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 POS system integrates into different types according to the kind of store you own – apparel shop, bike shop, electronics store, jewelry store, pet store, and vape shop – so that you aren’t trying to force some cookie-cutter POS system to meet your needs.
Lendio is a business financing platform that matches customers to funders, including SBA/PPP lenders. It has a relaxed credit score requirement, and there’s no fee for using the service.
Fundera is a business funding matchmaker who will match you up with other business funders you may be qualified for. Fundera is a good place to start your search for business funding, including SBA loans. Not only is Fundera convenient and helpful, but it also has transparent terms and fees.
To repay your loan in a timely manner, it’s important to know whether or not your payments are fixed or variable, how often you have to repay, and how repayments are made. In this post, we’ll break down all the elements involved in paying back a business loan.
Technology isn’t perfect, no matter who wields it, but you can get it pretty close by avoiding the mistakes above. Our best piece of advice is to research your POS options and fully understand your merchant agreement before signing any contracts.
P2Binvestor is a peer-to-peer lender that offers asset-backed lines of credit to qualified B2B businesses. The initial application is fast and easy, and the company is transparent and communicative. It’s competitively priced and solves problems commonly experienced by mid-sized B2B businesses.
Of course, everyone’s experience with a particular processor won’t be the same. It’s important to weigh the complaint volume of a company against its processing volume. A processor serving a hundred thousand merchants with 100 complaints is a much different scenario from a processor serving ten thousand merchants with 100 complaints. That being said, a processor with a lot of complaints about the same issue should be an immediate red flag.
Small business loan rates and fees affect your cost of borrowing, so it’s important to make sure you do your research to find the most affordable loan for your business. The most effective way to get the best deal on a business loan is to educate yourself, starting with this guide.
In danger of defaulting on your small business loan? Find out what might happen and what steps you can take to make sure your loan stays current.
Inventory software for restaurants can include ingredient tracking, vendor management, low-stock notifications, and recipe costing. A good restaurant inventory management system saves time and money by preventing food waste. Learn about the best restaurant inventory management software, including Toast, Upserve, TouchBistro, 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.
