Education: AA Liberal Studies, Limestone University
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.
If you own a small business and have employees on your payroll, the PPP loan may benefit you. Keep reading to learn more about this program, how to know if you qualify, and how to navigate the application process with ease.
Many small business owners facing financial challenges have applied for the EIDL program. As with other SBA loans, the EIDL program isn’t exactly the fastest source of funding. The addition of the CARES Act and expedited processing of loans has made it possible to receive funds faster than ever, but many business owners are still in the dark about when funding will come through.
With high borrowing limits, long repayment terms, competitive interest rates, and less stringent requirements than traditional low-interest loans, it’s no wonder SBA loans are highly sought by small business owners.
One of the biggest challenges faced by trucking companies is waiting to get paid. You could potentially wait for weeks (or even months!) to receive payments from your customers. Fortunately, there’s a way to get paid quickly: invoice factoring. You can have access to instant (or near-instant) cash instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days for your customers to pay. But what’s the catch? In this post, we’ll take a look at invoice factoring for trucking companies.
This corporate credit card, issued for Stripe by the Utah-located Celtic Bank, boasts a 1.5% cash back rate alongside a strong portfolio of extra perks. Plus, as this bit of plastic is a Visa card, your team members shouldn’t have problems using the card worldwide.
Take a look at our picks for the best small business loans for cash flow issues, business expansion, debt consolidation, bank financing, and other common business financing needs.
Learn about the best small business loan options for franchisees, whether you need funding to open a franchise, purchase an existing franchise, or keep your franchise business functioning optimally.
If you can’t afford restaurant equipment up-front, an equipment lease is a great way to get the appliances you need. Find out how restaurant equipment financing works and check out some of our favorite lessors in this article.
An SBA 7(a) Loan is a finance option offered to small businesses, backed (or guaranteed) by the Small Business Administration to reduce the risk involved on the part of the lender. 7(a) products are intended for businesses that may be unable to procure other, more traditional, loans. The loan guarantee provided by the SBA gives business owners a chance to fund their small business needs.
Kickstarter can be a great way for small businesses to raise funds — but it’s not the only crowdfunding platform available. Take a look at the best sites like Kickstarter before you launch your next crowdfunding campaign.
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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.
