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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 22

employee retention tax credit

Employee Retention Credit: What Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

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.

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Feb 21, 2026 Filed under: Accounting, Bookkeeping, Invoicing, Employee Retention Credit

The Complete Guide To Restaurant Inventory Management

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.  

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Oct 27, 2025 Filed under: Restaurant POS

Square Payroll VS Gusto

Payroll software isn’t a cookie-cutter solution. By examining Square Payroll vs. Gusto, we’ll weigh the pros and cons, including a plan-by-plan breakdown for each. While both software apps boast easy-to-use interfaces and competitive pricing, there are some key differences to consider when choosing between Square Payroll and Gusto. Read on!

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May 27, 2026 Filed under: Payroll

Xero VS FreshBooks: Comparison

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.

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Aug 16, 2024 Filed under: Accounting, Bookkeeping, Invoicing

How To Hire Your First Employee In 10 Steps

Wondering how to know when to hire your first employee? Hiring your first employee is an essential step to take to continue to grow your business, and there are a couple of things to keep in mind to help you successfully — and legally — hire and pay them. Let’s take a look at everything required for you to feel confident in hiring and paying your business’s first employee.

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May 20, 2026 Filed under: Payroll

What Is QuickBooks Workforce?

Intuit QuickBooks’ Workforce service makes it much easier for employers to share paycheck information with their employees online. By activating QuickBooks Workforce, you can give your employees control over when and how they want to review their W-2 forms and pay stubs. Read on for a full look at QuickBooks Workforce to see if it’s right for your business.

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May 27, 2026 Filed under: Payroll
Prepayment penalties

What Is A Prepayment Penalty?

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.

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Dec 17, 2025 Filed under: Business Loans

The Complete Guide To Square Payroll Pricing

Time is precious when you’re running a small business. Streamlining employee payroll can recoup hours previously spent every pay period crunching numbers and writing checks. Square is a reputable payroll option that will likely come up in your search, and you may already be familiar with their point of sale (POS) system and other applications. Read on for a detailed look at Square Payroll pricing and plans.

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May 24, 2026 Filed under: Payroll

How Much Does Gusto Payroll Cost?

Gusto makes payroll processing easy for small businesses that need to focus on growing their base of customers. The payroll and time-tracking software offer multiple tiers of plans with different price tags and features, each of which is suitable for different small business needs. This article breaks down each plan’s pricing structure to help you figure out which one benefits your company the most.

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May 27, 2026 Filed under: Payroll

ADP VS Paychex Comparison

Small businesses have plenty on their to-do lists. To help narrow down your search for payroll apps, we will compare two leading payroll software solutions available to small businesses: ADP and Paychex. We’ll dive into features, pricing, customer support, feedback from small business users, and more. Read on to compare ADP vs. Paychex.

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May 27, 2026 Filed under: Payroll