The Best Website Builders (In-Depth Review)

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There is one decision in life that you simply cannot get wrong.

And no, it’s not choosing the right partner or career.

That life-changing decision comes down to what website builder you decide to use.

Whether you are setting up a small non-profit or are itching to take over the world with your handmade jewelry, the quality of your site will be a key factor in your success.

And to build a great site, you need a great web builder. Assuming of course you are like the vast majority of people with no technical skills. If you do have skills, what are you doing here? Get building!

But fret not. We’ve done the hard work and this article will guide you through the otherwise arduous process of finding the best website builder.

The Different Types of Website Builders

When choosing a website builder, your first consideration should be what your actual needs are. There are a multitude of reasons to want to start a website and they will affect the services and features you will need.

For instance, is your goal to set up shop as an eCommerce entrepreneur, dropshipping items from abroad?

Do you want to start a simple blog documenting your travel adventures?

Or perhaps you work in marketing and are looking for ways to test and optimize your sales funnels.

Regardless of your goals, the idea of “knowing thyself” applies here. Think deeply about what you want now, but also your roadmap for the future. Once you commit to a particular website builder, it can be difficult to change later on.

After getting a clear idea of your needs, you will then need to consider the different types of web builders available.

Keep in mind that many website builders fit multiple categories, serving each need to a different extent.

General-purpose website builders

There are thousands of reasons to create a website, and nowadays, it seems like every person and organization has one.

To service such great demand, some website builders have taken a holistic approach in terms of appeal and their tools.

For example, these sites typically have a lot of features that other types of website builders have, such as the ability to blog.

However, as they are multi-purpose in nature, you cannot expect these features to not be as in-depth and robust as more specialist platforms.

Some use cases for general website builders include:

Information websites – If your goal is to simply host information online, these general website builders can be quite useful. For instance, you may have a kitchen renovation company and want to start reaching potential customers online.
Personal branding – Managing your personal brand is becoming more important every day. It is particularly important for independent workers and entrepreneurs as well as for employees applying for jobs.

An example of an information website.

Content management platforms

Content is what drives the web, and one of the oldest yet still most relevant forms of content is the blog post.

Considering blogging is such a crucial part of the web, some website builders have been designed with a content management system in mind.

In the case that you want to get your thoughts out there; ideally, in a serious and sustained way, a blog website builder may be the right option for you. Use cases include:

Professional writing – This goes without saying, but if you want to be a writer, you actually have to write. Typically, you need a place where you can showcase your talent. Whether you are a business writer or journalist, maintaining a personal blog is important.
Thought leadership – In many industries, it is useful for people of prominence to share their unique insights on a public platform. Setting up a blog with a strong content management system helps to get ideas out in a sustained way.

An example of a content-centric website.

Essentially, blog website builders are a good choice if you plan on writing long term and it is one of the things you focus on.

eCommerce platforms

Another type of website builder are eCommerce platforms. These platforms allow you to build and manage online stores through the ability to list goods, fulfill orders, and take payments.

These website builders are useful for:

Side hustles – Perhaps you are interested in selling some goods in addition to your day job and don’t have the time to dedicate to the operational side of things. These website builders are great to solve this problem, as they handle the backend of your business.
Digitizing your store – Maybe you already have a brick and mortar store and are looking to make your stock available online. In this situation, this type of website builder will take all the technical complications out of setting up online.

An example of an eCommerce website.

How to Choose The Best Website Builder For You

Now it is time to take a closer look at some of the specific features to consider when evaluating a website builder.

Remember that although some website builders may fall into the same category, each may suit your needs differently.

For instance, you may be setting up an online shop and your primary consideration may be a low learning curve, whereas somebody else may be thinking about a platform that can allow them to scale easily.

Here are some features you should consider.

Ease of use

Things to consider:

Intuitiveness – Some website builders are easy to use and have simple interfaces with drag and drop functionality. This is useful as you won’t have to Google changes you want to make with the tool.
Learning curve – If you are not great with technology, it is unlikely you will want to spend hours learning how to set up a website. Some website builders are much easier than others.
Setup time – Similarly, you may want to get your site up and running immediately, particularly if it is an event you want to promote.
Ongoing management – Needing external help to manage your site defeats the purpose of a website builder. It must be easy to manage in terms of updates.

If you are new to setting up online or are time-constrained, how easy it is to get started will likely be your primary concern.

Scalability

Things to consider:

Custom code – Website builders use standardized code, which are the building blocks of a website. These allow you to easily create a site with various features. In some cases, however, you may need your own custom features and the ability to write your own code.
Migration – At some point, you may want to host your website yourself. However, not all website builders allow you to easily make this move. In some cases, you may have to redevelop your site from scratch.
Integrations – You will probably create new goals as your website grows, such as running ads or embedding social feeds. Some website builders are more compatible with other platforms and are easier to integrate.

You should think strongly about scalability if you are already an established business looking to create an online presence. This is particularly true if you are already selling products at scale in the real world.

Startups in the fundraising process and are looking to scale fast or even change core features of their product should also take caution here.

Support

Things to consider:

Support channels – You will need to consider the different ways you can get in touch with support teams such as live chat, email, and phone. In-depth FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) are also important.
Responsiveness – If your site breaks at 5 PM eastern time, but their support only works European hours, then you are in trouble. Some teams may also respond much quicker than others.
Engagement – Unfortunately, some support teams are useless. Maybe they are being paid very little so they do not care, or they are overworked. Either way, you need support that can actually solve your problems.

If you plan on running a site with a lot of visitors and it happens to go down, the last thing you want is an unresponsive support team. This is especially true if you plan on driving a lot of traffic at a given time.

A website builder with a strong support team is also useful if you are just getting started online, considering you may still get stuck, even with simple interfaces.

Price

Things to consider:

Cost – Some website builders can be more costly, with some reaching upwards of $299 a month (for landing pages, for instance). Others are permanently free with the option to upgrade for a small monthly fee.
Trial – Before you commit, it can be useful to take advantage of a trial offer to play around with the tools. You will likely find that some are a better fit than others.
Hosting & domain – Most website builders will host your website on the web, which is typically included in the price. Some may also offer a domain as part of the package. Otherwise, you would have to purchase these yourself.

If you plan on making money from your website, either by selling products directly or to capture leads, then price should not be a key consideration for you. Make an investment in the best service for your needs.

However, if you just want to set up a small information site, then you could do with the cheapest options.

Generally, website builders that have feature depth are typically more expensive as they solve more specific problems.

Features

Things to consider:

eCommerce shop – If you plan to sell things online, you need a website builder that allows you to do so. Consider sub-features such as payment processing and product catalogs.
SEO – Some website builders have tools that allow you to rank better in Google searches.
Marketing tools – You may also need other marketing tools, such as forms, pop-ups, and chat boxes.
Community – In some cases, you may want to expand your website into a community where people can communicate and network (otherwise known as a forum).
Analytic tools – Website builders may also offer analytic tools that help track traffic on your website or at least integrate with other tools that do.
Niche features – Perhaps there are some special features you are looking for such as the ability to set up a crowdfunding campaign in addition to having a standard website.

The features of a website builder are the main thing to consider when deciding which route to follow. This is because they will have the most impact on your specific goals.

For instance, if you want to set up a landing page for a specific product, trying to optimize with a generic site builder will be a pain. It will probably lack the in-depth analytic tools that a dedicated landing page builder would have.

Also keep in mind that there are some features that you may not need now, but you could need in the future, such as if you plan on running paid ads to your blog posts.

Design

Things to consider:

Themes and templates – Website builders allow you to start with a predesigned website that is customizable to various extents. Some themes serve different purposes in terms of branding and utility.
Mobile-friendliness – You will need to ensure that your website builder automatically makes your website easy for mobile users, typically with responsive design.
Customization – It is likely you will want to make some changes to your template. You will need to consider the various customization tools available.

Regardless of your goal, you should always be concerned with providing a great user experience to the people who are visiting your site. It simply makes logical sense – if your site is hard to navigate, people won’t get the most out of it.

The actual design and branding are important too. For instance, some designs are more corporate while others are more welcoming. There may be a design template that really suits your particular brand.

And if you are selling something, you need to ensure that the design is optimized to increase conversions.

Now that you have a good understanding of the types of website builders and the features to look out for, it is time to take a look at some of the best website builders on the market.

#1 – Wix / Website Builder — The Best For General Use

If there is one website builder that you have likely heard of, it is probably Wix. The effort that Wix puts into their marketing is phenomenal. Wix is so successful, in fact, that they have featured high profile celebrities like Jason Stratham in some of their campaigns.

Not only that, but Wix has results to show for it too, with over 160 million websites hosted by the company.

Wix is the best website builder if you don’t have a specific need in mind. Even in the opposite case, this is true, such as if you have broad needs and are aiming for different functionality.

Wix is truly the “jack of all trades” in the sense that it does everything well, but nothing is truly exceptional. However, it serves its purpose for the average person looking to set up a website.

Pros of Wix

Here are the best things about Wix:

Powerful app market – Wix has an enormous amount of add on features that you can access through their app market. Want to book meetings directly on your site? They have got you covered. Want a live chat pop up box? Simply click and install it on your site.
Covers every need – Wix covers most of the needs of people looking to set up a website. This includes setting up an eCommerce store, blog, or even just a simple information website.
Lots of templates – Wix has a wide variety of templates that you can choose from to get your website up and running quickly. Their templates are well designed and take the user experience into consideration.

Cons of Wix

Here are the weaker parts about Wix:

The user interface can be difficult – Although Wix is aimed at the mass market, the user interface can be quite tricky especially if you want to customize your site. You will often find yourself having to Google how to complete certain tasks. .
No migration – A huge downside with Wix is that you’re locked in, so you cannot take the code of your website somewhere else later on. This can cause problems if you quickly need to scale your business.
Jack of all trades, master of none – Wix’s main strength is also its weakness. Although it has many features, it cannot compete with the quality of niche website builders.

Who should use Wix?

Small businesses – If you are offering a service such as legal advice or marketing, Wix is a solid website builder that will handle all of your needs. If your focus is selling products online, avoid Wix.
Freelancers and professionals – In a similar manner, Wix is great for professionals who want to showcase their personal brand. It will allow you to cover all the potential bases of highlighting your portfolio, such as taking meetings and even blogging.

#2 – Weebly / Website Builder — The Easiest To Use

Next, we have Weebly, which is a drag and drop website builder that prides itself on its ease of use. Weebly currently powers over 50 million websites and has been around since 2006, which is a huge achievement and testament to how effective the platform is.

So, what has caused Weebly to be consistently favored among users? It comes down to the simple user experience and short learning curve. Weebly does not bombard you with features or a complicated interface.

Instead, it does not scare you away and allows you to get straight to the point of setting up your website.

Pros of Weebly

Here are the best things about Weebly:

Simple and easy to use – Weebly has a simple interface with drag and drop mechanics that just work. Everything feels natural and intuitive. It also helps that they have an onboarding mechanic with email and popup explanations when you get started.
Migration – If you decide you want to host your own website, Weebly makes it easy for you to take your site off their platform.
Affordable – Compared to other generalist website builders, Weebly has one of the most affordable pricing structures.
Great customer support – Weebly has a powerful customer support team who are active every day of the week. They typically reply within 1 day by email or even quicker via their live chat or phone lines.

Cons

Here are the weaker parts about Weebly

Lacks diversity of function – The tradeoff of using Weebly is that it is not as powerful as Wix. For example, there are fewer features. In addition, some features such as their content management system and analytic tools are much weaker than competitors.
Limited customization – As Weebly uses a drop and drop interface and themes, the customization can be quite limited. Wix also has this problem, but they have more tools at their disposal to solve this issue.
Scaling problems – Weebly is simply not a great platform if you have plans to grow your website in a significant way: it is just a simple website builder for day to day users.

Who should use Weebly?

People who need simple websites – As a rule, you should use Weebly if you are not very tech-savvy and want to set up a simple website quickly. One category of users would be associations or clubs who want to set up an information site about their group.

#3 – Shopify / Website builder — The Best For Online Stores

If you plan on selling any type of product online – from jewelry to electric scooters – then your best bet will be to use a dedicated eCommerce platform and website builder.

Without a doubt, the number one in this category is Shopify. The platform powers over 1 million merchants in 175 different countries, and is the third-largest online retailer in the US, trailing behind only Amazon and eBay.

The Shopify software represents a complete end to end platform that allows you to set up, manage, and promote a store online. You can easily list your goods for sale, take payments, and fulfill orders – all under one roof.

Pros

Here are the best things about Shopify:

eCommerce specialty – The main draw of Shopify is that it is a niche website builder focused on setting up an eCommerce store. This means that all their features and processes are geared toward that end, resulting in a powerful platform that can help maximize sales.
Security – If you are going to be handling transactions, you need ways to keep your site safe and customer data secure. Shopify stores have strong cybersecurity measures in place which a self-hosted website would typically lack.
Integrated sales channels – Shopify has strong integrations with other platforms, such as Facebook and Amazon. This allows you to streamline your sales by managing your catalog on each platform under one roof.

Cons

Here are the weaker aspects of Shopify:

Niche focus on eCommerce – Because the focus is on eCommerce, Shopify lacks some of the features and finesse of other website builders. For instance, their content management system is very limited compared to WordPress.
Transaction fees + monthly fees – With each sale you make on Shopify, there is a transaction fee that ranges from 2.4% – 2.6%. Combined with payment provider fees, this can eat into your margin.

Who should use Shopify?

Brick and mortar stores – If you have an in-person store and are looking to sell your products online, Shopify will offer you a solid footing into the digital world.
eCommerce startups – Entrepreneurs that are starting new brands or drop shipping will also benefit from the quick end to end set up that Shopify offers.

#4 – WordPress / Website builder — The Best For Content Management

One of the oldest and most reliable website builders is WordPress. The platform has come a long way since it launched in 2003 and is the most popular content management system on the web today.

In fact, WordPress powers a whopping 37.6% of all websites.

As WordPress was around during the earlier days of the web, its focus revolved around content, which was the most prominent form of website at the time.

It maintains that focus to this day, with WordPress having arguably the best content management system out of all the different website builders.

An important caveat is that WordPress is divided into platforms:

WordPress.org – This is the open-source (free version) of WordPress that comes with greater flexibility, but is harder for non-technical users.
WordPress.com – This is the paid version. You can get help with the installation of themes and management but is generally less customizable.

Pros

Here are the best things about WordPress:

You have full control – Unlike other website builders, WordPress is fully customizable as the site is developed directly with code, as opposed to drag and drop interfaces. This means that you have much more flexibility in terms of design and function.
Robust blogging and CMS – WordPress is built front the ground up with content in mind. It has some of the best tools for publishing and managing content including team management, advanced scheduling, and categorizations.
Lots of plugins – There are over 52,000 plugins available for WordPress. You can measure and boost your SEO with plugins such as YoastSEO, or you could even add a new function such as a shopping cart.

Cons

Here are the weaker aspects of WordPress:

You may need help – As your WordPress site is developed with code, you will likely need help to install and update your WordPress theme. This can come with a hefty cost, particularly if you want ongoing changes.
Learning curve – If you want to manage and update your site yourself, it can take some time to learn how to do so. Managing and scheduling posts are relatively easy, but updating how your site looks or installing a plugin is much more difficult.
Security issues – As your WordPress site is self-hosted, you are more vulnerable to cybersecurity issues. Some of the plugins for WordPress also can act as a risk as well.

Who should use it

Bloggers – If writing is your main focus, then WordPress is a great choice. The platform is designed for bloggers, optimizing content management, and SEO. WordPress will allow you to scale and get the most out of your content.
Content centric businesses – Likewise, if you are building a business that is content-heavy, such as a new website, WordPress will help you to manage the operational side of content production much easier.

Think about your goals

An important thing to keep in mind is that the website builders listed above can serve multiple functions, so this article has provided an overview for you, you will need to look into the details of each platform.

The best choice for you will come down to both your needs at the moment and where you plan on taking your website in the future.

After reading reviews like this one, make sure you take a step back and put your particular needs at the forefront of the decision before you commit.

The post The Best Website Builders (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

The Best Payroll Services (In-Depth Review)

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

What would you do with ten extra hours a month?

You’d probably work on growing your business, right? Maybe you’d spend it creating new marketing campaigns to generate more revenue. Perhaps you’d take half a day off to spend time with your family.

Regardless, the average small business owner spends five hours every pay period running payroll. That adds up to 21 full work-days a year.

But thankfully, that’s not what your payroll process has to look like.

The best payroll services help you automate paying your employees and simplify the entire process, so you can gain more control over how you spend your time.

Without sacrificing employee satisfaction.

But with so many options to choose from, it’s easy to waste time trying to pick the right one.

To help speed up the process, I reviewed six of the best systems on the market and put together a comprehensive list of what to look for as you make your final decision.

The 6 best payroll service options for 2020

Gusto – Best payroll service for small businesses
OnPay – Most flexible payroll service
Paychex – Best for larger organizations
ADP – Best payroll service with built-in HR
QuickBooks Payroll – Best for QuickBooks integration
Wave Payroll – Most affordable payroll service

How to choose the best payroll service for you

If you’ve spent some time searching for solutions from Google or asking for peers’ recommendations, you know there are hundreds of payroll companies to choose from.

With so many options, it can feel like a difficult decision.

To help you narrow things down, let’s walk through what to consider as you go through the process.

Number of employees

Most services charge a set monthly fee plus a small fee per employee. So, it’s essential to consider the number of employees you need to pay.

Some payroll services may limit the number of employees on certain plans while others may forego the per-employee fee altogether. Furthermore, some may also offer features that make it easier to pay many people at once.

You also need to consider whether you’re paying employees or contractors.

The process and fee structure may differ for different types of payments depending on which service you choose.

Basic payroll features

The best payroll services exist to simplify the process of paying your employees. So, every payroll service you consider should have a set of critical features, including:

Automatic payroll options
Self-service portal for full-time and part-time employees
Mobile capability to manage payroll on the go
Direct deposit so your employees get paid quickly
Automatic tax calculations and withholdings
W-2 and 1099 employee management

There are other advanced features you may want to consider as well, depending on what you need. This includes things like HR tools, benefits management, wage garnishments, and more.

So, carefully consider the essential features as well as the advanced features you need to simplify your payroll processes.

Tax features

Filing tax is a complicated and time-consuming process. It can also result in unfortunate and expensive penalties if you don’t do it right.

However, many payroll services offer tax features that simplify the process. From calculating payroll taxes to automatically withholding employee income taxes, there are countless things to consider.

So, it’s important to choose a payroll service that offers essential tax features to make your accountant’s life easier.

Or yours if you do your taxes yourself.

Built-in HR tools

If you offer benefits to your employees, you need a payroll service that helps you effectively manage things like time off, vacation requests, workers’ compensation, insurance, and more.

Furthermore, services with an employee self-service dashboard make this much more manageable. Employees can log in, update their accounts, request time off, and see an overview of their benefits package.

The cheaper options on this list tend to ditch HR features. So, carefully consider what you need against your budget before making any decisions.

Monthly payroll limits

If you have salaried employees or a set payroll schedule, most payroll services are adequate. However, if you pay freelancers or contractors on an irregular basis or run payroll more than twice a month, you need to be careful.

Some services offer unlimited payroll processing, while others limit the number of times you can issue payments every month.

So, carefully consider how often you need to send payments when making your final decision.

Integrations

To further simplify your business processes, it’s crucial to consider the business tools you’re already using to run your business.

It’s important to choose a payroll service provider that integrates seamlessly with those tools. Think about your accounting software, your employee scheduling software, and other essential tools related to payroll.

The different types of payroll services

There are several different services to consider, depending on your business’s size and your specific payroll needs.

So, before we dive into my top recommendations, I want to talk about the different types and how to decide between them.

1. Hiring someone to do it for you

If you can afford it, hiring someone (either in-house or as a contractor) to run payroll for you is an excellent option. This ensures you find someone who knows how to do it and that they have the time to do it well.

However, you still need payroll software. They may have their own preferences and expertise, which may help you decide which service is right for your business.

With that said, many small businesses don’t necessarily need to hire someone.

The best payroll services make running payroll easy, so anyone on your team can take care of it in a few clicks.

2. Software as a service (SaaS)

The software as a service (SaaS) model means you pay to use the software. Most service providers charge monthly or annually for this, and as long as you keep paying, you get to keep using it.

Most SaaS tools are cloud-based, meaning you can access it from a web browser anywhere.

However, some also offer desktop applications and mobile apps you install on a specific device.

This is the most common type of payroll service and the most convenient to use because you and your employees can access their accounts from any device, anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

All of the recommendations on this list are SaaS payroll services.

3. Enterprise-grade solutions

Most payroll services offer enterprise-grade and industry-specific solutions for large businesses. They come with specialized, custom pricing to match the unique needs of enterprise-grade companies.

A software like this could be a SaaS tool or an on-premise deployment, depending on what you need and the company you choose.

Most businesses don’t need this. But if you manage payroll for a large company or find your current solution limited, it may be a good idea to consider an enterprise solution.

#1 – Gusto Review — The best for small businesses

If you’re a small business looking for a simple payroll service, Gusto is a smart choice. And you’ll be in good company with more than 100,000+ other small businesses around the world.

Gusto makes onboarding, paying, insuring, and supporting employees as easy as possible. And they don’t call themselves a “people platform” for no reason.

They offer the right set of tools and services to make your life (and your employees’ lives) easier.

Running payroll takes just a few clicks, and you can enjoy unlimited payroll runs every month. Need to pay seven different contractors at different times? No problem.

Need to pay the same employees the same wages every pay period? You can set it up to run automatically without you having to lift a finger.

Plus, you get access to a wide variety of features, including:

Automatic tax calculations
Built-in time tracking capabilities
Health insurance, 401(k), PTO, workers’ comp, and more
Compliance with I-9’s, W-2s, and 1099s
Employee self-service onboarding and dashboards
Next-day direct deposits (on specific plans)

And the best part? It’s affordable.

If you don’t have W-2 employees, Gusto starts at $6 per contractor per month. But if you do have full-time or part-time employees, expect to pay a bit more. Their other paid plans include:

Basic — $19 per month + $6 per person per month
Core — $39 per month + $6 per person per month
Complete — $39 per month + $12 per person per month
Concierge — $149 per month + $12 per person per month

Gusto is perfect for most startups and small businesses. But, large companies with complex benefits packages, and hundreds of employees may find it limiting.

Get started with Gusto today!

#2 – OnPay Review — The most flexible payroll service

If you’re looking for an all-in-one payroll system with transparent pricing and virtually unlimited flexibility, OnPay is an excellent choice.

Whether you’re a small company or a fast-growth startup, OnPay is versatile enough to suit your needs. Plus, you never have to guess how much you’re going to pay every month with their transparent pricing.

And you can rest easy knowing you have access to every feature OnPay offers regardless of the number of employees you have because they only provide one pricing plan.

Their software includes access to powerful features, including:

Unlimited monthly payroll runs
W-2 and 1099 capabilities
Automatic tax calculations and filings
Employee self-service onboarding and dashboards
Intuitive mobile app for management on the go
PTO, e-signing, org charts, and custom workflows
Integrated workers’ comp, health insurance, and retirement
Multi-state payroll

Plus, getting started is super easy. All you have to do is set up your account, add your employees, and start running payroll. Furthermore, OnPay automatically calculates and withholds taxes so you don’t have to worry about manual calculations or human error again.

They also offer specialized solutions for different industries, including nonprofits, restaurants, and farming/agriculture.

OnPay is $36 per month plus $4 per person per month. So, you can add new employees to the software for just a few dollars, making it excellent for fast-growing companies and small businesses alike.

And while OnPay can handle large companies with hundreds of employees, there are better enterprise options available. It’s most suitable for small businesses and fast-growth companies that need simple pricing and flexibility.

Try OnPay free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you!

#3 – Paychex Review — The best for larger organizations

Paychex is an excellent choice for businesses with more than 50 employees. They also offer low-tier plans for small businesses, but they’re quite limited compared to the other small business options on this list.

However, their midsize to enterprise plans are perfect for large companies.

The larger your business is, the worse small discrepancies and human errors affect your tax calculations. And wrong tax filings equal harsh penalties from the IRS, even if it was an accident.

So as a large company, it’s imperative to have a payroll service that adapts to meet your needs. Paychex is more than a payroll service. It’s a human capital management (HCM) system designed to help you save time and reduce errors.

Their enterprise plans include features like:

Recruiting and onboarding
Performance and learning management
Powerful real-time analytics
100% employee self-service
Payroll automation features
Direct deposit, paper checks, and paycards
Salary, hourly, and contract workers
Paycheck garnishments
PTO and benefits management
Job costing and labor distribution

All of which are scalable for enterprises with thousands of employees (or as little as 50). Plus, Paychex services more than 650,000+ companies and has more than 50 years of experience in the industry.

So, you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.

With that said, getting started isn’t as easy as it is with some of the other options on this list. Because each deployment is tailored to your business, you can’t get going on your own. However, they do offer a team of specialists to help you get the ball rolling.

Contact their sales team for a custom quote to get started!

#4 – ADP Review — The best for built-in HR features

ADP is the way to go if you’re looking for a payroll service with the most built-in HR features. It’s perfect for smaller companies without an HR department and growing/large companies looking to streamline the process.

ADP works with more than 700,000 businesses in 140+ countries, making it one of the most popular payroll services for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

They offer tailored solutions for small, midsize, and enterprise businesses, so you’re sure to find the perfect solution whether you have five employees or 1000+.

Their lower-tiered plans include basic payroll features like automatic tax calculations, employee self-service tools, a mobile app, PTO management, and complete compliance support.

However, ADP offers more than just basic payroll and HR. They also include time tracking, talent recruitment, HR consulting services, advanced employee benefits, and the option to outsource your entire payroll/HR department.

You can also get unique benefits, like personalized training, legal assistance, background checks, and interview scheduling too.

Furthermore, ADP offers industry-specific solutions for nine different industries, including:

Restaurants
Construction
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Retail
Nonprofits

Note: ADP pricing isn’t available online, so it may not be suitable for micro or small businesses interested in getting started quickly. If you need something fast and straightforward, my #1 recommendation is Gusto.

Request a free quote to see if ADP is right for you today.

#5 – Quickbooks Payroll — The best for QuickBooks integration

Quickbooks Online is one of the most well-known accounting tools on the market. And if you’re already a user, QuickBooks Payroll is an excellent addition to your tech stack.

The two tools integrate seamlessly, making account reconciliation and tax season a breeze.

Furthermore, QuickBooks’ payroll system works in all 50 states. So, whether you have a remote team or work with contractors across the country, you don’t have to worry about making errors or mishandling taxes.

You can also rest easy knowing your federal, state, and local taxes are automatically calculated plus paid for you every time you run payroll. Plus, the entire process is easily automated after your first round of payments.

With QuickBooks, you get a full-service payroll system regardless of the plan you choose.

And the user interface is aesthetically pleasing with direct deposit payments landing in your employees’ bank accounts within 24 – 48 hours.

The Core Plan starts at $45 per month, plus $4 per employee per month. It includes:

Full-service payroll with unlimited runs
Automatic payments after the first run
Health benefits
Wage garnishments
Next-day direct deposit
24/7 live chat support
All 50 states

So, even their most basic plan includes everything you need to simplify your HR and payroll processes.

But if that isn’t enough, their advanced plans include:

Premium — $75 per month + $8/employee per month
Elite — $125 per month + $10/employee per month

Get 70% off your first three months to take QuickBooks Payroll for a test drive today!

Note: 1099 contractors and freelancers aren’t included. It comes as an add-on with additional monthly fees. So, this isn’t the most affordable choice if you frequently handle contractors or freelancers.

#6 – Wave Payroll Review — The most affordable payroll service

If you’re on a tight budget, Wave Payroll is an affordable payroll option. Wave also offers numerous other small business tools for free, including invoicing, accounting, and receipt management.

The different apps integrate seamlessly to create an affordable small business accounting and payroll solution.

With Wave, getting started takes just a few minutes, and running payroll goes even faster. Plus, they offer a 100% accuracy guarantee. You can also pay hourly, salary, and contractors and automatically generate the right tax forms.

In some states, Wave automatically files and pays your state/federal payroll taxes for you. However, in those states, Wave’s services are more expensive.

You also get access to features, like:

Automatic journal entries (if you use Wave Accounting)
Self-service pay stubs and tax forms for your employees
Workers’ compensation management
Basic payroll reporting
Automatic year-end tax forms
Timesheets for PTO and accruals

While Wave is one of the most affordable payroll services, it doesn’t sacrifice functionality and essential features. Despite being cheaper than the other options on this list, you still get all the essentials you need to run payroll for your small business.

In tax service states, Wave is $35 per month + $6 per contractor/employee per month. This service isn’t necessarily cheaper than the other options on this list.

But, it’s still a great option if you’re a small business owner looking for a simple payroll solution.

However, it’s $20 per month + $6 per contractor/employee per month in self-service states. At this price, it’s easily the cheapest option with the most features available.

And don’t forget that Wave Payroll seamlessly integrates with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing software as well.

So, if you don’t yet have accounting software, this is a smart choice.

Try Wave Payroll free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you and your business!

Summary

For most users, Gusto, OnPay, and Wave are my top recommendations.

They’re all excellent for small and fast-growth businesses with the ability to scale to match your needs. Plus, they’re affordable and easy to use.

However, different businesses require different solutions.

So, don’t forget to use the considerations we talked about as you go through the process of choosing the best payroll services for your business.

What payroll services do you prefer?

The post The Best Payroll Services (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

The Best Project Management Software (In-Depth Review)

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

It’s every manager’s worst nightmare.

That ONE project that never seems to end. Nothing goes as planned and missed deadlines lurk around every corner. You can’t remember the last time you laughed. Your boss is mad and your employees stumble around trying to figure out what to do next.

You drive home wondering what went wrong and why the universe is working against you. If only there was a better way.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

By choosing the right project management software, projects won’t throw you into that panic-inducing nightmare.

I’ve managed countless projects, hundreds of teams, and bounced around to every project management software you can think of.

From Wrike to Trello. Trello to Asana. From Asana back to Wrike.

Rinse and repeat with every possible combination of tools on the market.

And you want to know a secret? It doesn’t matter which project management tool you use as long as you pick the right one and stick to it.

But to help make your decision easier, I reviewed six of my favorite options and put together a list of what to consider as you go through the process of choosing the right software.

The top 6 options for project management software

Zoho Projects – Best for versatility
Wrike – Best for marketing teams
Teamwork – Best for remote teams
Asana – Best for small teams
Smartsheet – Best for large teams
Trello – Best free project management software

How to choose the project management software for you

The best project management software for you depends on your projects’ complexity, the size of your team, and the features you need.

And choosing the right one can feel impossible because there are thousands of different tools.

So before we dive into my top recommendations, let’s talk about what to look for as you go through the process of finding the right software.

Number of users

Most project management software is charged on a per user per month basis. So, it’s crucial to understand how many seats you need and your budget.

If you have a large team with hundreds of users, you’re better off choosing an enterprise plan with custom pricing to get the most bang for your buck.

However, if you have less than 15 people, Asana is an excellent choice (free for up to 15 users).

And if you have fewer than three users, you can use Zoho Projects for free as well.

Project complexity

For simple and straightforward projects, basic project management software is all you need.

And you can probably get by using a free forever plan with Trello, Asana, or Zoho Projects.

However, as your projects get more complex, you need more robust features. So, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan if you go with a basic project management software.

On the other hand, tools like Wrike and Smartsheet offer more advanced and industry-specific capabilities. But they come with a higher price tag.

Task management

Task management is one of the most important features to pay attention to.

While most project management software includes basic task management, it’s important to consider the advanced capabilities you need.

Do you need to create task dependencies? Maybe you need to create recurring tasks on a daily, monthly, or yearly basis. Or perhaps you want to assign multiple people to the same task.

This also includes things like:

Checklists and due dates
File attachments
Task archiving/deleting
Task prioritization
Automation
Subtasks

So, carefully consider how you plan to manage projects and the task management features you need before making any decisions.

Discussion features

The best project management software includes internal discussion features like comments, forums, or instant messaging.

This is an essential feature that lets you keep discussions streamlined and intact with the different tasks or phases of your project. Rather than searching through thousands of emails, you can open the task and see everything related to it right away.

All of my top recommendations include this in some capacity. But make sure the software you choose includes robust discussion features as well.

Customization

Every project and team is different.

So it’s important that your project management software can adapt to meet your needs. Whether that’s a fully branded dashboard, the flexibility to scale, or improved functionality with the right integrations.

Furthermore, think about how you want to view and share project progress. Different software offers different project views, reporting, and analytics.

Start by creating a complete list of required features and integrations.

Lastly, consider everything you need your software to do and speak to a sales team to make sure their tool can handle your top priorities within your budget.

The different types of project management software

There are various different types of project management software. Some are much better than others while some are reserved specifically for developers or enterprises with a large budget.

Let’s walk through them together.

Cloud-based

All of my top recommendations are cloud-based software. This means that the software lives on a cloud server and you can access it from any web browser on any device.

This is the preferred type for most users because it’s easy to use, doesn’t require any infrastructure on your part, and you can access everything regardless of where you are.

You typically pay for this type of software on a per user per month basis.

Industry-specific

Different types of projects may require industry-specific solutions.

These make your life easier with pre-made templates, automated workflows, and more features specific to the types of projects you’re managing.

Most of the software on this list offer solutions for industries like:

Digital marketing
Manufacturing
Education
Real estate
Construction
Software development
Remote teams

With that said, these companies also offer standard subscriptions at reasonable prices that don’t include industry-specific tools.

So you don’t have to use these higher-priced solutions unless you want to.

Most of these solutions come with custom pricing based on your specific needs. So they may be outside your budget, especially if you’re a small company or a brand new business.

On-premise

On-premise project management software lives on your servers, rather than on the cloud. And while it’s more secure, you can only access the software from devices on your network.

You also may need to install new infrastructure or hire an in-house maintenance team to update and maintain the software for you.

This is why none of the recommendations on this list are on-premise solutions.

Open API

Open API software is perfect for developers or if you’re interested in hiring a developer to create a custom project management solution for your business.

This type of software is highly customizable but difficult to manage if you’re not a developer.

And this level of customization isn’t necessary for most users. So, I didn’t include any open API software on this list.

#1 – Zoho Projects Review — The best for versatility

For most users, Zoho Projects is my top recommendation.

They offer a free forever plan, and paid plans start at just $3 per user per month. So, it’s incredibly affordable for small businesses and can scale as your business grows.

Whether you’re managing simple or complex projects, Zoho has everything you need, including powerful features like:

Hosted file storage
Task dependencies
Recurring tasks
Visual workflow builder
Time tracking
Task assignments and prioritization
Chats, forums, and feeds
Reporting and analytics

The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create workflows and track project progress quickly. Plus, you can view projects using Kanban, Gantt, or calendar views.

Furthermore, their internal communication tools (chat, forum, and feed) streamline team collaboration where it matters most.

You can also take advantage of more than 100+ built-in integrations with business tools you’re already using to run and manage your business.

These integrations include Slack, Zapier, DropBox, and more.

Zoho’s plans include:

Free — up to 3 users, two projects, and 10 MB of storage
Standard — $3/user per month and up to 10 projects (between 6 and 10 users)
Express — $4/user per month + unlimited projects (between 12 and 50 users)
Premium — $5/user per month + unlimited projects (between 15 and 100 users)
Enterprise — $6/user per month + unlimited projects (for 20+ users)

Start your 10-day free trial to take Zoho for a test drive today.

#2 – Wrike Review — The best for marketing teams

Over 20,000+ businesses, including Google, Airbnb, and Dell, use Wrike to manage marketing and sales projects worldwide.

With Wrike, your project management software adapts to meet your needs, rather than the other way around. And features like custom workflows and dashboards, automation, and real-time communication make this an excellent choice for dynamic marketing teams of all sizes.

You also get end-to-end visualization so you can hone in on problem areas while maintaining constant forward movement with each project as a whole.

Furthermore, Wrike includes powerful marketing-specific templates including

Campaign management
Product launching
Marketing operations
Content creation
Event management

And you can combine those with standard project management features like task management, proofing and approvals, communication tools, and real-time progress visibility.

Project views include board, spreadsheet, Gantt, calendar, and custom views.

Wrike also includes seamless integrations with 400+ business tools, like Salesforce, G Mail, and Google Drive. So, you don’t have to worry about software incompatibility issues or anything like that.

You can start on their free forever plan for up to five users, but you may find it limiting. Paid plans include:

Professional — $9.80/user per month (5 – 15 users)
Business — $24.80/user per month (5 – 200 users)
Enterprise — Custom (5 – unlimited users)

They also offer tailored plans for marketing teams, but you have to contact them for a custom quote. However, it includes specialty templates, Wrike Proof, and more.

Start your 14-day free trial or sign up for a free forever plan to get started today.

#3 – Teamwork Review — The best for remote teams

If you’re managing a remote team (or a soon-to-be remote team), Teamwork is an excellent choice. Their remote work module is specifically for distributed teams who need a flexible way to keep work moving forward.

20,000+ teams plus big names, including Disney, Netflix, and Spotify, rely on Teamwork for their remote project management needs — and for a good reason.

The software makes collaboration, task management, and project visibility a breeze regardless of where your team lives (and works). And as Teamwork says, “Just because you’re not in the same room doesn’t mean you can’t be on the same page.”

This remote project management software includes excellent features like:

Internal chat software
Centralized workspaces
Board views
Custom project templates
Workload balancing
Time tracking
Gantt charts

Furthermore, you can pick and choose which software you need. Or, you can save 49% by bundling all of Teamwork’s software together.

At $35/mo per user (minimum of five users), it’s more suitable for businesses with a decent budget. But, their project management module alone is much more affordable, starting at $10/mo per user.

Alternatively, you can start with a free forever plan for up to five users and two projects. This is an excellent choice for small teams or fast-growth companies.

#4 – Asana Review — The best for small teams

Asana is an excellent choice for teams of up to 15 people.

And with millions of users spanning 190+ countries worldwide, you can rest assured you’re in good hands.

Their free forever plan includes 15 seats, unlimited tasks and projects, assignees, due dates, and everything you need (aside from a few advanced features) to manage projects of all sizes efficiently.

With Asana, you can map out even the smallest steps of every project to ensure forward movement and track your team’s progress along the way.

Furthermore, you can enjoy features like:

Drag-and-drop board views
Timeline views
Automated workflows
Work requests and forms
Calendar view
Portfolio overviews
Workload balance
Custom fields
Reusable templates

Not only that, but the entire interface is beautiful and easy to navigate.

You can choose between pre-made industry templates or create your own to get your team on track in no time.

And with 100+ integrations including Adobe, Slack, Gmail, Chrome, Drive, and more, you can rest easy knowing Asana plays well with the tools you’re already using.

Plus, you can share files, communicate, and share feedback all in one place.

With a free price tag (for up to 15 users), Asana’s hard to beat. However, if you outgrow the free plan, you can upgrade to one of their paid plans, including:

Premium — $10.99 per user per month
Business — $24.99 per user per month
Enterprise — custom pricing only

#5 – Smartsheet Review — The best for large teams

Smartsheet is a dynamic project management software built for enterprises and large teams. However, the solution is flexible enough to suit businesses and projects of all sizes.

They specialize in rapid-movement projects with a ton of moving parts. So, you can trust Smartsheet for even the most complicated projects.

With Smartsheet, you can gain end-to-end project visibility with grid, card, Gantt, and calendar views. Furthermore, you can gather data from forms, automated workflows, and recurring tasks to see what you need to see, and when.

However, the software goes beyond essential project management. It’s an award-winning work execution platform that’s easy to implement, manage, and maintain.

Plus, 75% of fortune 500 companies use Smartsheet to get things done.

So, you’re in good company.

All plans also include on-demand customer support, continuous education materials, training + certification programs, and consulting services to help you make the most of your new project management software.

And you also get collaboration tools, all four project views, and extensive mobile apps/integrations with every plan.

While Smartsheet is overkill for most small businesses, it’s an excellent choice for large companies and enterprises looking to streamline their business processes.

Their paid plans include:

Individual — $14 per month
Business — $25 per user per month (minimum of three users)
Enterprise — custom (enterprise-grade features and tools)
Premier — custom (enterprise + premium features and tools)

#6 – Trello Review — The best free project management software

If you’re on a tight budget, Trello is an excellent free project management software.

Plus, millions of users, including Pinterest, Peloton, Fender, and Costco, rely on it to map out and manage projects of all shapes and sizes.

It’s an excellent tool for basic visual project management for any type of project, from home improvement and side hustles to marketing campaigns and full-blown business operations as well.

Trello uses boards, cards, and lists to organize projects, making it a familiar and comfortable platform. You can drag and drop cards, move cards to new boards, and cross tasks off as you go along.

Furthermore, you can create automatic workflows with rule-based triggers, calendar commands, and more.

Plus, the free forever plan includes intuitive features like:

Unlimited personal boards
Unlimited cards and lists
10 MB file attachments
Up to 10 team boards
Basic automation
And two-factor authentication

It’s an excellent solution for teams of all sizes since everyone can join for free. However, you need to upgrade to a paid plan if you need more than ten team boards.

And if you outgrow the free plan, you can upgrade to an affordable paid plan for more advanced features. Trello’s paid plans include:

Business Class — $9.99/user per month
Enterprise — $17.50/user per month

Summary

Zoho Projects is my #1 recommendation for most users, starting at just $3 per user per month with an extensive free forever plan as well.

However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all project management solution.

So, make sure you understand your needs and requirements before making any decisions. And don’t forget to use the criteria we talked about as you go through the process.

What’s your go-to project management software?

The post The Best Project Management Software (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

The Best Credit Card Processing Companies (In-Depth Review)

Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.

There are many touchpoints along the customer journey. The transaction is of course one of the most important, if not the most important.

So, the way in which you accept payments matters for both you and the customer. You need to have the right software and/or hardware in place to make sure transactions are simple and secure for both parties.

Not only that, as a business owner you need to know that you’re not shelling out cash on inferior services or unnecessary additional fees.

Therefore, this post will cover everything you need to know about choosing the right credit card processing company. Plus, I’ll introduce my top picks for a wide range of businesses of different sizes and with different needs.

The Top 10 Credit Card Processing Companies

Square
PayPal
FIS
Stripe
Payline Data
Fiserv
BitPay
Adyen
Dharma Merchant Services
Fattmerchant

How to Choose the Best Credit Card Processing Company for You

Here are some key elements to consider when choosing the right credit card processing company for you:

1. Fees

Look at the payment terms and fees carefully. Different companies offer different pricing models and things can start to get a little complex.

Firstly, there are interchange fees, which is the percentage taken by the company on every transaction made. Full-service credit card processing companies also take a monthly fee. There may also be additional costs, such as setup or monthly minimum fees.

2. Accepted Payment Methods

Nowadays, you need a payment processing company that accepts more than just debit and credit cards. Digital wallets like PayPal, Google Pay or Apple Pay have become extremely popular.

3. Customer Experience

When shopping, customers want the entire experience to be quick and easy. This is particularly important in e-commerce where the checkout process needs to be streamlined.

In fact, a long and complicated checkout process is the number three reason why consumers abandon their carts in 2020.

It’s also vital that the payment gateway is secure because obviously we’re dealing with sensitive data here. So, look for elements such as PCI compliance and encryption.

4. User Experience

Of course, you or your staff are going to be the ones actually using these systems. Thus, the software, apps and/or hardware need to be user-friendly.

Furthermore, with tech, there’s likely to be a glitch or an issue at some point. This means that you need a credit card processing company that offers superior customer support. The reason being, the longer your payment processor is down, the more sales you lose.

Now you know what you need to consider when researching credit card processing companies, let’s take a look at how they work.

The Different Types of Credit Card Processing Company

There are two main types of credit card processing company. Here’s the 411:

Credit Card Processor

A credit card processor is the go-between that takes care of transactions. The processor takes the funds from the customer’s account and deposits them in your merchant account. It also ensures that the transaction information is correct, the customer has sufficient funds and notifies the payment gateway that the transaction was successful.

Full-Service Credit Card Processor & Merchant Account

Full-service providers do the same as credit card processors but also provide a merchant account, meaning you don’t need an additional merchant account with a bank. These providers tend to offer lower interchange fees but also charge a monthly fee and additional fees, such as the above-mentioned setup fees and so on.

Depending on the size of your operation and the volume of payments you receive, you’ll have to calculate which type of credit card processing company is going to keep costs low overall. Look for companies that are transparent and straightforward about the way in which they operate and take fees.

#1 – Square — The Best for Ease of Use

Square is a hugely popular, low-fee credit card processing company for online and brick-and-mortar stores.

Its POS app is rich in features and easy-to-use. Square is also known for providing an exceptional, frictionless range of POS systems:

Bonus: you can get the software and Square Reader for free.

The beauty of Square truly lies in its simplicity. The company offers a transparent, straightforward pricing model: 2.6% + 10¢ for every tap (mobile payment), dip (chip card) or swipe (magstripe card) on the POS and 2.9% + 30¢ for e-commerce transactions.

Other benefits include active fraud prevention, end-to-end encryption, a quick sign-up process and live phone support.

Essentially, Square is an easy-to-use all-rounder that would be an excellent choice for a wide range of businesses.

#2 – PayPal Commerce Platform Review — The Best for Individuals & Low-Volume Sellers

You’re no doubt familiar with PayPal (unless you’ve been living under a rock), but you may not be as familiar with its commerce platform.

With the PayPal Commerce Platform you can take payments online, in-store, on-the-go with an iZettle card reader, by QR code, over the phone and via social shopping links:

If you’re a solopreneur or small business just starting out then the platform is a fantastic choice for you. PayPal offers a flat-rate system where you only pay for the processing services you use.

The other great thing about PayPal is that it’s a highly recognizable and trusted brand. Therefore, advertising the fact that you accept PayPal payments could lead to more conversions.

Overall, the PayPal Commerce Platform is a secure, user-friendly and low-cost solution for beginners, individuals and low-volume sellers.

#3 – FIS — The Best for Small Businesses

FIS (formerly Worldpay) is a global banking software provider that offers payment processing solutions for large enterprises, small businesses and e-commerce stores.

However, this company puts most of its focus on small businesses, serving a range of industries including grocery, retail, restaurants, personal and professional services:

And this is where FIS really shines as they work directly with small businesses to give them competitive terms and rates. You must contact FIS for a quote.

FIS also stands out as a great provider because of their superior 24/7/365 customer support. Furthermore, their software integrates with 1000+ POS systems which is great if you don’t wish to purchase one of their smart terminals.

FIS is the choice for you if you own a small business and want a customizable solution.

#4 – Stripe — The Best for Internet Businesses

Stripe was designed with a range of online businesses in mind, including e-commerce, mobile commerce, subscription services, marketplaces and other platforms. So, if you’re primarily a web-based business then Stripe is the choice for you.

What also makes it the best choice for online businesses is that the company provides tons of pre-built integrations and ready-made checkout forms for major e-commerce platforms, subscription services and the like:

There’s a simple pay-as-you-go pricing model of 2.9% + 30¢ with no additional monthly or setup fees.

Stripe is also one of the most technologically-advanced solutions out there with its dedication to improving the platform and machine learning models for intelligent optimizations.

If you’re looking for a competitively-priced credit card processor that will integrate easily with your online business, choose Stripe.

#5 – Payline Data — The Best for High-Risk Merchants

Payline Data offers in-person, online and mobile payment solutions for companies of varying sizes.

It’s the best option for high-risk merchants that struggle to get approved for accounts elsewhere. Thanks to its partnerships with major banks and premiere support team, Payline Data is able to simplify high-risk account management.

Payline Data’s pricing model is a little more complex than other options with setup, monthly and other additional fees involved. Take a look:

However, you can work out exactly what your monthly costs will be using their payment calculator tool.

Another advantage of using Payline Data is its integrations with major POS, shopping cart and accounting software providers, along with developer APIs for a customizable solution.

As long as you consider the costs carefully, this could be the simplest and cheapest option for those looking for a high-risk merchant account.

#6 – Fiserv — The Best for High-Volume Retailers

This company provides a convenient, secure and reliable payment processing service as well as end-to-end accounting services, if you require them.

What makes Fiserv the best choice for high-volume retailers is the fact that you can negotiate favorable interchange-plus pricing and terms. Or you can opt for flat-rate pricing via its Clover platform.

Having recently merged with international payment processing leader First Data, Fiserv is also a great option for those who operate globally.

Seven out of the ten largest digital merchants trust Fiserv. Plus, retailers can accept a range of payment methods that are popular around the world, such as Alipay.

Fiserv is the right choice for more experienced, high-volume and global retailers.

#7 – BitPay — The Best for Accepting Crypto

Though technically not a credit card processing company, BitPay is a forward-thinking payment processing company for those who want to add crypto into the mix.

Owned by Shark Tank powerhouse, Mark Cuban, BitPay allows you to accept a range of cryptocurrencies online, via email and in-store.

The way it works is simple – the customer gets an invoice, they pay in crypto at a locked-in exchange rate, BitPay converts the payment into your local currency and you receive the payment in your account the next day:

Due to the nature of crypto, you can accept payments from around the globe without having to worry about fraudulent purchases. What’s more, BitPay promises a flat rate fee of 1% and no hidden fees.

So, if you’d like to expand your reach and gain access to the crypto market, BitPay is for you.

#8 – Adyen — The Best for Growing Enterprises

Adyen isn’t for newbies. It counts the likes of Uber, Virgin Hotels, Hunter and Spotify among its customers. So, it’s perfect for growing enterprises that are ready to take their business to the next level.

You can benefit from transaction optimization to help you get the most revenue from your sales, as well as in-depth reporting on the platform to better understand your customers and aid growth:

Fees vary depending on the payment method used. Yet, Adyen provides a transparent list of all fees for each payment method on their site.

Other benefits include data-driven security, fraud prevention and access to a dedicated team of payment specialists who will provide you with expert advice.

Overall, if you’re focused on growth, Adyen is the perfect partner.

#9 – Dharma Merchant Services — The Best for Quick Service Payments

Dharma is a low-fee credit card processor that specializes in retail and quick service transactions. In other words, if you own a restaurant, bar, fast food joint or other quick service business then this is a great choice for you.

The company offers a low fee of 0.15% and $0.07 per transaction above interchange for storefronts and restaurants:

Plus, the virtual terminal and app are free. The e-commerce rate is slightly higher at 0.20% + $0.10.

With Dharma, you also benefit from exceptional customer service. If you’re new to credit card processing you can get a free consultation and ask all of the questions you need to. Plus, they offer 24/7 tech support.

Choose Dharma if you own a quick service business and need support along the way.

#10 – Fattmerchant — The Best for Professional Services

Fattmerchant provides a range of smart payment processing solutions, but really nails it when it comes to professional service providers.

The reason being, the platform offers the ability to send invoices and retrieve recurring payments quickly and easily. There’s also the option to create payment links and even buttons to take payments for subscription services.

The platform has features which will speed up your business processes through automation, e.g. automated payment reminders:

Fattmerchant offers a different pricing model to many other credit card processing companies. There’s a flat rate subscription fee starting at $99 but 0% markup on interchange and no pesky additional fees.

Essentially, Fattmerchant’s software is a fantastic choice for a range of businesses, but especially for those in professional services or that take recurring payments.

Summing Up

Naturally, there are several criteria to consider when choosing a credit card processing company. Often it will depend on the type of business you run and the volume of payments you take.

Furthermore, some options are better suited to smaller businesses or beginners while others provide more advanced solutions for experienced, higher-volume companies.

Above all, you want a company that offers transparency, security, strong customer support, great software and hardware and the right pricing model to suit your needs.

Now it’s over to you to explore these top providers further and make the right choice.

The post The Best Credit Card Processing Companies (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

Do Nothing till You Check Out Our Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review

Check Out Our Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review and Look at Pearl Capital Business Financing

Pearl Financing is a lender in the online space. However, there are two similarly-named players. This blog post will cover both: Pearl Capital Business Financing and Pearl Financing. So it’s more than just a Pearl Financing recession funding review.

Recession Period Financing

The number of United States financial institutions and also thrifts has been decreasing slowly for 25 years. This is from consolidation in the marketplace in addition to deregulation in the 1990s, lowering barriers to interstate banking. See: fundera.com/blog/happened-americas-small-businesses-financial-crisis-six-years-start-crisis-look-back-10-charts. Assets focused in ever‐larger financial institutions is troublesome for small business owners. Big financial institutions are a lot less likely to make small loans. Economic declines imply banks end up being much more mindful with financing. Luckily, business credit does not count on financial institutions.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review

Pearl Financing is a lending company in the online space. They provide various loans and forms of financing to businesses.

Pearl Financing currently only handles real estate funding.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Background

Pearl Financing is located online here: www.pearlfinancing.com.

Their physical address is:

11010 Lake Grove Blvd
Suite 100 PMB 119
Morrisville, NC 27560.

You can also call them at: (866) 865-0121. Their contact page is here: www.pearlfinancing.com/contact-us. Also, you can email them at: info@pearlfinancing.com.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Bridge Loans and Hard Money

Pearl Financing partners with private investment firms for this typical form of real estate financing. There are no fees listed on their website for this form of funding.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Commercial Real Estate Financing

Pearl Financing offers several forms of financing. These include SBA 7(a) loans, CMBS Conduit loans, HUD, equity, and conventional loans. There are no fees listed on their website for these forms of funding.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: CMBS Conduit Loans

This is a type of commercial real estate loan secured by a first position mortgage on a commercial property. These loans are packaged and sold by conduit lenders, commercial banks, investment banks, or syndicates of banks.

Terms are five, seven, or ten years. 25 – 30 year amortization. 75% loan to value/80% with Mezzanine Loan Combo. Rates are fixed but otherwise not specified.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Mezzanine Financing

This is a hybrid of debt and equity financing. It gives the lender the right to convert to an equity interest in the company in case of default. This is often after venture capital companies and other senior lenders are paid. There are no fees listed on their website for this form of funding.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Advantages

Advantages include a variety of choices for real estate funding. House flippers will do well to work with a specialist, which is what Pearl Financing brings to the table.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Disadvantages

So the chief disadvantage is no listing of fees anywhere, not even a range. This lack of transparency should be troubling to any entrepreneur. In addition, the company needs to distinguish themselves better from a similar company with a nearly identical name. As a result, borrowers can easily end up on the wrong site.

Pearl Capital Business Funding

Pearl Capital Business Financing is a lending company in the online space. So it is evidently unrelated to Pearl Financing.

They work with Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs) and merchants only. This online lender helps ISOs find more merchants to sign on with credit card payments or create merchant cash advances. There is no listing for their fees on their website.

Background

Pearl Capital Business Financing is located online here: https://pearlcapital.com. Their physical address is in New York, NY. You can also call them at: (800) 888-9959.

A Fantastic Alternative to Both – Building Business Credit

Company credit is credit in a company’s name. It doesn’t link to a business owner’s consumer credit, not even if the owner is a sole proprietor and the sole employee of the business.

Therefore, a business owner’s business and individual credit scores can be very different.

The Benefits

Considering that business credit is independent from consumer, it helps to safeguard an entrepreneur’s personal assets, in case of court action or business insolvency.

Also, with two distinct credit scores, an entrepreneur can get two separate cards from the same vendor. This effectively doubles buying power.

Another benefit is that even startup companies can do this. Visiting a bank for a business loan can be a recipe for disappointment. But building small business credit, when done the right way, is a plan for success.

Individual credit scores depend upon payments but also various other considerations like credit use percentages.

But for business credit, the scores really just hinge on if a business pays its bills punctually.

The Process

Building business credit is a process, and it does not occur automatically. A small business has to proactively work to build business credit.

Nevertheless, it can be done readily and quickly, and it is much more rapid than developing personal credit scores.

Vendors are a big part of this process.

Performing the steps out of sequence will cause repetitive denials. Nobody can start at the top with small business credit. For example, you can’t start with retail or cash credit from your bank. If you do, you’ll get a denial 100% of the time.

Learn business loan secrets with our free, sure-fire guide. We can help you get money, even during a recession.

Small Business Fundability

A business has to be fundable to lenders and merchants.

Due to this fact, a company will need a professional-looking web site and e-mail address. And it needs to have site hosting bought from a supplier like GoDaddy.

And also, company telephone and fax numbers must have a listing on ListYourself.net.

Likewise, the company telephone number should be toll-free (800 exchange or the equivalent).

A company will also need a bank account dedicated purely to it, and it has to have every one of the licenses necessary for operation.

Licenses

These licenses all have to be in the correct, correct name of the company. And they need to have the same small business address and phone numbers.

So keep in mind, that this means not just state licenses, but potentially also city licenses.

Working with the IRS

Visit the Internal Revenue Service web site and acquire an EIN for the business. They’re free. Pick a business entity like corporation, LLC, etc.

A business can begin as a sole proprietor. But they will probably want to change to a sort of corporation or an LLC.

This is in order to limit risk. And it will make the most of tax benefits.

A business entity will matter when it comes to taxes and liability in the event of litigation. A sole proprietorship means the entrepreneur is it when it comes to liability and taxes. No one else is responsible.

Sole Proprietors Take Note

If you run a business as a sole proprietor, then at the very least be sure to file for a DBA. This is ‘doing business as’ status.

If you do not, then your personal name is the same as the small business name. Because of this, you can wind up being personally responsible for all small business financial obligations.

And also, according to the IRS, using this structure there is a 1 in 7 possibility of an IRS audit. There is a 1 in 50 probability for corporations! Steer clear of confusion and significantly lower the chances of an IRS audit at the same time.

Kicking Off the Business Credit Reporting Process

Start at the D&B website and obtain a free D-U-N-S number. A D-U-N-S number is how D&B gets a company in their system, to generate a PAYDEX score. If there is no D-U-N-S number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score.

Once in D&B’s system, search Equifax and Experian’s web sites for the small business. You can do this at www.creditsuite.com/reports. If there is a record with them, check it for correctness and completeness. If there are no records with them, go to the next step in the process.

By doing so, Experian and Equifax will have something to report on.

Learn business loan secrets with our free, sure-fire guide. We can help you get money, even during a recession.

Vendor Credit

First you should establish trade lines that report. This is also called vendor credit. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can start to get retail and cash credit.

These types of accounts often tend to be for the things bought all the time, like marketing materials, shipping boxes, outdoor work wear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But first off, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you starter credit when you have none now. Terms are typically Net 30, instead of revolving.

Hence, if you get approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you must pay that money back in a set term, like within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Details

Net 30 accounts must be paid in full within 30 days. 60 accounts must be paid in full within 60 days. In contrast to with revolving accounts, you have a set time when you have to pay back what you borrowed or the credit you used.

To begin your business credit profile properly, you should get approval for vendor accounts that report to the business credit reporting agencies. As soon as that’s done, you can then use the credit.

Then pay back what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Vendor Credit – It Helps

Not every vendor can help in the same way true starter credit can. These are merchants that will grant an approval with marginal effort. You also want them to be reporting to one or more of the big three CRAs: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian.

You want 3 of these to move onto the next step, which is retail credit.

Retail Credit

Once there are 3 or more vendor trade accounts reporting to at least one of the CRAs, then move onto retail credit. These are companies like Office Depot and Staples.

Only use your Social Security Number and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, use the business’s EIN on these credit applications.

Fleet Credit

Are there more accounts reporting? Then move to fleet credit. These are companies like BP and Conoco. Use this credit to buy fuel, and to fix and take care of vehicles. Only use your SSN and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, make sure to apply using the company’s EIN.

Cash Credit

Have you been sensibly managing the credit you’ve gotten up to this point? Then move to more universal cash credit. These are businesses like Visa and MasterCard. Only use your SSN and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, use your EIN instead.

These are typically MasterCard credit cards. If you have more trade accounts reporting, then these are feasible.

Monitor Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make certain it is being reported and take care of any mistakes ASAP. Get in the practice of taking a look at credit reports. Dig into the particulars, not just the scores.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for 90% less than it would cost you at the CRAs.

Learn business loan secrets with our free, sure-fire guide. We can help you get money, even during a recession.

Update Your Information

Update the data if there are inaccuracies or the info is incomplete.

Fix Your Business Credit

So, what’s all this monitoring for? It’s to contest any errors in your records. Errors in your credit report(s) can be taken care of. But the CRAs generally want you to dispute in a particular way.

Disputes

Disputing credit report mistakes commonly means you mail a paper letter with copies of any evidence of payment with it. These are documents like receipts and cancelled checks. Never mail the originals. Always send copies and retain the original copies.

Fixing credit report errors also means you specifically detail any charges you challenge. Make your dispute letter as crystal clear as possible. Be specific about the problems with your report. Use certified mail so that you will have proof that you mailed in your dispute.

A Word about Building Business Credit

Always use credit responsibly! Don’t borrow beyond what you can pay off. Track balances and deadlines for repayments. Paying on schedule and completely will do more to raise business credit scores than pretty much anything else.

Building small business credit pays. Great business credit scores help a company get loans. Your credit issuer knows the small business can pay its financial obligations. They know the company is for real.

The small business’s EIN links to high scores and lenders won’t feel the need to demand a personal guarantee.

Business credit is an asset which can help your small business for years to come.

Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review: Takeaways

The businesses which will do the best with Pearl Financing are going to be the ones with high financing needs but the companies themselves are currently not very large. Therefore, these are companies which are expected to grow quickly and meteorically. However, companies which need less funding have other options. Such businesses should make sure to compare offerings closely.

And finally, as with every other lending program, whether online or offline, remember to read the fine print and do the math. Go over the details with a degree of care.

Only you can decide if this option will be good for you and your company. In addition, consider alternative financing options that go beyond lending. These include building business credit, in order to best decide how to get the money you need to help your business grow. Business credit building is useful as it becomes a company asset.

Today, we want to hear from our audience! Share your voice with us about your experiences with online lenders.

The post Do Nothing till You Check Out Our Pearl Financing Recession Funding Review appeared first on Credit Suite.

Get the Skinny with Our Behalf Recession Funding Review

What Can Behalf Recession Funding Do for Your Business?

Behalf is an online lending company, among several other lending companies online. They offer purchase financing, and also have a virtual MasterCard in order to facilitate financing your purchases. We look at the specifics and drill down into the details of Behalf recession funding.

As of 8/24/2020 Behalf no longer reports. For more information on how to find accounts that report give us a call at 877-600-2487.

Behalf Recession Funding: Background

Behalf is located online here: https://www.behalf.com/.

Their physical address is:

126 5th Avenue

New York, New York 10011.

Behalf keeps their headquarters in New York City with offices in Tel Aviv. You can call them at: (877) 943-9962. Their contact page is here: https://www.behalf.com/help-center/. They have been in business since their founding in 2012. Behalf is backed by venture capital funds from Viola Growth, Spark Capital, Sequoia Capital, MissionOG, Victory Park, and Vintage.

Behalf Recession Funding: Purchase Financing

Behalf’s fees are based on the terms offered to customers. Their fees rise as the number of days to pay rise, with an apparent cap at 3%. This lender offers products to both merchants and their business customers. For business customers, you select the amount to finance, the amount of time to pay it back, and whether you will pay on a monthly or a weekly basis.

Since the end of 2017, all funding from Behalf is through FinWise, a Utah-chartered bank which is located in Sandy, Utah.

This online lender will make a hard inquiry on your personal credit when you first apply for financing.

There is a maximum line size of $50,000. It can extend this in instant purchase capacity to any business customer. Their minimum transaction size is $300. Plus there is no upper limit on individual purchase transactions.

Behalf Recession Funding: Fees

Monthly fees start at 1%, and there is a fixed monthly rate. There are no origination fees and no maintenance fees. You can save 10% on finance fees by choosing a weekly plan.

Behalf Recession Funding: Advantages

Advantages to online lender Behalf include a fixed monthly rate to make your budgeting easier. In addition, there is a discounted rate option if you select weekly payments.

Behalf Recession Funding: Disadvantages

Disadvantages include higher fees if you give your clients longer payment terms. As a result, your company will be penalized for providing better payment terms to your customers.

An Alternative to Behalf Recession Funding – Building Business Credit

Small business credit is credit in a company’s name. It doesn’t connect to an owner’s personal credit, not even when the owner is a sole proprietor and the sole employee of the business.

As a result, a business owner’s business and personal credit scores can be very different.

The Benefits

Due to the fact that small business credit is separate from consumer, it helps to safeguard an entrepreneur’s personal assets, in the event of court action or business insolvency.

Also, with two separate credit scores, a business owner can get two separate cards from the same vendor. This effectively doubles purchasing power.

Another benefit is that even start-ups can do this. Heading to a bank for a business loan can be a formula for frustration. But building company credit, when done properly, is a plan for success.

Consumer credit scores rely on payments but also various other considerations like credit utilization percentages.

But for business credit, the scores truly only depend on whether a company pays its invoices in a timely manner.

Hit the jackpot with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.

The Process

Growing company credit is a process, and it does not occur automatically. A small business needs to proactively work to build company credit.

Having said that, it can be done easily and quickly, and it is much quicker than establishing personal credit scores.

Merchants are a big part of this process.

Undertaking the steps out of sequence will cause repetitive denials. Nobody can start at the top with business credit. For instance, you can’t start with retail or cash credit from your bank. If you do, you’ll get a rejection 100% of the time.

Company Fundability

A business has to be fundable to credit issuers and vendors.

Due to this fact, a small business will need a professional-looking website and email address. And it needs to have site hosting bought from a vendor like GoDaddy.

In addition, business phone and fax numbers should have a listing on ListYourself.net.

Additionally, the company phone number should be toll-free (800 exchange or similar).

A business will also need a bank account devoted purely to it, and it has to have all of the licenses essential for running.

Licenses

These licenses all must be in the particular, appropriate name of the small business. And they need to have the same small business address and telephone numbers.

So note, that this means not just state licenses, but possibly also city licenses.

Working with the Internal Revenue Service

Visit the Internal Revenue Service website and acquire an EIN for the small business. They’re totally free. Select a business entity such as corporation, LLC, etc.

A company can begin as a sole proprietor. But they will probably wish to change to a form of corporation or an LLC.

This is in order to limit risk. And it will maximize tax benefits.

A business entity will matter when it involves taxes and liability in case of a lawsuit. A sole proprietorship means the entrepreneur is it when it comes to liability and taxes. Nobody else is responsible.

Sole Proprietors Take Note

If you operate a business as a sole proprietor, then at least be sure to file for a DBA. This is ‘doing business as’ status.

If you do not, then your personal name is the same as the business name. Therefore, you can find yourself being directly accountable for all small business financial obligations.

Also, according to the Internal Revenue Service, using this arrangement there is a 1 in 7 possibility of an IRS audit. There is a 1 in 50 possibility for corporations! Prevent confusion and noticeably lower the chances of an Internal Revenue Service audit as well.

But keep in mind, any DBA filing should just be a steppingstone to incorporating.

Starting Off the Business Credit Reporting Process

Start at the D&B website and get a totally free D-U-N-S number. A D-U-N-S number is how D&B gets a company into their system, to generate a PAYDEX score. If there is no D-U-N-S number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score.

Once in D&B’s system, search Equifax and Experian’s websites for the company. You can do this at www.creditsuite.com/reports. If there is a record with them, check it for correctness and completeness. If there are no records with them, go to the next step in the process.

By doing so, Experian and Equifax will have something to report on.

Vendor Credit

First you need to establish trade lines that report. This is also known as vendor credit. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can begin to get even more credit.

These sorts of accounts tend to be for the things bought all the time, like marketing materials, shipping boxes, outdoor work wear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But to start with, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you initial credit when you have none now. Terms are frequently Net 30, instead of revolving.

Hence, if you get an approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you will need to pay that money back in a set term, like within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Hit the jackpot with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.

Details

Net 30 accounts need to be paid in full within 30 days. 60 accounts must be paid fully within 60 days. Compared to with revolving accounts, you have a set time when you must pay back what you borrowed or the credit you used.

To kick off your business credit profile properly, you should get approval for vendor accounts that report to the business credit reporting agencies. Once that’s done, you can then use the credit.

Then pay back what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Vendor Credit – It Helps

Not every vendor can help in the same way true starter credit can. These are merchants that will grant an approval with minimal effort. You also want them to be reporting to one or more of the big three CRAs: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian.

You want 3 of these to move onto the next step, which is retail credit. But you may need to apply more than one time to these vendors. So, this is to confirm you are dependable and will pay punctually.

Retail Credit

Once there are 3 or more vendor trade accounts reporting to at least one of the CRAs, then move to retail credit. These are service providers such as Office Depot and Staples.

Only use your Social Security Number and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, use the business’s EIN on these credit applications.

Fleet Credit

Are there more accounts reporting? Then move onto fleet credit. These are companies like BP and Conoco. Use this credit to buy fuel, and to repair, and take care of vehicles. Just use your Social Security Number and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, make certain to apply using the business’s EIN.

Cash Credit

Have you been sensibly managing the credit you’ve up to this point? Then move to more universal cash credit. These are companies such as Visa and MasterCard. Only use your Social Security Number and date of birth on these applications for verification purposes. For credit checks and guarantees, use your EIN instead.

If you have more trade accounts reporting, then these are attainable.

Monitor Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make sure it is being reported and deal with any errors ASAP. Get in the practice of checking credit reports and digging into the details, and not just the scores.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for 90% less.

At Equifax, you can monitor your account at: www.equifax.com/business/business-credit-monitor-small-business.

Update Your Records

Update the data if there are errors or the relevant information is incomplete. At D&B, you can do this at: https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm. For Experian, go here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp. And for Equifax, go here: www.equifax.com/business/small-business.

Fix Your Business Credit

So, what’s all this monitoring for? It’s to contest any errors in your records. Mistakes in your credit report(s) can be fixed. But the CRAs typically want you to dispute in a particular way.

Get your company’s PAYDEX report at: www.dnb.com/about-us/our-data.html. Get your company’s Experian report at: www.businesscreditfacts.com/pdp.aspx?pg=SearchForm. And get your Equifax business credit report at: www.equifax.com/business/credit-information.

Disputes

Disputing credit report mistakes commonly means you send a paper letter with duplicates of any evidence of payment with it. These are documents like receipts and cancelled checks. Never send the originals. Always send copies and keep the originals.

Fixing credit report inaccuracies also means you specifically itemize any charges you dispute. Make your dispute letter as understandable as possible. Be specific about the concerns with your report. Use certified mail so that you will have proof that you sent in your dispute.

Dispute your or your small business’s Equifax report by following the instructions here: www.equifax.com/small-business-faqs/#Dispute-FAQs.

You can dispute mistakes on your or your small business’s Experian report by following the instructions here: www.experian.com/small-business/business-credit-information.jsp.

And D&B’s PAYDEX Customer Service telephone number is here: www.dandb.com/glossary/paydex.

A Word about Building Business Credit

Always use credit sensibly! Don’t borrow more than what you can pay back. Keep track of balances and deadlines for payments. Paying off in a timely manner and completely will do more to increase business credit scores than nearly anything else.

Growing company credit pays off. Great business credit scores help a business get loans. Your credit issuer knows the business can pay its debts. They understand the company is bona fide.

The company’s EIN attaches to high scores and lending institutions won’t feel the need to require a personal guarantee.

Business credit is an asset which can help your company for many years to come. Learn more here and get started toward building company credit.

Hit the jackpot with our best webinar and its trustworthy list of seven vendors who can help you build business credit.

Behalf Recession Funding: Upshot

For companies just starting out, allowing for longer payment terms for customers can help to convert one-time customers into regulars. Because Behalf effectively penalizes a company for providing longer terms, this is a strike against using them if your company is a startup trying to build a reputation with your clients.

However, for a not so new company which can readily make payments, the discounted weekly payment plan (and rate) could be an attractive option, although companies with regular revenue and enough time in business tend to qualify for more traditional financing, including loans from the Small Business Administration.

And finally, as with every other lending program, whether online or offline, remember to read the fine print and do the math. Go over the details with a fine-toothed comb, and decide whether this option will be good for you and your company. In addition, consider alternative financing options that go beyond lending, including building business credit, in order to best decide how to get the money you need to help your business grow.

Maybe you won’t need Behalf recession funding after all.

The post Get the Skinny with Our Behalf Recession Funding Review appeared first on Credit Suite.

The Best Web Hosting Services (In-Depth Review)

Looking for a hosting solution for your website? You’re in luck because with today’s options, it has never been easier to keep your website online. They take care of all the technical stuff and you get to enjoy casually updating your website for conversions. And the best part is that most of them are very …

The post The Best Web Hosting Services (In-Depth Review) first appeared on Online Web Store Site.

The Best Web Hosting Services (In-Depth Review)

Looking for a hosting solution for your website?

You’re in luck because with today’s options, it has never been easier to keep your website online.

They take care of all the technical stuff and you get to enjoy casually updating your website for conversions.

And the best part is that most of them are very affordable which helps startups get a hold of their business quickly.

That’s why I put together a list of the best hosting services of 2020 for you.

So without further ado…

The Top 7 Options For Hosting Your Website in 2020:

Bluehost
HostGator
Siteground
Dreamhost
WP Engine
Hostinger
InMotion

How to Choose The Best Hosting Service For Your Website:

When it comes to the best web hosting services you have to look at various important factors.

If you jump in too quick you might get into something that’s not suitable for your business.

But don’t let any of that doubt creep into your mind.

Instead, sit back and relax while we present to you all the factors that you need to be aware of before making a decision.

You can weigh the different web hosting services and decide which is the best solution for your specific business.

Hosting factor #1 – Uptime reliability:

If your hosting is down, no one would be able to access your website.

And obviously you want your website running 24/7.

Luckily, in 2020 this is not a huge problem since most web hosting providers offer a ‘99.99% network uptime guarantee’.

That means that your website would go down very rarely.

And even when it does, you can contact your hosting service and you will get compensation.

Most of the time that would be in the form of hosting credits.

If you want to prepare for the worst, you can check out our Website Downtime Survival Guide.

One of the best practices to making sure everything runs smoothly even when you’re taking a break is to sign up for a tracking tool like uptime robot.

If your hosting service crosses the line, this tool will notify you that you need to find a new webserver to host.

Hosting factor #2 – Speed is key:

Website loading speed is extremely crucial when it comes to SEO optimization in 2020.

That’s simply because if your pages load slowly, people will bounce out of your website and your ranking will fall down the drain.

You need a trustworthy host provider that can guarantee optimal website loading speed.

The thing is that you can’t know the exact loading speed before you try the hosting service yourself.

But you can always optimize your website loading speed using free tools and effective loading speed practices.

And the best news is that even if your budget is tight, you can still get a good loading speed.

But don’t expect anything spectacular for say $4/month.

Generally, the higher the price, the faster your pages will load.

Anyways, we will include our personal experience regarding loading speed for each of the options down below.

Hosting factor #3 – Customer service:

Good Customer Service will come in handy when something goes wrong.

Especially if you’re new to websites, you’re bound to make mistakes that may lead to your website being down for a while.

And the more time it’s out, the more it will cost you.

So a good support team will help you get the issues solved in no time.

Even if you made a major mistake that’s impossible to come back from…

Most support teams will have a full backup of your website so you can get back to a working version.

You always want your support team to have a live chat or a telephone you can call.

Email just doesn’t make the cut if you want to resolve the issue fast, which you should want, given that your website is down.

We made sure to include only website hosting services with strong communication skills.

The Different Types of Web Hosting Services:

In 2020 there are a lot of different types of web hosting services.

The most commonly used being:

Shared Hosting

This means your website will be stored on the same server as a bunch of other websites.

It is a cheap option for startup websites.

With the right one, you can have customizable options and average loading speed.

Don’t look at Shared Hosting as a long-term solution because Shared Hosting can not withstand high levels of traffic.

It’s definitely a good solution for people that just want to get their website up and running fast.

VPS Hosting

The Virtual Private Server (VPS) is definitely a better option than Shared Hosting.

Each website is hosted in its own virtual space which speeds up your loading speed and also allows you to get more traffic on your website.

This option is best if you’re planning to scale your website fast.

Yet again, it’s not a long-term option if you want to be one of the top websites in your industry.

Simply because it still has limitations when it comes to website traffic.

Dedicated Hosting

This is considered the most reliable and overall the best option out there.

You get a dedicated server just for your website with full control over everything.

But prepare yourself for a pricey alternative.

That option is mainly for the best of the best.

If you have plans to scale your traffic to enormously high levels, this is the only option for you.

But if you’re just starting out, we recommend one of the other 2 options.

Anyways, the web hosting services below give you the option to choose between different types of hosting services.

So just choose the one that fits your business and your budget best.

#1 – Bluehost — Best for WordPress Hosting

If you’re looking to set up your website in less than a week, you’re probably considering WordPress.

After all, according to NetCraft, 35% of the Internet is powered by WordPress.

And it’s not a surprise. WordPress has been a leader in the industry for years now.

So if you’re looking for the best hosting option for your WordPress website, you can definitely trust Bluehost.

Their Pricing Options start from as low as $3.95/month and get up to $6.95/month.

Which is still not that expensive considering all the unlimited features they bring to the table.

Regarding website loading speed, as long as you don’t fill your WordPress site with plugins, you should be good.

And even if you make a crucial mistake or overload your website with different plugins, you’re in good hands.

Their Customer Support is extremely responsive. They have both an active telephone line and a live chat you can rely on at all times.

#2 – HostGator — The most affordable option for Startups

HostGator is one of the most preferred options when it comes to blogging.

They are perfect if you’re looking for the most affordable way to begin posting online.

Pricing options start from the jaw-dropping $2.75/month.

Once again, you can’t expect the best features for such a low price.

But it’s a great alternative for startups that want to get their website up and running.

And just like Bluehost, they have a responsive telephone line with a live chat you can access at any moment.

You can also find a giant database with common questions beginners have, together with professional opinions and solutions to those problems.

Everything is explained and demonstrated step-by-step and if you’re still not sure that you can do it on your own.

Just shoot them a message and start chatting with their professional customer support.

#3 – Siteground — Best for WooCommerce Hosting

Do you want to sell your products online?

Then you’re probably in need of a good, reliable WooCommerce Hosting Service.

If that’s that case, then you should take a look at Siteground.

They have separated their pricing options depending on your scalability.

Most Hosting Services cut you here and there when it comes to cheaper options.

This is not the case here!

Siteground really wants to overdeliver, even if you choose their cheapest options.

Their Customer Service has a whopping 90% resolution at first contact.

That means that 90% of the time you’ll chat or speak with an expert in their team and resolve your issue in no time.

So if you’re looking for the best WooCommerce solution, Siteground is the hosting service for you.

#4 – Dreamhost — Best option if you want quick and responsive website changes

Dreamhost has been a big player for the longest time now.

Founded in 1996 it is one of the oldest hosting services available online.

Some people might think it must be outdated by now.

But that can’t be further from the truth.

Exactly because of their ability to adapt quickly to new trends they’re still considered one of the best in the business.

They don’t look at your website as just another website.

They know that your website is your own vision for the future.

“We Make Sure Your Purpose, Is Our Purpose”

And that’s not just words. Over 1.5 million websites host with Dreamhost.

You can expect great loading speed and friendly, helpful customer support on your side.

With incredibly adaptable services you can literally change your business in a matter of hours.

They know that things change as time passes.

Maybe you want to try out something new.

Maybe you’re certain that your current business model is outdated.

With their fascinating adaptable features, they will be your best friend when making major changes in your website.

#5 – WP Engine — Best option if you know your limits

We’re getting to the more advanced options now.

With WP Engine you can customize and get the exact features you need.

Of course, their services are not as cheap as some of the others on the list.

But if you’re certain what are the exact characteristics you need in a website, then WP Engine got your back.

You just have to contact them and work out the best plan for your specific situation.

Of course, their experts are going to help you choose the correct option without pushing you to stuff you wouldn’t need.

It’s a great Hosting Service if you’re looking to scale big.

Don’t expect cheap services, but expect great quality and support on the way to your successful business.

#6 – Hostinger — Low-Cost Shared Hosting options for Startups

Hostinger is unique with it’s Shared Hosting Services.

Their prices literally start from $0.99/month. WOW.

Of course, you’ll be very limited with this option but it shows how much they are ready to do in order to satisfy their customers.

We personally recommend one of the higher tier options:

The good thing with Hostinger is that for as low as $3.99/month you can get unlimited access to everything.

With 24/7/365 support, you can expect professional assistance at any point.

For $3.99/month you get great loading speed and daily website backups.

That means even if you mess up badly, you always have access to previous versions of your website.

It is the best option if you’re searching specifically for a Shared Hosting Service that’s affordable and reliable.

#7 – InMotion — Best option for Scaling BIG

Are you positive that your website is going to dominate the online space?

If you’re 100% sure, then you should definitely take a closer look at InMotion.

Their VPS and Dedicated hosting services are far from cheap.

But with Premium prices come Premium services. We are talking fast loading speed and devoted customer support.

Obviously there’s also affordable WordPress Hosting and Shared Hosting options.

But if you’ve tried these before and now you’re looking for the next step.

InMotion is going to overdeliver on every promise.

Check out their plans and choose the one that fits your needs best.

Your Hosting Service Is Your Best Friend

Make sure you make a well-thought-out decision.

You’re most likely going to have a long-term relationship with the hosting service you choose.

So carefully look into every option that caught your eye today and choose the one that fits your needs best.

So, whether you choose one of my top recommendations or scout out your own, use the tips and best practices we talked about to make an educated decision… like the future of your business depends on it.

Because it does!

Have you worked with any website hosting companies in the past? How did it go and did you get the results you hoped for?

The post The Best Web Hosting Services (In-Depth Review) appeared first on Neil Patel.

Rapid Finance Review

Are you looking for funding from Rapid Advance? They’ve changed their name – so welcome to our Rapid Finance review.

Rapid Advance is one of several lending companies online. They offer short term loans (MCA, also known as merchant cash advances) and more. We look at the specifics and drill down into the details.

Note: due to the COVID-19 health crisis, Rapid Finance is not offering loans at this time. But this lender does not appear to be going out of business.

Rapid Finance Review: Background

Rapid Finance is located online here: https://www.rapidfinance.com/. Their physical address is:

4500 East West Highway
6th Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814.

You can call them at: (800) 664-0173. Their contact page is here: https://www.rapidfinance.com/contact-us/. They have been in business since 2005.

Small Business Term Loans

$5,000 – $1 million is available in funding. The terms are 3 to 60 months. Your business needs to be generating revenue.

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, and the last three statements from your business bank account.

Merchant Cash Advances

A range of $5,000 – $500,000 is available in funding.

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, your last three credit card processing statements, and the last three statements from your business bank account.

Bad credit is no problem.

SBA Loans

$30,000 – $250,000 is available in funding. The terms are 1 to 10 years.

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, the last three statements from your business bank account, two years of business tax returns, and your schedule of debts.

Rapid Finance also offers bridge loans, lines of credit, asset-based financing, and invoice factoring.

Rapid Finance Review: Advantages

Advantages are a few choices for loan types. The maximum amounts available are high. Rapid Finance has also been in the online lending space for longer than most of the players in this industry.

Rapid Finance Review: Disadvantages

Disadvantages are that the documentation requirements can be a bit extensive.

An Alternative to Rapid Finance

Why, it’s business credit, of course! Business credit is an asset which can help your small business for years to come.

The Process

Building corporate credit is a process, and it does not happen without effort. A corporation will need to actively work to build business credit. Nevertheless, it can be done easily and quickly, and it is much swifter than establishing consumer credit scores. Merchants are a big part of this process.

Doing the steps out of sequence will cause repetitive denials. Nobody can start at the top with business credit. For example, you can’t start with store or cash credit from your bank. If you do, you’ll get a rejection 100% of the time.

Company Credibility

A small business has to be reliable to loan providers and merchants. As a result, a small business will need a professional-looking web site and email address, with site hosting bought from a vendor like GoDaddy. In addition business phone and fax numbers ought to have a listing on ListYourself.net.

Also the company phone number should be toll-free (800 exchange or the equivalent).

A company will also need a bank account devoted purely to it, and it has to have all of the licenses essential for operation. These licenses all have to be in the correct, appropriate name of the company, with the same company address and telephone numbers. Keep in mind that this means not just state licenses, but potentially also city licenses.

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Working with the IRS

Visit the Internal Revenue Service website and obtain an EIN for the company. They’re totally free. Choose a business entity such as corporation, LLC, etc. A business can get started as a sole proprietor but will more than likely wish to switch to a type of corporation or partnership to decrease risk and optimize tax benefits.

A business entity will matter when it concerns tax obligations and liability in the event of litigation. A sole proprietorship means the entrepreneur is it when it comes to liability and taxes. No one else is responsible.

If you are a sole proprietor at the very least be sure to file for a DBA. If you do not, then your personal name is the same as the corporate name. Therefore, you can end up being directly accountable for all business financial obligations.

Plus, according to the Internal Revenue Service, using this structure there is a 1 in 7 chance of an IRS audit. There is a 1 in 50 chance for corporations! Avoid confusion and significantly reduce the odds of an IRS audit simultaneously.

But you should see any DBA filing as a steppingstone to incorporating, which is best for business credit building.

Starting the Business Credit Reporting Process

Start at the D&B website and obtain a cost-free DUNS number. A DUNS number is how D&B gets a small business into their system, to generate a PAYDEX score. If there is no DUNS number, then there is no record and no PAYDEX score.

Once in D&B’s system, search Equifax and Experian’s websites for the business. You can do this at https://www.creditsuite.com/reports/. If there is a record with them, check it for correctness and completeness. If there are no records with them, go to the next step in the process. This way, Experian and Equifax will have activity to report on.

Trade Lines

First you ought to establish trade lines that report. This is also referred to as vendor accounts. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can start obtaining revolving store and cash credit.

These sorts of accounts often tend to be for the things bought all the time, like shipping boxes, outdoor work wear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But to start with, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you initial credit when you have none now. Terms are normally Net 30, versus revolving.

Hence if you get an approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you will need to pay that money back in a set term, such as within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Details

Net 30 accounts have to be paid in full within 30 days. 60 accounts must be paid fully within 60 days. Unlike with revolving accounts, you have a set time when you have to pay back what you borrowed or the credit you made use of.

To launch your business credit profile the proper way, you ought to get approval for vendor accounts that report to the business credit reporting bureaus. As soon as that’s done, you can then use the credit.

Then repay what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Not every vendor can help like true starter credit can. These are vendors that will grant an approval with hardly any effort. You also want them to be reporting to one or more of the big three CRAs: Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, and Experian.

Revolving Store Credit

Once there are 3 or more vendor trade accounts reporting to at least one of the CRAs, progress to revolving store credit. These are companies such as Office Depot and Staples. These companies are likelier to have products you need.

Use the business’s EIN on these credit applications.

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Fleet Credit

Are there more accounts reporting? Then progress to fleet credit. These are businesses like BP and Conoco. Use this credit to buy fuel, and to repair and maintain vehicles. Make certain to apply using the corporation’s EIN.

Cash Credit

Have you been responsibly managing the credit you’ve gotten up to this point? Then move onto more universal cash credit. These are service providers such as Visa and MasterCard. Keep your SSN off these applications; use your EIN instead.

These are usually MasterCard credit cards. If you have more trade accounts reporting, then these are attainable.

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Monitor Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make sure it is being reported and fix any mistakes ASAP. Get in the practice of checking credit reports. Dig into the specifics, not just the scores.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for 90% less. Update the details if there are mistakes or the info is incomplete.

Disputing Inaccuracies

So, what’s all this monitoring for? It’s to dispute any mistakes in your records. Mistakes in your credit report(s) can be taken care of. But the CRAs often want you to dispute in a particular way.

Disputing credit report inaccuracies typically means you send a paper letter with copies of any proof of payment with it. These are documents like receipts and cancelled checks. Never send the originals. Always mail copies and retain the originals.

Disputing credit report errors also means you specifically itemize any charges you dispute. Make your dispute letter as crystal clear as possible. Be specific about the problems with your report. Use certified mail so that you will have proof that you mailed in your dispute.

A Word about Business Credit Building

Always use credit sensibly! Don’t borrow beyond what you can pay off. Keep an eye on balances and deadlines for repayments. Paying in a timely manner and fully will do more to raise business credit scores than pretty much anything else.

Establishing company credit pays. Good business credit scores help a small business get loans. Your credit issuer knows the small business can pay its debts. They understand the small business is authentic. The small business’s EIN links to high scores, and lenders won’t feel the need to demand a personal guarantee.

Rapid Finance Review: Takeaways

The companies which will do the best with Rapid Finance will tend to have entrepreneurs with decent personal credit scores and a considerable time in business. These companies will also have fairly high annual revenues.

The businesses which might not do so well will have been in business for too short an amount of time, or not have sufficient annual revenues. Companies not needing a lot in funding would probably do better going elsewhere.

And finally, as with every other lending program, whether online or offline, remember to read the fine print and do the math.

Go over the details carefully. And decide whether Rapid Finance will be good for you and your company. In addition, consider alternative financing options that go beyond lending, including building business credit, in order to best decide how to get the money you need to help your business grow.

The post Rapid Finance Review appeared first on Credit Suite.

The post Rapid Finance Review appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.

Rapid Finance Review

Are you looking for funding from Rapid Advance? They’ve changed their name – so welcome to our Rapid Finance review.

Rapid Advance is one of several lending companies online. They offer short term loans (MCA, also known as merchant cash advances) and more. We look at the specifics and drill down into the details.

Note: due to the COVID-19 health crisis, Rapid Finance is not offering loans at this time. But this lender does not appear to be going out of business.

Rapid Finance Review: Background

Rapid Finance is located online here: https://www.rapidfinance.com/. Their physical address is:

4500 East West Highway
6th Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814.

You can call them at: (800) 664-0173. Their contact page is here: https://www.rapidfinance.com/contact-us/. They have been in business since 2005.

Small Business Term Loans

$5,000 – $1 million is available in funding. The terms are 3 to 60 months. Your business needs to be generating revenue.

You will need to supply a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license), a void check from your business banking account, and the last three statements from your business bank account.

Merchant Cash Advances

A range of $5,000 – $500,000 is available in funding.

Bad credit is no problem.

SBA Loans

$30,000 – $250,000 is available in funding. The terms are 1 to 10 years.

Rapid Finance also offers bridge loans, lines of credit, asset-based financing, and invoice factoring.

Rapid Finance Review: Advantages

Advantages are a few choices for loan types. The maximum amounts available are high. Rapid Finance has also been in the online lending space for longer than most of the players in this industry.

Rapid Finance Review: Disadvantages

Disadvantages are that the documentation requirements can be a bit extensive.

An Alternative to Rapid Finance

Why, it’s business credit, of course! Business credit is an asset which can help your small business for years to come.

The Process

Company Credibility

Also the company phone number should be toll-free (800 exchange or the equivalent).

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Working with the IRS

But you should see any DBA filing as a steppingstone to incorporating, which is best for business credit building.

Starting the Business Credit Reporting Process

Trade Lines

First you ought to establish trade lines that report. This is also referred to as vendor accounts. Then you’ll have an established credit profile, and you’ll get a business credit score.

And with an established business credit profile and score you can start obtaining revolving store and cash credit.

These sorts of accounts often tend to be for the things bought all the time, like shipping boxes, outdoor work wear, ink and toner, and office furniture.

But to start with, what is trade credit? These trade lines are credit issuers who will give you initial credit when you have none now. Terms are normally Net 30, versus revolving.

Hence if you get an approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use all of it, you will need to pay that money back in a set term, such as within 30 days on a Net 30 account.

Details

Then repay what you used, and the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.

Revolving Store Credit

Use the business’s EIN on these credit applications.

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Fleet Credit

Cash Credit

These are usually MasterCard credit cards. If you have more trade accounts reporting, then these are attainable.

Find out why so many companies use our proven methods to get business loans.

Monitor Your Business Credit

Know what is happening with your credit. Make sure it is being reported and fix any mistakes ASAP. Get in the practice of checking credit reports. Dig into the specifics, not just the scores.

We can help you monitor business credit at Experian and D&B for 90% less. Update the details if there are mistakes or the info is incomplete.

Disputing Inaccuracies

A Word about Business Credit Building

Rapid Finance Review: Takeaways

And finally, as with every other lending program, whether online or offline, remember to read the fine print and do the math.

The post Rapid Finance Review appeared first on Credit Suite.