The Local Bookkeeper UK Franchise

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About Us | Training and Support | Financial Information | Who's Ideal for Us | Related Articles and Case Studies

About Us

 

• You will be part of the ‘revolution’ of the bookkeeping industry.
• You will be provided with a minimum of 15 appointments and a support in your launch including a targeted mail shot, email campaign and public relations support to raise awareness in your territory and also on a regional and national level.
• You will be provided with a business plan including a marketing plans that have been recognised for their effectiveness. They are are aimed at growing your business by a minimum of 20% per year in new fees for your first 3 years.
• You will be able to liaise with a dedicated support manager and
• Benefit from being part of a national brand that will increase the level of business you receive as you can enjoy increased awareness and perceived reliability of the service you provide.

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  Training and Support

  The Local Bookkeeper^® franchise training
  
  As a franchisee of The Local Bookkeeper^® and running your own bookkeeping and financial business you will benefit from a massive amount of support right from the start.
   
  Before launching your financial franchise business you will spend one week immersing yourself in our comprehensive and intensive training course to shape your raw talents into a polished and professional franchisee.  This week covers every aspect of the franchise business model including:
   
  • Brand orientation
  • How to deliver the service
  • The Local Bookkeeper^®system and business model
  • Sales and selling
  • Marketing and business development
  • Customer service and communications skills
  • Human resources
  • Software training
  • Leadership and management
  
  After this week of training you will be ready to follow up your leads start to develop your business and manage your staff.
  Our training is delivered by a CIPD certified trainer and other members of the senior management team. This intensive course is  held near our offices in West Sussex where you will be a guest for the week and stay in pre-paid accommodation in the company of other franchisees.
   
  How The Local Bookkeeper franchise support you
  
  Launching and opening support
  
  As part of The Local Bookkeeper^® franchise package we go beyond your expectations in helping you launch your business and maintain your levels of growth on an ongoing basis. With us supporting you, nothing is left to chance. You will be provided with: -
   
  • Website – Designed, optimised and submited to the search engines.
  • Direct Mail – We send a mail shot to every SME business within your franchise territory this gives you instant brand awareness and immediate leads to follow up.
  • Telemarketing – Our telemarketing department who are fully trained in accounts and finance guarantees 15 appointments for you to convert and also completes the re-education into your service within your territory.
  • Sales and marketing support – Throughout your launch period, you can contact the marketing department to assist you in this exciting time of your business.
  There are now three franchise packages with a low entry cost of £5,270, a mid tier offering for £13,995 to a multiple franchise territory package for £18,500.
  
  Ongoing franchise support
  
  You will receive ongoing support after the launch of your franchise business in all areas, including: technical/bookkeeping, business development/marketing, human resources, training and development, lead generation, technology and legislation, personal development and technical support.

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  Financial Information

  What do I get for my money?
   
  Below outlines the standard The Local Bookkeeper franchise package:
   
  An exclusive and unique brand identity localised to your franchise territory - this stems from the corporate brand and gives you the added advantages of increased local and national awareness.
   

  

  Exclusive rights to a franchise territory - of over 3,000 prospective clients.
   
  Starter pack of corporate literature - all the required stationery needed to get you started with printed materials including your business cards, corporate brochures, letter heads and compliment slips.
   
  Practice Management System setup - a uniquely designed practice management system that gives you complete control over your business and billing and enables you to forecast demand throughout the year as well as manage your staffing levels more accurately.
   
  Reap rewards from national marketing campaign – this results in additional business and sales pitches aimed at national accounts. All of which provides you with new clients at no acquisition cost.
   
  A launch campaign that includes telemarketing, PR and direct mail - a guaranteed package of 15 hot leads of businesses including anything from 1-100 warm leads who are interested in your services and then a further 1-10 hot leads from the direct mail. We will also provide you with ongoing Public Relations (PR) support both at the launch of your business and on an regular ongoing basis and also an email marketing campaign.
   
  The Local Bookkeeper® Operations Manual - a five year agreement to operate under our unique business model and carry out bookkeeping work according to our operations manual that uses our PCER methodology. This includes:
   
  • Running your business
  • Managing your staff
  • Sales and marketing
  • Financial and reporting
  • Processes and systems
  • Quality control programme
  • Common and template documents
   
  One weeks full residential training course - full training on all aspects of running the franchise including intensive in-house courses on customer service, management, leadership, bookkeeping and accounting processes, sales and marketing.
   
  World class extranet - access to e-learning, common documents and a knowledgebase for you and your staff as well as access to online support staff when at clients' sites.
   
  Professionally designed and optimised website - optimised for your franchise territory to give you TOP RANKINGS ON THE MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES resulting in ongoing leads.
   
  Dedicated Franchise Support Manager - to advise and support the franchisee; At site visits to the franchisee throughout the year allows the support team identify your business’s needs and develop personal strategies to help grow your business.
   
  Highly effective marketing plans - professionally designed marketing material aimed at developing your business year on year.
   
  Access to press releases for ongoing Public Relations campaign - professionally written and newsworthy press releases for submission to local, trade, and regional media.
   
  Professional email account setup - email account and remote diary function access setup for your franchise territory.
   
  A Quick Step Guide - to your first 56 days; provides you with a tick list of things to do.
   
  Be up-to-date with techniques and legislations - Regular in-depth updates and details on changes in legislation that might affect your clients, the bookkeeping industry and ongoing personal development opportunities.

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  Who's Ideal for Us

  What we look for in a The Local Bookkeeper franchise owner
   
  As in any service business, your service is only as good as the people who are delivering the it!

  

   
  This is why we are passionate about talented individuals. We will only grant a franchise to an individual who will be able to represent the brand and deliver an outstanding service to our clients.
  
  We have strict recruitment processes to ensure that we recruit only the best technical and experienced franchisees who also have the ability to communicate with clients and their employees.
   
   
  Please note: we do not recruit or train non-bookkeepers to become bookkeepers.
  
  We look for franchisees with formal qualifications in accounting and bookkeeping such as the following:-
   
  • Institute of Certified Bookkeepers
  • Association of Accounting Technician's
  • ACCA's Certified Accounting Technician Qualification
  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
  • Any formal accounting qualification
   
  We will, of course, speak with any QBE (qualified by experience) candidate but you will need to become ICB qualified when trading as a The Local Bookkeeper franchise owner.
   

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