ALL POSTSLiberty Tax ServiceTax Prep Franchises

Are LIBERTY TAX SERVICE Franchise Owners Happy?

Are you familiar with the Liberty Tax Service franchise opportunity? 

Are Liberty Tax Service franchise owners happy?  Why or why not?  

Please share your thoughts and opinions below.

*     *     *    *    *

flickr.com.photos.brent_nashville
In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine listed Liberty Tax Service as the #3 franchise, surpassed only by Subway at #1 and McDonald’s at #2. 

It was quite a leap, since Liberty Tax Service had never made the top 10 (Subway had been named #1 16 times, McDonald’s 8 times). 

Previously, Liberty Tax Service franchise had ranked #23 (2008); #17 (2007); #10 (2006); and #15 (2005).  We don’t see any explanation by Entrepreneur for the sudden ranking surge.

Could it be Liberty Tax Service’s cutting edge branding & marketing programs that vaulted them to the top?  (See picture, left)

Entrepreneur’s listing is fairly generic, “In 1997, after selling Jackson Hewitt Inc.–the tax-preparation service company he founded 15 years earlier–John Hewitt acquired a Canadian tax franchisor and established Liberty Tax Service. A year later, Hewitt expanded into the U.S. with five offices; at the close of 2008, the number of U.S.-based Liberty Tax Service franchises had grown to nearly 2,500.”

Is Liberty Tax Service such a great investment opportunity that it deserves to be listed as #3 in the nation?  Does it provide superior training, guidance and support to its franchise owners?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  DO YOU OR HAVE YOU OWNED A LIBERTY TAX SERVICE FRANCHISE?  ARE LIBERTY TAX SERVICE FRANCHISEES HAPPY?  WHY OR WHY NOT?

Photo credit:   January 25, 2009 by Brent and MariLynn Taken in Smyrna, TN  License:  Creative Commons 

110 thoughts on “Are LIBERTY TAX SERVICE Franchise Owners Happy?

  • ARE YOU CONSIDERING BUYING A LIBERTY FRANCHISE? READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS BOARD!! Call your local Liberty offices in your area and ask them who is truly profitable, the answers will amaze you!!

  • Our office is currently investigating Liberty Tax Service Franchises. If you have or have had a Liberty Tax Franchise we would be interested in speaking with you regarding your experience. Please contact us at (314)522-2312 or email us at kms@fortmanlaw.com

    Thank you,

    Law Office of Jonathan E. Fortman, LLC

  • Amy peek

    I’m not an owner, but I was a client!!! See how I said was???
    I will never file my taxes with liberty tax again!!!! I got charged
    3 times what any of the other tax offices said they would charge
    And still waiting on my return. Every time I call I get different
    answers, they tell me complete oppisite of the IRS. I have completely
    lost trust and faith in this company!!!

    Thanks for hearing my rant
    Amy Peek

  • Out and Glad

    Amy,
    I am sorry that you are having this problem. Have you gone to the IRS website and looked up under Wheres my refund?
    To do this:
    Go to the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov.
    On the right hand side about 1/3 of the way down, you will see “Wheres my refund?”
    Click on there.
    You will need to know the primary social Security number that was filed, the filing status and your total refund amount, not the amount you would receive if you did a bank product.
    Click on Wheres my refund at step three.
    Then enter the information, and click at the bottom to get the status of your refund.

    I hope this helps.

  • I have been filing my taxes with Liberty for many years with the same owner.
    This year I have been audited by NY state.
    I keep calling liberty taxes franchise owner to help me out send the necessary documents to the state but he doesn’t want to return my call.
    Can anybody help please!!
    Thanks

  • Out and glad

    Andy,
    You can call the corporate office at 1-866-790-5089 and let them know about how the office will not return your call. The owner will have 48 hours to respond.
    Also, if available, you can go to another office, and they can download you tax information for you.
    I am sorry that I can not help any further.

  • finalydone

    Jonathan, thank you for your post but a lot of us have heard this so many times yet Liberty has been allowed to bankrupt franchisees when they see fit, while they have raked in huge profits for years. Now, Liberty has cleaned up a lot of there act since going public and while I still would not send my worst enemy to them they seem to have stopped or greatly reduced some of the activities that were flat out stealing from franchisees and others. I hope your investigation gets results. I would consider speaking with you once I do some research. But so many are afraid to speak because of retribution Liberty has dealt out anytime a current or former franchisee starts telling the truth. I’m afraid the statue of limitations will run out on the major crimes committed before anything is done.

  • William Renn

    Purchased an existing Liberty Franchise in SW Florida. Area Developer failed to disclose that Lease on current office location was to expire within 6 days of Sales and Purchase Agreement. Area Developer then went to Landlord to negotiate a 3 year Lease Extension. Lease was in the name of Liberty Parent Company JTH Tax, Inc. Area Developer also failed to disclose numerous problems with the building including multiple roof leaks – stating there’s nothing wrong with the building. Buyer (me) had multiple issues with Landlord over Roof Leak repairs and was eventually evicted for withholding rent that was subsequently paid per court order. Having filed a lawsuit against Liberty Tax Service, LTS claimed the Area Developer did not have signature authority to sign a Lease Extension on their behalf and also denied notice of the existence of any said Lease Extension. Buyer provided copies of emails to prove Liberty, in fact, had knowledge of the Lease Extension and failed to correct the problem created by their Area Developer and also failed to support their Franchisee or assist with any resolution. In addition, Liberty Tax Service; rather than Terminate the Franchise Agreement for certain contingencies, chose to let the Franchise Term expire enabling them to charge Minimum Royalties for which they were unjustly rewarded. CAUTION TO ALL…….BE VERY VERY CAREFUL WHEN GETTING INVOLVED WITH LIBERTY TAX SERVICE….

    William A. Renn

  • guest2

    How did the court order you to pay the rent if you did not sign the lease and was not the tenant?

  • guest2

    Did your fees drop off?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *