Anyone else getting buyout offers from the chains?

[erchess]

My experience

I have not heard from anyone since prior to this tax season that just passed but I think I have heard from HRB once and I know that I have heard more than once each from Liberty and JH. I have also run across two other RAL Shop outfits that sell franchises. There are only two problems that prevent me from partnering up with one of these outfits. I want to do mostly complex returns and if I were told I had to spend even one more day doing all returns with nothing but wages kids and the kid related credits I would put a pistol to my head instead. Also I can't be bothered to print client checks or before June assist with "Where's my refund?" questions. I seek to bring into my reality people who understand three important things. First, not every tax professional can handle their return competently. Two, good customer service has to be paid for and is worth it. Three, anyone who gets a refund representing more than ten percent of their income for the year has planned unwisely.

[DTS]

Dream

I used to have a recurring dream about a Rolls pulling upfront of my business and a nicely dressed fellow put his head over the Dutch door and he would tell me "I'll give you half-million for your place". I would dangle the keys in front of his face as if to say "it's all yours, babe" and my dream always ended there.

Who knew!

[Black Bart]

Good thinkin', E C

...I seek to bring into my reality people who understand three important things:

First, not every tax professional can handle their return competently.

Two, good customer service has to be paid for and is worth it.

Only thing, such customers (in my experience) are just slightly less rare than unicorns.

Three, anyone who gets a refund representing more than ten percent of their income for the year has planned unwisely.

I agree -- you've got an idea that's a diamond in the rough. I've previously overlooked financial planning for my EIC customers (about 25%). Shoot, I'm sendin' out a letter advisin' they sign up right away for advance EIC (why wait for a $5K pop in January?)

[Possi]

No offer here...

Paranoia is beginning to set in. I guess I'm the only one who has not received this contact.

I haven't gotten an offer. I'm in Va Beach, home of Jackson Hewitt. I started with John and Linda Hewitt in 1995, as they were close friends of mine. Linda and I headed the youth group at my church.

John approached me years ago, just as I was starting on my own, and I turned him down.

My client base is growing exponentially, and very well. By the end of the calendar year, I might do 400, up from 320 last year. I'm still a one-woman-show.

No offers here, but there are TONS of JH and HRB offices in this area. That could have something to do with it. I wouldn't sell anyway. But I would like to know that one day when I'm graveyard dead, my kids could sell the business and have a little something from ol' momma.

Speaking of Momma, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, Y'all!

[erchess]

Bb

The problem with advance EIC is that when the kids get too old and drop out of eligibility the parent may have an uncomfortably large debt to pay.

I personally avoid this issue by firing clients after the first year they qualify for EIC. I am in an upscale area where most people are too wealthy for EIC anyway.

[Black Bart]

I was just kidding you, E C.

The problem with advance EIC is that when the kids get too old and drop out of eligibility the parent may have an uncomfortably large debt to pay.

I wouldn't fool with it (advance EIC) for all the tea in China. And I don't think it's used much because I have never yet seen it on a tax return. Anyway, it seems like the outrageous idea of a liberal nut thinking "Why make people wait? We'll force employers to give them money they haven't earned yet right now today."

I believe employers deduct it off payroll taxes, but don't know what happens if it's more than the quarterly taxes. If an employee demanded it, I think I'd show him/her the door (and wait for a lawsuit, I guess).

I personally avoid this issue by firing clients after the first year they qualify for EIC. I am in an upscale area where most people are too wealthy for EIC anyway.

You've got more guts than I do. What do you tell them? "You're too poor!"?

[Black Bart]

Naw, you're not the only one.

Paranoia is beginning to set in. I guess I'm the only one who has not received this contact.

No offers here in the boondocks yet.

[Lion]

None

I'm in CT and no offers from anyone except for the HRB postcard in one of those mailer packages targeted to accountants/financial businesses. They don't want my piddly 75 clients -- too few and too complex returns -- and don't need my geographical territory as there are offices for HRB and Liberty and JH all around. Heard HRB numbers are down for brick & mortar offices, so guess they're trying to pick up built-in clientele.