"And we expect that to be growing exponentially, although we're not going to add hundreds of them," Liberty CEO John Hewitt said during this week's earnings webcast for the year ended April 30.

Hewitt described the 360 target market as "individuals that make hundreds of thousands of dollars and in low-to medium-sized businesses." Potential customers have complicated tax situations as well as businesses which need advice from a CPA or Enrolled Agent, along with providing other accounting services.

Liberty plans to use its tax store base as a recruiting pool and Hewitt continued, "We have begun to see traction and significant interest among our franchisee base in either opening or acquiring a 360."

Hewitt did not provide any growth targets but told analysts that 360 competes directly with H&R Block Advisors. He notes those stores are year-round operations.

Bob Scott

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Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind