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’s free software and affordable payment processing appeal to many nonprofits on a budget. Learn how Square’s platform can help you run your organization, collect donations, and more.
Make year-end payroll easy with this step-by-step guide and free business payroll checklist. Learn your tax obligations, the required tax forms, and this year’s payroll filing dates so you can properly complete your business’s year-end payroll.
If you want to accept payments online, here are the best online credit card processing companies. Plus, check out our list of must-haves and major concerns for eCommerce businesses.
The following lenders will work with you for a business loan even if you have bad credit — and they won’t take advantage of you.
Business owners need to be proactive in managing their credit card processing accounts. Learn what risk factors processors look for to keep your merchant account safe and what to do if you do run into a funding hold or account termination.
Need help with payroll taxes? Learn what payroll taxes are, which taxes you are legally required to pay, how to calculate them, and more.
Using PayPal to accept donations online is super easy, but nonprofits can also take advantage of PayPal’s many tools and features to fundraise pretty much anywhere.
An SBA 7(a) Loan is a finance option offered to small businesses, backed (or guaranteed) by the Small Business Administration to reduce the risk involved on the part of the lender. 7(a) products are intended for businesses that may be unable to procure other, more traditional, loans. The loan guarantee provided by the SBA gives business owners a chance to fund their small business needs.
Tiered pricing was supposed to simplify the costs of accepting credit cards but more often than not it’s an opportunity for processors to charge merchants more than they would pay with other pricing models. Here’s what you should know about tiered pricing and the best alternatives to it.
Can a free POS system really cut it for small businesses? Check out our run-down of the best free point of sale apps, their limitations, and their advantages, to find one that works for 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.
