Small businesses wanting to expand to online sales will need to sign up with a traditional merchant services provider or payment processor to accept online payments. These companies provide the technology that allows online platforms (such as websites) to securely process credit card payments. Accepting credit card payments online involves selecting a payment processor, setting…
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Check Cashing: How To Do It Without a Business Bank Account?
Can you cash a business check without a bank account? Yes. Options available include cashing the check at the issuing bank, retailer, or check cashing store, getting a prepaid debit card, and endorsing the check to a third party. Sole proprietors may be able to cash a check in their business name, but some banks…
How to Build Local SEO Citations (+ 7 Ways to Build Them)
Local citations are essential to growing your business’ search engine ranking and overall online presence. Local search engine optimization (SEO) citations are links to your business website spread out across the internet, especially on reputable and widely visited websites like business directories and prominent blogs and media outlets. Local citations grant your business more credibility…
How to Set Up a Shopify Store in 9 Steps in 2024
Setting up your online store is the next step in starting an ecommerce business or bringing your retail store online. This article shows you how to set up a Shopify store step by step, with tips to help you along. Don’t worry if you are not ready to commit to a paid subscription plan—you can…
Restaurant Payroll: Tips, Reporting, Labor Laws & More
Restaurant payroll can be complicated if you’re unfamiliar with the nuances of tips, reporting, overtime laws, applicable minimum wage rates, and tip credits. Federal law allows restaurant owners to pay their tipped staff (employees who make over $30 per month in tips) as little as $2.13 an hour. It also dictates what you can deduct…
Self-employed Payroll: Processing Your Own Paycheck
When processing payroll for yourself vs employees, choosing the right business structure is key to minimizing taxes. Determining how much and how often to pay helps with managing profitability and cash flow, which is why setting up a self-employed payroll system is important. For an easier time, working with a good payroll service can make…
How to Close a Restaurant: Step-by-Step Guide
There are many reasons you might want to close your restaurant business, some positive (like retirement or selling your business) and others less so (like a failed lease re-negotiation). Whatever your reasons, when closing a restaurant for good, it’s important to tie up all financial and legal loose ends so you can make a clean…
3 Easy Steps on How to Get an 800 Number
An 800 number, also called a toll-free phone number, allows long-distance calling, with the recipient being charged for the call instead of the caller. Get one by choosing a service provider, picking a prefix, and creating an account. 800 numbers enable small businesses to create an image of a large, reputable company and make a…