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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Accountants vs CFO Today including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $185,800 - $259,000 | $24,400 - $40,000 |
Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $24,000 |
Royalty Fee | 10% | Varies |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1986 | 1989 |
Year Franchised | 1994 | 1990 |
Term Of Agreement | - | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement | - | 10 years |
Renewal Fee | 50% of current franchise fee | $4.8K |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
Equipment | No/No | No/No |
Inventory | No/No | No/No |
Receivables | Yes/No | No/No |
Payroll | Yes/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | - |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | National media, Regional advertising | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising |
Operations |
30% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Franchise can be run from home. 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | - |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | No | Yes |
Begun in San Francisco in 1986, Accountants Inc. provides temporary and full-time staffing of accounting and financial services professionals. Dianne Burr Justus, formerly an executive with staffing firm Adecco, founded the company after seeing a need for a niche firm in the placement industry.
Accountants Inc. became part of Select Group, a British provider of staffing services, in 1993.
John Harrison felt that many small businesses were failing because they couldn't afford accountants, so he began providing 'professional services at bookkeeper's rates.' In 1989, Harrison established Accountant's Choice, which has since changed its name to CFO Today.
Franchising started in 1990, and there are now locations across the United States offering accounting services to local small businesses.