Accountants vs CFO Today Franchise Comparison

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

 
Accountants Franchise
CFO Today Franchise
Investment $185,800 - $259,000$24,400 - $40,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$24,000
Royalty Fee 10%Varies
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19861989
Year Franchised 19941990
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Renewal Fee 50% of current franchise fee$4.8K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Accountants Franchise
CFO Today Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Customer service and human resources experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Accountants Franchise
    CFO Today Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables Yes/NoNo/No
    Payroll Yes/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Accountants Franchise
    CFO Today Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing National media, Regional advertisingCo-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

     
    Accountants Franchise
    CFO Today Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Accountants

    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.

    About CFO Today

    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.