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Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer

7+ Years At Merchant Maverick

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.

Merchant Maverick Archives for Erica Seppala | Page 19

1099 VS W-2 Employees: Which Is Better For Your Small Business?

Ever wondered what the difference is between a 1099 contractor and a W2 employee? Believe it or not, the answer is both easier — and more complicated — than you might expect. It all boils down to this: If you tell your workers both what to do and how to do it, then they are probably W2 employees. On the other hand, if you only control the results and not the process, then they are probably 1099 contractors. Read more about the 1099 VS W-2.

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Aug 19, 2024 Filed under: Payroll, Small Business
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Square Banking Review

The Square debit card lacks a traditional application process that might harm your credit score. Plus, it bundles in tidy savings on certain purchases and lets you access the money your business earns through Square instantly. Plus, this card features 2.75% off purchases made at other Square merchants.

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May 8, 2026 Filed under: Business Bank Account Reviews

The Complete Guide To Customer Financing For Small Businesses

Financing allows those who are wavering on a purchase because of the price to buy from you right away and then pay for the goods/services in installments in the future. This way, you don’t lose a sale to sticker shock. This is called customer financing or, sometimes, consumer financing. Broadly speaking, you can provide customer financing yourself, or you can use a third-party financing specialist. As to how to do either, along with their pluses and minuses, read on to find out.

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Nov 7, 2025 Filed under: Buy Now Pay Later, Small Business

PPP Loan Forgiveness: Rules, Requirements, & What To Do If You Still Owe

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is bringing much-needed relief to small business owners affected by the coronavirus. Not only does this loan program provide funding to help cover payroll and other expenses, but if used for qualifying purposes, your loan will be forgiven. In this post, we’re going to help you understand how you can qualify for PPP loan forgiveness.

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Feb 25, 2026 Filed under: Business Loans, Small Business

The Complete Restaurant Guide To Kitchen Printers & Kitchen Printing Setups

You don’t have time for errors or constant checks between the front and back of the house, and you need a convenient way to track and organize orders. Kitchen printers can dramatically improve the accuracy of orders, making customers happy, and by popping up immediately in a place where cooks can see and hear the tickets coming in, they can help you turn your tables around faster and increase your revenue.

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Oct 27, 2025 Filed under: Restaurant POS, Small Business

Credit Card Companies Explained: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, & Discover

If you’re ever curious about what card networks, card associations, or card brands are, and what these entities actually do (other than make you pay fees of various sorts), you’re at the right place. We’ll explain what card networks are, give you a little history about each, and provide a general framework for understanding how they fit into the business of credit card processing.

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Sep 10, 2025 Filed under: Credit Card Processing