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
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...
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...
How To Dropship on Shopify: The Beginner’s Guide [2024]
Whether you’re looking at breaking into e-commerce or building a profitable side hustle, there’s a good chance you’ve considered dropshipping. Thanks to the lower cost of entry and the reduced risk you face if your store doesn’t work out, it’s a great alternative to “traditional” e-commerce for beginner entrepreneurs. But as with any entrepreneurial venture, you need a...
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...
How Much Does Square Charge Per Transaction? [2024 Update]
With a simple flat fee structure, no contracts, and completely optional monthly subscriptions, Square is a popular payment processing option for small businesses. When you’re starting out and taking in a low volume of payments, it makes sense to use a straightforward payment processor. Overall, I don’t think Square is a bad choice for brand-new businesses. Sure, there are...
7 Best Email Marketing Services for B2B & Our Top Tips [2024]
The biggest thing B2B businesses get wrong in their marketing is relying too heavily on emotion-driven sales tactics. And that’s a major problem when it comes to choosing an email marketing service (EMS). B2B sales should be built on logic and reason. Sure, emotion can hook in a potential customer, but you’ll still need to show the people holding the purse-strings that your...
Wrike vs monday.com: Different Teams, Different Uses [2024]
The project management software you should use depends on how big your team is. While some software platforms are better suited for smaller teams, there are very few that can work for both. Having spent a week thoroughly testing both platforms, I found this to be the biggest difference between Wrike and monday.com. While Wrike focuses on larger teams and projects,...
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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,...
eBay vs Shopify: Are Marketplaces or Platforms Better in 2024?
Ask any brick-and-mortar business whether it’s best to open their own location or sell their product in a major supermarket, and you’ll get very different answers. The e-commerce sphere isn’t all that different. As with supermarkets, online marketplaces offer a convenient solution for reaching customers ready to shop. And, like opening your own location, setting up an...
Stax vs Square: Which Is Better for YOUR Business in 2024?
While you should always consider a credit card processor’s fees and pricing structure, securing the lowest rate possible isn’t the only factor to consider when you’re looking for value from your merchant services provider. Take Stax and Square, for example. Both payment processors have different pricing models that make them best suited for certain types of businesses, so...