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.
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, ProMerchant makes getting paid quick and easy for any business. Still, if you want a processor with more features, you'll find some great alternatives on our list of the top 10 credit card processors in .
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.
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.
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.
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
Stripe Fees: Affordable at First, but the Cost Adds Up [2023]
Thanks to its advertised simple flat-rate pricing structure, Stripe is regularly recommended for small businesses. But although transparent, calculating costs with Stripe isn’t that straightforward for most businesses. And that’s because payments outside of debit/credit cards and digital wallets incur extra fees. On top of that, you’ll have to deal with even more fees for...
6 Best Merchant Services: Recommended by Experts [2023]
One of the first things you learn as an adult is that to get the best deal, you need to shop around. This advice is just as applicable to merchant services. After all, they’re vital to your business’s success, no matter what kind of organization you run. The truth is that as good as a merchant services provider can seem on the surface, it can often be a different story when...
How To Delete Your Square Account in 2023
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...
7 Best Freelance Websites to Hire Freelancers in the UK [2023 Update]
Finding UK freelancers isn’t difficult. But there’s a big difference between hiring just any freelancer in the UK and hiring a top-quality freelance professional who delivers your project on time without any hassle. The truth is, while most freelance websites promise to have talent pools of the best UK freelancers, very few deliver on this promise. Many freelance websites...
6 BEST Healthcare Credit Card Processing Companies in 2023
Finding the right credit card processor is challenging for any business, but if you're in the healthcare sector, there's even more to consider. That’s because not every processor offers HIPAA-compliant software or can integrate with software medical offices commonly use. And even those that do may not offer pricing models well-suited to your business. Just because one type...
The 5 Best Membership Website Builders (2 Are FREE) in 2023
Not every website builder allows you to create a members-only area – and even if you find one that does, it may not offer everything you need to host a successful membership website. Membership websites come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the website builders that make them. For example, not all builders enable recurring subscription payments. And while some let you...
6 Best Creative Project Management Software Tools in 2023
I started my writing career working in a creative design team, and let me tell you – there’s nothing better than seeing your creative vision come alive during a project. However, I also know that it’s not all smooth sailing. Between managing your team’s time and handling creative differences, there’s always the risk of missing your deadline. Fortunately, those sticky...
6 Best Credit Card Processing for Small Businesses in 2023
It’s not easy finding the right credit card processing company for your small business. With multiple types of payment models on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is best for you. Plus, very few small business merchant services publicly advertise their rates, making it even harder to draw an accurate comparison. Not every small business is the same, either...
6 BEST Credit Card Processing for QuickBooks in 2023
The value a credit card processor brings to your business isn’t just based on affordable rates and a suitable pricing model. A good payment processor will also save you time on administrative tasks like accounting and invoicing, and a QuickBooks integration is an ideal way to do this. Still, not every payment processor that offers this feature is a good choice. Some...
5 Best Social Media Ad Creators for Small Businesses in 2023
Social media ads are fantastic for helping your small business to grow, but it can be hard to find the time to make a great ad when you’re spinning so many other plates. Hiring an online social media ad creator can take some of the pressure off. Plus, hiring an expert doesn’t have to break the bank. With some creators offering their services for as little as $5, you can...
6 Best Free and Cheap Wix Alternatives [TESTED in 2023]
You can build a pretty nice website on Wix’s free plan, but it isn’t the right choice for everyone. What if you need more than 500MB of storage? Or you want to sell products on your site? Maybe you’re looking for something even easier to use than Wix. Yes, such a builder does exist! Not all free Wix alternatives are worth your time, but you do have a few excellent options...
6 Best Credit Card Readers for Android: Go Mobile in 2023
While payment processing apps have much to offer on their own, a mobile credit card reader can offer the full checkout experience from anywhere, whether it’s at your customer’s home or at an external event. Instead of relying on keyed-in payments, you’ll be able to accept EMV, swiped, and contactless payments just as you would in any brick-and-mortar store. With so many...
5 Best (Affordable) Website Builders for Webcomics in 2023
As good as website builders are, it can be tricky to find one that can give your webcomic the platform it deserves. After all, you’ll need a builder that provides good blogging tools and enough storage space to upload and display all your images without compromising on quality. You’ll likely want the ability to set up an online store so you can get paid for your hard...
Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Are the Extra Features Worth It? [2023]
Shopify is one of the best e-commerce platforms, so more Shopify is good…right? After all, if someone in your office brings homemade cakes, you wouldn’t say no to someone else bringing donuts. Unfortunately, e-commerce platforms aren’t impromptu dessert tables, and with Shopify, more isn’t necessarily better for your business. The truth is that as good as Shopify Plus...
6 Best Credit Card Readers for iPhone: Small but Mighty [2023]
It can be frustrating to find the right iPhone card reader for your business. Many mobile card readers use a physical headphone jack connector, so they won’t work for modern iPhones. Others are offered only by processors that charge expensive fees for mobile transactions. Even if you do find an affordable card reader, many run on outdated iOS apps, leaving you with a buggy and...