TaxAssist will be opening its store-front accountancy franchise in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory after signing a master franchisee agreement.

Business partners Steve Herlihy and Tricia Kingston have signed up as joint directors to operate the UK-based franchise system across these regions and will launch the initial store in Perth. This base will become the support centre for a network of franchisees, who will receive technical, marketing and business development training and support.

Herlihy said “The small business sector in Australia includes over two million businesses, employing 40 per cent of the population and representing just under 30 per cent of all industry profits. Our move to franchising offers the ideal vehicle through which to service this broad sector through a network of local offices.”

Kingston said “With strong support from the TaxAssist Accountants team combined with a proven franchise model and the marketing power of a global brand, means we have a fantastic opportunity that will attract accountants keen to establish their own practice under the TaxAssist Accountants name.”

TaxAssist launched in Australia in 2015 with Terry Murphy and Celeste Godwin handling the Queensland, New South Wales and ACT, and Victoria business.

There are more than 220 franchised territories in Australia, the UK and Republic of Ireland operating from over 300 shops and offices.

In January 2018, the network’s more than 76,000 clients brought in gross recurring annual fees in excess of $90 million.