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Business registration is a necessity for most, but not all, small businesses. Read our guide to learn what you need to legally register your small business, the steps to register a new business name, and how much business registration costs.

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.

Could your business qualify for free money via a business grant? Learn about some of the best grants available to small business startups, including green businesses, rural businesses, women-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations, veteran-related businesses, minority-owned businesses, and others.

Toast POS costs $0-$165+/month for POS system software, $627-$1,034 for POS hardware, and 2.49%-3.69% in payment processing fees unless you get a custom quote on a Toast POS pricing plan. Add-ons like Toast Payroll and Toast Kitchen Display System also require a custom quote.

Businesses that need $500,000 or less should consider applying for the SBA Express loan. Loan approval is guaranteed within 36 hours, while approval for an SBA 7(a) loan may take several weeks. However, businesses that are willing to wait and need a larger loan should look into the 7(a) program.

Ex-felons can apply for most government and private grants, provided they meet all requirements for receiving the grant. Those requirements may include owning a business in a certain industry, being located in a specific area, being in operations for a minimum amount of time, and demonstrating a specific need for funds.

The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) provides financial assistance to both small businesses and private, nonprofit organizations that are located in a declared disaster area. Coverage depends on the amount of economic injury sustained. That includes things that don’t cause property damage, such as COVID-19, but still result in a massive loss of demand due to circumstances beyond your control or that interrupt your ability to conduct business.

Capital One and Wells Fargo offer similar business banking services, including FDIC insurance on checking and savings accounts, as well as physical locations for doing business. However, only one offers true nationwide reach, and if you’re looking for merchant services or unlimited transactions, you’ll see clear differences.

We recommend Lightspeed for small to midsize restaurants focused primarily on quick-serve and fast-casual orders because the software is affordable, you can install it on any iPad, the inventory management is best suited for buildable items and combo meals, and a straightforward loyalty program is available on all plans.

The SBA has created business loan programs for veterans and active servicemembers who might otherwise have trouble getting financing for their small business or startup. Find out if one of these VA loan programs is right for your small business needs.