As a single licensure state, Illinois only provides real estate broker licenses. To get a license, you must complete 75 hours of classes and pass the real estate broker exam. While there are many options to choose from to meet this requirement, we carefully selected the six best real estate schools in Illinois based on…
All Buyer's Guide Articles - Page 9
Top 6 Virtual Phone Number Providers 2021
A virtual phone service gives customers a dedicated business line that can be added to an existing mobile phone number or landline. They tend to cost less than voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) or other types of phone systems, which makes them great in particular for teams on a budget. We looked at the best virtual phone number…
How to Accept Credit Card Payments Online in 2021
If you own a small business, setting up your website or online store to accept credit cards online is a crucial step in growing your sales and customer bases. In the second quarter of 2020, ecommerce sales made up 16.1% of all retail sales, and that number is only expected to increase. The first step…
5 Best Beauty Salon Insurance Companies
Beauty salons can offer a wide range of services, and that makes getting the right insurance difficult. Salon owners need to look for carriers that can cover their operations for an affordable premium. We evaluated dozens of beauty salon insurance companies to see what they had to offer and came up with the five best….
Best Small Business Phone Systems 2021
Today’s most popular business phone systems transmit calls over the internet and serve as an alternative to traditional landline or cellular setups. These internet-based systems, which include voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) and virtual phone services, offer substantial cost savings as well as advanced functionality like automated attendants, mobile apps, and software integrations. The best business phone systems…
Best Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) for Restaurants
Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) are digital order viewing screens that can replace printers and paper tickets in a restaurant kitchen. These systems route orders from the point-of-sale system (POS) to the correct kitchen stations. A good kitchen display system streamlines kitchen communication, reduces human error, and monitors cook times for each dish. The best systems…
Best Bar POS Systems + Software for Nightclubs and Breweries
A bar point-of-sale (POS) system is a software and hardware tool that takes customer orders, processes payments, tracks sales, and analyzes your bar’s performance metrics. Bars specifically need POS systems that pre-authorize credit cards, manage bar tabs, and track cash transactions. The best POS systems for bars are also user-friendly and update your inventory as…
6 Best Payment Gateways for Small Businesses
Credit cards and non-cash payments make it easier to accommodate customer needs and sell on more channels. Small businesses need to use technology to be able to process credit card transactions, and that’s where your payment gateway comes into play. What Is a Payment Gateway? A payment gateway is a third-party service that allows merchants…
Best Thermal Receipt Printers for Small Businesses
Thermal receipt printers are shoebox-sized printers that connect to a cash register or point-of-sale (POS) system and print hardcopy receipts for sales transactions. Thermal receipt printers are the most common in small businesses because they print using heat on thermosensitive paper rather than using expensive ink cartridges. Pricing for a solid thermal printer averages around…
11 Best PayPal Alternatives for Small Businesses
PayPal is practically a standard for accepting online payments, but it’s by far not the only method for sending money between businesses or peers. Other payment services provide similar functions, plus additional tools. Some have lower rates, while others offer greater fraud protection. We examined the most popular PayPal alternatives and came up with 10…
The 7 Best Quiz Plugins for WordPress
While the idea of an online quiz might conjure images of silly personality quizzes designed to kill a few minutes, businesses can strategically use them in a variety of ways. They can be used to obtain market research and increase visibility through shareworthy content. They can also qualify leads and increase sales. The best part…
6 User-Friendly Cloud POS Systems for Your Small Business
Cloud point-of-sale (POS) systems allow small businesses to accept in-person payments. Transactions happen in person while the payment processing happens in the cloud. The best cloud-based POS systems will also manage other business operations like inventory management, customer loyalty programs, and employee scheduling. Prices range from $0 upfront to a few hundred dollars per month….