Here at BusinessesForSale.com, we know that one of the biggest challenges franchisors face in 2026 is recruitment.
Effective franchise marketing isn’t about generating as many enquiries as possible – it means reaching people with the ambition, experience and financial capacity to build a successful business. That’s where we come in. Our marketplace has been helping franchise brands connect with serious prospective owners for decades.
One of those brands is TaxAssist. Founded in the UK, the accounting franchise has grown into an international network, with established operations in Canada, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, alongside a developing presence in the United States.
At TaxAssist’s annual conference, held at the British Motor Museum in England, the team shared how BusinessesForSale.com has helped them attract high-quality franchise enquiries over many years. While the event took place in the UK, the recruitment lessons are just as relevant for Canadian franchisors looking to grow their own networks. They also spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing the accounting sector in 2026.
“We Wouldn’t Be Without BusinessesForSale.com”
“We’ve got BusinessesForSale.com at the heart of our marketing strategy,” says James Mattam, Group Director of Franchising. “People who are using the website are looking for serious opportunities, so we know the lead quality is good.”
In franchise recruitment, quality matters far more than quantity. Fifty enquiries mean very little if none of those people has the experience, financial backing or commitment needed to become a successful franchise owner. What matters is reaching motivated entrepreneurs who are actively looking for the right opportunity.
James has seen that first-hand. “I would definitely recommend BusinessesForSale.com,” he says. “It has proven, year after year, to be a really good lead generator for us. It’s got the audience we want to be in front of to raise our profile. We wouldn’t be without it.”
A Buyer with Serious Intent
One franchisee we spoke to at the conference was Tosin Oluyemi (pictured above). Tosin discovered TaxAssist through BusinessesForSale.com after he began searching for accounting practices to buy. “I was looking for accounting networks that can support my ambition,” he says. “Then I came across information about franchising on the site which was very helpful to me. That was how I found TaxAssist.”
Today, Tosin is a successful TaxAssist franchisee based in the East Glasgow region of Scotland. “What drew me to franchising was the existing brand, reputation and the support system that comes with it,” he says. “In terms of financing, technical knowledge and local knowledge, that’s really the kind of network that I want to be in.”
Tosin is a great example of a buyer with serious intent who ultimately invested in something slightly different from what he originally set out to find. The wide range of opportunities on BusinessesForSale.com means franchise brands can be discovered by entrepreneurs who may begin their search looking for businesses to buy, investment opportunities or businesses within a particular sector before realising that a franchise is a better fit.
“BusinessesForSale.com has all the information you need,” says Tosin. “It should be a one-stop point to discover businesses to buy. Even things you didn’t know you were looking for.”
That ability to introduce your brand to people outside the traditional franchise pipeline is one of the biggest advantages of advertising on BusinessesForSale.com. Some of your strongest future franchisees may not begin their journey searching specifically for a franchise at all.
The Challenges and Opportunities of AI
The TaxAssist conference itself was a great example of the support Tosin described. Franchisees had the opportunity to connect with one another, discuss the challenges they face every day and take part in workshops designed to broaden their skills. They also had the chance to enjoy canapés and explore the British Motor Museum’s collection of classic cars – including the original DeLorean from Back to the Future, which, sadly, came with a strict no-filming policy.
For CEO Darren Moore, that sense of community is one of the biggest strengths of the franchise model. “We love the opportunity to get people together in one room and share their experiences with each other,” he says. “It really feels like we’re part of something, and creates a sense of unity.”
When asked about the challenges and opportunities facing the accounting profession in 2026, Darren gave the same answer to both questions. “The biggest challenges are around how we demystify AI, and change the view that it is an existential threat to accountants’ existence.” If the industry can do that, he believes the opportunities are enormous. “We just need to use it and grasp it in the right way,” he says.
Group Director of Franchising James Mattam shares that optimism. “Franchising and accounting are two of the most stable models out there. But there is still a lot of uncertainty around AI. The AI solutions are going to help people become better advisors, presenting solutions before they’ve even asked the question.”
Whether you’re recruiting accountants in the UK or franchise owners in Canada, prospective franchisees increasingly want to know they’re joining a business that is prepared for the future. A franchise that embraces new technology while continuing to support its network can be a compelling proposition for ambitious entrepreneurs.
What Canadian Franchisors Can Learn from TaxAssist
Choosing a franchise marketing partner should never be based solely on the number of leads promised. The quality of the audience, the intent behind each enquiry and the platform’s ability to introduce your brand to entrepreneurs outside the traditional franchise pipeline all matter.
TaxAssist’s experience illustrates that perfectly. Tosin wasn’t specifically looking for a TaxAssist franchise when he began his search, but BusinessesForSale.com helped him discover an opportunity that aligned with his ambitions.
For franchisors reviewing their own recruitment strategy, that’s the real measure of success: not simply being seen, but being discovered by the right person at the right stage of their journey.
TaxAssist may have established operations in Canada, but this case study is ultimately about the value of reaching the right audience. Whether you’re an established franchise network or an emerging brand looking to grow across Canada, BusinessesForSale.com can help put your opportunity in front of serious entrepreneurs who are ready to invest.
To find out how BusinessesForSale.com could support your franchise recruitment strategy, discover our advertising opportunities for franchisors .