Erica Seppala

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed about how much things will cost, but since business insurance is a must (and possibly even a legal requirement) for your small business, we will break down how much you can expect to spend to protect the business you love.

Online payment fraud is a major concern for eCommerce businesses, but adding more security at checkout can also create friction for legitimate customers. That’s the problem 3-D Secure is designed to address. Modern 3-D Secure technology helps card issuers identify risky transactions and verify shoppers when needed, often without interrupting the checkout process. Here’s how […]

AVS is an acronym for the Address Verification Service, a feature that’s used to compare the address given to you by your customer and the billing address on file with the cardholder’s issuing bank. AVS serves two primary functions: (1) to deter fraud by confirming that the customer is the legitimate cardholder, and (2) to help prevent chargebacks by giving you additional information to verify your customer’s identity. Read on for more info.

If you’re a budding eCommerce entrepreneur, it’s critical you understand that the higher risk of fraud for online payments is the primary factor in making the credit card processing rates for this type of transaction significantly higher than for card-present transactions in a brick-and-mortar setting.

Same-day deposits are nearly identical to Square’s Instant Transfer feature. It comes with the same notice that some may have limits, and you may start out with a smaller transfer amount per day and work your way up.

A cross border fee is a credit card processing fee charged whenever a merchant in one country (e.g., the US) accepts payment from a customer whose card originates from another country (e.g., Mexico). Cross-border fees are fixed, non-negotiable fees set by card networks.

Square’s phone customer service hours are from 6 am to 6 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday. Note that with higher paid subscription tiers, like Square for Restaurants Pro, you have access to Square’s phone support 24/7. Getting a human isn’t always simple, however, as the system will often try and funnel you through its live chat option. If you do have a very specific question and you are two-step verified, you can generally reach someone within a few minutes during business hours or opt to receive a call back. Square has also largely done away with its customer code system for receiving support.

US Business Funding offers many different financial products to help business owners score the capital they need. It is a great choice for equipment financing, SBA loans, or working capital loans. US Business Funding has earned a 95% approval rate and 60-second approvals.

Take a look at the best small business credit cards and learn how to choose the right credit card for your small business.

If you default on your SBA loan, you’ll be notified by the lender. If you’re unable to get on track with your loan, your lender may seize your assets. The lender will later reach out to the SBA to receive the guaranteed portion of the loan, and the SBA will contact you seeking payment. If payment isn’t received or an agreement isn’t made, the SBA will report the loan to the Treasury Department, which can take further action against you.