Xero has launched Xero +C for self-employed users. The release comes as products target to the self-employed have an important segment of the business software market. Rival Intuit has seen rapid growth for its QuickBooks Self-Employed.

The board of directors of Liberty Tax continues to churn following the board's September 5 firing of CEO and founder John Hewitt. On December 15, Steven Ibbotson, chair of the compensation committee submitted his resignation.

Liberty Tax, troubled by the firing of its CEO and resulting turmoil, has promoted 37-year-old Nicholas Bates to the position of CFO. He replaces Kathleen Donovan, who resigned in November despite being given a retention bonus after the company terminated CEO and founder John Hewitt in September.