BookKeeping Express 'Balances' Westchester's Small Businesses' Need for Certified Services with Grand Opening of First Area Office

Online, November 15, 2010 (Newswire.com) - BookKeeping Express (BKE), the first U.S. franchise focused solely on outsourced accounting services, announced today the opening of its first office in Northeastern Illinois, which will serve businesses throughout Chicago's western suburbs in Cook and Du Page Counties. The new BookKeeping Express office will be the brand's first in Illinois, and will be situated in Westchester.

"I'm delighted about the opportunity to provide skilled bookkeeping services that focus on the small business community," said Allison Muzal, who owns and operates the new office in Westchester. "We are excited about serving the Westchester area and becoming part BookKeeping Express. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry and its proven business model, BookKeeping Express will provide me with the marketing and operations support I need to help grow the business, which will help others grow theirs."

After working 15 years for one of the largest confectionary companies in the world, Allison's job was eliminated. Instead of looking for another corporate job, this layoff proved to be the catalyst Allison needed to pursue a career of her own. Opening a BookKeeping Express office was an easy career choice for Allison seeing that she has more than 20 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting, which includes teaching college-level accounting for six years, and being a financial analyst for 10 years at two large commercial banks. Allison has an accounting degree and an MBA in International Business, both from DePaul University. Allison has received her Registered Paraplanner designation from The College for Financial Planning and is also a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.

With more than 150,000 small businesses in the region, BookKeeping Express offers a much-needed service to companies that are not equipped or do not wish to handle accounting responsibilities such as setting up charts of accounts and general ledgers, monthly data entry, processing and managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, producing monthly reports and tax reporting. Moreover, BookKeeping Express utilizes a Custom Flex Pricing Model that is based on the clients' needs instead of a one size fits all, hourly billing approach.

The expansion into Westchester is part of the company's aggressive national development plan which calls for more than 400 new territories throughout the United States.

"The small business community is growing in Westchester and around the country, and BookKeeping Express is expanding with it, providing qualified franchise investors with a niche franchise option that caters to this growing segment," said Greg Jones, CEO of BookKeeping Express. "We are looking to grow with franchisees such as Allison who are serious about building a professional business and sincere about their desire to fill a void in their communities with our distinctive services."

As part of the BookKeeping Express franchise model, local BKE office owners, such as Allison, have the support of the BookKeeping Express Service Center to take care of any outsourced bookkeeping needs. With the Service Center, franchisees can focus their attention on growing business and working with clients, without hiring additional employees. The Service Center also serves as a new sales channel for BookKeeping Express franchise offices. Local BKE office owners can sell the service in their communities to CPA firms and independent bookkeepers.

In addition, all BKE franchise offices will offer the BKE Connect system, which allows businesses access to all bookkeeping files remotely through an outside server, as well as a dashboard that clearly and visually 'sums' up the business' operations for thorough analysis. Plus, small to mid-sized business owners can synchronize their QuickBooks and enjoy convenient, anytime access to their financial documents through BKE EDocs, a new electronic filing system designed to provide secure, online storage of financial documents.

Two options available to BookKeeping Express investors include Master or Area Development territories that can be operated out of home-based or commercial space locations; per territory start-up fees run under $50,000.

For more information, please visit www.bookkeepingexpress.com or contact 877-525-5337.

About BookKeeping Express
BookKeeping Express, a national company focused on providing professional bookkeeping practices to small businesses, was founded in 1984 in California and grew to over 150 locations through licensing agreements. In 2007, Greg Jones, along with Bob Stocker and Merritt Green, purchased the company and launched the new business model in McLean, Va. in January 2008.