DSW Capital (“DSW”), owner of the Dow Schofield Watts brand, is a profitable, fast growing, mid-market, challenger professional services licence network with a cash generative business model and scalable platform for growth. Originally established in 2002, by three KPMG alumni, DSW is one of the first platform models disrupting the traditional model of accounting professional services firms. As at 4 October 2023, DSW operates licensing arrangements with 25 licensee businesses and 106 fee earners, across eleven UK offices which primarily trade under the Dow Schofield Watts brand.
Enabling finance professionals to run their own business
First executed in 2008, the licence model allows our partners to use the Dow Schofield Watts brand and access the DSW Network. DSW provides start-up funding and can take care of many aspects associated with the running of the “office” which includes:
- IT,
- Compliance Guidance,
- Accounting,
- Marketing,
- Recruitment,
- Banking support.
Attractions of the model;
- Improved flexibility
- No billing targets
- Greater operational freedom
- No requirement to invest partnership Capital

Strategic overview
We aim to scale our agile model through organic growth, geographical expansion, additional service lines and investing in “Break Outs” (existing teams in larger firms). The Directors are targeting high margin, complementary, niche service lines with strong synergistic fit with the existing DSW Network.
The Directors believe a business of increased scale will also benefit DSW’s existing Network of licensee businesses by allowing them to leverage a wider network of professionals and clients driving further cross-selling opportunities.
Our unique challenger model represents a differentiated proposition in a rapidly evolving market.