Our Initial Training Course is delivered both virtually and in-person by an in-house team of qualified accountants and trainers in conjunction with specialist training partners. All your accommodation and meals are included for any residential period of the Initial Training Course, during which you will get to meet and know all of the Support Centre staff.
We hold three training courses throughout the year and as there will be due diligence, business plans, registrations and possibly raising finance to undertake before joining us, do contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in working towards any of our courses. This will give you plenty of time to prepare and us the time to assist you.
Our next course dates are:
- 24 February 2025
- 2nd June 2025
- 22nd September 2025
The course is a mixture of both face-to-face and virtual delivery and lasts for four weeks. Week one is foundation training including IT set up, Software, Getting Started Manual, introductions to the team and services, Pricing Calculator and case studies. This is held at our Support Centre in Norwich. Week two is virtual and covers practice admin, TaxCalc and Quickbooks. Week three and four you will return to the Support Centre for tax, marketing, business development and resourcing. Prior to the course we will provide access to a self-paced bookkeeping course which is mandatory to complete. We also offer optional access to sole trader, Ltd Co and Change Management (if a franchise resale) courses.
Tax, accountancy & software
The tax, accountancy and software training is delivered by our team of qualified accountants, tax advisors and software trainers in conjunction with specialist training partners. Through this partnership we are able to ensure that materials are up-to-date, directly relevant for our network and of the highest quality.
Marketing
Our marketing trainers will provide bespoke training which includes assistance with your marketing plan. We work with you during the course to decide on the right business development activity for your territory, then monitor your success. If for instance, we notice that you are attending a good number of appointments but not signing up at the rate we expect, we will help you to increase your conversion rate. This level of ‘hand-holding’ is the kind of support you may need in your first two years, and will help you to build your business at an aspirational rate.
Initial Training Course Summary
By the end of the initial training provided by TaxAssist Accountants you will know how to
- Market yourself, recruit and retain your clients
- Competently complete year-end and monthly/quarterly accounts and tax computations
- Complete Self-Assessment tax returns and various other tax forms
- Operate bookkeeping and VAT software and be able to advise your clients
- Run an efficient shopfront/office and business with the support of IT, marketing and eventually staff
- In short – how to run and grow a successful business!
Follow up training
Month 1 - VAT (self paced)
Month 3 - Bookkeeping Software (live virtual), TaxCalc update all areas (live virtual) and Microsoft 365 training (self paced)
Month 6 - Return to the Support Centre to meet with Heads of Department and Group Directors. Business plan vs actuals, planning tools including Fathom (self paced)
Franchise development visits
Our Franchise Development Manager David Spurrier supports new franchisees in their first year, providing business development, general management and business planning advice and support to help you launch and grow your practice. He will have at least six visits over your first year either face-to-face or virtually to help guide you.
You will receive a business development visit each year from then on, from one of a team of Franchise Development Managers, with the main focus on building your business, profitability, and ultimately helping you achieve your ambitions.
Ongoing training
On an ongoing basis, our TaxAssist Academy provides courses at our Support Centre in Norwich and regionally, to keep the network up to date with technical, marketing and 'TaxAssist Practice Engine' developments. The majority of our courses are delivered at no additional costs or have a very modest fee. Our marketing courses include pricing and fee raising as well as social media training to keep our network abreast of business relevant advancements. Twice a year, we provide Technical Update content to cover Budget, tax and accountancy updates. In Spring these are day long events held at five locations around the country, but in Autumn they are delivered as a live webinar series. Both are included at no extra cost.
We also grant you access, at no additional cost, to Croner-i. This is a technical knowledge library build by Wolters Kluwer.
