Smart Tax featured in Nashville Business Journal

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article in the Nashville Business Journal entitled, “Smart Tax to enter Nashville tax-prep market.” The article discusses the expansion plans into Nashville and the type of entrepreneurs that they are looking to attract. In addition, Nick shares the impact and creation of jobs that Smart Tax has the ability to make in the market. Click here to view the article in its entirety!

Smart Tax to enter Nashville tax-prep market
By Brian Reisinger

Tax preparers stand to face a new competitor as a New York-based franchisor moves into Nashville with the expectation of creating more than 100 jobs over the next five years.

Nick Rizzi, CEO of Smart Tax, said his company intends to open its first locations by January 2012 for the next tax season. The company targeted Nashville because it believes the area is under served, with many people flowing to big-name providers he plans to compete with.

(Read More)

Smart Tax featured in The Wall Street Journal

Recently, Smart Tax was featured in an article entitled “Franchisees Make Multiunit Ownership Their Mission." The article discussed the growth of multi-unit expansion and how multi-unit concepts are becoming more common and the ultimate goal for franchisees who purchase them. Yvonne Murray, Smart Tax's multi-unit franchisee cites the work/life balance that owning Smart Tax units gives her as one of the reasons she went into franchising after managing a Smart Tax location for Nick Rizzi, Founder and CEO of Smart Tax. Click here to view the full article, or you can view it below!

Smart Tax featured on FOX Business

Smart Tax’s CEO and Founder, Nick Rizzi, was interviewed live on FOX Business’ small business segment entitled "Profiting from Taxes.” The segment discussed the growth of the tax preparation industry despite the economic climate and the aggressive growth that Smart Tax has experienced since launching as a franchise less than a year and a half ago. After reaching 27 locations this year, Smart Tax plans to have over 60 franchised locations open for tax season 2012. Rizzi discussed the recession resistant nature of taxes as it is a service that is needed every year. Additionally, he discussed the profitability that Smart Tax offers for its franchisees as consumers are continuously seeking this high-demand service. He also provided some last minute tax tips for consumers to be aware of when filing this season. Click here to view the segment!

Smart Tax featured in Franchise Times

Smart Tax was recently featured with an article in Franchise Times entitled, “Pop Culture—Temporary Stores Offer Trendy Way to Test the Waters.” The article was built from an in-depth interview with Nick Rizzi. Rizzi talks about his experience with "Pop-up" stores, otherwise known as temporary stores. View the full article below, or click here!

Smart Tax featured in Life Insurance Selling

Recently, Smart Tax was featured in the magazine Life Insurance Selling, which focuses on trends in the financial and insurance industries. Smart Tax’s Vice President of Franchise Development and Queens Franchisee, Joseph Fontana, wrote an article for the publication about his experiences in expanding his portfolio and adding taxes. As a long-time financial planner and insurance broker, Fontana most recently became a tax preparation business owner as well, which has allowed him to offer a whole new service to his clients. Finding that taxes, unlike some other financial services, were recession-proof, Fontana has found a profitable business model to service his clients and create a stronger, trusting relationship with his clients. In the article, Fontana shares his experience and offers advice to other insurance brokers looking to make the leap into tax preparation. Click here to view the full article!

Breaking Into Tax Preparation
By JOSEPH FONTANA

I was a financial advisor for 17 years, working with my clients to provide a wide range of services including life insurance, accident insurance, health insurance as well as mutual funds, stocks and bonds. At the time, I was working at a bank in Brooklyn, where I provided services to my clients through this channel.

Throughout my life, I always dreamed of owning my own business and servicing my clients with a more personal and customized relationship. In light of the prolonged economic crisis, specifically following 9/11, and the changes our industry was going through, I saw my career coming to an inevitable end. Interest rates were increasing, and people were not investing. Even right now, there are trillions of dollars sitting in the money market that people are not investing.

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Smart Tax featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Recently, Smart Tax was featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press in an article entitled "Chattanooga franchises let entrepreneurs focus on business operations." The article is about launching a business in the current economic climate and why franchising is often an attractive method for business ownership. In the article, Nick Rizzi, CEO of Smart Tax, discusses the tremendous growth potential for Smart Tax in the Chattanooga market and the ability to run a profitable tax preparation business. Rizzi discusses the low cost of entrance for opening a Smart Tax in which the business can be up and running for as low as $20,000. This low start up cost has allowed Smart Tax to expand incredibly fast, tripling in size over the past year despite the economic climate. Click here to view the article in its entirety.

Chattanooga franchises let entrepreneurs focus on business operations
By ELLIS SMITH
February 2, 2011

Starting a small business is risky.

With one bad decision, an entrepreneur could watch his entire savings go down the tubes in a matter of days.

Only 50 percent of small businesses survive more than five years, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, a statistic that has some potential business owners searching for safer alternatives.

(Read More)

Smart Tax Featured in New Mexico Business Weekly

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article in the New Mexico Business Weekly entitled, “IRS Aims to Squelch Tax Prep Incompetence.” The article was built from an in-depth interview with Nick Rizzi and delves into the trend emerging where the IRS is becoming stricter in enforcing rules and regulations on tax preparers and also discusses Smart Tax’s growth plans throughout New Mexico. A portion of the story is shared below, and you can view the full article here.

IRS aims to squelch tax prep incompetence
by Dennis Domrzalski

As the Internal Revenue Service prepares to crack down on tax preparers, some see it as an effort to drive small practitioners out of business.

But others, like Nick Rizzi, CEO of Smart Tax, see it as an opportunity. Rizzi’s franchise company says it plans to open 15 offices in the Albuquerque area by the 2012 tax season.

“Everybody needs to do taxes, and we have found it to be a good business to be in,” says Rizzi from his New York City office. “Albuquerque is a prime hub for expansion and development because the market is largely underserved."

With 80 percent of Americans using a tax preparation service and with new, stricter IRS regulations, the tax industry as a whole will need to adapt, and many small tax preparers in the Albuquerque market will be eliminated. (Read More)

Smart Tax Featured in New Haven Register

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article in the New Haven Register entitled, “Website, Tax Firm Eye Area for Expansion.” The article was built from an in-depth interview with Nick Rizzi and discusses Smart Tax’s expansion strategy throughout the region to open 15 locations over the next 2 years. The story delves into Nick Rizzi’s entrepreneur story and also provides a link to the website to point entrepreneurs in the right direction. A portion of the story is shared below, and you can the full article here.

Website, tax firm eye area for expansion
By Angela Carter

Owners of a new tax preparation franchise, and a website where companies sell excess inventory, are eyeing the New Haven area for expansion.

Nick Rizzi, chief executive officer of Smart Tax of Brooklyn, N.Y., said he is looking for franchisees to open 15 locations across New Haven, East Haven, North Haven, West Haven and Hamden by the 2012 tax season.

“There are pockets in those areas that are just screaming they need help,” he said. “I see a lot of potential here. If I had the wherewithal, I would do it myself.”

Rizzi initially approached other tax franchises, but none of them had territories available in areas he wanted. “I decided to go it alone,” the former financial planner said.

Franchisees and tax preparers working with them will need to be certified and take continuing education courses, under new rules being implemented by the Internal Revenue Service.

Smart Tax has 10 offices in New York, New Jersey and Texas; Rizzi also plans to expand into Pennsylvania.

The franchise fee is $20,000, half of which is due at closing, and the remainder would be due after a franchisee’s first tax season. For more information on becoming a franchisee, visit www.thesmartwaytofile.com.

To read the rest of the article from the New Haven Register, please click here.

Smart Tax recently featured in the NJBIZ

Tax preparation franchise aims for major N.J. expansion
By Beth Fitzgerald

Smart Tax, a New York-based tax preparation franchise with locations in Bayonne and Asbury Park, aims to have 20 New Jersey offices open by 2012, according to founder Nick Rizzi.

Rizzi, who worked as a financial planner for 16 years, launched Smart Tax in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2005, began franchising in late 2009 and now has 10 locations in New York, New Jersey and Texas.

Smart Tax attracts franchisees who were downsized from the financial services industry, have worked as bookkeepers or financial planners, or are semiretired and want to work several months a year during tax season, Rizzi said.

“New Jersey is a great spot for this franchise, because everyone needs to get their taxes done, they need direction, and I hope we will help them do their taxes,” Rizzi said. (Read More)

Smart Tax Featured in South Florida Business Journal

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article in the South Florida Business Journal entitled “Franchises Hot on South Florida.” The article was built from an in depth interview with Nick Rizzi about the Smart Tax franchise and its plans for development in South Florida, specifically Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. The article also talks about the greatest perk of tax preparation: taking 8 months off! Below is a thumbnail to the article -- clicking on the thumbnail will take you to the article in its entirety.

(READ FULL ARTICLE HERE)

Smart Tax Featured in Business First of Columbus

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article found in the the Business First of Columbus entitled, “Tax-Prep Chain Eyeing Columbus for Growth.” The article discusses Smart Tax’s growth plans in the Columbus market and how Smart Tax is looking to partner up with franchisees in the region. Below is a sample of the article along with a link to where the full article can be found.

Tax-prep chain eyeing Columbus for growth

A burgeoning New York-based tax preparation franchise is looking to take a leap into the Midwest by way of the Columbus market.

Brooklyn-based Smart Tax said it is in talks with Columbus-area entrepreneurs this tax season with an eye toward opening 15 locations in the area over the next two years. Founder Nick Rizzi began franchising Smart Tax in November and has grown the franchise to nine locations in New York and New Jersey and one in Houston.

Smart Tax’s goal, the company said, is to have 100 locations by Jan. 1, 2012.

(READ MORE)