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.
You need a loss run report to negotiate lower premiums with your existing or new insurance provider, determine risks associated with running your business, and establish a plan to help mitigate potential hazards.
Every year, employees and businesses are held liable for things out of their control, and no matter how diligent you are, mistakes happen, and people can be over-served. Don’t risk your business because of someone else’s poor decisions. Protect yourself with liquor liability insurance or host liquor liability insurance, and take the time to review the liquor laws in your state.
We all make mistakes, and when we do, you may be liable for the effects of those errors if you gave the advice in a professional setting or hurt someone while providing your service. Professional liability insurance protects your business from lawsuits that claim you gave bad advice or made a mistake.
Any business that requires vehicles for day-to-day operations or requires employees to drive vehicles as part of the job should purchase commercial auto insurance.
The types of business insurance you need for your small business in Texas will vary according to your specific business needs and risks. Generally, it’s best to start with general liability, workers’ comp, and commercial property insurance if you have a physical storefront, and then scale up from there.
A credit card refund fee is a penalty fee on refunded transactions and are charged by credit card processing companies. In most cases, merchants will not have to pay a credit card refund fee, but they will not be refunded the processing costs they paid during the initial transaction.
The types of insurance you’ll need for your Florida small business will depend on your business-specific risks and needs, but it’s generally a great idea to start with a business owners policy, which bundles general liability and commercial property insurance. You’ll most likely need workers compensation if you have employees, and if you use vehicles for business-related purposes, commercial auto insurance will be required as well.
Commercial truck insurance is a grouping of specific insurance policies that cover various possible losses and accidents while a truck is used for business-related purposes (with the exception of bobtail insurance). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expects you to have $750,000 in primary liability coverage at the bare minimum.
One of the most important decisions you make as a small business owner is how you will accept payments from your customers. Will you stick with the traditional cash register, or would a modern point of sale (POS) system be a better fit?
If you rent a storefront for your small business (or plan to in the future), business renters insurance is likely a requirement for your present or future lease. Read on to learn everything you need to know about business renters insurance, including what it covers, where to buy a policy, and how much it will cost you!
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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.
