Reviews
Wix
With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and many features to support all kinds of businesses, Wix offers something for everyone. There’s even a super generous free plan you can use to build a fully functional site. It’s one of the few website builders I’ve tested that lives up to its reputation.
Jira
Jira Software already offers a great set of core features, but when seamlessly combined with Atlassian’s other products, it provides an ideal project management solution for larger teams. While this project management tool focuses on software developers and IT professionals, it still offers decent functionality for other Agile, Scrum, or Kanban teams.
Stax
Stax is a fantastic subscription-based credit card processing service that offers affordable transaction fees, intuitive payment software, and e-commerce functionality to cover all aspects of your business. While it has its flaws, high-volume businesses can save money with Stax over a processor with a traditional fee-only payment model.
Chase Payment Solutions
Chase Payment Solutions℠ offers same-day funding that sets it apart from the competition. But depending on your business needs, this might not be enough to make it worth your money. Its e-commerce features and flat rate pricing make it an ideal choice for small- to mid-sized businesses, but it could prove expensive as you grow.
Helcim
Helcim isn’t perfect – it doesn’t offer accounts for “high-risk” industries and you can’t use third-party card readers. However, it’s not a bad place to start if you have a new, low-volume business and you need support as you grow. With cheap hardware, fantastic e-commerce software, and discounted rates, Helcim’s a good choice for your first card processor.
Bonsai
Although Bonsai’s project management capabilities are very basic, it makes up for this with its fantastic contract builder, automated invoicing, and CRM capabilities. If you’re happy to pay slightly more per seat, Bonsai is an excellent choice for freelancers and small agencies looking for an all-in-one workflow management solution.
ProMerchant
ProMerchant has a lot to offer small businesses. With quick approvals, next-day payouts, high-risk merchant accounts, and a choice of two payment models including a zero-cost processing plan, ProMerchant makes getting paid quick and easy for any business.
Merchant One
With a 98% approval rate and an advertised 24-hour setup time, Merchant One is a good choice for new businesses. You’ll get great modern hardware, secure e-commerce software, and highly competitive interchange-plus pricing. However, Merchant One’s lack of transparency and lack of unique features doesn’t exactly help it to stand out from the competition.
Pay.com
Pay.com has a lot to offer new or small e-commerce-only businesses thanks to its flat rate pricing, user-friendly software, and a (promised) long list of payment methods. However, mid- to high-volume businesses, as well as anyone needing to take more than the occasional in-person payment, will likely feel held back with this processor.
UENI
UENI’s done-for-you website building and editing service is a good choice if you don’t have time to manage your website. On top of that, the Lifetime Deal is an affordable option if you don’t need any ongoing support. However, you’ll be locked into a basic (yet easy-to-use) website editor with limited customization options.
Authorize.net
Authorize.net’s payment gateway is one of the best. With fantastic security features and plenty of integrations, you’ll get everything you need to power your e-commerce business. That said, there’s very little support for in-person payments. If you want to use Authorize.net, I recommend using a certified reseller like Leaders Merchant Services to get a complete payment...
Blog Posts
7 Best Nonprofit Website Designers: Great Value Options in 2024
The tough thing about hiring a web designer as a non-profit is that the vast majority of professionals seem to be solely focused on business audiences. So, you’re left with three main options. You can do it yourself – but you might not have the time or knowledge available to get it right. You can hire a web design agency for nonprofits – but you’ll have to navigate...
ConvertKit vs Drip: Read My Advice Before You Sign Up [2024]
Are “specialized” email marketing services (EMS) anything more than just a marketing gimmick? The answer is a lot more nuanced than a simple yes or no. In the case of Drip, it’s clear that its e-commerce focus has driven a lot of its best features, like the automation builder and signup form builder. But there’s a ton of other stuff missing or only just...
How to Create & Sell NFT Art (If You’re Not an Artist) in 2024
So you read on Twitter that someone sold an NFT for twice their yearly salary, and now you want in. There’s just one problem – the best art you’ve ever produced was a barely passable stick figure. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an artist to create and sell NFTs. While NFTs were designed to help artists monetize their talents, the market has expanded into an ecosystem...
Wix Accessibility: Make Your Wix Site ADA-Compliant [2024]
Many businesses still assume that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) only covers physical premises. However, in recent years the Department of Justice has confirmed that websites also need to be considered a place of public accommodation. And, while website builders are fantastic time-saving tools, many don’t make it clear enough that accessibility is a legal and...
How To Cancel Your Zenfolio Account In 2024
Zenfolio is a solid website builder for photographers, but it’s not perfect for everyone. Luckily, it's super easy to cancel your account, even if you sign up for the cheapest plan. My own experience was straightforward and hassle-free. Zenfolio is a pretty great website builder for photographers, with a ton of features that have clearly been designed by professional...
Constant Contact vs. Mailchimp: Is Either Worth It In 2024?
Ask anyone to name an email marketing service (EMS), and there’s a good chance they’ll mention Mailchimp. Unfortunately, when I tested Mailchimp, I quickly learned that this EMS offers more style than substance. Mailchimp isn’t a terrible service. It’s decent enough if you’re new to email marketing and don’t want to spend a fortune learning how to create email campaigns...
9 Best Online Legal Services to Hire – Get Expert Advice [2024]
You can do just about anything online these days – including hiring lawyers. Instead of trawling through local newspapers and spending hours driving to and from legal offices, you can easily hire trustworthy, affordable lawyers without even having to leave your home. You don’t have to spend a fortune to hire lawyers from an online legal service, either. Freelance legal...
Stax vs Stripe: Which Gives You More for Your Money in 2024?
With so many payment processors in today’s market, it can be hard to decipher which one offers the best deal for your business – particularly if you sell both online and in-person. Many processors claim to support both, but the truth is that very few do this well. All too often, you’ll find that one side of your business is covered, but the other is left with sub-par payment...
7 Best Email Marketing Services for Restaurants in 2024
Email marketing for restaurants might seem complicated at first. Beyond just figuring out how to send newsletters to your customers, you also want to be able to send coupons, advertise events, or even follow up with customers who’ve placed online orders. Luckily, using the right email marketing service, or EMS, will make email marketing a breeze. Not just any EMS will...
ConvertKit vs AWeber: This Is My Expert Opinion [2024]
As a creative selling online, you have to be careful about which services you invest your money in. Plenty of services promise a tailor-made experience for creative entrepreneurs, but the vast majority never deliver on that promise. Unfortunately, the truth is that ConvertKit is one of the services that just doesn’t deliver. It doesn’t offer anything unique to creators. And...
MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Don’t Make This Mistake [2024]
MailerLite and Mailchimp both offer a range of features that many small and medium-sized businesses will find quite appealing, but they’re not suited to everyone. I spent the past few weeks testing MailerLite and Mailchimp on their features, ease of use, deliverability, pricing, and support. I’m a big fan of Mailchimp’s intuitive interface, advanced automation, and...
How to Cancel Constant Contact + Get a Refund in 2024
Constant Contact may not be perfect, but it was true to its word and gave me a full refund when I canceled my account, even though I had signed up for the cheapest plan. Unfortunately, the cancellation process was frustrating, and it took me multiple calls with the billing department to close my account. Constant Contact is a brilliant email marketing service (EMS),...
How to Cancel Your Shopify Account + Get a Refund in 2024
Shopify doesn’t offer refunds according to its terms of service, but canceling my account was quick and hassle-free. If you want to avoid charges altogether, you can take advantage of Shopify’s 14-day free trial to see whether it works for you before committing. While it might feel like everyone and their moms are using Shopify to power their e-commerce websites, it might not...
How To Delete Your Square Account in 2024
Square may not be perfect, but it’s true to its word – you can delete your account easily. The process was completely hassle-free, even though I had signed up for the base plan. Square is a good payment processor to try out, particularly if you’re a new or small business with a low budget and can’t afford monthly fees. Not only is it easy to sign up for, but you’ll get plenty...
9 Best NFT Artists for Hire in 2024 [Affordable & Reliable]
You don’t have to be an artist to sell NFTs. Even though the concept of an NFT was originally developed to help artists make money, you don’t need to be a Photoshop pro – or even be able to draw a straight line – to hop on the trend. Hiring an NFT artist to create your artwork for you has never been easier. You just need to know where to look. I'm here to help you find...