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.
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.
With high borrowing limits, long repayment terms, competitive interest rates, and less stringent requirements than traditional low-interest loans, it’s no wonder SBA loans are highly sought by small business owners.
For many restaurants, adding the option of online delivery may be something they’ve either been casually considering or maybe just started to implement as an experience. However, with the recent sudden health crisis that COVID-19 has brought, being able to stay open for deliveries has become almost a necessity for many businesses. The good news is, even if you’re starting from scratch, it can be a relatively simple process.
While some merchants choose to navigate Etsy’s ever-shifting fees and guidelines, many sellers are tired of constantly adjusting their prices to reflect new fees. If you’re one of those sellers who is fed up with Etsy’s various fees, it might be time to try something different.
Do you know how to calculate your restaurant’s food costs? Learn the formula for determining your food costs, and then learn how you can use that knowledge to boost your profitability.
This corporate credit card, issued for Stripe by the Utah-located Celtic Bank, boasts a 1.5% cash back rate alongside a strong portfolio of extra perks. Plus, as this bit of plastic is a Visa card, your team members shouldn’t have problems using the card worldwide.
The processing industry is simply not the sort of place where you can expect everyone to be honest and treat you fairly. People in this business can and will take advantage of you – if you let them. Reading your contract before you sign up is your last line of defense against being stuck in a bad deal. Here are our best tips for reading and understanding your merchant contract.
Looking for the best payroll software app for your small business? Merchant Maverick has spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of payroll software and testing the best options around. Gusto is the best overall small business software, with ADP as runner-up, while Square is the easiest to use. But there are even more great choices on the list.
The process of selecting a payment processor is a daunting, complex one. Read our post for a sense of what to look for when choosing a credit card processor for your restaurant — as well as a snapshot of the processors and POS systems that, we feel, give foodservice businesses the best value for their money.
Learn all about C-corporations and S-corporations so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your business.
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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.
