After earning runner-up in both the 'Most Successful Start Up' and 'Fastest Growth' categories at TaxAssist's recent 10th Anniversary Annual Conference, Mark Linney is looking forward to replicating the success of his first shop-front office.

"I put this accomplishment down to following the business model, putting together an excellent team of employees and listening to the advice and support given to me from TaxAssist Accountants," he reveals. "It's a recipe for success."

A former director of a large international company, Liverpool-based Mark always had the ambition to run his own business. Seeking a franchise in the professional services sector, he was drawn towards accountancy due to his experience in the field.

Discovering TaxAssist Accountants at a franchise exhibition, Mark visited its Norwich-based head office where he recalls gaining a very good feel for the organisation. "They wanted me to make the right decision for me and were very helpful in introducing the business," he says. "I knew this was the opportunity for me."

Backed with training provided by BPP Professional Education, considered the UK's leading accountancy and taxation tutors, Mark reveals that work started coming in from the first day of trading.

"After finishing my training on a Friday, I had my first set of accounts on the Monday," he explains. "TaxAssist Accountants have use of telemarketing companies, which proved very useful to me in getting my business up and running. TaxAssist Accountants are very well connected in the banking industry and they wrote to many of the local bank managers to establish some solid business contacts for me. It all added up to a very successful launch."

Although the business can be run from an office, TaxAssist Accountants actively encourages franchisees to open up a shop-front premises. "It makes the world of difference," enthuses Mark. "We moved into our first shop-front after about six months of trading and it had a huge effect. Due to its high visibility, the shop advertises itself - the business quadrupled in the space of only two months. It was such a good development to the business that I was able to open my second shop at the end of last year."

Receiving regular visits from the Franchise Development Manager, Mark reports that TaxAssist Accountants is extremely pro-active in supporting franchisees.

"They do everything in their power to help us succeed," he states. "This is an opportunity with lots of room for growth and I aim to open a further shop-front in 2007. From my experience so far I know that TaxAssist Accountants will assist me every step of the way."