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.
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.
Square Payroll is full-service payroll software for businesses of all sizes. The software offers robust payroll automation and tools that will save your business time when it comes to paying employees and contractors. This guide will walk you through the process of running payroll with Square Payroll.
With both contenders offering minimal fees and nearly identical flat-rate pricing, most businesses won’t see a significant overall price difference between them. Whether Square or QuickBooks will be the better choice will mainly come down to which of the two companies offers the better features your business needs to grow and thrive.
One of the main reasons ADP payroll has been able to stay so popular is its highly intuitive interface. Even with loads of features, ADP is one of the easier-to-use systems around.
With its attractive mobile POS hardware, flat-rate processing, and built-in eCommerce, Wix is a noteworthy point of sale solution for both retailers and mobile, service-based businesses. However, at this time, the POS is only available to select Wix users.
It’s time to open a business bank account. Are you ready? What do you need to make that happen, and what’s the best way to apply for business banking services? Does your small business even qualify for business banking? Relax. We’ve got you covered! This post will let you know if it’s time to start using a business bank account for your small business or side venture.
If you’re still wondering if you need a business bank account, the answer lies in understanding the differences between personal and business banking. A business account simply is better suited than a personal account for running a business. Find out more about why you need to ditch your personal account and sign up for a business checking account to run your small business.
Opening a business bank account can save you time and reduce your personal legal liability as a small business owner. These step-by-step guidelines will show you how to open a business bank account.
While corporate cards are a big business these days, they remain a relative oddity in the greater credit card scene. Not as ubiquitous as personal or small business credit cards, corporate cards aren’t exactly easy to understand. For one, getting a corporate card isn’t as easy as filling out an online application. And properly managing a corporate card program isn’t something you can just set up and forget.
Though the residential construction market is booming, it isn’t without its challenges. As a result of the pandemic, building supplies, from windows to lumber, have increased significantly in price and have been in short supply. Despite these issues, Ambria Properties, a residential construction company based out of Greenville, South Carolina, continues to prosper. But this isn’t the first obstacle that Ambria Properties has faced. Â
Switching to a business bank account can help you build a professional reputation and establish credibility, limit your personal liability if your business plans don’t work out the way you want them to, and make it easier to manage your business finances and file your taxes. Let’s dig in further to see what other benefits there are to having a business account, and whether there are any drawbacks.
Want to help shape the future of the Merchant Maverick website? Join our testing and survey community!
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
Help us to improve by providing some feedback on your experience today.
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.
