Blog Posts

The good news is that most businesses follow the same core steps — but the details matter.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about starting your own business.

Sam’s Club Point of Sale by Clover is a merchant services solution that resells Fiserv (formerly First Data) products. Previously known as Sam’s Club Merchant Services, it now operates under Clover while using Sam’s Club branding to attract merchants.

Costco Merchant Services is essentially a reseller of Elavon, one of the largest payment processors in the U.S. That means when you sign up through Costco, you’re really getting an Elavon merchant account — with Elavon handling the actual processing, customer service, and contracts.

Every business should use accounting software, but what if you’re on a tight budget? The good news is that you don’t have to pay a high monthly fee to track your income and keep your business and personal expenses separate. In fact, you may not have to pay anything at all for the best accounting software.

To see how Helcim stacks up against another popular competitor, read our Helcim vs. Square comparison. I also recommend reading our full Helcim review and Stripe review to learn more details about these providers.

My mission is to help them understand that we are bookmarkable. I get it. You get a point of sale system. You don’t need another product or service for six months, but then you end up running into a situation where you might need a loan or a lender. We’re here for that. We have that. We have the information that you need for that.

Merchant Maverick is dedicated to helping small businesses grow and make smart decisions when choosing business software, but to do our job effectively, we had to hear from real business owners who are out there daily, making their dreams work.

Vector Volcano is still Bend’s only classic arcade — and each game is picked and rotated with care. Come meet Pulliam and learn more about this thriving small business. 

With delicious cupcakes with a unique twist, if you are in Bend, a stop at the cupcake cafe is a must. Come meet Autumn and learn more about Ida’s Cupcakes!

Tomi Mart — Bend’s first Asian market, owned by Natasha Dempsey and Jessi Scott — is a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Stocked with treats, snacks, traditional favorites, and a ramen wall, the marketplace is a love letter to Asian culture and community (which are two important aspects of Dempsey and Scott’s business plan).