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.
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.
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.
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
6 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Dropshipping in 2024
Dropshipping isn’t the golden ticket to e-commerce success many financial influencers will have you believe. Don’t get me wrong, it can be extremely lucrative, but without a great e-commerce platform to power your dropshipping website, you’re not likely to see much success. That’s because not every e-commerce platform that claims to support dropshipping businesses has the...
5 Best (Affordable) Website Builders for Webcomics in 2024
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...
7 Best Freelance Websites to Hire Freelancers in the UK [2024 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...
Stripe Fees: Affordable at First, but the Costs Add Up [2024]
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...
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...
Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Are the Extra Features Worth It? [2024]
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...
How To Accept Credit Card Payments: Our Expert Guide [2024]
According to the 2016 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice study, customers who pay in cash spend an average of $22 per transaction, while card users spend $122. As we move toward an increasingly digital economy, it’s not surprising that consumers are choosing quick, easy, and convenient purchasing methods to keep up. To accept credit cards, your business will need to set up a...
Smartsheet vs. Asana: Which Suits Your Project Best in 2024?
There’s no one right way to manage your project. Sure, different approaches work better for certain types of projects, but the way you organize your tasks and keep your team on track will always come down to your own preferences. This is perhaps the most significant difference between Smartsheet and Asana. Smartsheet is fantastic if you like grid-based project management,...
6 Best Creative Project Management Software Tools in 2024
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...
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...
Shopify vs Teespring: There’s One Clear Winner in 2024
Building a profitable print-on-demand (POD) business isn’t just about offering products that your customers want. You need to have a strong set of business tools that help you to evaluate your financial health, see what’s selling well, and determine where your customers are coming from. Both Shopify and Teespring offer these tools, but that’s where the similarities end...
Asana vs monday.com: Close Call, But I Chose a Winner [2024]
There’s no such thing as the perfect project management software (PMS). Software solutions can’t be everything to everyone, no matter how hard they try – and no matter how much they sell themselves as such. And yet, Asana and monday.com both market themselves as super flexible PMS solutions. I’ve spent a lot of time using both of these platforms and, while both are good,...
6 Best Content Management Systems (3 ARE FREE) in 2024
In the story of your brand, content is king – and content management systems (CMS), as the name suggests, are the best way to get your content seen by the world. However, that’s not to say that every CMS is going to be the best fit for you. Choosing the wrong CMS for your website isn’t the end of the world – after all, most make it easy to export your website – but...
Shopify vs Amazon: Which Is Best for E-Commerce in 2024?
Choosing between Shopify and Amazon for your e-commerce platform is like comparing a stall at a farmer’s market and half a shelf in a major supermarket. That’s because Shopify is an e-commerce platform and website builder, while Amazon is an online marketplace. There are pros and cons to using either (or both!) platforms. You have complete control over your Shopify store,...
Wrike vs Asana: Which Platform Offers the Best Value in 2024?
With Wrike and Asana charging a similar price for their software, it’s easy to assume that you’d get a similar level of service with whichever one you choose. However, that’s not the case. The truth is that Asana offers far more for your money than Wrike. As an example, Asana offers unlimited storage and hundreds of integrations on its Premium plan. Wrike’s equivalent plan...