In 1965 the founder of our company, Chauncey F. Hutter, Sr., started his first bookkeeping and tax preparation business. He had come to Charlottesville in the 1950s to attend the University of Virginia, and like many students decided to make this area his home after college was over. Chauncey created PRO-TAX in 1973 in response to the needs of taxpayers with less complicated tax returns. From his work in the tax preparation business, it was clear these customers wanted exceptional service, but at the same time were looking for a fast and efficient experience. PRO-TAX grew into one of the dominant tax-filing company in the Charlottesville area during the 1970s and 1980s.
The tax preparation industry began to change dramatically with the advent of electronic-filing. Most tax preparation firms resisted this change and missed offering customers faster service through electronic filing. Chauncey felt electronic tax filing was a major key to the future of retail tax services and he was right. PRO-TAX was one of the first in the area to be accepted by the IRS into the new electronic filing program in 1989. After PRO-TAX began offering this service the company expanded quickly. Three more offices in central Virginia were opened in 1992. PRO-TAX started five new locations in 1993 and expanded further throughout the 1990s. By 2008 there were twenty-two corporate-owned offices in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. We attribute this growth to our understanding of what customers want and our ability to develop operational systems to provide those services.
At the same time PRO-TAX was expanding its offices and growing its customer base, the company was also making major innovations in its operational systems. Both to handle the volume of customers and to ensure that services were delivered effectively, proprietary new systems and concepts were developed. Many of these involved integrating new technologies into the service process. Over the last ten years PRO-TAX has revolutionized its income tax preparation business. We have introduced systems that answer many of the challenges that those in the tax industry face. Some of the highlights include:
- Created systems to successfully (and profitably) manage our business during the most intense periods of the tax-season (regardless of how many people walk in the door)
- Developed web-based technology that provides real-time reporting on every component of office performance
- Formulated tools to successfully recruit and retain top-notch workers
- Developed a tax-school program that is the industry leader
- Implemented a testing-system to ensure employee knowledge and compliance in every area of our tax preparation business
- Created a top-notch support program
In 2006 PRO-TAX decided to act upon the many requests the company had received for an tax franchise offering. Over the summer the legal documents were drafted and the filing was complete late in the fall. PRO-TAX is now able to offer income tax franchises in most of the United States (excluding several registration states). In 2007 four new tax franchisees joined the family adding three more offices in Virginia, and one in Alabama. In 2008, we will only select up to ten (10) new tax franchisees. Whereas most franchisors want to open as many new offices as possible, at PRO-TAX we want quality franchisees who desire an exceptional experience from a small, family-owned company.
We are excited about sharing our years of knowledge and experience in the world of income tax-preparation with those interested in joining us. As the industry continues to mature and develop we look forward to continuing to provide our customers a superior tax-preparation experience; and helping franchisees have the success in their market areas that we’ve had in ours.
Contact Us
