Erica began writing on small business topics in 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and focuses on loans, accounting, and POS. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll. She has been cited in MSN, Reader’s Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a graduate of Limestone University and 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.
Xero and Wave are top-rated small business accounting software. While both have a lot of similarities, there are also a few distinct differences between the two. Doing your research and pinpointing these differences can help you make the right choice for your business.
Doctors are among the top-paid professionals in America, but the cost of doing business sure isn’t cheap. There’s the pricey medical equipment, medical licensing costs (not to mention the cost of medical school to earn those licenses!), malpractice insurance, practice management software, medical association fees … and the list goes on. On top of the […]
Unpaid invoices can be a burden for any business. While you know that the money from the invoices will come eventually, slow-paying customers or long repayment terms could have a negative impact on your incoming cash flow — and this could be a problem for your business. Instead of waiting to receive the money owed […]
Our list of best personal loans for businesses should provide a good starting point for entrepreneurs looking for small loans to help jumpstart their businesses. Our list includes Rocket Loans, LendingPoint, Discover Personal Loans, Avant, Lending Club, Prosper, and Upstart.
In the world of accounting, QuickBooks is a big name, but how does the online version of this popular software stack up against Wave, a free online accounting software? Which program is better? Are they even in the same league? The answers to these questions are more complex than you might think.
For beauty salons, short-term loans and business lines of credit can be funded very quickly — sometimes as soon as the next business day. Other loans, such as bank loans and SBA loans, may take several weeks or longer to be funded.
Credit score requirements for business loans vary by lender, borrowing amount, and type of loan. Borrowers with excellent scores and a solid credit history will have more options for low-interest, long-term loans. Borrowers with fair to poor credit scores may find the funding they need with alternative lenders that offer short-term, high-interest business loans.
To obtain a small business loan, lenders often require the borrower to pay a percentage out of pocket as a down payment. But why do you have to pay money upfront when you need to borrow money? Is there a way around this apparent catch-22? What loans require down payments, and what are your options if you don’t have the funds to pay it?
SBA loans are popular with small business owners due to their competitive rates and terms. Many small businesses, including franchises, are eligible for these funding opportunities.
Some loans, such as long-term installment loans and SBA loans, are difficult to qualify for and have lengthy application and approval processes. However, there are other loans like short-term loans, lines of credit, and merchant cash advances that are easier to qualify for, even if you have a short time in business, low revenue, or poor credit.
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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.
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