Save big (up to $1,875) on small business tools with our free membership, business.com+
Sign-Up Now
BDC Hamburger Icon

Menu

Close
BDC Logo
Search Icon
Search Icon

Buying Guides

Latest: Advice, Tips and Resources

Article
PayPal vs. Merchant Account: What’s the Difference?
By Jennifer Dublino | June 09, 2025

PayPal and merchant accounts offer different ways to accept payments. PayPal is fast and simple, while merchant accounts provide lower fees and more control.

Article
7 Things Most Small Businesses Don’t Know About Credit Card Payment Processing
By Jennifer Dublino | June 09, 2025

Small businesses need to understand how to lower credit card processing fees, secure better terms, prevent fraud and avoid hidden costs with payment processing.

Article
Digital Payment Guide: Best Payment Methods & Why to Accept Them
By Sammi Caramela | June 09, 2025

Contactless, mobile wallets, peer-to-peer payments and crypto are shaping digital payments. Businesses must adapt to appeal to consumers' preferred methods.

Article
10 Tips for Choosing a Credit Card Processor for Your Construction Company
By Lori Fairbanks | June 09, 2025

Construction firms should choose ISO/MSP processors for large, varied payments and mobile POS systems to accept credit cards in the field and online.

Article
Square vs. PayPal
By Jennifer Dublino | June 09, 2025

Square is a better value for high-volume businesses with lower online fees and robust POS tools. PayPal suits low-volume merchants needing flexible options.

Article
Choosing a GPS Fleet Management System
By Mark Fairlie | June 06, 2025

GPS fleet tracking software lets you track vehicles and monitor driving behaviors. Here's what to look for in a GPS fleet tracking system.

Best Pick
5 Best Restaurant POS Systems
By Quinn Springett | June 03, 2025

Toast, Lightspeed, and TouchBistro provide restaurant POS systems with order management, inventory tracking and customer loyalty programs.

Article
Employee Performance Goals: Goal-Setting Steps, Metrics & Examples
By Skye Schooley | June 03, 2025

Setting employee performance goals is an important job for managers. Learn how to set performance goals and why they're important, and view specific examples.

Article
What Is Employee Attrition?
By Nicole Fallon | June 03, 2025

Employee attrition occurs when someone leaves a company, for any reason and through any means, and is not replaced by another employee.

Article
Welcome to America: What Nonresidents Need to Consider When Forming a Company in the U.S.
By Danielle Fallon-O’Leary | June 03, 2025

Non-U.S. residents can form a business in the United States, but there are a few things they need to consider. Learn what with this guide.

Article
Turn Your Genealogy Hobby Into a Side Business
By Chad Brooks | June 02, 2025

Have you ever considered starting a genealogy business? This guide will walk you through the steps of starting a home-based genealogy business.

Article
Things to Consider Before Presenting Your Idea to Investors
By Jennifer Dublino | June 02, 2025

Investor presentations require careful planning and organization. Learn what to consider before presenting an idea to investors and signs you're not ready.

Article
Best Goal Setting Apps and Goal Tracking Software
By Tom Anziano | June 02, 2025

Goal setting and tracking tools enable you to project achievements, record progress, and establish key performance indicators. Here are some of the best.

happy office
Article
A Good Investment: How Keeping Employees Happy Benefits Business
By Miranda Fraraccio | June 02, 2025

Happy employees can benefit your business in many ways. Here are five strategies to keep them happy.

Article
Changing Perception: Simple Ways to Improve Your Customers’ Waiting Experience
By Jamie Johnson | June 02, 2025

Here are five tips for upgrading your reception area and making waiting a more positive experience for your customers.

businessman looking at a computer screen with data and graphs
Article
How to Utilize Big Data for Human Resources
By Skye Schooley | June 02, 2025

Big data can be an effective tool for HR professionals to hire and retain top talent. Learn some smart ways to use big data in human resources.

Article
6 Effective Strategies for Communication in a Crisis
By Julie Thompson | June 02, 2025

Crisis communication strategies include being transparent, acting quickly, training spokespeople and using social media to maintain trust and control.

Article
Do Results-Only Workplaces Really Work?
By Nicole Fallon | June 02, 2025

Here’s everything you need to know about results-only work environments, and whether it’s right for your business.

Article
Decision Support Systems Applications and Uses
By Mark Fairlie | June 02, 2025

Decision support systems use AI and data analysis to help businesses predict trends, optimize decisions and tailor strategies across key operations.

Article
The Cost of Cybersecurity and How to Budget for It
By Andrew Rinaldi | June 02, 2025

Small businesses spend 13.2% of IT budgets on cybersecurity. Experts suggest focusing on employee training, MFA,and practical defenses over costly tech.

Article
Can You Make a Profit and Be Socially Responsible?
By Jennifer Dublino | June 02, 2025

Social responsibility and profit aren't mutually exclusive—businesses that prioritize ethics, sustainability and transparency see stronger loyalty and growth.

Article
What Is the Triple Bottom Line?
By Paula Fernandes | June 02, 2025

The triple bottom line measures success by profit, people and planet, encouraging companies to balance financial goals with social and environmental impact.

Article
Leading With Transparency Promotes Customer Loyalty
By Austin Mac Nab | June 02, 2025

Transparency builds customer trust, boosts loyalty and profits, and sets brands apart by fostering honest pricing, open communication and accountability.

Article
Classical and Scientific Management Theory
By Danielle Fallon-O’Leary | June 02, 2025

Classical and scientific management theories emphasize structure, efficiency and task specialization, laying the groundwork for modern organizational practices.

business meeting around a table
Article
From Conflict to Cooperation: Building Stronger Cross Cultural Teams
By Julie Thompson | June 02, 2025

Cultural intelligence, communication training and empathy help global teams overcome conflict and foster stronger cross-cultural collaboration.

Article
Technology Should Enhance Communication
By Sean Peek | June 02, 2025

Technology improves workplace communication through speed and access but can also hinder clarity and connection if it replaces thoughtful, in-person dialogue.

Co-working space
Article
Stress and Productivity: What the Numbers Say
By Sean Peek | June 02, 2025

Forty-nine percent of North American workers report daily stress, which fuels burnout, absenteeism and turnover — hurting productivity and morale companywide.

Article
Management Theory of Frederick Herzberg
By Max Freedman | June 02, 2025

Charles Handy’s theory outlines four organizational cultures — power, role, task and person — each shaping how companies operate and employees interact.

Article
Management Theory of Edgar Schein
By Max Freedman | June 02, 2025

Edgar Schein’s theory breaks workplace culture into artifacts, values and assumptions, showing how leaders can shape behavior by understanding these layers.

Article
Southwest Airlines: A Case Study in Great Customer Service
By Sean Peek | June 02, 2025

Southwest Airlines excels at customer service by empowering employees, eliminating fees and maintaining a fun, people-first culture across all operations.