Smart Tax Featured in Hartford Business Journal

Nick Rizzi, CEO of Smart Tax, was recently interviewed and featured in the Hartford Business Journal. The article highlights the plans of the Smart Tax franchise expansion into the Hartford area. The article also includes a great deal of information for potential franchisees, including the investment costs and contact information. A sample of the article is below along with a link to the article in its entirety.

New York Tax Prep Franchiser Eyes Hartford Market
By Becky Bergman

While many businesses are slowing down due to the rocky economic climate, Smart Tax, a tax preparation franchise concept founded in 2006 by financial whiz Nick Rizzi, is just starting to speed up.

And the Greater Hartford area is squarely in the crosshairs of its expansion strategy.

The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based tax preparation service grew to three locations before Rizzi decided to expand the business via franchising. That was in November. Seven franchises have been added since and CEO Rizzi, who still manages the original three sites, says Smart Tax is on pace to develop 100 locations nationwide by tax season 2012.

The entrepreneur is aggressively eyeing the Hartford market, where he wants to launch 20 new locations in the next two to three years.

Rizzi spent more than 16 years cutting his teeth in the industry working for H&R Block before he began to explore the idea of entrepreneurship.

“When I was looking at starting my own business several years ago, I wanted to do something that was recession-proof,” said Rizzi. “I also wanted to specialize in something that was solid. You can count on death and taxes no matter what kind of economy it is.”

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Smart Tax Featured in Financial Advisor

Smart Tax was recently featured in an article entitled "Recession Weary Advisors Branch Out" in the Financial Advisor. The article talks about the option to brokers looking for a new path in the financial sector and highlights the Smart Tax franchise. Nick Rizzi, CEO and Founder of Smart Tax, and Joesph Fontana, Vice President of Franchise Development, were quoted in the article. Below is an annotated version of the article with a link to the full article.

Recession Weary Advisors Branch Out
March 02, 2010

Financial advisors who want to be independent are becoming more open to the idea of branching out into areas that are recession proof, such as tax preparation, according to two advisors who have successfully taken that route.

“Financial advisors are shell shocked and are looking for other venues,” said Joseph Fontana, vice president of franchise development for Smart Tax, a tax preparation service founded in 2005 and headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y. with offices in New Jersey and Texas. “I firmly believe that one new venue can be tax preparation. The feedback I am getting from other financial advisors to that idea is phenomenal.”

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Smart Tax Franchisee Featured in the Long Island Exchange

Recently, Smart Tax franchisee David Stein was featured in the Long Island Exchange with his partner Teresa Castano. The article focuses on the continued growth of Smart Tax, their local franchisees, and the future goals of the franchise. You can check out part of the article here with a full link to the article in its entirety below.

Local Entrepreneur Opens New Tax Preparation Service on Long Island

While many businesses are slowing down due to the rocky economic climate, Smart Tax franchise, a newly launched 10-unit tax preparation concept, is just starting to speed up. Smart Tax is a step above the competition by offering quicker returns, better services and is expanding rapidly, now opening their newest location in Baldwin at 1298 Grand Ave.

“I have always been on the franchisor side of the industry, and now I wanted to switch gears and Smart Tax was the perfect opportunity to offer a much-needed service to a community in high demand of tax services,” said David Stein, franchisee of the Baldwin location.

David Stein, a broker for branded franchise concepts such as Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, KFC and Checkers Hamburgers, has now entered into a franchisee role, opening the Baldwin Smart Tax location. His partner, Teresa Castano, a native to Columbia and a 10- year financial industry expert in accounting, taxes and mortgages, will bring Baldwin a unique combination of Smart Tax services. Their Smart Tax location will also offer complimentary mortgage modification and services in both Spanish and English. The two have combined their skills in the franchise industry and financial industry to offer the best tax preparation and financial services to their community.

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Smart Tax Featured in Accounting Today

Smart Tax founder, Nick Rizzi, was recently interviewed along with other tax professionals in the industry about the upcoming tax season. The article discusses tax season trends and an outlook for the tax season 2010. Below is a portion of the article with a link to the article in its entirety.

2010 Tax Season Preview: Tax season like no other
By Roger Russell

More taxpayers will seek professional help to do their taxes this year, according to Nick Rizzi, founder and chief executive of tax prep franchiser Smart Tax. "With the changes in the credits and the stimulus plan, there will be many confused taxpayers," he said. "And there will be some do-it-yourselfers who want someone to take a look at the return because their refund is less than they expected."

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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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Franchisee Spotlight: Yvonne Murray, Owner of the Brooklyn Smart Tax Location

This week, for our franchisee spotlight, we would like to introduce you to Yvonne Murray, franchisee one of the Brooklyn locations of Smart Tax. Below is her story.

Local Entrepreneur Becomes Business Owner of Brooklyn Smart Tax; Step-Above Tax Preparation Services

BROOKLYN, NY – While many businesses are slowing down due to the rocky economic climate, Smart Tax franchise, a newly launched 10-unit tax preparation concept, is just starting to speed up. Smart Tax is a step above the competition by offering quicker returns, better services and is expanding rapidly, now opening their newest location in Brooklyn at 928 Myrtle Ave.

“I have heard Nick Rizzi talk about his dream of creating Smart Tax for years and I am so excited to be a franchisee in this fresh new concept,” said Yvonne Murray, franchisee of the Brooklyn location speaking about Smart Tax’s CEO.

Before Smart Tax was even an idea, Yvonne Murray worked closely with Nick Rizzi, founder and CEO of Smart Tax, at the New York Community Bank. It was there that Rizzi would tell Murray his ideas and aspirations about opening his own business. For 2-years Murray worked at one of Nick Rizzi’s Smart Tax location during the tax season, where she managed the location that she now owns herself. Now she has taken the next step as a Smart Tax franchisee and is fully committed to Smart Tax. She plans to develop two more locations within the next three to five years.

Yvonne is a dedicated and hard working business woman who still manages to raise three children, with her fourth due at the New Year. She has taught her 15 year-old daughter a lot about the business already, including how to use their system of filing taxes. Yvonne hopes to keep this business in the family and that one day her children can have a bigger role in Smart Tax.

CEO and Founder Nick Rizzi grew Smart Tax into four small successful locations, after launching his first location as a 29-year old entrepreneur using his life savings and a credit card. Rizzi created his concept a step above the competition by offering quicker returns and better services.

Despite the economic climate and people cutting back on spending, tax returns is one appointment people can look forward to every year—and people can get their taxes processed at Smart Tax in as quickly as an hour for a very low cost.

“I wanted to create a system one-step ahead of competition and provide a service that our customers valued in each community we enter,” said Rizzi, noting he plans to have 100 locations by January 1, 2012. “Yvonne Murray, who has been there for me since day one, is a great addition to the Smart Tax team. I know she will do amazing things to help strengthen and grow this franchise.”

Smart Tax's Harlem Franchisee, Kevin Jimenez, Featured in Harlem Business News

Smart Tax's Harlem franchisee, Kevin Jimenez, was recently featured in the Harlem Business News. The article delved into Jimenez's entrepreneur story and the new Smart Tax location will bring to the community. Below you will find a portion of the article as well as a link to read the complete story online.

Local Partnering Fuels Smart Tax Franchise's Growth

While many businesses are slowing down due to the rocky economic climate, Smart Tax franchise, a newly launched 10-unit tax preparation concept, is just starting to speed-up.

Smart Tax is a step above the competition by offering quicker returns, better services and is expanding rapidly, now opening its newest location in East Harlem at 1799 Lexington Avenue.

"I never thought about owning my own business until I discovered Smart Tax, with a low start up cost and a strong system in place, it is just such a great brand, I jumped at the opportunity to open one of my own locations," said Kevin Jimenez, first-time business owner and franchisee of the East Harlem location.

Jimenez, who is just 28-years old, was introduced to Smart Tax as an employee first, where he began working at one of Nick Rizzi's, CEO and founder, Smart Tax locations. He learned about the growing brand and how the tax preparation industry worked.

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