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.
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!
How much general liability insurance you need will depend on many factors. The amount of insurance coverage your business needs depends on your specific risks, what type of business you run, the number of employees you have, etc.
To determine how much workers’ compensation insurance you need, you have to take into consideration your business’s income, the number of workers you employ, their payroll, and minimum coverage requirements in your state. Your policy should be able to cover two-thirds of your employee’s yearly wage, but you should also consider coverage for medical bills and ongoing care if your industry is prone to work-related accidents.
Even though you are not legally required to purchase health insurance for a single employee by law, there are still great reasons to offer health benefits. Health insurance is not a trivial purchase — your employees work harder and better when they feel protected and healthy. Now, with the addition of the tax benefits and expanded options, it’s easy to finally make it happen.
Commercial property insurance is designed to protect your business from accidents, theft, fires, and some (but not all) Acts of God. If the worst-case-scenarios for your property come to fruition, a solid commercial property insurance plan creates a way for your business to run and thrive despite the setbacks.
Most home insurance policies are there to protect the house and the homeowners — not a business. If you run a small business out of your home, you should consider adding business insurance as an endorsement to your plan or invest in business insurance separately.
Do you have a plan to deal with a loss of income or pay for utilities that aren’t working? What if you have to temporarily relocate? Read this informative article to learn more about business interruption insurance, including exactly what it covers, how to buy it, and more.
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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.
