DELOITTE TO LAY OFF 2% OF U.S. EMPLOYEESNew York - Deloitte & Touche plans to cut about 900 employees from its offices in the U.S. to adjust to the slowing economy. Less than 2 percent of Deloitte's 45,000 employees would be affected. The cuts are expected to occur in a short time and not in any particular location.
"In a move to align its workforce to better reflect business and client needs, Deloitte LLP is taking a number of steps to reduce costs, including adjustments to its workforce levels in the United States," the firm said in a statement e-mailed by spokesperson Deborah Harrington. "The cost-containment program is taking place across all support functions and client service units. Part of the plan is to align our headcount according to current and projected revenues. Like our competitors, we are affected by a number of economic events, including the overall slowdown in the U.S. and global economies."
BOOKKEEPING FRANCHISER PLANS NATIONWIDE GROWTH
McLean, Va. - Bookkeeping Express, a franchiser focused on providing outsourced bookkeeping services to small businesses, plans to expand nationally with 400 new territories. Chief executive Greg S. Jones initially intends to target the mid-Atlantic region before expanding nationwide. Bookkeeping Express recently signed a franchise agreement to open seven locations in Washington, D.C. The company uses an alternative pricing model based on clients' needs, as opposed to an hourly billing approach.
The company offers services such as setting up charts of accounts and general ledgers, doing monthly data entry, processing and managing accounts payable and accounts receivable, and producing monthly reports and tax reports. As part of the franchise model, all locations 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 sums up the business' operations for analysis.
Jones is offering two options for franchisees: master or area development territories that can be operated out of home-based or commercial space locations. Per-territory start-up fees cost under $50,000, according to the company.
For more information, visit www.bookkeepingexpress.us.
