While many of us find tax season, doing taxes, and all things related to accounting less than exciting, frightening even â€" John Hewitt does not. In fact, in 1969 Hewitt enrolled in an H&R Block tax course that would be one of the most interesting classes he would ever take. From there Hewitt embarked on a career as a tax preparer, a position that began his journey through the ranks at H&R Block. Hewitt eventually ended up managing more than 2,000 preparers in 250 offices. His ability to embrace technology, visualize the future, and implement steps for constant improvement made him one of a kind. Ultimately, Hewitt's innovations eventually led him to creating his own tax preparation service company. With all of the focus Hewitt had on technology he never lost sight of the importance of quality customer service. Once Hewitt realized that his vision was unique, he went into creating his own tax service based on cutting edge technology mixed with unparalleled customer service standards-and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service was born. Since 1986 Hewitt has been offering franchise opportunities to hungry entrepreneurs around the country. Six years later Jackson Hewitt was named as one of Inc. Magazine's fastest growing private companies in the U.S. Two years later, in 1994, Jackson Hewitt became a public company and was later sold for almost $500 million. Then, in 1997, Hewitt had a new vision for Liberty Tax Service. Nine years later, Liberty Tax Service is the fastest growing tax preparation service in the United States and Canada. Entrepreneur magazine ranked Liberty Tax Service in the top 10 franchise opportunities on the Franchise 500 list which analyzes companies based on financial strength, stability, growth rate, size, start up costs, and financing options. More and more people are turning to Liberty Tax Service, making it the fastest growing international tax service ever.

In an effort to make tax preparation as fun, engaging, and experiential as can be, Liberty Tax Service created Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty, two comically engaging characters that draw customers in by the truckload. These costumed "wavers" started with much skepticism, but soon proved to be a reassuring part of Liberty Tax Service's customer experience. John Hewitt gives his iconic wavers a lot of the credit for the success that his once small business has seen. And the fact that Liberty hires wavers from all walks of life creates new and much needed job opportunities for homeless, illiterate, and minimally English speaking people. At anywhere from $8 to $10 an hour, in four hour shifts, waving new customers in seems like a pretty good job. To ensure quality waving, new hires watch a training tool that teaches them the in's and out's of quality waving.

Liberty Tax is offering better, friendlier experiences to stressed out tax customers, and in doing so they're creating a priceless brand that exemplifies what service oriented business should be about.