It was October 2001. Ryan and Tiffany Dodson were expecting their first child. And the growing family needed an opportunity that would allow more control over their destiny and outcome of the imminent future. Ryan, realizing the "Big Five" accounting firm he worked for was in trouble, decided to move on - he left Arthur Andersen. Little did he know that he stepped off a sinking ship onto a rocket ship. Knowing his love for numbers and his experience as a CPA, he opened a Liberty Tax franchise. However, after the having two daughters, the Dodsons wanted to be closer to their family in North Carolina. So Tiffany left her Brand Manager job at Miller Lite and they sold their Milwaukee location to relocate to the Triad area of North Carolina to continue their Liberty Tax journey.
Flash forward to 2012. The Dodsons are named Master Area Developers, making them one of the best Area Developers in the Liberty Tax operating system. Tiffany has led the Triad franchisees in their cause-related marketing and publicity efforts to successfully establish Liberty Tax as a community neighbor and credible source of tax information.
It is amazing what a difference 10 years can make. From opening that first office in Milwaukee, the Dodsons have come a long way. Their area development operations now consist of 36 offices in Winston Salem, 12 in Nashville and 21 in Knoxville. And they plan to open more locations in North Carolina. Even with the magical backgrounds of accounting and marketing that gives the duo a competitive edge, the system enabled them to more thoroughly develop their skill sets to welcome a deserving and successful future. "The guerrilla marketing approach was not something I had experienced previously, when comparing the level of execution we use as franchisees," Tiffany reflected. Her husband's strengths in preparing corporate returns were amplified by the efficiency of the tech and tax support available at Liberty Tax.
The Dodson's growth strategy as area developers is all about having franchisees who are ready to run their businesses, and then seeking out even more. They strive to understand each franchisee's goals and expectations, reasons for joining and ultimate desires. To assist in their continuous climb to the highest level of excellence, the Dodsons are committed to maintaining open communication, feed passion and hire the right people in their offices. In fact, 24 of the Dodsons’ franchisees are Top Guns, high-performing franchises.
For the last twelve months, Tiffany has grown her own office by 15 percent when compared to last year's size and revenue and their total business growth is up 32 percent. The Dodsons have singlehandedly grown family-owned tax businesses by 252 percent in the last four years, regardless of the ominous recession. "We are truly thankful for all we have accomplished," said the happy couple, "and we are looking forward what the future may hold.";
