ATAX, one of the top minority-owned franchises in the U.S., will open doors at its first location on Central Avenue in Albany this winter.
The Grand Opening will take place Thursday, January 23, 2014 from 3pm-7pm, with the official Ribbon-Cutting taking place from 4pm-5pm.
ATAX, Tax preparation and business services company, offers Personal, Corporate and Sales Tax Services, Payroll Services by ADP and Bookkeeping. With roots in the Latino community, the business will specialize in bilingual services and offerings that make a difference in the community, says franchise owner Megan Gardner.
To mark the grand opening, Gardner will be presenting a $500 donation to the Capital District YMCA’s Black and Latino Achievers Program. “It’s important for us to commit to programs that are making a difference in our community,” Gardner says. She plans to donate a portion of the proceeds ($1) for every tax return the firm prepares this year to the YMCA program, she says.
Gardner is proud to be opening the first location in the Capital District. “This is the kind of company that’s really grown by giving people opportunities,” she says. Founder Rafael Alvarez, started AlvarezTax in 1986 with received money from family and friends and $200, a computer, and fax machine. At the time, he was still a student at City College, but wanted to build a business that would cater to the unique needs of the Latino community. Today, ATAX is one of the fastest growing franchises in the country and was recently named in USA Today Top 50 Minority-owned franchises by the National Minority Franchising Initiative.
In 2012, USA Today estimated that roughly 16% of franchises in North America were owned by minorities, up from 8-10% ten years before.
In 2014 ATAX was also named in the Top 50 Franchise companies in America with VETFRAN, a program that recognizes franchise companies that assist with the transition of our military people back into the workforce. ATAX was recognized because of its role in creating career opportunities and veterans discount program for all branches of the armed service.
Alvarez grew the business by taking an apprenticeship approach to the industry, says Gardner. Most franchise owners begin by working there and then go on to open their own franchise. “The focus is on family first,” Gardner says. “They are open year round, and there’s really an emphasis on making a difference in your community.”
It was this very philosophy that appealed to Gardner, a stay-at-home mom who in 2013 was looking to return to the business world. Gardner worked for the New Jersey Devils as a sports marketer, but when it came time to return to working outside the home, she was inspired by the work she had done with her church. Gardner was a member of her church’s international friendship team and had witnessed first-hand the challenges facing immigrants through her work with the Burmese refugee community. She was attracted to the “community piece” of ATAX, and how Alvarez had created a business that was really about empowering underserved populations. “We really want to help small business owners with their taxes,” she says. They also help individuals with taxes for free and also provide assistance for low-income seniors.
Gardner was also impressed by Alvarez’s success. She points to the Marble Hill office in the Bronx, where a staggering 8,000 tax returns were prepared last year. “That’s amazing,” she says.
In 2013, EL DIARIO LA PRENSA, New York’s leading Spanish language daily newspaper, also awarded Alvarez the “EL Award” in recognition of his long commitment to the Spanish community.
She hopes to bring this same level of superior customer service and commitment to public service to her new offices in Albany, located adjacent to the Home Depot on Central Avenue. The office will be open year-round and employ 3-5 people.
ATAX is located at 979 Central Avenue in Albany. For more information, please contact (518) 788-9151 or visit their website at www.atax.com
