Multi-site strategy for TaxAssist

TaxAssist Accountants Alasdair MacLean and Wayne Strickland, who opened their first shop front in September 2005 in Dalkeith, have opened a second in Leith, near Edinburgh.

TaxAssist Accountants are the UK's leading accountancy and tax specialists for small businesses. They have over 150 franchisees with 45 shop front style offices allowing the small business owner easy access to competitively priced accountancy services.

More and more new recruits to the franchise are opting to start straight away from a shop front style office. On average, one in three are now planning to take this route.

As the numbers of shop fronts grow, so too does the brand and the Support Centre in Norwich sees evidence of this in the increasing number of telephone calls that now mention seeing a shop front.

TaxAssist Accountants have developed this client-friendly shop front concept as a reflection of the professional yet accessible approach, which is benefiting clients across the UK.

Alasdair MacLean says: 'My business partner Wayne and myself have ambitious growth plans for the future. We're really pleased with the performance of our first shop front, which is why we have opened a second and in three years time we hope to have opened a further three shop fronts.

'We have seen the way clients are attracted to our shop in Dalkeith, which has given us the confidence to open more. There is a particular formula for finding the correct location but if you can meet that criteria then we have found this to be a winning formula.'

TaxAssist Accountants provide small businesses with advice tailored specifically for their needs, from the completion of end of year accounts and annual tax returns to payroll, VAT and bookkeeping. This is complemented by a wide range of additional services for their clients, including debt recovery, independent financial advice and personnel (HR) services.