BookKeeping Express Books Record Growth

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Nation's Only Franchise Focused Solely on Certified Bookkeeping Services Expands into 18 States and More than 136 Territories; Company Experiences 33% Franchise System Growth

February 01, 2011 // Franchising.com // McLEAN, Va. – BookKeeping Express (BKE) begins 2011 with significant momentum on its side. With a year over year growth of 30 percent in 2010, the company plans to match and exceed that mark this year.

Since launching its franchising program in August 2008, the only U.S. franchise focused solely on offering certified bookkeeping services has signed development agreements and opened offices with entrepreneurs in 18 states and across more than 136 territories.

In the past 12 months, BookKeeping Express has grown its franchise system by 33 percent and has experienced 50 percent systemwide revenue growth. Within the past 30 days alone, BookKeeping Express has signed franchise agreements with highly-qualified investors to open offices in California, Philadelphia, Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin.

"The small-business community is growing around the country, and BookKeeping Express is expanding with it, providing qualified franchise investors with a niche franchise option that caters to this growing segment," said Greg Jones, CEO of BookKeeping Express. "We are continuing to grow rapidly with entrepreneurs who have recognized, just as we did, that there is widespread unmet demand for certified bookkeeping services in every U.S. market."

In addition to the void the company fills in the United States' small to mid-size business (SMB) community for companies that are not equipped or do not wish to handle accounting responsibilities, BookKeeping Express attracts entrepreneurs with a proven business model that includes ongoing IT, marketing and operations support.

Surpassing the resources available to an independent provider, BookKeeping Express offers its lead generation program, public relations support for grand openings, and technologically advanced accounting solutions through BKE Connect, a system which allows businesses to access all bookkeeping files remotely through an outside server, as well as a dashboard that provides a detailed overview of the business' operations for thorough analysis.

"Highly qualified franchise investors want to join a system which supports our efforts in all facets of the business," said Allison Muzal, the owner of BookKeeping Express in Westchester, Ill., which opened in mid-November. "BookKeeping Express goes to great lengths to train and provide mentorship."

As part of the BookKeeping Express franchise model, local BKE office owners have the support of the BookKeeping Express Service Center to take care of any outsourced bookkeeping needs so they can focus their attention on their business and client consultation. This gives business owners the ability to grow their business without hiring additional employees. The Service Center also serves as a new sales channel for BookKeeping Express franchise offices. Local BKE office owners can sell the service in their communities to CPA firms and independent bookkeepers.

Currently, there are more than 25 BookKeeping Express franchise offices open and two licensed offices open in Canada. The company's aggressive U.S. and Canadian franchise development plans call for more than 400 new territories.

With a collection of franchisees who come from diverse backgrounds, including corporate executives, CPAs, banking executives, and entrepreneurship, BookKeeping Express' owners share a common goal -- to provide accounting relief to business owners so they can focus on growing their business.

"Getting into franchising is a viable option for those leaving or forced out of the corporate world," said Jones, himself a serial entrepreneur with several business successes under his belt in the telecommunications and restaurant industries. "Most of the franchise investors we meet with are seeking to fulfill their entrepreneurial spirit but don't want to do it alone."

BookKeeping Express is an affordable franchise opportunity tailored for today's transitioning professional. Two options available to BookKeeping Express investors include Master or Area Development territories that can be operated out of home-based or commercial space locations. Per territory start-up fees run under $50,000.

Focusing its services on the nation's 29 million-plus small businesses, BookKeeping Express offers accounting services such as setting up charts of accounts and general ledgers, monthly data entry, processing and managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, producing monthly reports and tax reporting. Plus, BookKeeping Express utilizes a Custom Flex Pricing Model that is based on the clients' needs instead of a one-size-fits-all, hourly billing approach.

About BookKeeping Express

BookKeeping Express, a national company focused on providing professional bookkeeping practices to small businesses, was founded in 1984 in California and grew to over 150 locations through licensing agreements. In 2007, Greg Jones, along with Bob Stocker and Merritt Green, purchased the company and launched the new business model in McLean, Virginia in January of 2008. BookKeeping Express is currently registered to franchise in 41 states.

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