Jackson Hewitt adds new franchise groups

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has reported adding 36 new franchise groups who purchased more than 125 new and existing territories.

“We brought in many outstanding new franchisees this year that contributed to one of our strongest sales campaigns in the last decade,” said Duane Mora, senior vice president of franchise sales for Jackson Hewitt, in a statement.

Mario Villafuerte

The tax prep giant also claimed gains in market share and same-store sales, crediting promotion of its Express Refund Advance no-fee/zeo-interest loan program. ERA contributed to 13 percent new client growth, about a third of coming from DIY online filers, the company said.

Elsewhere, Hewitt opened some 3,000 seasonal prep kiosks in December in Walmart stores, and continued its refund-option relationship with American Express.

Entrepreneur recently reported that the number of non-company owned Hewitt locations has dropped slightly over the past 10 years.