Entrepreneur
Magazine Ranks
Liberty
Tax #3 on its Latest “Franchise 500”
(Virginia
Beach, VA) Liberty Tax Service (www.libertytax.com)
has climbed to #3 on the latest Entrepreneur
“Franchise 500.” Throughout this decade,
Liberty
Tax Service has demonstrated solid gains in revenue and system
growth against its competitors H&R Block (NYSE:HRB)
and Jackson Hewitt (NYSE:JTX).
Liberty Tax Service continues to flourish during the current
economic downturn by offering business ownership opportunities,
long-term security, and new jobs in contrast to downsizing and
closures by many companies.
The Company
plans to expand its chain of franchised offices by adding 400
offices for a total of over 3,000 locations in the United States
and Canada by mid-January 2009. With tax season quickly
approaching, Liberty Tax Service offices are hiring staff and
will employ over 6,000 people in its total workforce.
Since 1997, the Company has
grown from 119 offices to position itself as
the fastest growing international tax
service ever, with over 1,800 franchisees in its operating
system.
“With the certainty of taxes, and a growing market of taxpayers,
our franchise opportunity is able to weather recessionary
times.
It is our goal to continue to offer a proven operating system
that’s on the cutting edge yet affordable. To accomplish this,
we strive to constantly incorporate new and innovative ways to
serve our diverse customer base,” said
Liberty Tax
Service CEO and Founder John Hewitt. “We are delighted to be
recognized by Entrepreneur for the success we have
achieved.”
About the
Entrepreneur “Franchise 500”
The annual “Franchise
500” has been a credible industry benchmark study of
franchise opportunities for 30 years, and is at the top of every
franchise researcher’s list. The most important traits for
evaluation are “financial strength and stability, growth rate
and size,” according to Entrepreneur.
About
Liberty Tax Service:
Founded in 1997
by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty
Tax Service (www.libertytax.com)
has prepared over 6,000,000 individual income tax returns. With
40 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt stands as the most
experienced CEO in the tax preparation business, having also
founded Jackson Hewitt
Tax Service (NYSE: JTX).
Liberty Tax Service provides computerized income tax preparation, electronic
filing, refund anticipation loans, and eSmart
Tax for online
filers at
http://www.esmarttax.com.
With an
emphasis on customer service including audit assistance, a money
back guarantee and free tax return checking,
Liberty
Tax Service is well-known for its strong commitment to customers
and communities, supporting organizations like the March of
Dimes, Stop Hunger Now!, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Orphan
Helpers and Soles4Souls.
In 2008, the
company kicked off its Hispanic Initiative program – Una Familia
Sin Fronteras [A Family Without Boundaries] that focuses on
educational services internally and to the Hispanic community at
large. As a result, all students who successfully complete
Liberty’s
courses can now earn college credits for their efforts through a
special alliance with the University of Phoenix.
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