H&R Block, Inc. · Kansas City, MO United States ·(NYSE: HRB)

Only two things are certain in this life, and H&R Block has a stranglehold on one. The company, which boasts around 23 million tax customers worldwide, is the leading tax return preparer in the US with a network of some 13,000 retail offices; it also prepares tax returns in Canada and Australia (it exited the UK in 2007) through some 1,500 offices. Many of its offices are franchised. H&R Block also operates more than 1,500 shared locations in Wal-Mart and Sears. Average fee per client is $196. In addition to its ubiquitous tax-preparation services, the company provides a number of other products and services such as tax-preparation software, insurance, and retail banking through H&R Block Bank. To read the full description, subscribe now.