Ivana Shteriova

Wix

With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and many features (including AI) to support all kinds of business and personal websites, Wix offers something for everyone. The generous free plan lets you build a fully functional website, making it one of the most accessible site builders available. It’s one of the few website builders I’ve tested that lives up to its reputation.

Shopify POS

Shopify POS is best suited for omnichannel businesses that sell online and in person. Its solutions allow you to unify sales across all your channels with automatic inventory updates and lets you manage your stock, staff, products, and marketing from one place. However, entirely brick-and-mortar businesses and those in industries other than retail might be better off with an...

Toast

Toast stands out as an all-in-one, customizable, and scalable restaurant POS solution. It integrates multiple ordering options with robust inventory and supply chain management. With plans starting at /month, Toast caters to all types of restaurants and budgets, including multi-location businesses. Discover how Toast can streamline your operations and revolutionize your...

Worldpay

Worldpay is a versatile payment processor that caters to businesses of all sizes – from small startups to large enterprises, including high-risk sectors such as iGaming and travel. It offers 60+ payment methods, international and multicurrency processing, and industry-specific tools. Like most processors, it lacks transparency in pricing. However, if you carefully review your...

Square POS

Catering to restaurants, retail stores, and appointment-based businesses, Square POS is one of the most popular systems on the market – no doubt in part because of its generous free plan, packed with features that are normally found behind paywalls. While Square POS works for most businesses, online-first and omnichannel businesses might find more robust support elsewhere.

Lightspeed POS

Lightspeed serves restaurant, retail, and golf businesses, standing out as a feature-rich POS solution with advanced inventory, multi-location, and omnichannel capabilities. It provides e-commerce functionality exclusively for higher-tier plans. This means brick-and-mortar businesses only pay for necessary features. Lightspeed is ideal for established businesses and those...

Sekure Payment Experts

Despite past hiccups, Sekure Payment Experts has refined its approach and now provides good support and customer service. Businesses on a budget can save with Sekure's zero-cost processing Edge program, plus it offers free equipment and same or next-day deposits at no charge. It’s worth considering, but make sure you carefully review your contract terms before signing.

Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings promises to handle the paperwork for the formation of your LLC, and that’s exactly what it does. Good customer support and an excellent set of features makes Swyft Filings ideal for small business owners. Though there are some extra fees to be aware of, it offers good value for money overall.

SpotOn

SpotOn POS stands out with a POS platform highly customized for retail, restaurants, professional services, salons, and other small to medium-sized businesses. You can easily migrate from another system due to its personalized approach. Its free restaurant and affordable entry-level retail plan make it a good deal, provided you don’t need many add-ons. As for whether it beats...

Epos Now

Epos Now is one of the few POS solutions that provides flexible software compatible with many third-party hardware brands. You can also integrate any payment processor, but long-term contracts may be a drawback. While suitable for small to mid-sized retail and hospitality businesses, large or more complex organizations might find its features limiting.

Harbor Compliance

Though not as popular as some alternatives, Harbor Compliance is a legitimate company handling LLC formation and compliance services. It specializes in industry-specific licensing and offers comprehensive support for nonprofit formation. Combined with its compliance software, Harbor Compliance can save you a significant amount of time. However, it provides less value than our...

How To Build a Website in 2025: Beginner Step-By-Step Guide

With the right tools, anyone can build a professional site – no coding or big budget required. I have extensive experience testing and reviewing website builders, as well as a bit of web design experience, and I can tell you that you don’t need to be an expert to build a good-looking, functional website. There are two main ways to build a site. The first (and easiest) is to...

10 Best Payment Gateways: Easy Setup & Low Fees in 2025

If you need to start accepting payments online without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place. I’ve researched the 10 best payment gateways of that combine easy setup with ultra-low fees – perfect for small businesses and e-commerce sites in the US. Unlike basic gateways (like PayPal or Authorize.Net), my recommended solutions are full-service payment processors that...

Study Reveals What Drives Top-Performing Teams and It’s Not AI

Freelance platform Upwork’s research suggests blended teams – those that combine the institutional knowledge of full-time employees with the specialized skills of independent experts – report better performance and results. The workforce is undergoing a massive disruption driven by AI. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030, 59% of employees will need training – 29%...

Paysafe Announces New Partnership With CMC Markets

Payments platform Paysafe announced a partnership with CMC Markets, a global provider of online trading and investment services. The partnership will enable CMC Markets to expand its range of payment options for traders globally. Currently, the partnership covers the European Economic Area (EEA), Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other global markets (excluding the UK...

11 Best Credit Card Processing for Travel Agencies in 2025

Accepting payments for your travel business is risky. Trips that require a lot of planning ahead come with higher-than-usual chargebacks. If you process high-ticket transactions, like airline tickets, hotel stays, cruises, and tours, you’re also at a greater risk of falling victim to cybercriminals. This means you also need advanced fraud detection and protection tools. I...

Squarespace Introduces Squarespace for Pros

Website building platform Squarespace introduced Squarespace for Pros. The new platform, unveiled during Squarespace’s annual Circle Day event, is designed for professionals and agencies that build websites for clients. “We are excited to announce a new professional-grade experience that brings together advanced design capabilities, productivity features, and business...

MH Markets Partners With Paysafe

Global multi-asset broker MH Markets has signed a merchant service agreement with global payments platform Paysafe. MH Markets will leverage Paysafe’s e-wallet infrastructure to provide secure, compliant, and efficient deposits and withdrawals to its clients worldwide. The agreement positions MH Markets as a trusted merchant partner for Paysafe, underscoring its commitment...

10 Best Credit Card Processing for Therapists in 2025

Many credit card processors will struggle to keep up with the unique rhythm of therapy work. You may need to handle both in-person swipes and remote invoices, deal with inconsistent client payment habits, or ensure your system is HIPAA-compliant when sending receipts and storing payment details. And if you run a group practice, these needs get even more complex. To make...

Top Apple AI Executive Reportedly Leaving the Company

Apple’s senior director of the Answers, Information, and Knowledge teams, Robby Walker, is reportedly leaving the company next month, Bloomberg reports. The reason for his departure is unknown. Walker is one of Apple’s top AI experts and among several who have recently chosen to leave the company. In July, Apple lost a few high-level AI employees to Meta, according to...

Wix Teams up With Pinterest To Expand Social Commerce

Wix introduced a direct Pinterest integration, which enables merchants to promote and sell their products on the popular image-sharing platform. The integration is available through the Wix Dashboard, in various languages. “This integration with Pinterest is fulfilling a much-demanded user need, and we’re bringing our merchants greater ability to generate revenue and...

Judge Rules Google Can Keep Chrome

Google won’t be forced to sell its Chrome browser, federal judge Amit Mehta ruled in the search antitrust case, which first went on trial in 2023. Last fall, Judge Mehta declared Google’s search business an illegal monopoly, due to using tactics that block rivals from competing on equal ground. One such practice was Google paying companies like Samsung and Apple billions of...

OpenAI Introduces AI Jobs and Certification Platforms

OpenAI announced two new initiatives: the OpenAI Jobs Platform and OpenAI Certifications. The initiatives focus on connecting employers with AI-skilled talent and helping candidates get fluent in AI. With these programs, the ChatGPT maker aims to address the ongoing workforce disruption as AI gets adopted across industries. “At OpenAI, we can’t eliminate that disruption...

ActiveCampaign Adds Square Loyalty for Multi-Location Brands

ActiveCampaign launched a new integration that syncs Square Loyalty data into ActiveCampaign HQ, its marketing automation platform for franchises and multi-location brands. The integration is designed to help retail, food and beverage, salon, and service-based businesses across the US, Canada, and Australia streamline marketing automation across locations, personalize...

Alibaba To Develop AI Chip Amid Limited Nvidia Supply for China

According to the Wall Street Journal, Alibaba is developing a new cloud-computing chip. The move comes in response to US restrictions limiting China’s access to Nvidia’s chips, and Beijing’s efforts to build a self-sufficient AI supply chain. Unlike its earlier, more specialized processors focused on training AI models, the new chip is designed to handle a wider range of AI...

Squarespace Launches Squarespace Capital

Website-building platform Squarespace has launched Squarespace Capital, a flexible funding service for growing businesses. Squarespace Capital is currently available to eligible customers in the US and the UK, with international expansion planned for 2025. Squarespace Capital aims to make funding more accessible than traditional lenders. While banks often require a lengthy...

Squarespace Module 1 | Quick Prep

Define your website’s structure and purpose. Collect essential brand assets like a logo, images, and copy.

The Website Planet Squarespace Starter Guide

The most comprehensive, step-by-step guide for small business owners and freelancers who want to build a branded website with Squarespace and avoid the cookie-cutter template look. Every module is free, supported with illustrations, and developed in collaboration with a certified Squarespace website designer.

Module 5: Combined Homepage and Portfolio (Part 2/2)

Complete your Portfolio page with a CTA and About section, then set it as your homepage to invite exploration and earn trust.

Module 5: The Homepage – Salon

Design and build an eye-catching, high-impact homepage that says: “This is my brand!” rather than “This is a Squarespace template.

Module 5: The Homepage – Agency

Design and build an eye-catching, high-impact homepage that says: “This is my brand!” rather than “This is a Squarespace template.

Module 4: Combined Homepage and Portfolio (Part 1/2)

Build a compelling portfolio page to showcase your talent and impress visitors.

Module 3: The About Page – Portfolio

Develop an about page that fosters a genuine connection with potential clients by emphasizing common values and experiences.

Module 3: The About Page – Salon

Develop an about page that fosters a genuine connection with potential clients by emphasizing common values and experiences.

Module 3: The About Page – Agency

Develop an about page that fosters a genuine connection with potential clients by emphasizing common values and experiences.

Module 2: The Contact Page – Portfolio

Make it simple for visitors to get in touch. Build an intuitive contact page that includes an enticing contact form.

Module 2: The Contact Page – Salon

Make it simple for visitors to get in touch. Build an intuitive contact page that includes an enticing contact form.

Module 2: The Contact Page – Agency

Make it simple for visitors to get in touch. Build an intuitive contact page that includes an enticing contact form.