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.
Omega Accounting Solutions can help business owners claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit and the Research and Development Tax Credit. Omega also offers additional services, including fractional CFOs, fractional accounting, business intelligence, analytics, and reporting.
ERC Today takes the guesswork out of claiming the ERC. ERC Today does all of the heavy lifting to help business owners determine if they qualify for ERC, calculate the amount of ERC, and file the proper paperwork with the IRS to receive a refund check.
ERC Specialists can help business owners claim the employee retention tax credit. For a fee, ERC Specialists calculates the amount of the credit and files amended tax returns on the business’s behalf to retroactively claim the tax credit as a refund from the IRS.
Innovation Refunds is a solid choice for processing your ERC claims. A free analysis, dedicated account representatives, built-in audit support, an easy application process, and excellent customer reviews make Innovation Refunds a solid contender in the industry, landing it among the best ERC companies.
In order to receive offers through Amazon Lending, you must have a U.S.-based Amazon business. Amazon does not disclose its lending criteria, but it does state that you may qualify for one or more products at any time. To see if you have any offers, simply check the homepage of your Seller Central account.
The best POS software for a tanning salon should be easy to use, allow you to accept multiple types of payments from customers, and offer the features you need for your business, such as appointment booking and inventory tracking.
You can sell physical or Square gift cards to your customers that can be used online or in-store. These cards work the same as cash when customers purchase your products or services.
Ex-felons can apply for most government and private grants, provided they meet all requirements for receiving the grant. Those requirements may include owning a business in a certain industry, being located in a specific area, being in operations for a minimum amount of time, and demonstrating a specific need for funds.
Overall, Colorado isn’t the most tax-friendly state in the nation, but it does rank fairly well when compared to the other 49 states. It is actually considered one of the more tax-friendly states for retirees, according to several studies.
QuickBooks offers a checking account to business customers who also use QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payments. The QuickBooks Checking account comes with a high APY, no monthly fees, and no minimum balance requirements.
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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.
