Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader’s Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
One form of relief offered to small businesses is the Employee Retention Tax Credit. First introduced in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this tax credit could be claimed by eligible employers on quarterly tax returns. This program was expanded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law in December 2020, making the credit accessible to more employers.
The SBA offers a variety of loan programs that vary according to business needs. Its flagship program is the 7(a) loan program, which offers loans for most general business purposes. However, it also offers special programs such as microloans and disaster loans. Find out more about SBA loans, including who qualifies.
QuickBooks Online is cloud-based accounting software. It has the complex accounting capabilities that small business owners need and supports numerous integrations. Quickbooks Online has a lot to offer in terms of features, accounting, and usability.
Loans expert Erica Seppala talks inflation with Nasdaq.
Financial expert Erica Seppala analyzes in Real Simple what people in their 40s can do to strengthen their finances.
Loans expert Erica Seppala tells Real Simple why an app might help people pay down their debt faster.
While small business health insurance is an additional expense for your business, the benefits for both you and your employees are likely worth the cost. Potential tax benefits for your business and happier and more productive employees make adding health insurance as a benefit a win-win for your small business.
BINs work by identifying the type of card being used to make a purchase, the location of the card issuer, and which bank issued the card. Financial institutions can then compare this information to their cardholder data to more easily identify fraudulent charges.
Small business owners that navigate the complex and lengthy Small Business Administration loan process are rewarded with low-cost, long-term business funding. Now that the hard part is over, it’s not uncommon to have questions about what comes next, like repaying your loan.
Understanding business loan interest rates is an essential step for any borrower. Knowing about interest rates helps you better understand the cost of borrowing, is critical for comparing loan offers, and helps you secure the funding you need for any financial situation.
A business loan proposal is your opportunity to explain to a potential lender why they should take on the risk of lending to you. It’s a persuasive essay to convince the bank you are a viable business that will not default — you will paint that picture both with a narrative about your business and your profit/loss metrics.
Different banks offer different account types, services, and levels of national coverage. Before you start your search, you need to determine what your banking needs are and the banking services and features you’ll require to meet those needs.
Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are popular with business owners due to their competitive rates and favorable terms. However, these low-interest loans are only available to businesses that meet stringent requirements. Unfortunately, this means that some small businesses will have their SBA loans denied and will need to seek alternative options or apply again in the future.
If a business loan still seems like a solid financial option for your business, you can move into calculating your monthly business loan payment. This will further help you decide if getting a loan will help boost the growth of your business.
A business bank account doesn’t have to cost you anything. You can find online accounts for your business that have $0 minimum deposits, $0 monthly fees, and $0 minimum balance requirements.
FDIC insurance is a government-run insurance program. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protects deposits made with regulated institutions such as banks. In the unlikely event that your bank goes out of business, the government will step in and make sure that none of the bank’s customers lose their money.
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The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
