Smart Tax Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Small Business Section

Today, Smart Tax Franchise was featured in The Wall Street Journal, in an article discussing small business expansion throughout 2009 and into 2010. Despite the economic climate where many small businesses are experiencing slow development and a decline in customers, Smart Tax is experiencing rapid growth. In the article, I discuss certain methods for finding retail locations for lower costs and how I came across some of our Smart Tax locations. A portion of the article can be read below and you can find a link to the entire article below as well.

Location, Location and More Location
With vacancy rates up and rents down, it's a great time to grab extra space if you need it
By Raymund Flandez

For some small-business owners, the terrible economy holds an unexpected silver lining: It's a lot easier to get more space.

As hosts of businesses close their doors, vacancy rates are soaring and rents are plummeting. So, small companies that are still on their feet—and looking to expand—suddenly have lots of leverage with landlords. And they're making the most of the chance, snaring prime locations and larger spaces, often at a fraction of the regular asking price.

Crisis and Opportunity

In early December, for instance, Sindi Major-Martinez, president and chief executive of Sindel Technologies LLC, moved her IT-services firm to a new location in Phoenix. At the new building, she's paying $21 a square foot for 4,400 square feet—versus $23 per square foot for 3,000 square feet in her previous lease. It's an even better deal considering that the new location was valued at $29.50 a square foot recently, and the current rent also covers utilities and cleaners.

"It really emphasizes that there are good things out there, even though things are really bad," says Ms. Major-Martinez, who estimates she'll save about $60,000 in the first year.

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Smart Tax Was Recently Featured in The Wall Street Journal; End-of-Year Tax Advice

Smart Tax franchise is a newly launched, 10-unit, New York-based tax preparation franchise. As the end of the year is approaching people are looking to take advantage of the different government programs created in order to help people in the current economic climate. Smart Tax was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal on this exact topic and what tax credits people should look out for when filing end of year taxes. Below you will find a portion of the article and a link to the full article on wsj.com:

Federal Recession Aid -- Get It While You Can

By Anna Prior

Time is running out to take advantage of some of the government programs set up to help consumers during the economic meltdown.

Among them are programs meant to shore up the credit markets, which allow for more available credit and lower interest rates on loans for homes and automobiles, as well as tax benefits to entice consumers to buy that new house or car.

Of course, there's always the chance that these programs could be extended; some already are running on extensions and expansions. But here's how they stand for now, how much time you have left to take advantage of them -- and how their end could affect you.

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