National Tax Incentive Administrator Creates Franchising Company
INDIANAPOLIS – Associated Consultants, Inc. (ACI), a highly recognized leader in the full service administration of federal, state and local corporate tax incentive programs, for corporate clients nationwide, has named Stan Friedman, a seasoned veteran in the franchising industry, as partner and president of its newly formed franchise division, ACI Franchising, LLC.
Friedman's primary focus will be on franchise development, franchise relations and the growth and development of this new division. During his 19-years in franchising Friedman has served in senior executive positions with industry giants such as Maggie Moo's, Wing Zone, Blimpie International, WSI Internet, and Cendant, then the world's largest franchisor of hotel and real estate brands.
"Stan Friedman provides ACI with the experience and leadership needed to successfully launch our franchise offering on a national basis," said Alan Newcomb, CEO of the Indianapolis-based company. "Our franchising model will provide local representation, enabling us to offer even higher levels of service to clients nationwide."
Friedman and Newcomb are no strangers to each other. Previously, they had collaborated on an urban expansion initiative in 1998, when Friedman was Vice President of Global Development at Blimpie International. That project was heralded by the media, as well as leaders of both the public and private sectors, culminating in an invitation to the White House, where Friedman participated in the President's "Conference for Community Empowerment." That Urban Expansion Initiative was later honored as Blimpie's Innovation of the Year.
Friedman is a charter member of the board of the IFA's Diversity Institute, serving as its First Vice-Chair, and chairs the IFA's Minorities in Franchising Committee He also chairs the Atlanta Franchise Alliance, a recently formed association of franchisors, franchisees and suppliers in the Atlanta area.
"I am passionate about helping people fulfill the American dream of business ownership and I have never seen such a unique franchising concept, as that which we will offer at ACI," Friedman said. "My love for franchising is driven by my desire to help aspiring entrepreneurs get into business for themselves, not by themselves. By helping them properly manage their expectations and fulfill their dreams, I likewise fulfill my own. That's what it's all about for me."
The foundation for the franchise company comes from the success of the parent company, which has been operating successfully for more than 15 years. Once the franchise opportunity officially launches, franchisees will be trained to manage relationships and collect data from corporate clients, as it relates to the identification and administration of billions of dollars in employment or geographic tax credits and incentives that typically go unclaimed.
The reason that these lucrative credits go unclaimed is the onerous nature of identifying and administering the programs that generate the federal and state tax credits. Most businesses don't even know about the credits, much less how to file for, or redeem them. Even if they did, in most cases, they simply don't have the time, tools or personnel available to do so.
To ensure maximum benefits for its clients, ACI has developed a powerful proprietary mapping system that is constantly updated to reflect the most current federal and state geographic boundary designations. This mapping system enables ACI to accurately identify and document eligible tax credits for federal empowerment zones, federal renewal communities, developable sites, state job creation programs and new hire programs, such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program. (WOTC) This program rewards employers for hiring employees in distressed areas of the country.
ACI offers its services with no set-up fees or up-front costs. Any fees that it earns are taken as a percentage of the savings provided to its clients. It also guarantees the accuracy in the administration of these tax incentive programs and would refund any fees, including interest, in the unlikely event that any tax credits be disallowed.
ABOUT ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC.
ACI is a closely held corporation headquartered in Indiana with offices in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Illinois and Colorado. Co-founded and led by Alan Newcomb and Becky Bennett, ACI is a full service administrator of federal and state tax incentive programs serving clients coast-to-coast. Along with its alliance partners ACI can offer an array of services such as property tax, sales and use tax and cost segregation.
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