West Oak Lane family opens Smart Tax store in Mt. Airy

A West Oak Lane family plans to open a tax preparation franchise in Mt. Airy tomorrow. On Thursday afternoon Jeffrey and Crystal Travis (husband and wife), and Jeffrey’s sister Judy Travis were rushing to get the office into shape before Saturday’s grand opening. Smart Tax will open at 6751 Germantown Ave. in the former spot of a daycare center.

Its owners Jeffrey and Crystal Travis are using the franchise to expand their existing financial services firm J. Travis and Associates. A business that they first opened in East Oak Lane in 1989, before moving to West Philadelphia, and now back in Northwest Philadelphia.

Smart Tax will provide tax preparation, book keeping and accounting for individuals and small businesses. “We basically deal with contractors, small businesses, the ones that don’t want to pay (high) corporate fees, Jeffrey Travis said.

Travis said he was losing customers when he was in West Philadelphia, and making a small family business it was tough finding time to develop a good marketing strategy. He is hoping that by becoming a Smart Tax franchise it will be easier to get the word out. ” They have a brand name,” Travis said. “Just having J. Travis and Associates wouldn’t tell you what we do.”

He said Smart Tax will also help them develop a marketing plan. “They said we will help you with media, marketing, the whole nine-yards to get you out there,” Travis said. Part of that branding includes keeping his old firm’s name. Travis said the full name is Smart Tax powered by J. Travis and Associates.

This is Philadelphia’s only Smart Tax franchise. There was a Smart Tax at Germantown and Chelten but has since closed.