Franchise Article

Sarah received her award from Geoff Hurst at 2020’s Annual Conference which was attended by over 400 accountants in Birmingham.

Sarah joined TaxAssist Accountants – the largest UK network of accountants for small businesses - in September 2005 and in the last two year has dramatically contributed to the growth in the network through innovative marketing solutions and solid practice management techniques.

Sarah believes that in order to maximise the value of accountancy practices, the disciplines of marketing, technical and practice management need to work hand in hand and should not be seen as stand alone.

Key figures which helped Sarah to win the award are:

•           Gross recurring fees in the network have increased by 67% in two years.

•           2,606 inbound qualified leads were delivered to the network in 2006 and 2,128 have already been delivered in 8 months of 2007.

•           1 in 2 or 1 in 3 (depending on geography and accountancy practice) of leads is converted into clients.

•           The number of clients has increased by 48% in two years.

•           Referrals have increased by 75% in two years, and gross recurring fees from these referrals have increased by 110%.

Sarah has worked consistently to improve and enhance the support package for the franchisees of TaxAssist Accountants. They can now benefit from an ever growing brand name, proven shop front strategy, increased marketing training, telemarketing and client leads from national marketing, comprehensive client, recruitment and franchisee support websites, PR, branded partners, bespoke business development tools, best practice forums and marketing literature amongst other things.

Chief Executive Karl Sandall says,

“Sarah has totally changed the way we understand marketing and brand. Her marketing centric approach has shown us all that it should be at the centre of everything we do in our business. The strategies she has employed for the network have created volumes of profitable clients and greatly increased awareness of the brand. Each year the results get better and Sarah continually strives for more and more. New initiatives are constantly being developed, tested and implemented to the benefit of all. We would not have achieved the results we have without the professionalism and dedication of Sarah and I do not know of anyone working in the accountancy sector that has brought this level of innovation, enthusiasm and results driven determination.”