing client base. By bringing your clients into the network, you can combine the value of your established practice with the strength of the TaxAssist brand, systems, marketing and ongoing business support to help you take your practice to the next level.

If you join with an existing block of fees, we offer a reduced franchise fee of £9,975 + VAT, subject to a minimum existing fee base of £50,000.

There is also an incentive designed to support you during your first year in the network. Fees from clients you introduce or acquire when joining can be kept in a separate pool, with no Management Service Fee (MSF) payable on these fees for the first 12 months.

After the first 12 months, these fees will be combined with other fees acquired during your TaxAssist Accountants franchise term to form a single fee pool, and the standard Management Service Fee will apply to the total pool.

This provides an opportunity to bring the value of your existing client relationships into a well-established network while benefiting from the support, systems and brand investment that TaxAssist Accountants provides.

If we offer you a franchise, you can reserve an exclusive postcode territory for 30 days for which we require a deposit of 10% of the Franchise Fee.  

If you enter into a Franchise Agreement with us, then the deposit will be credited against the Franchise Fee. If for any reason the Franchise Agreement is not signed before two weeks prior to the Commencement Date, then we will agree to refund the deposit less a sum to cover any expenses incurred by us.

Yes. Your client base is a significant business asset that you own, and the TaxAssist Accountants Franchise Agreement allows you to plan for the future sale or succession of your practice, subject to the terms of the agreement.

We can work with you to plan your exit strategy or succession at the appropriate stage of your journey, helping you consider the options available when you decide it is time to move on from the business.

The value of an accountancy practice is typically influenced by its recurring fee income and other factors. As a guide, current industry averages are generally around 0.8 to 1 times gross recurring fees, while the strength and recognition of the TaxAssist Accountants brand can help support a premium valuation. Over the last four years, we have achieved sale multiples of up to 1.3 times annual billing on practices within the network.

There are also deferred fees and other provisions to consider when selling a TaxAssist practice, which are set out in the Franchise Agreement and should be factored into your exit planning and any agreed sale price.

Yes. Opening a shopfront is a requirement of the TaxAssist Accountants franchise model, and you will need to have a shop open before the end of your first year with us.

We understand that taking on premises is an important investment, which is why our dedicated Support Centre team will work with you throughout the process. We can provide guidance on identifying suitable premises, negotiating a lease, planning and permissions, refurbishment, staffing and preparing for your launch.

Your shop does not necessarily need to be located on a traditional high street. We look for visible, accessible locations where your TaxAssist practice can be easily seen and found by local businesses and individuals. The right location can provide an important combination of local visibility, credibility, brand awareness and opportunities for walk-in enquiries.

A TaxAssist shop is also much more than an office. It provides a permanent physical presence for your practice, reinforcing the brand in your local community and helping prospective clients know where they can find you.

Our franchisees take great pride in their shops, which remain an important part of the TaxAssist Accountants model. We will help you assess your local market and find a location that works for your business, while taking into account factors such as visibility, accessibility and the costs involved.

Yes. If you are joining the TaxAssist Accountants network as a new start or converting your existing practice, you must be a qualified accountant holding a practising certificate.

In 2026, we strengthened our entry requirements to reflect the changing regulatory environment and the time involved in obtaining Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration with HMRC. Requiring a practising certificate from the outset means you have the appropriate professional qualifications and regulatory standing in place, helping to minimise potential delays when establishing your practice.

When you engage in public practice, your professional body will require you to hold a practising certificate. The requirements vary between institutes, but typically include demonstrating the necessary experience and compliance with requirements relating to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), ethics and professional indemnity insurance.

If you do not currently hold a practising certificate, we recommend contacting your professional body directly to understand its requirements and the process and timescale for obtaining one, as these will depend on your experience, records and individual circumstances.

Our entry requirements also take account of the anticipated move towards FCA regulation of the sector from 2028, helping to ensure that our network continues to develop with a strong focus on professional qualifications and regulatory compliance.

We can discuss practising certificate requirements, along with the wider regulatory considerations of joining TaxAssist Accountants, during your Discovery Day.

When you join TaxAssist Accountants, you will be allocated an exclusive marketing territory, defined by postcode boundaries. This means that other TaxAssist Accountants franchisees cannot actively market directly within your territory, and you will not actively market within theirs.

Where local advertising covers more than one TaxAssist territory, we have a straightforward approach to sharing the costs and allocating responses. Advertising costs are normally divided between the relevant territories, with enquiries allocated according to the geographical area covered by each franchisee.

Your exclusive territory does not prevent you from acting for clients outside your allocated area. If you receive a genuine recommendation or referral from a potential client outside your exclusive marketing territory, you can act for that client.

This gives you the benefit of a defined local market to develop, while allowing your practice to grow through referrals and existing relationships.

Yes. Following your attendance at one of our Discovery Days, we will be pleased to provide you with a copy of the draft TaxAssist Accountants Franchise Agreement for you to review.

We encourage prospective franchisees to take the time to read the agreement carefully and seek independent professional legal advice before making any decision to proceed. This will help ensure you fully understand the terms, commitments and responsibilities involved in becoming a TaxAssist Accountants franchisee.

You will have access to the TaxAssist Pricing Tool, designed to help you and your team produce clear and competitive quotes based on each client’s individual circumstances and requirements.

The Pricing Tool also highlights relevant services that could benefit the client, helping you identify opportunities to provide a more comprehensive service while ensuring nothing important is overlooked.

Once you have agreed the proposed services with the client, you can use the tool to produce and email a clear quote, setting out what will be provided and the associated fee. This gives both you and your client a clear understanding of the services and costs before work begins.

You will receive full training and guidance on how to use the Pricing Tool effectively. While it provides a framework to support consistent and competitive pricing, you retain control over the final fee you charge each client.

The level of profit you achieve will depend on how you run and develop your practice, including your client base, fee income, staffing structure and operating costs. We provide the training, systems and support to help you build a profitable and sustainable business, but there is no guaranteed level of income or profit.

As a guide, our aim is for franchisees to build towards 400+ clients and turnover of £300,000 or more within five years. Some franchisees are comfortable maintaining their practice around this level, enjoying the income it generates while taking a relatively hands-off approach to the day-to-day running of the business. Others choose to continue investing in growth and develop their practice beyond £500,000 in annual turnover.

Our training and support includes guidance on the staffing requirements of your practice and how to manage your costs as your business grows. As a broad guide, we expect around a third of turnover to cover the costs of running your franchise and around a third to cover staffing costs, leaving approximately a third as potential net profit before taking account of any other relevant costs, taxation or drawings.

Your actual profit will depend on your individual circumstances and how efficiently you operate your practice, but our focus is on helping you build a business that provides sustainable income and long-term value.

Yes. The initial training course included within the franchise fee covers one person, so there is an additional cost if you would like to bring your partner or another member of your team.

We keep the additional training cost as reasonable as possible because we recognise the value of having partners and key members of staff fully trained and familiar with the TaxAssist Accountants systems, processes and ways of working from the outset.

We can provide further details of the additional cost during or following your Discovery Day, when we can also discuss who you would like to attend and the training arrangements involved.

Yes. Full professional training is provided to all TaxAssist Accountants franchisees, both when you join the network and throughout your time with us. Your initial training course is included in the franchise fee, with training delivered by our in-house specialists and selected external training partners.

Our TaxAssist Academy provides a comprehensive programme of ongoing technical and business training for you and your staff. Courses are available through a combination of regional sessions, online learning and self-paced training, giving you flexibility to develop your knowledge as your practice grows.

Most ongoing training courses are provided at no additional cost. Where a course does carry a fee, we aim to keep the cost below typical market rates.

Training is supported by regular update days and our dedicated internal platform Core, which provides access to a wide range of resources, including technical updates, marketing strategies and templates, online tutorials, training materials, practice management tools, additional service providers, a Pricing Tool and the ability to update your own practice webpage.

We also have a strong focus on maintaining professional standards across the network. Every TaxAssist Accountant is required to complete a minimum of 21 hours of structured Continuing Professional Development (CPD) each year.

Our approach means you have access to training and development throughout your journey with TaxAssist Accountants, helping you keep your technical knowledge current while developing the skills needed to grow and manage your practice.