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.
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.
OnDeck is a great resource for many small businesses that need a loan, but it’s not right for all businesses. Take a look at some of our favorite competitors to OnDeck before you apply for your next business loan.
If you’ve decided that Kabbage Funding isn’t right for you, or you want to take a look at Kabbage competitors before choosing a business lender, the following seven lenders are for you. Take a look at the best alternatives to Kabbage available to small businesses right now.
Tiered pricing was supposed to simplify the costs of accepting credit cards but more often than not it’s an opportunity for processors to charge merchants more than they would pay with other pricing models. Here’s what you should know about tiered pricing and the best alternatives to it.
Ready to start sending invoices and receiving payments from your customers? Here are the best invoicing software options to help you run a more successful small business.
A particularly confusing and misunderstood fee is the monthly minimum. Rather than a direct fee, it’s the minimum amount in processing fees you’re required to pay your provider monthly. If your processing fees fall short of this minimum, you’re billed the difference; if not, there’s no extra charge.
Franchises are a tried-and-true way to start a business, but they can cost a lot of money up-front. Want to buy a franchise, but can’t afford the startup costs? Learn about your best option for starting a franchise with no money right here.
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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.
