Finance & M&A — page 109

Travelex Insurance Services Inc. was awarded the Virtuoso’s 2023 Top-producing Specialty Partner Award (U.S.) for its commitment to customer service and experience.

Odin Industries CEO, Ryan Hawley, has been appointed to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council for Economic Development, signaling his dedication to driving economic growth and fostering innovation within the small business community.

Empower Brands, a multi-brand franchisor, operates a number of industry-leading commercial and residential brands serving homes and businesses across North America.

Lakeus OÜ has launched Yrityslaina.com, a platform to compare business loans in Finland, addressing the challenges businesses face when seeking financial assistance.

Franchise owners are required to provide health insurance to their employees, with the Affordable Care Act setting rules for larger franchise owners based on the number of full-time equivalent employees.

Five Star Painting is a commercial and residential painting franchise that offers interior and exterior painting services, along with home services such as wallpaper, carpentry, deck and fence, and pressure washing services.

The average cost of opening a franchise in the U.S. can range from $10,000 to over $5 million, depending on various factors.

Great American Cookies, a gourmet cookie franchise, was founded in 1977 with a $4,000 investment and has since grown to over $100 million in annual sales.

The global tax and accounting software market is expected to reach $33.8 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% from 2024 to 2030.

JINYA Ramen Bar is a restaurant franchise specializing in authentic Japanese ramen, founded by Tomo Takahashi in 2010.

Propelled Brands acquires Camp Bow Wow, expanding its portfolio to over 1,300 locations.

Careertopia predicts a strong year for franchising in 2024 based on recent hiring trends.

QX Global Group is recognized as a leader in the SPARK Matrix for Finance, Accounting & BPO services.

Xplor Technologies is expanding its software push into the big-box gym and health club space.

The global forex prepaid cards market is expected to reach $492.80 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% from 2024 to 2032.

Andy's Frozen Custard has over 135 locations open across 15 states, with 22 new stores added in 2023 and plans for 25-30 locations in 2024.

The journey to approval for the first bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) was a long one.

Nuvve Holding Corp. priced a $9.6M public offering on January 31, 2024.

Seed PR has merged with Mainland, a move that will help them better serve their client base of franchisors and franchisees.

Electronic Merchant Systems acquired PaymentCloud to enhance long-term growth opportunities and expand its technology infrastructure.

Aqua-Tots Swim School offers swimming lessons to infants, children, adults, and people with special needs, with a goal of teaching water safety.

Swig appoints Bill Ayers as its new CFO, bringing over 20 years of experience in corporate finance and investment banking.

BooXkeeping is a fast-growing bookkeeping franchise committed to innovation and human connection.

The Franchise 500 is a prestigious list produced by Entrepreneur magazine, ranking the top franchise brands and their impact on the business community.