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.
It’s pretty common for entrepreneurs to use a personal bank account to manage a new business. But as you grow, is it still a good idea to use that personal account? And how do you know when it’s better to open up a business checking account? Read on for a detailed explanation of when it’s okay to use a personal bank account and why you should eventually upgrade to a business checking account.
With multiple pricing plans, systems, and features, businesses of all sizes can use SpotOn. Throw in an easy-to-use and intuitive UI, plenty of add-ons and integrations, and numerous positive reviews from past and current customers, and it’s not hard to see why SpotOn is a worthy contender in the POS space.
altLINE can factor high-value invoices, but the flexibility allows you to pick and choose what (if any) invoices you want to factor in any given month. The rates are good to reasonable, with minimal nickel and diming.
Should you choose Square or Toast for your restaurant? Both are terrific options for small businesses — particularly for small to mid-sized quick service and full-service establishments. Read our Toast VS Square comparison to see which is better for you!
If you collect payments online, your customers are likely accustomed to using credit or debit cards, PayPal, or even digital wallets, but some may be open to authorizing a simple bank transfer via the good old ACH Network. How do you compare ACH service providers and choose the best one for your business? Read on!
There are so many processing companies, they all seem to be doing more or less the same thing, and they all have both glowing testimonials and terrible complaints. How are you supposed to choose the best company under these circumstances? Who can you trust? Read on to find out.
Grant writing is a year-long endeavor that can take up a lot of your time and resources, including the emotional labor of hoping and grieving as announcements are made and the cycle continues. Read on for our top tips on how to write a winning business grant application, and what not to do when you’re applying for a grant.
It’s important that you comply with Texas laws and regulations regarding payroll taxes so that your business can continue its operations uninterrupted. Read on to learn everything you need to know when you file and submit payroll in Texas as a small business owner for the first time.
Wondering about payroll deductions for your small business? Payroll deductions can be mandatory or voluntary, and differ in whether they need to be made pre- or post-tax. To help make sense of it all, this guide will introduce common payroll deductions, break down their requirements, and explore methods for calculating federal withholdings.
Overall, we believe that Seamless Chex offers a great service at a fair price. While we can’t tell you whether it will be a good fit for your particular business, the company’s extensive pricing disclosures make it fairly easy for you to estimate how much it will cost you, and how that cost compares against your other alternatives. Seamless Chex earns a very respectable score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and our strongest endorsement.
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.
