Successful changeover for TaxAssist Accountants Cheltenham & Gloucester

Having successfully established TaxAssist Accountants in Gloucester 11 years ago and  expanding into Cheltenham last year, Chris Hutchings has sold his business to Rob Little. 

This franchise resale is TaxAssist Accountants’ fourth in the last 12 months, highlighting that after more than 20 years of continuous growth, franchisees are starting to retire, or realise the asset they have grown.

Rob has taken over the shops on Bristol Road in Gloucester, and Hewlett Road in Cheltenham, and will continue to look after the specialist needs of small businesses in the local community.

Rob completed his accountancy training with a four-partner firm near Bristol in the early 1990s, before spending two years auditing with Coopers and Lybrand in New Zealand. Rob then moved into industry and has spent most of the past 20 years working in financial roles in the hospitality industry. 

Rob commented: “Building my own business and working in the small business community has always been my plan and now just felt like the right time to work closely with this thriving sector. Not only was I born in Gloucester and grew up just down the road, my early professional career was very much focussed on small owner-managed businesses.”

“Having visited the TaxAssist Accountants Support Centre, Chris in his two shops and speaking to his staff, I quickly realised this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. I’m really enjoying meeting the clients, working with the existing team and I’m looking forward to growing the practice further.”

Chris said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time with TaxAssist and the additional technical and business development training and support have helped me to grow a substantial practice which I’m proud to have built up.

“TaxAssist has expertly guided me through every step of the resale process from providing an initial course on exit planning to assistance in finding a buyer.  I could not be happier with the end result”. 

Sarah Robertson, Group Business Development Director at TaxAssist Accountants, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Chris and his wife Jill over the years and I’m pleased we were able to assist in finding someone of Rob’s calibre to purchase his practice. We are all looking forward to working with Rob to keep building upon the success of the practice.

“Resale opportunities continue to be a popular avenue for potential franchisees wanting to join TaxAssist, as they are keen to buy into an established business with an income stream, experienced staff, as well as the additional support offered by being a part of a successful franchise network.”