Category: Small Business
How to choose the best payment method for small businesses
What’s the best payment method for small businesses? Some say cash is king, while others swear by credit cards. But in light of the coronavirus, …
How to calculate your EIDL loan amount
Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive …
EIDL Loan requirements: What are they?
“EIDL” is short for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan and EIDL loans are available to small businesses, most private nonprofit agencies and small agricultural cooperatives. Backed by …
SBA Express Loans: What they are & how to apply
Sometimes an opportunity may come up or an emergency may arise and your small business will need cash fast. That’s when the SBA Express Loan …
5 steps to create & launch your small business website
Welcome to the internet! You made it this far, so we’re guessing you have some idea of how this works: Need some information? Go to …
What’s a lean startup & is it right for you?
Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not …
6 things to know about self-employment tax
6 Things to Know About Self-Employment Tax A 2019 FreshBooks research report called “Self-Employment in America” revealed that the number of self-employed Americans is rising …
A small business guide to identifying & preventing payroll fraud
When you think about employee theft in your company, you likely consider acts such as employees stealing inventory or company or customer information through cyber …
5 homeschooling tips to keep parents sane
Homeschooling your child requires a lot of time and energy, and with the coronavirus pandemic impacting students nationwide, parents are suddenly finding themselves managing a job, …
What Is an LLC? And How Is It Different Than a Corporation?
I know a thing or two about the complexities of launching a new business. As the owner of several businesses in the Los Angeles entertainment industry, …
Are You Ready to Be Your Own Boss? 10 Things To Consider and Help You Decide
If you have ever wanted to be your own boss, then you’re in the right place. There are plenty of things to consider before branching out …
7 tips for maintaining mental wellness in the workplace
Whether you’re an employee or a business owner, work-related stress is the most major source of stress for American adults. According to a 2020 Mental Health America …
How accounts payable automation propels your business forward
Let’s explore how the benefits of AP automation translate directly to your business’s bottom line. How much time do you think you or your employees spend …
Does your business need an ERP?
The issue of whether or not to adopt an organization-wide ERP system remains a tricky question for growing businesses—and for good reason. According to Manufacturing Business Technology …
How to get paid faster with recurring bill payments
Your business needs a lot from you, and you welcome any opportunity to put tasks on autopilot. We have good news for you: recurring payments allow …
Why a good work culture is essential for client-focused businesses
On the long list of reasons for business success, company culture too often gets short shrift. Company culture is more ephemeral than accounting processes and sales …
How to choose the best payment method for small businesses
What’s the best payment method for small businesses? Some say cash is king, while others swear by credit cards. But in light of the coronavirus, small …
New analysis reveals real impact of COVID-19 on small businesses
QuickBooks commissioned economist Susan Woodward to uncover how COVID-19 has affected the finances of small businesses throughout the U.S.1 Woodward’s analysis uses net bank deposits — …
8 ways to bulletproof your small business with insurance
Financial losses from a product defect, data breach, serious illness or work-related automobile accident can force business owners to close their doors if they’re not prepared. The …
How to start a business in 17 steps
So you’ve decided to take the leap and start a new business. Congratulations! Making that decision might feel risky and overwhelming, but as the saying goes, …
Few small business owners to benefit from May 17 tax extension
Editor’s note: Regulations and guidance from the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Treasury Department is evolving. Please refer to the latest guidance from the IRS and Treasury to confirm how it …
How to plan for retirement when you’re self-employed
Many people dream of being self-employed, setting their own hours, and making more money. However, one of the biggest retirement money mistakes made by the self-employed is, well, …
What you need to know about financial reporting
In business, it’s not always a great idea to follow your gut. When it comes to making financial decisions, hard data can help you remain objective. …
What is a general ledger and why is it important?
Before computers and software, we did all of our accounting by hand. Business owners kept any accounting records in large binders with reams of paper files. …
Some of the most profitable small businesses to start right now
When you’re starting a business, there’s a lot to take into consideration, like your personal interests and skills, and demand in the marketplace. But you should …
Here’s what the future of small business in America could look like
For all the dreamers out there — from career-minded students to venture-seeking entrepreneurs — we bring good news. Long-term employment projections predict double-digit growth in a …
Alone together: Self-employed architect shares his PPP story
In the midst of a pandemic and nationwide quarantines, many people have taken up hobbies—macramé, decoupage, Paul Hollywood-level pastry work. Skyler Kogachi is no exception. In …
Salary vs. draw: How to pay yourself as a small business owner
You love your business, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to work for free. Yet, figuring out how to pay yourself as a business owner …
31 profitable businesses just about anyone can start
If you work in the corporate workforce, there’s a good chance you’re looking to escape. A study in 2018 by Gallup found that 66% of employees worldwide …
7 things to look for in accounting software
As the business landscape continues to evolve in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, your resources may be more strained than ever. But no matter where …
What is cash flow? An in-depth guide for business owners
Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of your business and your business bank account. Think of cash flow like your car’s gas …
Business systems: The key to business success
Business systems are composed of detailed procedures that business owners can replicate for consistent, measurable results. Business owners who implement these systems can free up valuable …
10 ways to make your site one of the best small business websites online
As any small business owner knows, your website is one of the most vital components of your business. Whether you’re in e-commerce or not, it’s the …
Are car wraps a good investment for your small business?
Have you ever seen a car, truck, or van in your area wrapped in an advertisement? If so, you may have wondered whether these advertisements — …
A small business guide to balance sheets
A company’s balance sheet is one of several important financial statements that report on its performance. But to understand the importance of a balance sheet, you …
Today’s gig workers are tomorrow’s business owners, says new survey
2020 has been a tough year for small businesses. Many have felt the impact of the coronavirus—it’s hit some harder than others. During a time when …
A small business owner’s guide to going digital
I started watching “Get Organized with The Home Edit” on Netflix and purchased several boxes of velvet hangers before I finished the first episode. I ordered …
How the coronavirus affected small businesses in 2020
No doubt about it, 2020 was a wild ride. And that’s especially true for small business owners. In early spring, the coronavirus pandemic forced thousands of …
Small business owners say you should outsource these 3 tasks
The majority of people who plan to start a business within the next 12 months say the coronavirus influenced their decision. 28% said the pandemic accelerated their plans to start …
How to improve business processes and boost growth
If there’s one thing business owners don’t have enough of, it’s time. Improving your business processes through automation, integration, or outsourcing are great ways to get …
All about the paycheck protection program (PPP), round 2
After months of negotiations, the $900 billion pandemic stimulus package bill was passed into law on Dec. 27. The new law provides another round of funding, $284 billion, …
PPP loans in 2021: List of online lenders & platforms
Great news! The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is about to be back in business. The new stimulus bill that was signed into law at the end of 2020 …
15 ways the pandemic has changed restaurants forever
COVID-19 is changing how businesses operate across the country, including at the restaurants where we enjoy our favorite meals. Both business owners and customers are being …
Here’s why business owners should separate personal expenses
Starting a new business comes with a litany of decisions to make, both logistical to financial. Some are required before getting started, while others are made …
76% of workers say racism in the workplace is a problem
With anti-racism protests spanning across the country over the past two weeks, many employees see workplaces as fertile ground for discriminatory practices that need to be …
Here are the states with the most essential businesses
A swath of the U.S. from the south Atlantic into the heartland has the greatest number of businesses deemed essential during stay-at-home orders. Nonessential businesses are …
7 ways the new PPP Flexibility Act can help your business
The president has signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. This law may make PPP loans more attractive to small businesses. Here are seven …
States getting the most help from PPP loans
States throughout the Great Plains are so far seeing the biggest impact of Paycheck Protection Program loans — funds designed to help small businesses stay afloat …
How to rethink your business model post-COVID-19
Those in the home services industry have an advantage over many other businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic: Their role protecting the health and safety of consumers …
The importance of small business trade credits post COVID-19
One of the most undervalued credit opportunities a small business owner can leverage is the trade credit he or she has with their suppliers and vendors. …
