Accounting & Tax Franchise Interviews

Franchise Interview with BookKeeping Express

One theme on our weekly franchise radio show and podcast is that franchising is more than food. It includes almost 80 different industries, from signs to bookkeeping services. All businesses must keep track of their financials, and bookkeeping helps gauge how a company is doing.

Today, Franchise Interviews is meeting with Dom Cirello of the BookKeeping Express franchise opportunity. Dom is a franchisee to BookKeeping Express. BookKeeping Express is a national organization and franchise that provides businesses with professional bookkeeping services. 

Bookkeeping Express was founded in 1984 in California.

After serving 13 years in the United States Air Force and attaining the rank of Captain, Cirello spent the next 12 years as an IT project manager and business analyst. Dom found a comfortable transition to BookKeeping Express as it is a technology-driven solution. Dom obtained his master's degree in systems management and business administration at the Air Force Institute of Technology. In addition to owning a business, Cirello is active in his local community.

Franchise Interview with Fiesta Auto insurance

Today, Franchise Interviews is meeting with Fiesta Auto Insurance franchise opportunity. Fiesta Auto Insurance is the country's first franchise to join insurance and tax preparation. This strategy provides a one-stop shop for the budget-minded consumer. In addition to auto insurance, Fiesta provides insurance services for boats, motorcycles, homeowners, rentals, and more.

On the tax side, Fiesta offers federal and state personal income tax filings, business tax returns, electronic filing, and bank products. Fiesta also provides motor vehicle registration services, travel services, wireless services, instant wire money transfers, accounting, and bookkeeping services. We are meeting with the President of Fiesta Auto Insurance, John Rost. We are also meeting with one of our favorite writers, Nancy Weingartner, from Franchise Times magazine. Click the play button below to listen to the show. 

Franchise Interview with Instant Tax Service

We are meeting with Fez Ogbazion, the CEO of Instant Tax Service. Fez has an incredible story: He emigrated to the US from Ethiopia as a kid. When he began college at the University of Cincinnati, he needed a way to earn a living that fit with his class schedule. He was working on a degree in finance and accounting, and felt that doing taxes would be a great fit. He could work on his skills, build a client base, and make a little money during the short tax season. So, with the help of some credit cards and donations from friends and family, Fez opened his first tax business. Within five years, Fez had 26 locations in the Cincinnati, OH area. In 1999 - realizing he needed more startup capital to build the business he envisioned - he sold the company to Jackson Hewitt and used the proceeds to found Instant Tax Service in Dayton, OH.

Fez had to start over again, but he'd learned much from his first business experience. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked them the #1 new franchise in the country this year for the second year. It's consistently ranked among the National Minority Franchising Initiative's Top 50 franchises for minorities and was recently included among the Franchise Times' Fast 55. Click the play button below to listen to the show.

Franchise Interview with Liberty Tax

Franchise Interviews Meets franchise legend John Hewitt. This podcast is one of those must-listen-to shows. John Hewitt is the founder of Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax Service. In this show, we met with one of Liberty Tax Service's top franchisees, Dan Castellini. We had two opportunities to meet with the Liberty Tax Service franchise opportunity. Marc Johnson is the area developer for Liberty Tax Service. These guys make taxes fun! Listen in. Hit the play button to listen to the show (90-minute show). Original recording 2006. 

Franchise Interview with Smart Tax

Smart Tax is a franchise opportunity that differentiates itself from the rest by delivering top-quality, professional services while allowing franchisees to focus more on quality of life. It will enable its franchisees to own a tax preparation business without requiring a background in finance, accounting, or tax law – it’s an easy business to start up and operate just by following the established and comprehensive Smart Tax system. We are meeting with the founder of Smart Tax, Nick Rizzi.