Erica Seppala

Xero and QuickBooks Online are both cloud-based software with accounting features you’d expect like invoicing and inventory management. However, Xero stands out for its strong security and supported users, while QBO is easier to use and has better mobile apps.

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.

Tired of nightly 86’ed items? Losing fresh veggies to spoilage? Learn how to manage your restaurant inventory effectively and efficiently. Whether you are new to running a restaurant or have reached a point where any inventory processes you have are not working, this article is a great starting point to help you develop or improve your restaurant inventory management.  

Xero’s advanced features, numerous integrations, and support for unlimited users make it a top choice for mid-to-large-sized businesses that are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the software. FreshBooks is a better fit for smaller businesses that want easy-to-use software equipped with basic features such as invoicing.

Lenders want borrowers to pay as much interest as possible, which is why some loans discourage and penalize early payment through the use of prepayment penalties. However, using the strategies outlined in this article, you may be able to make prepayments on your business loan while avoiding or minimizing any penalties, even if your loan does include a prepayment penalty.

There are business grants out there that give small business owners and entrepreneurs access to capital. However, it isn’t as easy as pulling out your credit card and receiving a magic list in your mailbox. It takes work to find grants that you qualify for, and even then, competition is pretty stiff. That doesn’t mean you should automatically write-off business grants, though.

The EIDL is a low-interest, long-term loan for small business owners that have been impacted by COVID. These loans offer low, fixed rates and repayment terms up to 30 years. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees, certain nonprofits, and agricultural businesses can apply and be approved if they meet all criteria set by the SBA.

Seed funding can be any amount of money, from any source, that helps move a business from the conceptual phase to the implementation phase. Seed funding is typically a small amount of money relative to the scope of the business proposal and often comes from personal sources like family and friends.

You will need to apply for forgiveness through the lender that serviced your PPP loan, not the SBA itself. To do this, you’ll need to submit one of the three available forgiveness application forms, depending on your circumstances: SBA Form 3508, SBA Form 3508S, or SBA Form 3508EZ.

A buy-now-pay-later can give customers the ability to spread out payments in a budget-friendly fashion. Issuing short-term loans to customers yourself can be risky, both financially and legally. The smart choice might be to partner with an established BNPL partner like Klarna to give customers financing options while keeping your own risk low. Read on for more information about Klarna!