Education: AA Liberal Studies, Limestone University
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.
If your business needs equipment, Commercial Fleet Financing is worth a look. CFF boasts multiple loan and lease programs for established businesses, startups, or borrowers with credit challenges. The application process is easy, funding is fast (in most cases), and customer service receives glowing reviews.
Grasshopper’s SBA lending earns a very respectable overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. We love that it is an SBA Preferred Lender with a fast and easy application that can help you determine if you qualify for funding in just minutes. While the process is lengthy (as is typical for SBA loans), Grasshopper makes it as pain-free as possible by providing exceptional customer support along the way.
PayPal Invoicing is a solid choice if you want no-frills invoicing for your business. There are plenty of support options to help you along the way, although the software is very straightforward. This option is great for freelancers and smaller businesses. Overall, we give PayPal Invoicing a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Business phone systems are better than ever thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol technology. VoIP provides great call quality and features in one flexible, scalable, and affordable phone system. One of the many benefits of VoIP is that these phone systems can help your employees be more productive.
Voice over Internet Protocol (or simply, VoIP) technology has been revolutionary for businesses of all sizes across all industries. VoIP offers unparalleled scalability and flexibility, making these modern phone system ideal for businesses that have customers located around the globe.
VoIP doesn’t just simplify workflows and processes within your business. It can also help you improve the service you provide to your customers. Here are seven ways that VoIP phone systems can help your business improve customer service.
VoIP business phone systems have a lot going for them: great features, reliable service, competitive prices, and integrations with third-party tools and software.
Interactive voice response (IVR) is an automated feature of business phone systems that allows callers to interact with a recorded menu using their keypad or voice.
There are lots of great benefits of VoIP phone service: clear phone calls, connecting to your computer or smartphone, competitive pricing … and environmental benefits? VoIP offers more than just good phone service. It can also help you feel better about making a positive impact and reducing your carbon footprint.
The tools you’ll have access to vary by factors such as your VoIP provider’s offerings, the plan you select, and any add-ons you pay an additional fee to use. The best VoIP providers offer multiple pricing plans with advanced UC features (or add-ons) that simplify communications across businesses of all sizes.
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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.
