BenefitMall, which offers employee benefits and payroll services, is being sold by one investment group to another. The Carlyle Group has agreed to purchase the Dallas, Texas-based company from Austin Ventures. Terms were not disclosed.

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.