Technology in Practice

Working with a reduced or remote workforce with Sage 300 has become a common requirement for many companies dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Net at Work has pulled together a “How To” series to help businesses keep moving forward by understanding the basics and looking at best practices to work remotely. This complimentary series will consist of 11 courses hosted as live web sessions and will focus on key Sage 300 functionality you need to know to keep your business running despite the obstacles everyone is facing. Join our Sage 300 experts as we deep dive into these featured topics: How to use Sage 300 Web Screens How to Process AP Invoices & Payments Electronically in Sage 300 How to Generate Financial Statements in Sage 300 How to Complete a Bank Reconciliation using Sage 300 How to Pay Vendors and Allocate Expenses Properly using your Corporate Credit Card How to Capture Credit Card Payments in Sage 300 How to Create Ad-Hoc Reports in Sage 300 How to Integrate Sage 300 with Microsoft Office How to Create Quotes and Orders with Sage 300 versus Sage CRM How to process A/R Receipts in Sage 300 How to Create A/R and OE Invoices in Sage 300 Visit here for full course details and to register for these training sessions. Sage University Free Training Through May 31, 2020 Sage is also offering courses for Sage 300 clients through this time by providing complimentary access to select Sage 300 eLearning packages, Webinars and Certification Exams. To take advantage of complimentary Sage 300 training, you must have a Sage University account. You will need to know your Sage Account # to create your Sage University account. If you know your Sage Account number, click here to log in and register. If you do not know your Sage Account number, we will be happy to provide it to you. Please contact us. For more details and a complete list of Sage’s available free offerings, click here.

You’ve probably been to a service station and noticed that you can get gas cheaper by paying with cash versus a credit card. This type of Cash Discounting program has gained popularity over the last few years in different industries, not just convenience stores and service stations. So, what is Cash Discounting and is it right for your business? What is Cash Discounting? Simply put, Cash Discounting is a business offering a discount to a customer who is paying with cash. We see this most often with gas stations and convenience stores who advertise a lower, cash price on their signage. If you are paying with a credit card the price is higher. Cash Discounting is gaining popularity among businesses owners who want to offset the cost of accepting credit cards. Cash Discount versus Surcharge Cash Discount and Surcharge are terms often used synonymously; however, they are different. While Cash Discounting is offering a discount to a customer paying with cash, a Surcharge is charging more to a customer for paying with a credit card. Wait, isn’t that basically the same thing? You are not wrong in thinking both sound very familiar. The difference is how each is presented to the customer. Cash Discounting: requires that the cash price be advertised clearly in your store or for non-face-to-face businesses, clearly listed on the invoice or checkout. The most compliant way to do this is to include both prices, cash and credit card, next to each product. Think of the gas station sign. Changing all the prices on each product in your store may not be tops on your priority list. Many business owners choose to post signage on their door and around the store that says something like this: “All posted prices represent the cash price.  There is an additional cost for purchases using a credit card.” Surcharging: Adding an additional fee to a credit card transaction is called Surcharging. Merchants are required to notify the customer before the transaction takes place, usually with signage at the point-of-sale, and the amount of the surcharge must be listed on the receipt and charged with the original transaction. In both scenarios, when a customer grabs a product and brings it to the cashier to pay, the point-of-sale automatically adds a pre-defined amount or percentage to the transaction. If they pay with cash, the amount doesn’t change. For businesses that are invoicing their customers, an additional line item needs to be created for the amount of the surcharge. How Does Cash Discounting Eliminate My Credit Card Fees? With most Cash Discounting programs, the credit card processor will charge you a flat percentage on your total sales and that percentage is passed on to your customers when they pay with a credit card. For example, if your rate is 3.90%, your terminal is programmed to automatically add that equivalent amount to the transaction. On a $100 sale, you are collecting $103.90 from the customer. Your processor deposits $100 to your bank account and you have no other fees. Is Cash Discounting or Surcharging Right for My Business? The ability to pass the credit card fees to the customer is gaining popularity. Whether or not to implement this in your business should be a decision carefully reviewed. We’ve compiled some information for you to consider: Will I lose customers because of the fee? If your average sale amount is low ($20 or less,) customers generally do not contest the additional cost. Higher sales amounts make it more difficult to pass on the fees to the customer. Know your competition. Do my direct competitors have a similar program? If your customer can easily purchase the same product from a competitor at a potentially lower cost, cash discounting may not be right for your business. Know your customers. The customers of today are very different from yesterday. Many people today do not carry cash and therefore do not have the option to simply paying with cash or check, if that is a payment option. Review your customer demographic and take them into consideration when thinking of a Cash Discount program. Does a Cash Discount Program eliminate all my fees? Essentially, yes. You are passing the cost of the processing fees to your customer. There may be some ancillary fees that could be charged to you, such as chargeback or PCI fees. Eliminating your credit card processing fees is very appealing, but it may not be right for you. Does your business have higher transaction amounts, even large ticket items over $10k? Are you primarily a Business-to-Business seller? Maybe just having an expert review your current processing for reduced processing rates for commercial cards is the best option. Contact us to speak with a payments expert. The team at our siste company Swype at Work can review all the different options and what is best for your business.

We are all being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and having to learn new ways of managing our businesses. The Net at Work team is continuing to help X3 users through this time by providing access to complementary live training courses on selected topics. Our training courses will be hosted as live web-sessions and will highlight key Sage X3 functionality and tips & tricks that you need to know to keeping your business running despite the obstacles everyone is facing. Join our Sage X3 experts as we deep dive into these featured topics: Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI) for Sage X3 – For End-Users Manufacturing Cost Management in Sage X3 Cash Management with Sage X3 (Includes Some Add-ons) Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI) for Sage X3 – For Administrators Visit here for full course details and to register for these training sessions. Sage University Free Training Through May 31, 2020 Sage is also offering courses for X3 clients through this time by providing complimentary access to select Sage X3 eLearning packages, Webinars and Certification Exams. To take advantage of complimentary Sage X3 training, you must have a Sage University account. You will need to know your Sage Account # to create your Sage University account. If you know your Sage Account number, click here to log in and register. If you do not know your Sage Account number, we will be happy to provide it to you. Please contact us. For more details and a complete list of available Sage’s free offerings, click here.

Companies with large warehouses can significantly increase the efficiency of their warehouse operations by using advanced methods of picking items for shipping, such as wave picking and batch picking workflows now available in Acumatica. Creation of a Picking Worksheet in Acumatica On the new Picking Worksheets (SO302050) form, a user can review the details of the prepared picking worksheet, which was created on the Create and Print Pick Lists (SO503050) form. A picking worksheet for wave picking has the Wave type; a picking worksheet for batch picking has the Batch type. Contact us if you would like the full list of new features and enhancements in Acumatica 2020 R1 release. Visit here For the full Acumatica ERP 2020 R1 Release Notes.

All major crises change things in the short term, and then for the long term. Managing through uncertainty is an art and a science. Keep tight control of cash and an eagle eye on the balance sheet. Listen to employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders. Communicate. Be honest and transparent to the extent possible. Think different so that when the crisis is over, your company is poised for success. Steering a company during uncertain times requires an analytical approach with an emphasis on visibility, control and agility. You need visibility into cash flow, receivables, projects, inventory and operational risks. You need prudent advice, a list of potential sources of capital and a single-minded forward-focus. With so many critical decisions to make, you need the right numbers, and you need them right now. Understanding the fundamental needs of your customers will also help you deal with unknowns and new scenarios as they play out. [blogpromo type=’whitepaper’ link=’https://www.netatwork.com/resource/how-to-manage-your-business-through-uncertain-times/’ btntext=’Download Now’ iconlabel=’Whitepaper’] How to Manage Your Business Through Uncertain Times A Guide to Managing Business Uncertainty[/blogpromo] What if you can take some of the guessing out of the equation? Change is a constant in business. But when faced with exceptional events, like a pandemic, leaders need to take a hard look at their tools, systems, processes and—most important—strategies. A recent guide, courtesy of our partner NetSuite, provides an informative framework for business leaders whose companies are viable but who recognize that they must substantially change their approach to remain as healthy as possible. Access the guide here to see key areas you should take stock of to ensure the long-term health of your business in the face of a crisis.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), by which the federal government approved loans for small businesses hit by COVID-19, ran out of money on April 16. The Small Business Administration (SBA) posted a note on its website saying it is no longer accepting new applications for the loans, which can total up to $10 million and go out to businesses with 500 employees or fewer. (See “What is the Paycheck Protection Program?” below for more basic information on these loans.) The program’s operations are stopped until Congress makes more money available. While both political parties agree the program needs more money, they can’t agree on how to distribute it. Some policy reporters estimate the process could stretch into May. In the meantime, business owners struggle. We’ll explain what you need to know below. What if I’ve already applied for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program but haven’t gotten money yet?  If you’ve already applied for a loan, it’s likely the process is stalled for the foreseeable future. In the PPP, private banks accept loan applications. However, the federal government’s SBA must approve your application before your bank hands over the cash, explains the Washington Post. On Wednesday, as the program’s funds dwindled, the SBA said it wouldn’t be able to legally approve any more loan applications if the program and others like it were to run out of money. “By law, the SBA will not be able to issue new loan approvals once the programs experience a lapse in appropriations,” the administration said in a statement. As of Wednesday, banks had hundreds of thousands of loan applications still pending, Politico reports. One large bank told CBS it had tens of thousands awaiting SBA approval. This leads us to conclude that those completed loan applications are left hanging in the balance until Congress adds more money to the Program. How many Paycheck Protection Program loans have been given out so far? The SBA said it has approved more than 1.6 million loan applications since the Paycheck Protection Program launched on April 3. That’s more than 14 years’ worth of its usual loan volume. Business owners submitted those applications via 4,900 separate financial institutions (big national banks, small local banks and more). But most haven’t seen their money yet. “While that money has been approved, most borrowers are still waiting for those loans to be funded — and for money to even show up in their accounts,” CBS reported on Thursday. The government hasn’t reported a number, but stories from both banks and business owners suggest only a few loan applicants have actually gotten their cash, per the Washington Post. On Wednesday, Chase Bank posted a note from its CEO of business banking, Jennifer Roberts. “By tomorrow morning we will have notified all of our customers who received funding in the first round [of PPP loan applications] and know many of you are disappointed, as are many other business owners around the country,” the note said. Can I file a new application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan right now? Yes, but the SBA won’t process it until Congress adds more money to the program. Most national banks are still intaking loan applications. However, as noted above, the SBA has stopped processing applications, meaning your application will be stuck in the submitted phase. Here’s the status of national banks’ application programs. (Note that many are only accepting applications from folks who already bank with them): Wells Fargo is accepting applications for PPP loans from folks who have a business account with Wells Fargo “in anticipation of additional approved funds” for the program, per its website. The bank promises to keep applicants updated via email after they file. Citi is also still accepting applications from existing clients and says it will keep them on file for 30 days in the event the PPP gets more funding. However, “there can be no assurance that additional funding will become available,” the page notes. Bank of America continues to accept applications from folks with whom it has had checking or lending relationships since Feb 15. Follow-up on applications will “occur online and through email,” the site states. Chase Bank isn’t accepting applications right now. US Bank isn’t accepting applications right now either. “… Our priority now is to continue moving existing PPP applications through the process up to the point of SBA submittal,” says its website. When will money for these loans be available again? The program will get more money when Congress can come to an agreement about how much to allocate and how to disperse it. There was a smidgen of hope that Congress would do so during a brief session on Thursday afternoon, but no such luck. Vox reports that for business owners, the waiting game could last until May. The mechanics of the timeline for getting more funds is very political, as detailed in the news. The bottom line: Both political parties want money to be added to the program; they just can’t agree on how to get it there. An agreement is going to require more talks and time. Is this lack of loans hurting other businesses like it’s hurting mine? If you’re feeling frustrated and your business is strapped while you wait for a loan, you’re not alone. Anecdotes abound of businesses having filed applications but not yet receiving cash. One hotelier told CBS that, since filing multiple loan applications for his various properties, just “a small fraction” of the applications have been approved, and none are funded. The owner of three hair salons in the Carolinas got approved for a $107,000 loan but already had to lay off all of his employees. Some companies have had success, however. Yahoo Finance told the stories of four businesses that have received PPP loans — ranging from $83,000 to $201,0000 — and noted that each applied at a small, local bank vs. a larger institution. Conversations on Twitter were largely political on Thursday, though business owners were still expressing frustration with the application process at large banks. “America’s small businesses are on the brink, trying desperately to keep their doors open and support their employees,” Brad Close, president of advocacy group the National Federation of Independent Business, said in a statement. Close’s organization, along with other lobbying groups, banks and coalitions of businesses, are asking members of Congress to add funds to the PPP quickly. Now that the Paycheck Protection Program is stalled, where else can I get a loan? The federal government doesn’t seem like the best source right now. Another program, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans, was stalled on Thursday along with the PPP. We recommend consulting our rundown of all resources, including loans and grants from state and city governments, nonprofits and private companies. What is the Paycheck Protection Program? Under The CARES Act signed into law on March 27, small businesses in the U.S. have access to $350 billion in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a new federal loan program designed to help companies and their employees sustain the economic challenges of COVID-19. The PPP provides low-interest, federally-backed cash-flow assistance in the form of loans to small businesses in the U.S. and its territories. Some important details: The government will fully forgive the loans “if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities,” says the SBA. “Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.” In the event your business does end up being required to repay a portion of its loan, you can get a deferral on loan repayments for a minimum of six months and up to a maximum of one year, per The Tax Foundation. Businesses with under 500 employees, which include sole proprietorships, independent contractors and others, can apply for PPP loans if their business was or is affected due to COVID-19 between Feb. 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Some of our favorite sources for more basics on PPP loans: The SBA’s overview of the Payment Protection Program Fast Company’s guide to the Payment Protection Program Who is eligible for Paycheck Protection Program loans? Here are the general eligibility requirements to apply for a PPP loan: A business or nonprofit with under 500 employees, or one that meets the SBA’s size standards for a small business An individual who operates as a sole proprietor, independent contractor or is self-employed who regularly carries on a trade or business A Tribal business that meets SBA size standards  Special additions to the eligibility requirements: For accommodation and food service sector, organizations with the NAICS code NAICS 72 (i.e. hotels, restaurants, casinos, restaurants and bars), the “under 500 employee” rule is per location. Franchise operators or those that receive financial investment from a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) are also eligible. What can I use the loan for? The loan can be used for the following items: Payroll, including salaries, commissions or similar compensations Continuing health care benefits Mortgage interest payments Rent Utilities Interest on any other debt obligations How much money can I get from a Paycheck Protection Program loan? The size of your potential loan depends on payroll costs. Eligible businesses will get loans of up to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll costs in 2019, up to $10 million. For example, if your payroll costs in 2019 were $10,000 per month, you will get a $25,000 loan (10,000 x 2.5). There are several online PPP loan calculators that help businesses define estimated loan totals and forgiveness. When and where do I apply? Aside from the national banks mentioned above, you can file an application with other of the program’s certified lenders, which include local banks and other lenders who process SBA 7(a) loans. Because most large banks are only accepting applications from folks who currently bank with them at this point, we suggest applying for a PPP loan through the firm you usually bank with. You can also visit the SBA’s site to find eligible PPP lenders in your area or use this listing of local lenders that often process SBA 7(a) loans. To determine how to submit your loan application at a local lender, check their website or call them up. What information do I need to apply? During the application process with your PPP lender, you’ll need to fill out the Paycheck Protection Program Borrower Application Form. The simple form should take less than 20 minutes to complete, as long as you have all the required information ready. Here’s what you need:  I. General info Business legal name Business address Business taxpayer identification number (EIN, SSN) Primary contact (business phone and email address)  II. Payroll Calculation Average monthly payroll Number of employees To see what applies as an eligible payroll expense, review this breakdown from Tax Foundation, a leading independent tax policy nonprofit. This post was originally posted on the NetSuite Blog. By Justin Biel, trends editor at Grow Wire. Visit our NetSuite Learning Center to take advantage of educational whitepapers, eBooks, webinars and to stay up to date on the latest in NetSuite best practices.

On Thursday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) posted a note explaining it is no longer accepting applications for its Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) related to COVID-19. By now, many growing businesses in the U.S. are familiar with the EIDL. The federal government program is designed to support small businesses across the country and U.S. territories that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Currently, the program is either almost or entirely out of funding from the government, according to reports from Vox and the Washington Post. The SBA published a statement on Wednesday explaining that if the EIDL program and others like it were to run out of money, it would have to stop accepting applications. (Since then, news coverage has focused mainly on the Paycheck Protection Program, another source of loans for small businesses that also came to a halt on Thursday.) For more basic information on the EIDL, see “What is the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program?” below. Here, we’ll cover what you need to know in light of this program’s recent pause. What happens if I already filed an application for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan but haven’t gotten money yet? You’ll continue waiting for the SBA to process your application. The administration’s note says that “EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.” However, the slow pace of the process has left many business owners wondering whether they’ll get their money at all. Information from the government validates their worries. As of Wednesday, nearly four million businesses had applied for EIDL loans, an administration official told NBC. Those applications, if approved, would bring the total loan amount to $383 billion, far above the $17 billion Congress allocated for the program. As with the Paycheck Protection Program, anecdotes abound of business owners who have filed EIDL applications but not yet received funds. This includes both the loans themselves and a cash advance the SBA originally promised to send business owners within three days of a successful application. (The rules around these loans and advances changed shortly after the EIDL COVID-19 program launched: Last week, business owners reported the SBA told them that loans could total only up to $15,000, significantly less than the $2 million originally promised. And the advances, initially $10,000 for each applicant, were later capped based on a business’s number of employees.) COVID Loan Tracker, a grassroots site which has been gathering stories from business owners, estimates that just 3% of applicants have received that cash advance. In short, chances do not look good that you’ll soon receive an EIDL or advance if you haven’t already. Can I file a new application for this loan right now? Unfortunately, no. The SBA website links which formerly led to the application page currently redirect to the administration’s information page about its various types of loans. Are there other loan and grant options for small businesses? Yes. However, the federal government probably shouldn’t be your first stop, as its other major program is not faring well either. As noted above, the SBA also on Thursday stopped accepting applications for the Paycheck Protection Program. We recommend consulting our rundown of all financial aid resources, including loans and grants from state and city governments, nonprofits and private companies. Unlike the EIDL and its counterpart, many of those are still up and running. What is the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program? The program existed before coronavirus changed the financial landscape for businesses across the U.S. However, some of its details changed with the passage of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, and again later as demand for the loans put strain on the system. When up and running, the program provides “small businesses,” or those with fewer than 500 employees, with working capital loans. These loans were initially to cover up to $2 million, but as of April 9, the SBA told numerous applicants the maximum amount would then be just $15,000 due to demand, reports the New York Times. During the original application process, businesses could also apply for a $10,000 loan advance, which, if granted, they were set to receive within three days of a successful application, per the SBA. That didn’t happen, according to multiple reports. Firstly, the SBA changed the rules on April 6 such that companies can receive advances of only $1,000 per employee, up to $10,000 or 10 employees. Additionally, Sen. Rob Whittman confirmed in a tweet on April 8 that the process would take five days from the time an application is approved, though many businesses reported having waited much longer with no sign of cash. Unlike the working capital loans above, these advances do not have to be repaid. Each of these loans “may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other costs but are not intended to replace lost sales or profits,” according to the SBA. This post was originally posted on the NetSuite Blog. By Justin Biel, trends editor at Grow Wire. Visit our NetSuite Learning Center to take advantage of educational whitepapers, eBooks, webinars and to stay up to date on the latest in NetSuite best practices.

As part of our larger effort to assist businesses during this unprecedented time, we continue to add to our complimentary live training courses for anyone looking to learn more about the power of the technology you already own, or solutions you may be interested in learning more about. Beginning next week our team will be hosting complimentary virtual training sessions covering various CRM platforms including Microsoft Dynamics Salesforce & Sage CRM. Course details and registration information: Sage CRM Reporting Primer View Recording As the saying goes, “if it’s not measured, it doesn’t exist.” Having the right reports to run on a regular basis is an important part of any CRM implementation. With Sage CRM, users can configure reports in a format that will make sure they are getting the information they need. In this training session we will go over the basics of creating and editing reports in Sage CRM, including: Creating a custom source view Understanding report types Using search criteria Formatting your reports Optimizing Salesforce for Remote Work View Recording In a time of social distancing, many organizations are embracing remote work on a large scale for the first time. For these organizations, it can be a major cultural shift to have employees working from home. Fortunately, with CRM solutions such as Salesforce, business leaders can feel confident that the transition to a remote workforce will not only be a smooth one in the short term, but can also bring about lasting organizational change. In this training session, we will explore practical steps that Salesforce administrators can take to set their team members up for success without having to leave the house, including: Use activities and process automation to maintain full productivity Enable users to collaborate as a team Identify opportunities for business process integration Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Primer View Recording Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM offers a robust reporting solution that allows non IT resources to create reports and analytics for use in running your day to day line of business. Whether you are in sales, marketing, customer service or operation, we encourage you to join this webinar to get an introduction in how to leverage and use the reporting tool suite within Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. In this training session we’ll go over the basics of creating and editing reports in Microsoft Dynamics, including: Creating a custom source view Understanding report types Using search criteria Formatting your reports

Businesses are facing extreme economic challenges and uncertainty due to the coronavirus. In response, financial relief and loan programs at the federal and state level aim to meet the needs of small businesses, which total over 30 million and account for 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S., per Fundera. Beyond federal and state governments, several nonprofits and private organizations are getting involved as well, developing additional relief programs and donating funds. The list below features major sources of financial relief for businesses struggling amidst the coronavirus. It will be updated regularly. Federal government relief The Paycheck Protection Program On March 27, the president signed a federal stimulus package, also known as The CARES Act, which includes $350 billion in loans and grants to growing businesses that don’t plan to lay off workers. A relief measure under The CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program, allocates 100% federally-backed loans to qualifying businesses to cover operational costs. The program is available to businesses with under 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed individuals), with a maximum loan amount equaling a company’s average monthly payroll costs during the one-year period before the date of the loan. Other program features include loan forgiveness, no collateral or personal guarantees, waived loan fees and deferred payments. Business owners can apply for one of these loans through local lending institutions, a process that hasn’t always flowed smoothly since its launch on April 3. Our guide can help you through it. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans The Small Business Association (SBA), a federal agency dedicated to assisting business owners and entrepreneurs, is providing low-interest loans of up to $2 million to U.S. businesses impacted by the coronavirus. The SBA recently made it possible for businesses in all states to qualify for these loans due to the coronavirus, which wasn’t the case in previous weeks. Plus, the program got a $10 billion funding boost from The CARES Act. Businesses can apply for an SBA disaster loan online, though we’ve found the system has been slow as lots of businesses try to access it.   The Main Street Lending Program On April 9, the Federal Reserve Board announced details of the Main Street Lending Program to support small and medium-sized businesses. To qualify for a loan, businesses must have fewer than 10,000 employees or less than $2.5 billion in annual revenue. They also must meet requirements around keeping employees on their payroll and rehiring any workers they previously laid off. Main Street loans will total $1-25 million and come with an annual interest rate of .01%, among other appealing terms. Banks are not yet accepting applications for Main Street loans, but lawyers recommend gathering payroll-related paperwork now so you’ll be ready to apply when the time comes. Extended paid sick and family leave On March 18, the Senate passed a bill that extends paid sick and family leave for employees, which includes restaurant workers. The new policy includes: Two weeks of full-pay sick and family leave to workers who are in quarantine or helping family members with the disease or whose children’s schools have closed because of the virus A total of 12 weeks of paid leave to many of those with children in schools that have closed. Workers will get about 67% of their normal salary for this period. Bolstering of unemployment insurance A boost to the SNAP food assistance program and federal funding for Medicaid. Tax deadline extension On March 21, the federal government extended the due date for filing and paying federal taxes until July 15, 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak for all individual returns, trusts and corporations. State business tax due dates depend on the business structure, and this year, state filing dates vary due to the effects of the virus. Grow Wire is tracking the changes daily. State and city government relief In addition to the federal government’s sources of aid, there are many state and local initiatives ready to help businesses. Forbes has a comprehensive list of state- and city-specific relief programs that we recommend, as well as this list from small business education site Venturize. Beyond those, you can visit the websites for and/or contact your state’s Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to inquire about relief programs for businesses in your area. A sampling of aid available from state and city governments: Denver: Business owners can apply for grants up to $7,500 from an emergency relief fund managed by Denver Economic Development and Opportunity. Los Angeles: The Small Business Emergency Microloan Program is offering $5,000 – $20,000 loans with interest rates from 0-3% for companies with fewer than 100 employees “that have been negatively impacted” by the outbreak. Iowa: The state’s Small Business Relief Program will provide grants up to $25,000 to businesses with 25 employees or fewer. Wisconsin: The state’s Economic Development Corporation launched a grant program, Small Business 20/20, which offers grants of up to $20,000 to businesses that currently lend from the state’s community development financial institutions. Relief from nonprofits Nonprofits are aiding businesses facing the coronavirus, offering support in the form of loans, lines of credit and grants.. A few of the most notable programs include: Kiva The global microlending site is supporting U.S. businesses with a program that offers expanded eligibility, making it easier for businesses to get a loan. For these, it’s raising its loan maximum from $10,000 to $15,000 and giving businesses a longer grace period for repayment. Accion The organization focused on small business loans has developed a COVID-19 Relief Program to provide loans to 500 small business owners who do not meet requirements for public relief programs. It’s also expediting the process for businesses in Illinois and Indiana to open a line of credit for up to $25,000. United Way United Way often partners with local city and state organizations, like the Downtown Denver Partnership, to provide grants and microloans to growing businesses. See what United Way is doing in your community. The Red Backpack Fund Spanx Founder Sarah Blakely launched this fund to provide relief to women entrepreneurs dealing with the effects of COVID-19. Loans of $5,000 will go to 1,000 U.S. women whose businesses have less than $5 million in annual revenue and fewer than 50 individuals on staff. The first round of applications is currently open, with subsequent rounds to launch through August. Relief from private companies Even big companies facing their own set of problems are putting programs in place to help smaller businesses get through the coronavirus challenge. Inc has put together a list of private companies helping in the relief effort, which includes: Facebook Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 growing businesses to help with rent, payroll and operational costs. Applicants must have 2-50 employees, have been in business for over a year and “be in or near a location where Facebook operates.” Facebook is currently only accepting grant applications in certain areas of the U.S., but you can sign up to get updates as the program expands globally. Verizon The company’s Recovery Fund is channeling grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses that are “facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19 — especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities.” The first round of applications is closed, but you can register to get updates when the next one launches in mid-April. GoFundMe The crowdfunding platform is providing matching grants of $500 to small businesses who use the tool to fundraise in the wake of COVID-19. To receive a grant, business owners must launch a GoFundMe campaign with a specific hashtag and raise $500 from friends, family and connections. This post was originally posted on the NetSuite Blog. By Justin Biel, trends editor at Grow Wire. Visit our NetSuite Learning Center to take advantage of educational whitepapers, eBooks, webinars and to stay up to date on the latest in NetSuite best practices.